When it comes to spooky things to do this October, Charlotte has a frightful amount of haunted houses, horror movies, and more waiting around the corner. If you’re looking for your next scare, look no further because we’ve rounded up a list of the best activities to give you a fearfully fun Halloween season. Scroll down for events taking place all month long. We will keep updating this article as we find new spooky news & to do’s :0
~ One Time Spooky Events this Fall ~
Boo-tique Bazaar & Treat Trail, Plaza Midwood
Friday, October 25th, from 5-9 PM
Get ready for a ghoulishly good time – at the corner of Central and Thomas, the future home of the new Improper Pig, at PM’s festive Halloween event. Explore vendors offering delightful shopping opportunities and tasty treats. Don’t miss out on the trick-or-treating fun – all vendors will be handing out candy to visitors. Tunes by DJ Sk8r.g8r and Eats + Drinks from The Improper Pig . Link here to discover participating businesses, activities, and exclusive deals.
Candy Crawl and Monster Market at Urban District Market
2315 N Davidson Street
Friday, October 25, 2024, from 5-9 PM
Head out for a night of ghoulish delights at this annual Candy Crawl Halloween event. Bring your family and friends to our spooktacular celebration where you’ll collect candy from different stations throughout Urban District Market. Dress up in your favorite costume and enjoy games, music, and more! Perfect for all ages, this is a frightfully fun night you won’t want to miss.
Goodies & Goblins: Trick or Treating + Movie
Promenade on Providence
Friday, October 25 Starts at 5 PM with Trick or Treating
Grab your most creative costumes and join in for an early round of trick-or-treating from 5 PM to 6:30 PM. The fun doesn’t stop there; P on P is hosting a screening of the beloved classic, “Casper” on The Green at 6:45 PM/Sunset.
Running Scared 5K & Monster Mile
Saturday, October 26 | 9 or 10 AM
The 7th Annual Running Scared 5K & Monster Mile is a family-friendly event that poses the perfect activity to have fun, dress up in your favorite costume, and enjoy a 5K race through the South Park area of Charlotte. There will be activities like face painting, games, food trucks, beer, music, and more.
BooFest
Saturday, October 26 | 2-7 PM
Held at Stowe Park in Belmont, NC, Boofest will include carnival rides, artisan vendors, food vendors, touch-a-truck, and plenty of candy for trick-or-treaters. Aside from the rides and treats, Movies in the Park paired up with Aurora Star Lit Cinema to stream the Addams Family at 7:00 PM.
NoDa Freaky 5K
Saturday, October 26 | 5 PM
The NoDaWeen Freaky 5K is a fun run through one of Charlotte’s most historic and spookiest neighborhoods with a festive twist: come running in your costume. Stick around after the race for prizes and a post-run party held at NoDa Company Store. This race is welcome to all, regardless of experience level. Pre-register by Monday, 10/21/24 and receive a Halloween shirt with your race package.
Tricks and Treats at 7th Street Market Uptown
October 26 11 am – 3 pm
Rich & Bennett’s 23rd Annual Halloween Pub Crawl
Saturday, October 26th, 1-10 PM
The Spooky Scoop: Charlotte’s Original Halloween Crawl is back on Saturday, October 26th and better than ever. This spooky crawl will sprawl across 20+ locations throughout Uptown Charlotte while featuring a festive list of drink specials. Plus, come prepared to win some amazing prizes by dressing up and entering into the costume contest.
Macabre Masquerade, presented by Science on the Rocks
Saturday, October 26 | 7-11 PM
Wanting to have your very own “Night at the Museum” this spooky season? Lucky for you, Discovery Place is hosting a Macabre Masquerade, bringing a unique Halloween party to Charlotte. The museum will feature three levels of Halloween festivities, including exhibits, live music, themed cocktails, and a costume contest. Buy tickets here.
Halloween Daze and Spooky Knights at Ren Fest
FREE Child Admission
Saturday, October 26, 2024 9:30 AM Sunday, October 27, 2024 5:30 PM
Already the Carolinas’ largest costume party, the Carolina Renaissance Festival becomes the place to celebrate Halloween! Enjoy FREE Child Admission with no coupon required for all children ages 12 and under. Free child tickets are made available online at www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/buy-tickets with date selection of October 26 or October 27. Children must have a ticket. Adults accompanying children must already have a ticket if event date has sold out. Children and parents alike enjoy the fun and safe trick or treating experience with free treats to be found at over 100 locations throughout the Festival Village. And pick up your Halloween Treasure Map at the Front Gate and search the village for the Queen’s Treasure Chest filled with prizes.
Jeepers Creeper participants will get to race in the first-ever costume race at the Garden (costumes are not mandatory but highly encouraged). Following the race, runners and walkers can enjoy free admission to the Garden to enjoy the limited fall exhibit: “Scarecrow Hollow”. After the race, enjoy fire pits, smores, live music, cold beverages, and a movie on the lawn screen playing a Halloween classic: Scream.
Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall
2017 Greenway Ave, Charlotte, NC
Starts Sun. 10/27
Hours: October 27th – November 1st
The Spooky Scoop: The annual lighting ceremony of the Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall will commence on October 27th, 2024. Whether you come as a tradition every year or it’s your first visit, this 60-foot lined wall of jack-o’lanterns is sure to get you in a spooky mood.
NoDa Candy Crawl
Sunday, October 27 | 4-7 PM
NoDaWeen continues with their 6th annual Candy Crawl held in downtown NoDa on Sunday, October 27th starting at 4 pm. Add to your spooky Sunday by heading to the Johnston YMCA on the same evening for their annual Fall Festival! This family-friendly event will take place on the “front porch” of NoDa, with fun for all, starting at 4 pm.
NoDa House Decorating Contest
October 28 – 31
NoDa is on the hunt for the spookiest decorated house in the area… so grab your most frightful decorations and enter to win $200 and bragging rights in this fearfully exciting contest. Sign up here by October 25th to be eligible to compete.
~ Month Long Events this Spooky Season ~
Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches HERE.
Scarigan Farms | The Haunted Trail
1213 Oak Ridge Farm Highway, Mooresville NC 28115
On select October nights, this 275 acre farm is transformed into the scariest haunted trail in the region. If you are looking for a new and out of the ordinary way to get your heart pumping and adrenaline rushing this October, Scarrigan Farms is the place for you. This is not a trail for kids. If you’re under 12 come back when you’re old enough. They’ll be waiting. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED | PRICE VARIES BY DATE
Fort Mill Scarecrow Crawl
Oct. 4-31, 2024
Downtown Fort Mill
Join the Town of Fort Mill as they host the milestone 10th Annual Scarecrow Crawl from Oct. 4 to 31, 2024. Take a stroll throughout Downtown Fort Mill to see all the amazing Scarecrow entries created by individuals, schools, businesses, organizations, churches and more. The Scarecrow Route includes Tom Hall Street, Main Street, Clebourne Street, N. & S. White Streets, Millstone Park and Walter Elisha Park.
Thirteen Days of Spooktown
SkipTown
Saturday, October 19 through Thursday, October 31
Dress your pup up & snap some Insta-worthy pics in the Halloween photobooth with 4 different backdrops to pose in front of and a closet full of costumes for you to borrow that are sure to fit any pup’s style and pup-sonality. Snap a pic any day October 19-31 and use the hashtag #spooktown2024 to be entered in the Virtual Costume Contest. Winners will be voted on from November 1st to November 2nd at midnight. Tons of daily pup events at the link.
Scarowinds
14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Hours: Select Nights, September 13 – October 27, 2024
The Spooky Scoop: No one does spooky better than Scarowinds, where “the nightmare never ends”. The theme park turned scare-fest boasts bewitching bites and brews, rides, mazes, scare zones, live shows, and more. Take your bravery to the next level by entering into one of the five mazes where you will be scared by various monsters or opt out with a “No Boo” necklace for all the fun minus the fear. Head to Carowinds for three festive October events – Oktoberfest, Tricks and Treats, and SCarowinds — and NEW IN 2024: Three events, one ticket. SCarowinds is no longer a separately ticketed event. Guests already at the park for our daytime activities can continue the fun into a frightful night without leaving the park.
Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train
300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC
Hours: September 20 – October 26 | Friday & Saturday nights. Park opens at 7:30 pm with the first train scheduled for 8:00 p.m. 7:30 – 11:00 PM.
The Spooky Scoop: Watch the Tweetsie Railroad transform from the Wild West by day to a Ghost Train by night every Friday and Saturday night this September and October. This Halloween experience brings fun for the whole family with costumed characters, creepy carnival attractions, trick-or-treat stations and more.
The 13th Acre
3718 Plyler Mill Rd, Monroe, NC
Hours: September 20th through Halloween, Fridays/Saturdays 7:00 – 11:00 PM
The Spooky Scoop: The 13th Acre features two terrifyingly haunted attractions this season: Coffin Creek and the Forbidden Acre – both offer a different horror inducing experience for those daring enough to adventure in. After you’ve had your fair share of screams, head to the Monster Midway to experience an 1880’s train car with signature drinks and grab a souvenir from old-fashioned general store.
Ghosts of Davidson Tour
19 S. Main St, Davidson, NC
Hours: September 27 – 29, October 3 – 6, October 10 – 13, October 17 – 20, October 24. Starting at 7:00 & 7:30 PM.
The Spooky Scoop: If you are searching for the perfect combination of history and spookiness, then this 90-minute Ghosts of Davidson tour full of local legends, history and hauntings is the ideal autumn night for you. If you are looking to add a little sweetness to your ghosty tour, check out their Scoops and Screams tour for only $15 a ticket.
Haunted by Black Lagoon at BackStage
2433 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Hours: October 2 – November 3
The Spooky Scoop: Located behind SouthBound restaurant, this speakeasy will be serving themed cocktails from their spellbound pop-up menu and decked out in all the spooky decorations. No reservations are accepted, so arrive early to fully experience the fright-night ahead.
Ayrsley Retro Horror Cinema
9110 Kings Parade Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Hours: October 4 – 10th, 11th – 17th, 18 – 24th, & 25 – 31st, 7:00 – 9:30 PM
The Spooky Scoop: Ayrsley Grand Cinema is bringing back another year of retro-themed horror for horror-movie lovers and those just looking for a good scare. Not only are they featuring an array of classic horror films sure to get you feeling spooky, tickets are only $5.
Camp North End Crossroads Cinema
300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC
Hours: October 24th and October 31st, starting at 8:00 PM
The Spooky Scoop: Besides Crossroads Cinema’s regular screenings, they are featuring two halloween-inspired movies this October, with a vampire movie night on the 24th screening Twilight and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on the 31st. This is a free event that takes place rain or shine, with adult-beverages and classic movie concessions.
Forbidden Forest Horror Trail
14210 Old Beatty Ford Rd, Rockwell, NC
Hours: October 25th and 26th, November 1st and 2nd. 7:00 – Midnight
The Spooky Scoop: This limited experience at the Forbidden Forest Horror Trail is worth the wait, offering personalized and special character interactions that have been notoriously scary for the last 30 years. This Horror Trail does not offer pre-sale tickets, so plan to arrive early and check their facebook page to make sure they aren’t sold out for the night.
Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trail
Hours: October 25 – 27th. “Not So Spooky” Trail Hours – 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Halloween Fun Zone – 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
“Full Fright” Trail Hours – 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
The Spooky Scoop: With varying levels of scariness, Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trails offer options for kids, adults, and everyone in between to come enjoy the thrills and frights. Kids can also enjoy the Halloween Fun Zone where you will find Trunk-or-Treat, photo booths, face painting, DJ, and of course, costumes are encouraged.
Hickory Grove Haunted Trail
4064 Mountain View St, Gastonia, NC
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Open Dark – 12:00 AM. Sundays and Thursdays, Open Dark – 10:00 PM
The Spooky Scoop: Now a tradition in Gaston county, the Hickory Grove Haunted Trail is one of the oldest haunted attractions in Charlotte, NC. If you are brave enough to venture into the dark and deep woods, you can expect all real frights – no aliens, monsters, or theme park attractions.
Nightly Spirits Charlotte Ghost Tours
Hours: Select dates and times based on tour
The Spooky Scoop: If you are looking for an original ghost tour experience, Nightly Spirits is the place for you. Known for their “Haunted Booze and Boos Tour”, learn about ghosts, explore the QC, and explore 3 haunted bars. Your 2-hour walking journey will take you past haunted theaters, museums, cemeteries, and another bar or two!
Queen City Ghosts
Hours: Select times and dates based on tours
The Spooky Scoop: Filled with both history and frights, the Queen City Ghosts tours specialize in taking you around the most haunted places in Charlotte, from cemeteries to the infamously haunted Barringer Hotel.
