We held off as long as we could, but it’s now the middle of October, which means Halloween is basically TOMORROW, Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas is in 10 days.
Happy HallowThankMas Friends.
Here’s our round up of spooky fun for the month, with & without kids …and with & without cocktails.
All Month Long.
Starting in July. JK, actually started in September or earlier this month.
The Great Pumpkin Fest & SCarowinds
Carowinds ~ Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays through October 28
Talk about a transformation. During the day you’ll find Halloween fun for the littles, featuring a costume parade, foam zone, mazes and more. Leave before the stroke of 7, though, when Scarowinds begins. Definitely not for the easily frightened, but amazing spooky for for teens and adults.
THE GLOW
Carolina Rebellion Campground at Charlotte Motor Speedway through October 28
Now this is a pumpkin patch ~ 5,000 hand-carved jack o’lanterns light up Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Carolina Rebellion Campground. THE GLOW is family-friendly, with a 1/3 mile stroll along Jack’s Lane, where illuminated pumpkins are transformed into beautiful landscapes, iconic figures and larger than life jack o’ lantern structures.  The Glow is perfect backdrop for a few fall photos too, so maybe bring your “good camera” or make sure the phone has a full charge. Ticket prices range from $10.99 to $22.99.
Want to pick your own pumpkin? Here are the patches around here that we love.
Scarrigan Farms
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays (one Thursday, 10/25)
On select October nights  Carrigan’s 170 acre farm is transformed into the scariest haunted trail in the region. This is not a trail for kids. One mile long, through natural terrain, wooded and open areas with actors, props and sets positioned to scare you and target specific phobias such as claustrophobia, coulrophobia, chiraptophobia, demonophobia, lygophobia, necrophobia, etc.  (We’ve done it as adults, it’s sort of scary but we survived). Scarigan says “If you’re under 12 come back when you’re old enough. We’ll be waiting. If someone hasn’t peed in their pants by the end of the night we know we haven’t done our job.”  Ticket sales ($25) begin nightly at 6:30 PM but trail doesn’t open til dark. Bring a picnic dinner.
Horror Movies Series
Ayrsley Grand Cinemas through November 1
Ayrsley Cinemas bring back their Retro Horror Series in its 6th year with 6 weeks of classic horror films for $5 and Halloween classics like The Craft, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Halloween, and Suspiria
The 13th Acre
Monroe, NC at 3718 Plyler Mill Rd. Fridays & Saturdays through October 27
Dark time 7:30pm til 11:30pm (Last ticket sold at 11:00pm) a walking haunted event through the woods, not recommended for children under 8.  You can choose both haunted and non-haunted options (corn maze, hayrides, etc).
Regular Ticket: $13.00Â Combo Ticket with Aw Shucks Farms: $20.00. Â No flashlights. No Videotaping or flash photography.
The Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad
Blowing Rock, NC Fridays & Saturdays, through October 27.
Absolutely worth the trip for a full day of family fun with Tweetsie Railroad. Start the day with the Wild West and end with the Ghastly attractions include the Ghost Train Ride, a Haunted House, Halloween Shows on Main Street, a 3-D Maze, the Black Hole™, Trick-or-Treating, and more. Advanced tickets required. $38.
Starting This Week and Leading Up to the Mother of All Halloween Celebration Days, Saturday 10/27.
Science on the Rocks: Nightmare on Tryon Street
Discovery Place Science | Friday, October 19 5 – 9 p.m.
This adults-only night at the museum isn’t for the faint of heart. Make your own slime, play serial killer trivia, use cockroaches to paint your work work of art, battle it out in the costume contest and more. $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
BOOBASH
Symphony Park at Southpark Mall, Saturday, October 20, 5-9 pm
Our friends at Macaroni Kid South Charlotte host what has to be the most popular kids Halloween activity in Charlotte with their annual BOOBASH. There are dozens of vendors to check out under the tent, plus trick or treating, a costume parade, costume prizes, arts/crafts, face painting, characters, DJ and more! New this year, they’ll be showing a free Halloween movie. All activities are FREE and open to the public. Pre-register to be entered to win door prizes.
A Capella Scary: Pitch Dark!
Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square, October 20 at 3pm & 8pm
Picture a pitch-dark theater with the gentle glow of neon light and eerie voices filling the air. The stage is set for Impromptu’s annual ghoulish experience of a cappella music and amazing make-up and costumes. Join Impromptu as they explore what lurks in the dark corners of the room just out of sight (but you go first!). Price: $10 -$20.Â
Bootanical
October 20 – 21 |Â Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
At Bootanical, the fun’s not just for the little ones. While they can enjoy crafts, a costume parade, carriage rides and more. adults can enjoy featured craft brews and live music in the beer garden. Free for members or with general admission, children wearing costumes receive free admission.
Visit a corn maze for fabulous, slightly scary fun. Our faves here.
Happy Tails – Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour & Pet Costume Contest
Yadkin Valley Sunday, October 21
Start the day with a morning of hiking with your pups with breathtaking views of Winston-Salem and the surrounding Yadkin Valley, then proceed to RagApple Lassie, one of Yadkin Valley’s most dog-friendly and award-winning wineries, for a fantastic picnic lunch, a wine tasting, and our HOWL-O-WIN Costume Competition. Then visit another award-winning and super dog-friendly winery, Misty Creek, for dessert, another wine tasting, and the awarding of the contest prizes. Your $199 ticket includes Transportation to/from Charlotte, Wine tastings in 2 wineries, Picnic lunch, snacks, drinks, & dog treats, your Tour guide and Prizes.
Critter-ween
Reedy Creek Park and Nature Center Friday, October 26, 5pm – 8:30pm
The park is full of surprises at night especially in October. Head out and celebrate the diversity of creepy crawlies at Reedy Creek Nature Center at night with a host of fun and exciting activities including; live animals, costume contest, campfire, marshmallow roast, crafts, hayrides, and night hikes. FREE fun for the whole family.
Charlotte Symphony’s Halloween Spooktacular
Knight Theater, Saturday, October 27 at 11am
Don your best costume and go to the Charlotte Symphony for a frightfully-fun, SPOOKtacular concert. Hear Halloween-themed music including favorites from films like Harry Potterand Jaws. The family fun begins at 10 a.m., including spooky crafts, instrument making, performances by members of the Charlotte Symphony, and a musical petting zoo – an interactive, hands-on experience with orchestral instruments.
“Vampirina” Disney Junior Play Date
Southpark Mall WEST PLAZA, Saturday, October 27 1-3 p.m
Aimed to entertain and delight children of all ages, spooky family fun and activities based on Vampirina and everyone’s favorite Disney Junior pals. Costumes welcome. All attendees to the Play Date will have a chance to win a $50 Shopping Spree from the Disney store at SouthPark. (This event does not include live character appearances.)
Rich & Bennett’s 18TH Annual Halloween Pub Crawl
Uptown, Saturday, October 27th 1pm-10pm.
The Biggest Halloween Crawl in the Southeast with 20+ bars throughout Uptown Charlotte offering drink specials. Tickets vary from $10-$25 and include drink specials, event koozie, giveaways, and costume contest.
GUTS Pumpkin Carving Contest
BB&T Ballpark Saturday, October 27 at 2:00pm
GUTS is open to local and regional creative professionals who want to test their pumpkin carving skills for the sake of raising money for the brave kids of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Money is raised through ticket sales, carver registration fees, sales of creatively carved pumpkins, food, drink, and merchandise sold at the event. Actual Carving begins at 2:30 pm with 90 minutes of furious pumpkin carving action. In addition to carving, there’ll be a photo booth and custom GUTS tattoos. GUTS merchandise will be available for purchase, as are concessions. Guests and Carvers can cast “People’s Choice” votes  and guests are able to participate in “Buy Now” for purchasing pumpkins. Stick around for the 4 pm judging and 5:30 pm after party.
Belmont Boo Festival
Stowe Park, Saturday, October 27, starts at 3pm
This year’s BooFest will include activity & food vendors, costume contests, a pumpkin carving contest, games, carnival rides, crafts for kids, a photo booth and more.  If you go for the BOOS you should stay for the BREWS, when BooFest  wraps up and “NIGHTMARE ON MAIN STREET” takes over.  JAVA BAND will play for an evening of adult fun, with beverages, music and dancing. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE “NIGHTMARE ON MAIN STREET”, VISIT HERE.
Not So Spooky Haunted Hall
NASCAR Hall of Fame, Saturday, October 27 6-8pm
Prepare to be not-so-scared at the NASCAR Hall of Fame this Halloween. On October 27, 2018, Champ the Cheetah transforms the Hall of Fame into the Not-Too-Spooky Haunted Hall, complete with trick-or-treating, a pumpkin patch, games with prizes and more. Joining Champ are a few spooktacular characters, who’ll be available for meet and greets and photo ops. The frightfully delightful night has been designed with little goblins in mind, making it ideal for kids ages 2 to 8. Tickets $15.
Grave Diggers Ball
300 N Brevard St, Saturday, October 27 6pm to 11 pm
The 19th Annual Kiss 95.1 Grave Digger’s Ball turns the Queen City into the Scream City with a concert and the QC’s largest costume contest in Uptown. Featuring Loud Luxury and blackbear. Dress in your spookiest for your chance to win in the Best, Sexiest, or Group contests.
Halloween Legends of Music Party
The Duke Mansion, Saturday, October 27, 8pm until…
Hosted every year as a fundraiser by The Duke Mansion Preservation Society, this is always one of the best parties of the season much less for Halloween. There are no children, the food is delicious, the costuming ranges from cocktail-style-no-costume to full-on fabulous, there’s music & dancing and mixing & mingling in one of Charlotte’s most beautiful properties.
Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights
Carolina Renaissance Festival October 27 & 28
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 12 and under.  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 don’t miss the children’s Halloween Treasure Hunt with Treasure Chest filled with prizes.
Costume Parade at Boo-seum
The Museum of York County at 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill, SC, October 31, 2-4 pm
Great for any age, wear costumes and march in the costume parade, enjoy games and crafts too. No registration necessary.
Free with general admission =Â Non-members: $6Â Museum capacity is limited to 100 visitors at one time.
We’ll be updating this list for the rest of the month, so please comment below with anything spooky that we missed!
**ALL PHOTOS FROM EVENT SOCIAL MEDIA OR WEBPAGES.
