Your Guide to a Spook-tacular October in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and beyond!
Mark your calendars for our top haunted picks this Halloween season in Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties.
Wake County
Falling for Local
Oct. 4
Find yourself falling for this jam-packed, family-fun event at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh! Enjoy live music while you browse through the 100+ local vendors, or indulge in Carolina-crafted beers and ciders while picking from the various selections of more than 50 food trucks.
Oakwood Halloween House
The week before Halloween
Want to test your fear factor? Visit this horrifically scenic historic house on 504 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh. The site is known for its legendary Halloween decorations including a lawn full of ghouls, monsters and skeletons set up by owner Jesse Jones. Bring your kids, a partner or fly solo to take in the hundreds of spooky objects.
Fright Night Halloween Party
Oct. 25
Stop by Sports and Social in Cary for a scary night of haunted horrors! Guests 21 and older are invited to enjoy themed specialty drinks, live entertainment, a costume contest with a $2,000 cash prize and more!
Ghosts and Ghouls Walking Tour
Through Oct. 31
Prepare to walk Raleigh’s haunted grounds and immerse yourself in the chilling history of North Carolina’s capital. Take a friend or family member along on this one-mile guided walking tour to see sites like the White-Holman House. Be sure to reserve your spot and get ready to see Raleigh’s mysteries revealed after dark!
Orange County
The Myers House
Oct. 17 & 31, Nov. 9
Don your Michael Myers mask or costume and visit this classic, movie-accurate home on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., Oct. 31 at 5:30 p.m. and Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. for an exterior tour of the house, trick-or-treat candy, a photo-op on the front porch and a brief history of both the original Myers House and this North Carolina replica.
Halloween Spooktacular
Oct. 18
Gather at the field behind the Orange County Central Recreation Center from 1-4 p.m. for fun activities including the costume contest, pumpkin decorating, cakewalks, bingo, a pumpkin hunt and inflatables.
Haunted Hill: Trunk or Treat
Oct. 24
Grab your costume and enjoy a spooky night of free family fun at the Chapel Hill Community Center Park starting at 5 p.m. Get candy, enter your pumpkin into the Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest and stay after for a movie in the park.
Halloween on Franklin Street
Oct. 31
Since the 1980s, the town of Chapel Hill has invited UNC students and community members from surrounding areas to come together for the iconic Franklin Street Halloween celebration. Simply show up in your best costume and join the fun as the entire street is blocked off for a lively night of festivities. It’s a Halloween tradition that brings the whole town together!
McKee Cornfield Maze
Through Nov. 1
Explore (but don’t get lost in) one of the largest cornfield mazes in the Triangle, plus additional activities including hayrides, a pumpkin patch, farm animals, a barrel train ride, corn hole, ice cream, snacks and more.
Pumpkin Carving with Goats
Weekdays and weekends until Nov. 2
Show off your carving skills accompanied by inquisitive goats at Spring Haven Farm in Chapel Hill. With an admission fee of $14.95, you can step into a farm-inspired Halloween wonderland to engage with furry friends, ride the tractor train and enjoy snacks.
Durham County
Pumpkin Patch Express
Saturdays and Sundays in October
Celebrate fall every Saturday and Sunday in October – take a train ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway at the Museum of Life and Science, pick the perfect pumpkin to decorate and take home, then enjoy seasonal crafts and carnival games.
Hallow-Eno
Oct. 18
This outdoor tradition is designed for ages 12 and younger and their families. Enjoy campfire stories, hayrides, treats, songs, crafts, games and more at West Point on the Eno. Hallow-Eno is just one of many Halloween-themed events put on by Durham Parks and Recreation each autumn, so check out their full list of activities to keep the fun going all month long.
Halloween Phantasmagoria
Oct. 24
Wander the Duke Homestead State Historic Site after dark and see what Victorian-era wonders you find. Explore historical concepts of spiritualism and experience Halloween traditions from generations past. A one-of-a-kind Halloween experience not designed to scare!
Barktoberfest
Oct. 25
Head to Durham Central Park for this celebration for dogs and their humans, featuring canine fun, seasonal activities and delicious treats.
Bull City Campout
Oct. 25
Spend a night camping at West Point on the Eno Park and enjoy spooky campfire stories, river explorations, night hikes, s’mores and stargazing.
BooFest
Oct. 25, 26 & 31
Join this spooky celebration at the Museum of Life and Science and try your hand at science explorations, creepy crafts and themed fun all around.
Halloween Storytime on the Roof
Oct. 29
Come in costume and enjoy a family-friendly book-reading on the roof of The Durham Hotel, plus stories, songs and dances provided by Durham County Library.
Fiesta de los Muertos
Oct. 30
Celebrate, honor deceased loved ones and learn about the origins of this festive holiday at the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park. Enjoy a movie, make a mask and craft pressed flower picture frames. Registration is required.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball
Oct. 30 & 31
Join in on this eighth annual, retro tradition at the Carolina Theatre. Much more than just a movie screening, this party is pulling out all the stops, featuring lights, fog and drama – the full theatrical experience.
Beetlejuice’s Halloween Silent Disco
Oct. 31
Join Hi-Wire Brewing Co. in Durham for a frightfully fun Silent Disco night. Dance the night away to your favorite tunes while showing off your best Halloween costume in a welcoming space where everyone (21 and older) is encouraged to let loose and embrace the fun. Sip on Hi-Wire’s seasonal brews and enjoy a night of unforgettable Halloween festivities without fear – just great music, good vibes and Halloween spirit.
Mystic Halloween Costume Party
Oct. 31
Celebrate the spookiest night of the year with this 12th annual party and haunted trail at Mystic Farm and Distillery, featuring speciality cocktails, live music, a costume contest with prizes, tarot card readings, dancing witches, food trucks, scary stories, an axe fighting class and more.
Chatham County
Phillips Farms of Chatham
Through the end of October
Halloween doesn’t have to be all about scares! For a laid-back, festive celebration with family or friends, visit Phillips Farms this October. Pick the perfect pumpkin for carving, decorating or even cooking. Enjoy a stroll through their fun corn maze surrounded by towering stalks. With pumpkins and fall activities galore, it’s the ideal way to embrace the season without the spooks!
Trunk or Treat
Oct. 25
Chatham County Parks and Recreation is transforming the trick-or-treating tradition from doorsteps to car trunks. Community members are invited to a family-friendly event at Southwest District Park from 2-5 p.m. for the 16th annual Halloween celebration. In addition to plenty of opportunities to grab candy, this free event will provide entertainment like pumpkin painting, bounce houses, a magician and more!
Drive-In Movie Nights
Oct. 3, 17 and 31
Head to the lawn at Mosaic at Chatham Park for a delightful free outdoor movie night throughout October! Gather your family and friends for a cozy evening under the stars as they screen family-friendly films starting at sunset.
Pumpkins on the Bridge
Oct. 31
Visit Bynum Front Porch for an evening of pumpkin carving, hot dogs and costumes. But the fun doesn’t end there – the grand finale comes when the community lines their freshly carved jack-o-lanterns up along the bridge and admires the spooky scene.
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