Witches and ghouls and ghosts… oh my! It’s almost Halloween again, and if you’re planning to be in North Carolina for All Hallows’ Eve, there are plenty of ways to have fun and be a little (or a lot) scared. From haunted houses and trails to parades and races, there’s some spooktacular fun waiting to be had by everyone.
SCarowinds, Charlotte
If you’re an adrenaline junkie who’s also a fear junkie, then SCarowinds at the Carowinds Amusement Park in Charlotte is the perfect place for you. Every year, the park offers guests some extra thrills and extra spooks. In addition to riding some of the park’s most popular rides in the dark, visitors can also wander through haunted mazes, haunted houses and elaborately themed “scare zones” like the Blood Yard, the Playground or the Psycho Circus of Mystery and Mayhem. Be forewarned, though, there will be over 500 monsters and other ghastly creatures roaming the property during SCarowinds, so enter at your own risk!
Official Website
Dates: September 15th – October 29th, 2023
Woods of Terror, Greensboro
Voted as a must-see haunt and one of the best-haunted attractions in the country by MSN, the Woods of Terror is not for the faint of heart. With a variety of different experiences to check out, there’s surely something to prey on every fear you could possibly have. Want to test your strength against spiders and bugs? Visit Arachnophobia. Big fan of vampires? Try the Blood House. And then there’s Terror in the Darkness – a totally dark experience that you walk through wearing a black hood that blocks out all of your sights. Claustrophobics beware! But don’t worry, it’s not all so serious… Monster Midway also offers games, food and a nightly, must-see Monster Parade.
Official Website
Dates: September 16th – November 4th, 2023
The Haunted Farm, Hendersonville
The Haunted Farm is Western North Carolina’s scariest Halloween attraction and includes three main experiences – The Farm, The Woods and the Haunted Hayride. The legend of the farm says that deranged Missy Mae Lively fled from her arranged marriage to elope with her lover, Billy Joe. But on the night they were set to elope, Billy Joe never showed up and was never seen or heard from again. Now, Missy Mae is left to wander the farm for all eternity, looking for her lost love. If you’re feeling extra brave during your visit, make sure to check out The Meathouse, The Hay Shed, The Slaughterhouse and The Haunted Trail.
Official Website
Dates: September 29th – October 31st, 2023
Spookywoods, Archdale
You better be prepared for anything from the time you get out of your car at Spookywoods (or maybe even before), because you never know what may come out of the woods at any moment. Plus, you’ll go through a variety of thrilling attractions, back to back, before you’re done, so be ready for a little bit of everything. You’ll be fleeing from deranged doctors, living out urban legends, taking part in a prison break and finding your way through a fun house, all in the hopes of making it back to the midway safe and sound.
Official Website
Dates: Select Dates from September 23rd – November 4th, 2023
NC Zombie Hunt, St. Pauls
If you’ve ever watched a zombie movie and wondered how you’d hold up in a zombie apocalypse, now is your chance to find out at the NC Zombie Hunt in St. Pauls. Visitors will test their skills at shooting “live” zombies from the back of a tactical trailer as they ride through the woods. The guns may just be paintball guns, but they’re loaded up with cartridges that contain a special serum that will pacify the zombies on contact. You’ll have the chance to choose from different packages, but zombie experts will probably want to go with the “Commando” package that includes unlimited shots.
Official Website
Dates: Select Dates from September 22nd – November 4th, 2023
Halloweenfest, Brevard
For those that are looking for something a little more family-friendly, there’s Halloweenfest in Brevard. The annual event includes lots of kid-friendly activities, including a Pumpkin Bowl, cookie decorating, a hay maze, mini golf, a climbing wall, and a costume contest. Visitors can also participate in the annual “Flight of the Vampire” 5k race and the downtown trick or treat.
Official Website
Date: October 28th, 2023
Blowing Rock Halloween Festival, Blowing Rock
There’s also plenty of family-friendly Halloween fun to be had at the Blowing Rock Halloween Festival. The event features spooky stories and crafts at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, followed by games, a fun house, hayrides, a costume contest and parade and trick-or-treating through downtown Blowing Rock. Children can also participate in a moonlight scavenger hunt around Broyhill Lake after the costume contest.
Official Website
Date: October 28th, 2023
