Here’s your guide to Halloween events in the Triangle, from family-friendly to spooky
Halloween is off to an early start for families and could lead to a three-day party for others in the Triangle, with Oct. 31 falling on a Thursday this year.
The annual Franklin Street celebration in Chapel Hill could draw a smaller crowd than in years past, similar to last year when the event landed on a Tuesday, town spokesman Alex Carrasquillo said. It typically kicks off around 8 p.m.
The holiday historically attracted 60,000 or more people to the quarter-mile strip between Henderson and North Columbia streets, but the town took steps in 2008 to reduce the crowd, creating a “Homegrown Halloween” event for residents and UNC students.
The turnout has shrunk since 2020, when the event was canceled because of COVID. Weather kept people away in subsequent years.
There aren’t any plans to close downtown streets to accommodate Halloween party-goers this year, Carrasquillo said, but extra law enforcement will be on hand as usual to make sure the event goes smoothly.
Party-goers should leave these items at home or risk being turned back or having their items confiscated:
▪ Open containers of alcohol
▪ Weapons, or items that look like or could be used as weapons
▪ Drones
It’s one of many events happening across the Triangle over the next 10 days. Send additional listings to tgrubb@newsobserver.com.
Chapel Hill
Haunted Hill Fest: Starts at 4 p.m. Oct 25 at Community Center Park, 120 S. Estes Drive. Costumes are encouraged. Includes a Haunted Bus, games and activities, Trunk-or-Treat and the Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest at 5 p.m.. A Movie in the Park, “The Addams Family,” starts at 7 p.m.
Participants, ages 5 and older, must register to compete in the Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Prizes will be awarded for carved pumpkins, painted and decorated pumpkins, and nontraditional pumpkins, such as those made with ceramics or fabric.
Parking is free at the park, the Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Post Office and Wells Fargo Bank buildings.
▪ Pumpkin Carving with Goats: Runs through Oct. 31 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at Spring Haven Farms, 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel Hill. Tickets are $14.95 in advance, $15.95 at the door, and include animal treats, a ride on the Tractor Train, Bubble Barn, Farm Games, and an activity book for kids up to age 12. Pumpkins are an additional charge. More information: springhavenfarm.com/farm-events.
▪ Witch’s Haunted Barn: Noon-7 p.m., Oct. 26 at Firefly Farm, 4911 Hunt Road, Hillsborough. Featuring farm animals, a labyrinth, pumpkin patch and trails. Children age 2 and under get in free; tickets $10 each. More information: fireflyfarmnc.com/hauntedbarn-pumpkinpatch
Carrboro
▪ Halloween Carnival: 5:30-8 p.m., Oct. 25, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St. Featuring free carnival games and activities, with prizes. Popcorn, hot chocolate and apple cider available for purchase. Costumes encouraged.
Hillsborough and Efland
▪ Trunk or Treat: 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 25, in the Hillsborough Police Department parking lot, 127 N. Churton St. Open to children of all ages and pets who are on a leash and well-behaved.
▪ Myrtle Grove Haunt: 6-11 p.m. Oct. 25-26 and Halloween night. No-scare admission from 6-7 p.m. Haunted Barn starts at 8 p.m. The barn is located at 3510 N.C. 86, Hillsborough. Tickets from $20-$40, but children under 5 get in free. Tickets and more information: myrtlegrovehaunt.com.
▪ Orange County Feargrounds: 7-10:30 p.m., Oct. 25-26 at Lloyd’s Dairy Barn, 226 North Lloyds Dairy Road, Efland. Spooky hayride and 20,000-square-foot haunted barn. Tickets are $5-$10 per child, $10-$20 for adults. Proceeds benefit the Red Cross Club, YMCA Youth and Cedar Ridge High School Band. More information: feargrounds.org
▪ Halloween at Burwell: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Burwell School, 319 N. Churton St. Halloween crafts and candy followed by a special tour featuring costumed guides, eerie tales from the past. More information: burwellschool.org/events
▪ Chestnut Ridge Pumpkin Patch: 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 26 at 4300 Camp Chestnut Ridge Road, Efland. Also includes animals, campfire fun and a hayride. Admission is $8 per person, ages 2 and under get in free. Pumpkins cost $7 to $15. More information: campchestnutridge.org/pumpkin-patch
▪ McKee’s Corn Maze: 12-acre corn maze open 3-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and 1-6 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 2 at 5011 Kiger Road, Rougemont. Special Oct. 26 event includes pumpkin carving with farm animals and a kids’ costume contest at 2 p.m. Tickets $16; children under 2 get in free. More information: mckeecornfieldmaze.com/corn-maze-1
Durham
▪ Pumpkin Patch Express: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 26-27 at the Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave. Includes pumpkin decorating, a hay maze, science activities, duck races and other games, popcorn and a ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway. Tickets are $15 each, plus museum admission. Kids under age 2 get in free. More information: lifeandscience.org/explore/pumpkin-patch-express.
▪ Candlelight concerts: 9-10:15 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 at Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St. Tickets are $30.10 for “A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics.” More information: tinyurl.com/ymbxret9.
▪ Halloween Phantasmagoria: 6:30-9:30 p.m., Oct. 25 at Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Road. Explore spiritualism and wonders throughout the property. Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Kids up to age 3 get in free, but organizers say some scenes may be inappropriate for young children. More information: dukehomestead.org/special-events.
▪ BooFest: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 26-27 and on Halloween at the Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave. Costumes are encouraged. Includes science activities, a pumpkin party station, spooky activities and Halloween-themed fun. Tickets are included with museum admission. More information: lifeandscience.org/explore/boofest.
▪ Barktoberfest: 3:30-6:30 p.m., Oct. 26, at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St. Durham Parks and Rec hosts the annual dog costume contest with local celebrity judges. Includes food trucks and brewers. More information: tinyurl.com/5n9xhbhd.
▪ Hallow-Eno: 3:30-6:30 p.m., Oct. 26, at West Point on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro St. Featuring campfire stories, hayrides, crafts, face painting and treats. Free for ages 12 and under, and their parents.
▪ Triangle Terror Con: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 27, at The Durham Armory, 212 Foster St. Horror-themed convention with vendors and celebrity guests, a cosplay contest, wildlife meet and greet, and a Q&A with playwright and screenwriter Rollin Jewett. Tickets are $15. More information: triangleterrorcon.com.
Raleigh
▪ Kooky Spooky Halloween Party: 6-8:30 p.m., Oct. 25, at Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St. Features a monster mash dance party, games, science experiments and more. Costumes encouraged. Tickets are $20-$22. The event is cashless. More information: marbleskidsmuseum.org/KookySpooky.
▪ Halloween Treasure Hunt: 2-3 p.m. Oct. 26-27 and 6-7 p.m. Halloween night at Sir Walter Coffee, 145 E. Davie St. Teams of 2 to 5 people compete in Halloween-themed puzzles and challenges to unlock the treasure chest. Admission is $12 for ages 10-17 and $20 for adults. Hosted by Triangle Treasure Hunt. More information: triangletreasurehunt.com/upcoming-events.
▪ Dark Raleigh 2024: 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25 at the City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St., Suite 100. Annual interactive walking tour explores some of the capital city’s most chilling stories. Hosted by the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum, the tour is for ages 16 and older. More information: tinyurl.com/2dsm2ve2.
▪ Bewitched: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road. Halloween-themed music performed by a 40-member costumed choir. Tickets $35. More information: tinyurl.com/59md6cpn.
Cary
▪ Zombiepalooza: 4-9:30 p.m. Oct 25 at the Great Lawn Pavilion at Downtown Cary Park. The annual Zombie short film competition and costume contest is open to all ages. The free event also includes undead face-painting, a special effects makeup demonstration, games and crafts, and food trucks from 4-9 p.m. Picnics are welcome, and chairs and blankets for the film screening are encouraged. More information: tinyurl.com/2ka6tm86.
▪ Trunk or Treat: 4-6 p.m., Oct. 24 at Downtown Cary Park on Park Street. The free event is hosted by the Cary Police Department.
▪ Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park: 4-7 p.m., Oct. 25 at 801 High House Road. All-ages event includes music, food and activities, including boat rentals from 4-6:15 p.m. Pre-carved pumpkins (up to 8 pounds) can be dropped off from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Bond Park Boathouse to be entered in the flotilla. More information: tinyurl.com/mvd28ytz.
▪ Haunted Walk: 7-10 p.m., Oct. 25-26 at Bond Park Challenge Course. The spooky walk is all ages, but a parent or guardian is “strongly advised” for younger folks. Tickets are $5 and will benefit the Cary Teen Council.
▪ Ghostly Legends at the Old Hotel: Two shows at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Oct. 26, at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary. Cary Players bring haunted tales to life. Tickets are $20 per person, ages 11 and up. More information: tinyurl.com/474wjx2w.
Wendell
▪ Trick or Treat Trail: 4:30-8 p.m., Oct. 25, at Wendell Town Park, 409 Landing View Drive. Costumes are encouraged. All ages event features Halloween trick or treating on the trail, hosted by Wendell Parks & Recreation Department.
Fuquay-Varina
▪ Trick-or-Treat Downtown: 2-5 p.m., Oct. 25, in downtown Fuquay-Varina. Costumes encouraged at this free event hosted by the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association and about 100 downtown businesses. Look for the “Trick-or-treat here!” poster to find goodies.
▪ Naylor Family Farm: 11 a.m.-4 pm Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Halloween night. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 1-6 p.m. in November. Located at 6016 U.S. 401 North. Tickets are $20 for ages 4 and older, and include a free pumpkin, interactive hayride, tube slides, farm animal petting zoo, inflatables and other activities. More information: tinyurl.com/36sv6h5d.
Outside the Triangle
▪ Haunted Forest at Panic Point: Opens at 6:45 p.m. Friday-Sunday and Halloween night. Located at 2808 Cedar Creek Road in Youngsville. Tickets are $44, but drop to $34 Nov. 1-2, and includes five attractions. More information: raleighhauntedhouse.com.
▪ Granville Haunt Farm: 7-11 p.m., Oct. 25-26, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The farm, located at 4534 U.S. 15 in Oxford, is bringing horror movies to life this year at the Drive-Thru Drive-In. Visitors enter through a giant movie screen and remain in their vehicle for the thrill ride. Tickets range from $25 to $75, depending on the night and number of passengers. More information: granvillehauntfarm.com.
▪ Hollywood Horror Show: 8-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, 8-10 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 2. The Original Hollywood Horror Show is located at 6333 Bass Mountain Road in Snow Camp. Tickets are $35. More information: hollywoodhorrorshow.com.
▪ Woods of Terror: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sunday and Halloween night (6:30 p.m. on Saturday). Located at 5601 N. Church St. in Greensboro. Tickets start at $35. No bags allowed. Parking is $10-$20 (cash only). More information: woodsofterror.com.
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 2:32 PM.
