5 to Try: Halloween in Charlotte
Fall is time for the crisp smell of leaves, pumpkin picking and all things spooky. Whether you scream for the tricks or crave the sweet treats, Charlotte has plenty of fun Halloween events for you to choose from.
by Chelsea Galusky Oct 23, 2018
From frightful to delightful, here are five Halloween happenings to try (plus one) to put on your October itinerary.
Get Scared
SCarowinds
Weekends in October from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Carowinds
Every fall, Carowinds transforms from “theme park” to “scream park” to help get you into the Halloween spirit. Experience the stuff of nightmares as you navigate more than 16 different haunted shows and attractions. Real adrenaline-seekers, beware: Spine-tingling rides like Fury 325 and Nighthawk will also run under the moonlight.
Ghastly Grown-Ups
KISS 95.1’s Grave Diggers Ball
Saturday, October 27 from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Uptown (300 North Brevard Street, Charlotte, NC 28202)
If you jump at the thought of crazy costume parties as soon as October hits, then you have plenty of choices here in the Queen City. One of the most popular events is KISS 95.1’s Grave Diggers Ball, a concert and giant Halloween party held in Uptown Charlotte every year the Saturday before Halloween. This party has been around for more than a decade, so make sure to get your tickets early. Past headliners included Katy Perry, One Republic, Backstreet Boys and Flo Rida. You’re sure to get a good show with this year’s headliner, Macklemore. Take your shot at the costume contest offering $10,000 in cash and prizes. If you’re ready to party all weekend long, check out the Charloween Bar Crawl or Rich & Bennett’s Annual Halloween Pub Crawl as well.
Family-Friendly Spooktacular
Not-Too-Spooky Haunted Hall
Saturday, October 27 from 6 – 8 p.m.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Bring your family for an evening of treats and fun at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This annual event features crafts and games, a pumpkin patch, the exhibit, crafts and games, a kid-friendly Halloween movie and more. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes to the event. Collect scads of candy as you follow the treat trail on the upper levels of the NASCAR Hall, where the NASCAR Hall mascot Champ the Cheetah has recruited his friends to help out. Each candy station will be hosted by a spooky goblin, superhero or movie character! Tickets are available online or at the door.
Monstrous Music Mayhem
Halloween Spooktacular – Charlotte Symphony
Saturday, October 27 at 11am
Frightful sounds will haunt the Knight Theater when the Charlotte Symphony presents their Halloween Spooktacular. Come in your best costume attire to hear Halloween-themed music including favorites from films like Harry Potter and Jaws.
Contest for a Cause
GUTS Pumpkin Carving Contest
Saturday, October 27 at 1:30pm
BB&T Ballpark
Going on 10 years in 2018, GUTS draws in competitors who want to show off their artistic pumpkin carving abilities for the sake of raising money for the Make-a-Wish foundation. Previous years have seen hand crafted designs of spooky skeletons and creepy smiling pumpkins. Competition is stiff, but it’s all for a good cause.
Plus One
Let it Glow
The Glow: A Jack O’Lantern Experience
October 4 - 28
Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Carolina Rebellion Campground
Experience the most epic pumpkin patch in town: 5,000 hand-carved jack o’lanterns illuminating Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Carolina Rebellion Campground. Called THE GLOW, this family-friendly Halloween stroll features gourds shaped into all sorts of characters, historical figures and landscapes. Along the 1/3-mile path, which is open from Thursday through Sunday, you can also enjoy live demonstrations from The GLOW’s master carvers.