A Carolina weekend, one local plan at a time

NC · Charlotte metro · Charlotte

District 6 community town hall

Saturday, October 24 · 10 a.m.–noon

Mint Museum Randolph, Van Every Auditorium · 2370 Randolph Road

A free city town hall on local history, transportation and community questions. Check the City’s registration link before attending. On-site parking and CATS routes 15/39 are listed.

NC · Triangle · Raleigh

Spellbound at Mordecai

Saturday, October 24 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Mordecai Historic Park · 1 Mimosa Street

Free and open to the public, with pumpkin decorating, crafts and family activities. Check organizer registration for updates and the family costume policy: no horror, gore, weapons or full masks. Check separate tour availability and pricing with the organizer.

NC · Triad · Greensboro

Ghoulash Halloween Festival

Saturday, October 24 · 2:30–5:30 p.m.

Center City Park, 200 N. Elm Street · LeBauer Park, 208 N. Davie Street

General admission is listed free. Some activities cost extra: the detailed organizer listing gives a $5 per-child inflatable donation and $2 costume-contest entry. Most activities are aimed at ages 12 and under; confirm the current activity and fee details.

NC · Western mountains · Asheville

Día de Muertos at Stephens-Lee Center

Saturday, October 24 · 2–4 p.m.

Stephens-Lee Center · 30 George Washington Carver Boulevard

The City lists a free, all-ages gathering with crafts, music, food, face painting and an ofrenda. Children under 14 attend with an adult. Recheck the City’s 2026 announcement for updates.

NC · Coast · Wilmington

Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival

Saturday, October 24 · Park listing noon–5 p.m.

Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park

Paid tickets are required; the ticket tier may control arrival time. Check current prices with the organizer. Check age and ID requirements, ticket conditions and downtown parking. The organizer lists no re-entry or pets and no on-site park parking; designated drivers must also be 21 or older.

NC · Cumberland / military area · Fayetteville

Halloween at the BOOtanical Garden

Friday–Sunday, October 23–25 · 4:30–9 p.m. nightly

Cape Fear Botanical Garden · 536 N. Eastern Boulevard

Timed, paid admission: advance prices list nonmembers ages 11+ at $14, members ages 11+ at $12, ages 3–10 at $9 and under 3 free. The organizer currently says walk-up tickets are unavailable. Confirm advance timed-ticket availability before going. Bring a candy bag and flashlight. Dog Night is October 22 only, outside this weekend.

NC · Triangle · Durham

Howl at the View

Saturday, October 24 · 5–7 p.m.

Rolling View Community Building, Falls Lake State Recreation Area · 4201 Baptist Road

An all-ages outing with trunk-or-treat, crafts and hiking. Check current park access and any event or park-entry charges before heading over.

NC · Triangle · Cary

Family Pumpkin Carve at Downtown Scary Park

Saturday, October 24 · 2–6 p.m.

Downtown Cary Park, Frantz Square Lawn · 327 S. Academy Street

Pick a pumpkin and make an afternoon of it. Pumpkins are available for purchase while supplies last. Check current Skywalk access and activity details with the park before going.

NC · Triad · Winston-Salem

Boo! at Bethabara

Saturday, October 24 · 1:30–4:30 p.m.

Historic Bethabara Park · 2147 Bethabara Road

Admission is free. The main park road closes at 1 p.m.; check the organizer’s parking guide, accessible-parking information and event updates before setting off.

NC · Randolph County · Asheboro

Boo at the NC Zoo

Saturday & Sunday, October 24–25 · 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

North Carolina Zoo · 4401 Zoo Parkway

Budget for regular Zoo admission plus a separate Boo wristband: $10 for guests or $8 for NC Zoo Society members. Wristband sales end at 2 p.m. and are same-day only. Every activity participant needs one. The Zoo provides the Boo bag; leave outside trick-or-treat bags at home. Activities are in Africa and the Africa Amphitheater, with a quiet sensory area at Oak Hill.

NC · Triad · High Point

Crafternoon at the library

Sunday, October 25 · 2:30–3:30 p.m.

High Point Public Library, Children’s Storyroom · 901 N. Main Street

An indoor Sunday option listed on the City’s October library calendar. Check intended ages, registration and any materials fee with the library before making plans; those details are not stated in the calendar listing.

NC · Triangle · Chapel Hill

Sunday STEAM

Sunday, October 25 · 3–3:45 p.m.

Chapel Hill Public Library, Meeting Room B · 100 Library Drive

Science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for grades K–5. Registration is required. Check the official event page for availability before heading over; a registration deadline does not guarantee a space remains. Admission cost is not stated in the retrieved listing.

SC · Midlands · Columbia

Adaptive Sports Day

Saturday, October 24 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Greenview Park · 6700 David Street

Check registration, participation requirements and admission with City Parks & Recreation before going.

SC · Upstate · Fountain Inn

Children’s author pop-up at M. Judson

Saturday, October 24 · 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

M. Judson Booksellers · 109 N. Main Street

Meet children’s author Jeff Lefko at this free pop-up at M. Judson’s Fountain Inn shop. Book purchases are separate.

SC · Grand Strand area · Conway

Under a Broadway Spell

Friday & Saturday, October 23–24 · 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 25 · 3 p.m.

Main Street Theatre · 331 Main Street

Theatre of the Republic’s Halloween revue offers an indoor option. It is ticketed; verify current prices and seats with the theatre.

SC · Southern Lowcountry · Hilton Head Island

Crescendo Songwriter Show

Friday, October 23 · 6–8 p.m.

Lowcountry Celebration Park · Pope Avenue

A free concert listed by the Town arts program, featuring Eric Reid & The Hebron Road Ramblers with Matt Eckstine and Nick Poulin. Recheck weather and event updates.

SC · Lake country · Fair Play

Halloween at Lake Hartwell State Park

Saturday, October 24 · 4–6 p.m.

Visitor Center · 19138-A Highway 11 South, off I-85 exit 1

Bring a trick-or-treat bag. The park lists $5 per car for the event; that is not a per-person admission figure. This outing is on the South Carolina side of Lake Hartwell.

SC · Midlands · Lexington

Scarecrow Stroll on Main

Self-guided displays · October 12–29, including October 23–25

Main Street · Downtown Lexington

A free, family-friendly downtown walk with scarecrow displays along Main Street. Choose a time that works for your group and check individual business hours if you plan to stop inside.

SC · Upstate · Spartanburg

ReGenesis Well-O-Ween

Saturday, October 24 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

200 College Street, Spartanburg

Check admission, registration and program details with the organizer before going. The City lists a College Street closure from Howard to Magnolia, so allow for a different arrival route.

SC · Upstate · Anderson

Electric City Food Truck Festival and Halloween Fun Run

Saturday, October 24 · 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Festival: Linley Park · 1815 Park Drive, Anderson

Enjoy the free festival and post-race activities; food purchases are separate. The optional, untimed one-mile fun run needs registration: $5 per participant plus a $1.30 sign-up fee. The run start and ribbon cutting are at Anderson Recreation Center, 1107 N. Murray Avenue. Festival visitors do not need to register. Costumes are encouraged, not required.

SC · Southern Lowcountry · Beaufort

Southern Women Writers Panel

Saturday, October 24 · 3–4:30 p.m.

USCB Center for the Arts · 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort

An afternoon literary-festival session about books and reading. Check the organizer’s ticket link for the panel price and remaining availability before making plans. Other festival sessions may have different prices and registration.

SC · Upstate · Clemson

Explore Science

Friday, October 23 · 4–6 p.m.

Lawn between Long and Martin halls · Clemson University

Hands-on science for the whole family. Clemson identifies the event as open to the public. Use the university’s RSVP link and check admission, parking and campus arrival details before going; admission cost is not stated on the primary page.

SC · Lake Keowee · Seneca

Keowee Marina Fall Festival

Sunday, October 25 · 1–4 p.m.

Keowee Marina · 150 Keowee Marina Drive, Seneca

Admission is free and open to everyone. Enjoy children’s games, craft and treat vendors, a DJ and a costume contest; bingo begins at 3 p.m. Budget separately for food and vendor purchases, and check the marina’s updates before heading out.

SC · Lake Jocassee · Salem

All the Falls: a six-hour lake tour

Saturday, October 24 · 10 a.m. departure · six hours

Devils Fork State Park area · Salem

Jocassee Lake Tours lists this guided waterfall tour at $125 per adult. Park entry is extra. Check the operator’s booking calendar for current availability and final charges. Read the seasonal parking and arrival instructions in your confirmation before travelling. Weather or insufficient bookings may cause cancellation.

SC · Southern Lowcountry · Bluffton

Safety Spooktacular

Friday, October 23 · 5–7 p.m.

Rotary Community Center/Field of Dreams · 7 Recreation Court, Bluffton, SC 29910

This free, public community-safety event offers a Halloween outing with candy and local participants. Check the Town’s event page for any changes before travelling.

SC · York County · Rock Hill

Firelight Fright Storytelling

Saturday, October 24 · Starts at 5 p.m.

Fewell Park Recreation Center lawn · 1204 Alexander Road, Rock Hill

Settle in for outdoor spooky stories with Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism and York County Library. Bring a chair or blanket. Admission is free; food trucks sell items separately. Check the finish time with the organizers before you go.

Additional listing checked October 22, 2026. Confirm organizer changes before travel.

SC · Aiken County · Aiken

City of Aiken Trunk-or-Treat

Saturday, October 24 · 3–6 p.m.

Citizens Park · 1060 Banks Mill Road, Aiken

Decorated trunks, costumes, games and a DJ make this a family afternoon for children 12 and under. Admission is $1 per child; bring an accompanying adult and cash for entry or other purchases. Pets are not permitted.

Additional listing checked October 22, 2026. Confirm organizer changes before travel.

SC · Horry County · Little River / North Myrtle Beach

Halloween BOOnanza

Saturday, October 24 · 5–8 p.m.

North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex Soccer/Lacrosse Complex · 150 Citizens Circle, Little River

The City’s soccer fields host costume-friendly games, inflatables, music and marshmallow roasting. Bring a goodie bag and cash: admission is $5 for everyone age 3 and up, including adults; ages 2 and under enter free. Children need a parent or guardian. Concessions cost extra.

Additional listing checked October 22, 2026. Confirm organizer changes before travel.

SC · Beaufort County · Beaufort

Conroy Center Open House

Saturday, October 24 · 5:30–7 p.m.

Pat Conroy Literary Center · 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort

The literary festival continues with an evening open house at the Conroy Center, a different venue and session from the afternoon panel. The organizer lists both free and ticketed festival events but does not specify this session’s admission or registration requirements; check those before going.

Additional listing checked October 22, 2026. Confirm organizer changes before travel.