What to Do in Charlotte in October – Charlotte Magazine

Happy Spooky Season to all who celebrate. Here’s a roundup of ways to enjoy fall and feel festive in Charlotte this month, followed by a list of where to find haunted houses in and around town.

OMB Ballantyne: Mecktoberfest

October 11 – 13

Enjoy traditional German food and live music in the Biergarten, and participate in 1-liter Das Boot and stein-holding contests.

11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Ballantyne

Primal Brewery Annual Fall Fest

October 12

Food trucks, makers’ market, vendors, and live music.

12 p.m. – 11 p.m., Primal Brewery, Huntersville, Free

Catawba Fest

October 12

The event features an arts and crafts show with wares from local artisans, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, fall plant potting education, food trucks, a kid’s zone and a Cupcake Challenge for all ages.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Catawba Park, 2351 New Gray Rock Road, Tega Cay. Free.

Autumn Treasures

Oct. 12-13

Local crafters display wares on Main Street, while local musicians fill the streets with song. The Kids Zone features inflatables, carnival rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, children’s entertainment and crafts.

Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Downtown Waxhaw. Street parking is available downtown, or park off-site and take one of the shuttles.

Belmont Movies in the Park

October 12 & 26

Outdoor showings of Hocus Pocus (Oct. 12) and The Addams Family (Oct. 26).

Movies start at 7 p.m. Stowe Park Pavilion, Belmont. Free

Hocus Pocus Fall Social

Thursday, Oct. 17

The Charlotte chapter of women’s social group The Beauty Boost hosts this Hocus Pocus-themed evening at Free Range Brewing. Grab a beer, meet other women, listen to Halloween tunes, and enjoy a wicked hang.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Free Range Brewing. Tickets: $25

Pineville Fall Festival

Oct. 17 – 19

Come enjoy food, music, rides, art and vendors. Stay tuned to the website for updated information.

Thursday/Friday – 6 – 10 p.m. Saturday – 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Jack D. Hughes Park, 513 Main St., Pineville. Free.

Carolina Balloonfest

Oct. 18 – 20

Bring your cameras, lawn chairs and blankets to experience a family-friendly festival featuring more than 50 hot air balloons, live music, food, wine and craft beer, a kids’ zone and an artisan marketplace.

Friday, 3-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Statesville Regional Airport, Statesville. $15-$45.

AWLC Raptor Faire at the Historic Sharpe House

Saturday, Oct. 19

This event doesn’t have an official Halloween theme, but it includes a Renaissance costume contest and birds that could rip you to shreds. The Allison Woods Outdoor Learning Center is bringing raptors to Statesville’s Historic Sharpe House to demonstrate how the Scots and English used them for sport and survival during the Renaissance. There will also be period food and music.

2-5 p.m. The Historic Sharpe House, Statesville. Tickets start at $15

Lights, Camera, Birkdale

Saturday, Oct. 19

An outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus.

Movie starts at 7:30 p.m. The Plaza at Birkdale Village. Free

Movie Nights in the Biergarten

Wednesday, Oct. 23

An outdoor showing of Casper.

Movie starts at 7 p.m. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo. Free

October Paint & Brew

Thursday, Oct. 24

Sip some Primal brews while local artist Aimee-Rose provides step-by-step instructions for a Halloween-themed painting.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Primal Brewery, Huntersville. Tickets: $30 

Candy Crawl + MonsterMarket

Friday, Oct. 25

Gather your costume-clad family and head to NoDa’s Urban District Market for an evening of games, music, and trick-or-treating.

5-9 p.m. Urban District Market. Free

“Trick or Drink” Halloween Party

Friday, Oct. 25

Home Brew Taproom & Tunes in downtown Monroe celebrates Halloween with a costume contest, music, and dancing.

7-11 p.m. Home Brew Taproom & Tunes, Monroe. Free

Running Scared 5 Miler/5K

Saturday, Oct. 26

Throw on your best (run-friendly) costume for scenic 5-mile and 5K races through and around Wesley Heights. There will also be a 1-mile race, plus face painting, games, food trucks, beer, and music.

9 a.m. Midnight Mulligan Brewery. Race registration starts at $20

Boos & Brews 

Saturday, Oct. 26

Come dressed to impress for the Halloween costume contest and you could win a palette (that’s 50 cases) of Pumpkin Blaster Beer. Live music and horror movies included.

Sugar Creek Brewing, Free.

Halloween Daze and Spooky Knights!

Oct. 26-27

Halloween comes to the Carolina Renaissance Festival, with trick-or-treating at more than 100 locations in Festival Village; a treasure hunt; a costume contest; zombie jousting competitions; and vendors selling Halloween costumes and accessories. Free for kids 12 and under. Tickets required.

9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. Tickets: $34

NoDaWeen

Oct. 26, 27, and 31

NoDa hosts a Freaky 5K Road Race (Saturday, Oct. 26, 5 p.m.); a NoDa Downtown Candy Crawl (Sunday, Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m.); and a 35th Street Trick or Treat (Thursday, Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m.) with a house-decorating contest.

Haunted Houses and Trails Throughout October

Booger Jim’s Hollow

278 Doolittle St., Blacksburg, S.C.
864-492-7246
Select nights through Oct. 31. Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m.-midnight; Sun.-Mon., 7-10:30 p.m.
Cost: $28 for admission, Children under 11, $20
Infants are not allowed, but use your discretion if you have very young or sensitive children.

BoogerWoods

725 Phaniel Church Rd., Rockwell
704-855-7922
Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 and Nov 2.
Cost: $30. All tickets are fast pass. Cash only.

The Haunted Pyramids

2745 Toney Rd., Lawndale
704-477-6783
Fridays and Saturdays from Sept. 13 – Nov 2, and Halloween night. 7:30 p.m.-midnight.
Cost: $30 general admission, $45 VIP admission, includes all attractions.

Hickory Grove Haunted Trail

4064 Mountain View St., Gastonia
704-913-9408
Open every Friday and Saturday in October and select weeknights. Fri.-Sat., dark-midnight; weeknights, dark-10 p.m.
Cost: $20.
Not recommended for small children.

Hillside Horror

2122 Hoots Rd., Roaring River
336-452-2800
Every Friday-Saturday through Nov. 2. Gates are open from 7:30-11 p.m.
Cost: Spooky Hayride: $10; Haunted Woods/Corn Maze, $20; Trail and hayride, $25. Midway of Madness attractions vary in price; tickets are available onsite only.
Not recommended for small children, those with health issues and pregnant women.

Kersey Valley Spooky Woods

1615 Kersey Valley Rd., Archdale
336-431-1700
Select nights Oct 4 -Nov. 2. Fri.-Sat., dark until 11 p.m; Sun.,-Mon. dark until 10 p.m.
Cost: Tickets start at $25 and vary by night.
Not recommended for guests under age 12.

Lake Hickory Haunts

520 Carolina Ave., Hickory
828-212-1442
Select nights through Nov. 2; times vary by night. Tickets prices vary. Online purchase is suggested. Fast and VIP passes are available.
Not recommended for small children.

Maze of Terror

5980 Woodlead Rd., China Grove
704-202-5591
Fridays and Saturdays from in October, 7:30 -11 p.m.
Cost: $25, cash only. Little Spooks, $5 on select dates.
Maze of Terror is suitable for most ages.

​Reaper’s Realm Haunted Farm and Trail

5980 Woodleaf Rd., Salisbury
704-857-7357
Select nights in October. Ticket sales start at 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $25; $30 on Saturday nights. $5 parking. Cash only.
Stay tuned to the Facebook page for updated information.

​SCarowinds

Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd.
704-588-2600
Select nights through Oct. 29 from 7 p.m.-midnight.
Cost: Tickets starting at $51.99.
Not recommended for kids under age 13.

​Scarrigan Farms

Carrigan Farms, 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Highway, Mooresville
704-664-1450
Select nights from October 4 – November 1; ticket times start at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $20-$40. Advance reservations required. Cash only.
Ages 12+.

The 13th Acre Haunt

Aw Shucks Farm, 3718 Plyler Mill Rd., Monroe
704-709-7000
Select nights through Oct. 31. Gates open at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $25-$65.
Not recommended for kids 12 and younger.