SOUTHEASTERN, N.C. — Halloween festivities are taking place across the Cape Fear this October and there are many events to look forward to in four surrounding counties.
Below are a multitude of events separated by location — New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties — and include fall festivals, trunk-or-treats, haunted houses and trails, ghost tours, film, concerts, and more galore.
The list is laid out by county, with each broken down by category of event — and there are almost 30 to choose from below.
Don’t forget Halloween is on Saturday, Oct. 31, with Devil’s Night on Oct. 30 and Day of the Dead celebrations on Nov. 1.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
Haunted Forest/Ghost Tours
WalkerWorld’s Haunted Forest — Music and art festival at Walkerworld Organic Artist Retreat in Castle Hayne is on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 starting at 8 p.m. It will have a haunted forest trail, live art by Zack Weaver, Brian Jones, Pat Briney, and Lacey Vilandry, a pirates and wenches themed costume contest, and live music from Heter Pan’s Murder Mystery Band, Dubtown Cosmonauts, and Dirty Dead. Tickets range from $26.99 to $97.01.
Springbrook Farm’s Ghost Trolley — A 30-minute narrated horse-drawn tour about the ghostly history of downtown Wilmington, is every Friday and Saturday in October from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets for adults cost $21 and tickets for children 12 and under cost $10 cash or Venmo. Interested parties should meet at Market Street between Water and Front streets.
Poplar Grove Historic House & Museum Paranormal Ghost Tours — Investigative Tours hosted by Haunted Rooms America are scheduled for Oct. 17 and 24 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and tickets cost $129. There is also a full moon tour scheduled for Halloween night on Oct. 31 for $25, though there is no guarantee of ghost activity, cameras and other paranormal equipment are permitted. The Poplar Grove home is allegedly haunted by deceased members of the Foy family, who called Poplar Grove home for six generations, and make their presence known in particular rooms of the house. Guests use professional ghost hunting equipment in small groups, then have time to investigate on their own.
Live Theater, Dance and Film
‘Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play‘ — Written by Lauren Wilson, Big Dawg Theatre Company gothic and suspenseful story which represents a monster inside oneself, will be performed at Thalian Hall in downtown Wilmington between Princess Street and Chestnut Street on 3rd St. from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Sunday, Oct. 25, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m. The play follows Dr. Henry Jekyll, an awkward psychiatrist, who experiments with finding a cure for his own dark impulses.
On Set Cinema — The 1986 horror film “Trick Or Treat” will screen at UNC Wilmington’s Hanover Hall Gymnasium on Saturday, Oct. 17. Check-ins will begin at 1 p.m. and the showing at 2:45 p.m. “Trick or Treat” is about an outcast teenager, played by Marc Price, who becomes haunted by his rock hero, Sammi Curr, played by Tony FIelds and was filmed in Wilmington. There will be a special appearance from the actor Marc Price for autograph and photo opportunities. Tickets are $35 and the movie will play at UNC Wilmington Hanover Hall Gymnasium.
Dixie Grill Halloween Movie Trivia — On Market Street in downtown WIlmington, Dixie Grill will host a Halloween movie trivia night on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and teams with two to six people can register for free here. The trivia will cover horror movies, such as slashers, cult classics, and franchises, villains, and other horror movie characters. There will be a prize for first and second place.
Día De Los Muertos Celebration at Kenan Auditorium — Though Day of the Dead is technically Sunday, Nov. 1, UNCW is celebrating a little earlier. On Friday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium, a celebration of Mexican culture takes place by Jaime Cuéllar’s Mariachi Garibaldi through music, dance, and costumes. Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday where families provide food and drink to the souls of their deceased relatives as a celebration of their life. Tickets start at $25
‘Ghostbusters‘ in Concert — The 1984 hit “Ghostbusters” will be in concert on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m., at Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center. The supernatural comedy is about three psychic phenomena doctors who start a ghost-hunting agency in New York City. It will screen alongside composer Elmer Berstein’s orchestra performing the music featured in the movie along with the movie’s theme song “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. Tickets start at $51.
Halloween Parties
Shadow Bash Halloween Party — In downtown Wilmington off N. 3rd Street, Shadow Bash Halloween Party at The Eagle’s Dare will be hosted on Saturday, Oct. 24 starting at 7 p.m. There will be live performances from metal bands Internal Shadow, Death or Uriah, and Sidera, with DJ 2.0 closing out the night. There will also be a costume contest and the winner will take home a $100 cash prize. Tickets range from $20.63 to $25.79.
Zombie Fest — Also at the Eagle’s Dare, Zombie Fest continues its decades-long celebrations. Hosted on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., it will feature live music from The Tremors Band, The Phantom Playboys and Screamin’ Rebel Angels and a cash prize for the winning costume. Tickets start at $19.05.
Satellite Bar and Lounge — Known for decking out its digs in spiders, webs, pumpkins and more, Satellite is also hosting its annual Halloween Bash off Greenfield Street on Oct. 31. They will feature live music from Kicking Bird and DJ Professor Dub, a costume and dance contest, and the bash starts at 8:30 p.m.
Corn Maze/Trunk or Treat
Trask Family Farms’ Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch — Through Sunday, Nov. 1, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Trask Family Farms located in Castle Hayne, will open their corn maze Wednesdays through Sundays featuring 10 acres, with four different games inside the maze. Attendees who solve it will win a prize. There are also pumpkins, hay rides, a flower field, local honey for sale, homemade ice cream, food from local vendors, live music, and more. Tickets for the corn maze, sold at the farm or available online, cost between $10 to $15. Entry for the maze is allowed until an hour before closing, and children 3 and under are free.
Cape Fear Community College’s Student Veterans Organization Trunk-or-Treat — There will be a family-friendly trunk or treat taking place on CFCC’s downtown campus in the student parking lot #2 located at 700 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. The event is on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Festivities will feature candy decorated trunks, and Halloween costumes are encouraged.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Fall Festivals/Trunk or Treats
Mallory Creek Fall Festival — The Mallory Creek neighborhood off of River Road in Leland will be hosting a free fall market and trunk or treat on Saturday, Oct. 17, starting at 12 p.m. There will be crafts, food trucks, a coffee truck, and live music by Elena Woodard.
Trunk-or-Treat Monster Mash — Belville Riverwalk Park, 580 River Rd SE, Belville, NC 28451, will host trunk-or-treating, open for the public on Friday, Oct. 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will consist of decorated car trunks with candy buckets, festive games, and costume contests; kids are welcome donning their best Halloween attire.
Sunset Beach Park Trunk or Treat — Sunset Beach Police is having a trunk or treat for the public at Sunset Beach Park, 206 Sunset Blvd N, Sunset Beach, NC 28468, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Families will be able to participate in a haunted bounce house, pet adoptions will be on site, and candy will be given away. There will also be opportunities for kids to see city vehicles such as firetrucks, police cars, public works trucks, and a trash receptacle cleaning truck.
Brunswick County Fall Festival — The Brunswick County Government Complex, 30 Government Center Dr NE, Bolivia, NC 28422, will host a fall festival on Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free event will have food and water, a costume contest, games for all ages, hay rides, and a walkthrough haunted trail.
Northwest Fall Festival — At Northwest City Park, 4891 Vernon Rd NE, Northwest, NC 28451, there will be a free fall festival and trunk or treat on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will consist of family games, costumes, and food.
Haunted Trails
Phobia Haunted Trail — Open daily through Nov. 1, from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the Phobia Haunted Trail includes a 30-minute walk with various horror actors providing jumpscares aplenty. The trail, located in Winnabow off Governors Road SE, will not be open on Halloween night. Tickets for general admission cost $27 and VIP tickets cost $37, with last sales taking place at 11 p.m.
Grissettown Haunted Trail — Organized by the Grissettown Longwood Fire and Rescue (Station 31), the haunted trail features a self-guided 30-minute walkthrough with actors and animatronics. It’s located in Ocean Isle Beach off Longwood Road and is open every Friday and Saturday in October, including Halloween, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission costs $20 and is only available for purchase onsite with cash.
Devil’s Night
Witching Hour Halloween Party — On Friday, Oct. 30, Cameron Knowles, owner of the day spa, The Collective: Skin and Social, will host an adult-only party, including an open bar, curated music, a henna tattoo station, Tarot card reading, and custom permanent jewelry. It takes place at the business located at 2163 Britton Rd #110, Leland, NC 28451 and starts at 9 p.m. The attire is witch-inspired fashion and tickets start at $25.
COLUMBUS COUNTY
Fall Festivals/Trunk or Treat
Southeastern Community College Trunk or Treat — The event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in collaboration with Columbus County Parks and Recreation, and H.E.A.R.T.S Foundation. There will be a decorated trunk contest, food, games, and candy free for the public to enjoy in Whiteville; the address is 4564 Chadbourn Hwy, Whiteville, NC 28472.
Haunted Trail/Corn Maze
Panic Attack Haunted Attraction — The haunted experience located at 3245 Pine Level Church Rd, Nakina, NC 28455, begins with a bus ride that drops off customers at a swamp. On foot, guests walk through the dark woods and fog which leads to an asylum. This season will also feature a new Nightmare On Elm Street themed warehouse with red lights and fog. The trail is 1,000 square feet and the actors show off Hollywood-grade special effects to create a realistic fear factor. It is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night in October starting Oct. 9 and closes Nov. 1. Tickets are between $39.99 and $79.99.
Galloway Farm’s Maze Craze — From now through Saturday, Nov. 7 on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Galloway Farm in Hallsboro will host its 16th Maze Craze. Aside from the corn maze, the farm will feature opportunities to meet the animals, purchase food and dessert, and enjoy a giant pipe slide. Guests may go Tuesday through Friday by appointment only. Tickets cost from $15.27 to $37 depending on the package.
PENDER COUNTY
Fall Festivals
Autumn with Topsail — Starting Friday, Oct. 16, and lasting through Sunday, Oct. 18, Topsail Beach will present a fall festival at the Historic Assembly Building & Festival Grounds, 720 Channel Blvd. It will include food vendors and a beer and wine garden and starts Friday, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Burgaw Autumn Fest — At the Pender County Courthouse Square in the center of Burgaw, a fall festival will take place on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will host a 5K race, 1-mile run for kids, craft vendors, kids costume contest, food trucks, pumpkin decorating, pizza eating contest, and axe throwing. Registration for the 5K and one-mile run cost between $15 and $40.
Walking Tours/Corn Mazes
Topsail’s Halloween Walking Tour — A 1-mile Halloween walking tour takes place on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., for all ages and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. The meeting place is the Missiles and More Museum and registration is free; costumes welcome.
Fall Open Farm Day — Agape Farm in Watha is hosting a family-friendly event on Oct. 24 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be food vendors, craft vendors, live music, wagon rides, face painting, lawn games, and activities with the animals. Tickets, available for purchase at the door, cost $15 and children under 3 get in for free.
Tate Farm’s Halloween Attraction — Open every Friday and Saturday in October from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tate Farm is hosting a haunted trail in the woods, an 8-acre corn maze, and a hay-ride at 5514 N North Carolina 11 903 Hwy, Willard, NC 28478. The farm is covered in fog and refreshments such as hot apple cider is available. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door.
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