Is there a better holiday than Halloween? I think not. I thought it was stupid until we lived in the US, went to our first Halloween party, and experienced the fun of dressing up in costume and partying with friends.
I was shocked at the lengths people went to, not just with their costumes, but decorating their homes with garden cemeteries, spooky light shows, and haunted mazes.
And then kids came along and we experienced the joy of trick or treating. You spend your years warning your children to never accept candy from strangers (because that’s how the baddies trap you) and then for one night of the year you encourage them to knock on strange doors and collect bags full.
Halloween is one crazy holiday and this year is shaping up to be spooktacular!
After researching for this guide on Halloween in Raleigh and the Triangle, I’ve realized just how many more things there are to do during Halloween. Thankfully many of these haunted houses and attractions start and finish way before and beyond October 31.
Don’t tire yourself out searching for Halloween events near me, let us save you the time with this Halloween guide.
I’m breaking this guide down to Halloween Festivals and events, Haunted Houses and Farms, Ghost tours, Halloween for kids in Raleigh, and adults only Halloween things to do across Wake County, the Triangle, and up to 90-minutes drive away.
Please leave your suggestions in the comments section at the bottom of this post!
Halloween Festivals and Events
Raleigh Halloween House
- Where: 504 Oakwood Avenue
The best thing to do for Halloween in Raleigh is visit the legendary Halloween House in Historic Oakwood, famous for its elaborate and spooky Halloween decorations including a lawn full of zombies and skeletons.
It’s our Halloween tradition to visit every year and see what is new and to be wowed at the amount of detail and work that goes into it. This Raleigh Halloween attraction is kid-friendly. Our girls love it, but use discretion based upon your child’s age and personality.
Watch our video below of the Raleigh Halloween House from 2021. You can see our Reel of the House for 2022.
And another video of a Halloween House around the corner on Elm St
Carolina Ballet presents Dracula
- Where: Memorial Auditorium at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
- When: Oct 13 -30, 2022
- Thurs. and Fri., 7:30pm
- Sat., 2pm and 7:30pm
- Sun., 2pm
- Cost: $35+
- Website:
What better way to enjoy Halloween than with a performance of Dracula and The Red Death from the Carolina Ballet. Similar to the Black Plague, the Red Death sweeps through towns and villages of Europe.
Oakwood Cemetery Series: Burning Coal Theater Company
- Where: Oakwood Cemetery
- When:
- Friday, September 30th, 2022 at 6:30PM
- Saturday, October 1st, 2022 at 6:30PM
- Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 at 2:00PM
- Cost: $20 adults | $10 students
- Website:
What a fantastic way to get to know the history and haunting tales of Raleigh in its most historic cemetery.
Every October, Burning Coal Theatre partners with the historic Oakwood Cemetery to present a series of short plays based on the lives of people buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, their partners, neighbors, associates and nemeses’. These short plays are written from Triangle playwrights.
Movies on the Lawn: Halloween Double Feature
- Where: Flowers Field, Dorothea Dix Park
- When: October 29, 2022 6-10pm
There is so much to love about this ScreamFest in Dorothea Dix Park. Two classics back to back: Hocus Pocus (7pm) followed by Scream (8:30pm). Come dressed in your favorite costume. There is a parade and prizes starting at 6pm. Food trucks on site and you can BYO.
Zombiepalooza, Cary
- Where: Cary Theater, Downtown Cary
- When: October 28,2022, 7pm
- Website: www.thecarytheater.com/zombiepalooza
We were quite surprised by the dedicated turn out for Zombiepalooza when we visited pre-COVID.
The Cary Theater hosts a free event showcasing locally created zombie short films on a huge outdoor screen. Plenty of people dressed in their best zombie gear! This is a FREE family-friendly event.
Raleigh Ghost Tours
While you can join most of these Raleigh ghost tours at any time of the year in Raleigh, why not add extra sprinkles to your tingles by doing it for Halloween.
Raleigh Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour
- Where: Downtown Raleigh, NC
- When: Fri-Sun, 7:30pm
- Cost: $15 child (8-14) $18 adult
- Website: Tobacco Road Tours
Let’s forget the fake zombies and ghouls, let’s bring Halloween to the REAL life.
The 90-minute family friendly Raleigh Ghost Walk combines local ghost stories, folklore and history from the 1700’s through the 20th century. You’ll visit four different Ghost & Paranormal sites.
It’s entertaining and educational at the same time.
Ghosts and Dark History Guided Night Walking Tour
- Where: Downtown Raleigh
- When: Daily 8pm
- Cost: $30
- Reserve your spot
Prepare to be spooked outside some of the most haunted locations in Raleigh on a ghost walking tour. Journey to eight sites that cast a shadow over the city’s history, including the Heck-Andrews House.
Choose to extend your ghost hunt with the 1.5-hour tour which takes you to four additional locations downtown. Step into history at Isaac Hunter’s Tavern and uncover more terrifying tales of the past.
Self-Guided Ghost Hunt
- Where: Downtown Raleigh
- When: your own time
- Cost: $10
- Website: Built story
Here’s a Halloween idea to do yourself at a time that suits you. Purchase the ghost hunt tour and stories via the Built Story app.
Follow the app to explore 20 locations and listen to the haunted stories and legends connected to these notorious haunts and the City of Oak former citizens. Sites are mostly located in downtown Raleigh and N.C. State University. You will need a car for this Raleigh ghost hunt.
Suitable for elementary ages and above
Haunted History Walking Tour
- Where: Starts Governor’s Mansion 200 Blount St.
- When: Sept – Oct
- Fri, 7-8:30pm
- Sat, 5-6:30pm
- Sun Oct 30, 4:30pm-6pm
- Cost: Pay what you want (suggested donations $15-$20 per adult)
- Book tickets in advance
This 90 minute guided walking tour will take you to four city landmarks where you’ll hear eerie tales and stories of the history and legacy of the Raleigh Landmark.
This is a history tour sharing real haunting tales from past events. You’re not ghost hunting, but that’s not to say you won’t see one!
Kid-friendly, but does depend on your child’s sensitivity!
Kid-Friendly Halloween Experiences in Raleigh
While some of the other Triangle Halloween experiences we’ve mentioned may be for kids (depending on age and personality), you can be assured that the following in this category are family-friendly Halloween events for all ages, but probably more geared to younger kids.
Kooky Spooky, Marbles Kids Museum
- Where: Marbles Kids Museum
- When: Oct, 28, 6-8:30pm
- Cost: $16 for members
- Website:
Fans of Marbles Kids Museum will love having a spooktacular Halloween after dark with a Monster Mash Dance Party, a Mad Scientist lab and more. Come in costume!
Track or Treat Halloween Express Train Ride
- Where: New Hope Valley Railway / North Carolina Railway Museum (NCRM)
- When: Oct 15, 22 & 29
- Cost: $14
- Website:
What kid wouldn’t want to ride on a train with scenes of flying witches, smoking cauldrons, Count Dracula and other friendly creatures. You can also search for 13 hidden mummies along the train tracks.
The vintage New Hope Valley Railway travels along 4 miles of historic woods from Bonsal to New Hill and back. The journey takes about an hour and you can bring food and drink.
Train lovers will also enjoy the model railroads and artifacts located onsite at the open-air North Carolina Railway Museum.
Pumpkin Flotilla, Bond Lake, Cary
- Where: Bond Lake, Cary
- Time: Oct 28, 4-6pm
- Cost: Free
- Website: https://www.townofcary.org
Each October, pumpkins set sail across the Bond Park Lake at twilight accompanied by local music, snacks, and Halloween activities!
Floats are limited and first come first served. If you want to show off your carved pumpkin, drop it off at the Bond Park boathouse in the days leading up to the event.
If you miss the flotilla evening, the pumpkins are typically left on the lake and they relight them for the next couple of nights.
Gabi’s Ghostly Gala
- Where: Whitaker and Atlantic 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road #STE 111 Raleigh, NC 27604
- When: Friday, October 14, 2022 | 7p.m. – 10.p.m.
- Cost: $30 – $100
- Tickets
A fun night of dancing, music, food, drinks, and a silent auction. All money raised will go to grow the team at Gabi’s, who employs people with special abilities. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine included with the ticket. Masquerade mask and costumes optional-there will be a costume contest.
The Music of Harry Potter
- Where: Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts
- When: Friday, October 28, 2022 | 8:00 pm
- Cost: $40
- Website:
There’s no better time to relieve the ghostly magic of the Hogwarts Halls. Transport yourself beyond the Muggle World with the North Carolina Symphony as they perform scores from the series’ films and bring to life the adventures of the wizards and witches we love so much.
We have experienced this at the Symphony in Nashville, where they played the Chamber of Secrets film while playing the musical score live throughout the show. It was incredible.
Spellbound Square
- Where: Moore Square
- When: Sat, October 29,10am-3pm
- Cost: Free
- Website:
Wear your best witching outfit to this Children’s Halloween Celebration. There will be mysterious creatures, magicians, spooky crafts and pumpkin decorating. You’ll find me getting my fortune told…or perhaps telling them!
Vendors will be selling handmade items and treats and there will be family friendly stage performances
2022 Halloween Boo Bash
- Where: E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road
- When: Fri, Oct 28, 4:30pm-7:30pm
- Cost: Free
- Website:
The Halloween Boo Bash presented by Capital Chevrolet is a free, family-oriented festival for children ages 12 and younger.
This year’s festivities will include balloon animals, a haunted obstacle course, and a variety of other ghostly games and activities. Don’t forget to stop by the pumpkin patch on your way out and pick out your free pumpkin – while supplies last.
Haunted Homes, Farms + Hair Raising Attractions
Some of the most popular things to do for Halloween is to scare yourself witless at any of the elaborate haunted houses and fear farms throughout Wake County and our neighboring counties.
You’d be dead wrong if you didn’t think these were worth the drive! I’ve chosen hair raising attractions that won’t take you much longer than an hour to get to.
Don’t forget your neighborhood haunted house. We have a fantastic one around the corner from our house.
Kalyra and I screamed and cackled the entire way climbing through tunnels and corridors from the garage to the basement and the top floor of the house. The lengths your neighbors will go to for some spooky fun!
Edward’s Battle Haunted House
- Where: 9401 S. Mere Street, Raleigh
- When: Oct 22,23 and 29,30,31, 6-9pm
- Cost: Donation
- Website:
Edward’s Battle Haunted House was created by a Raleigh family for their son who was battling cancer. The walk through Haunted House is filled with ghosts, goblins, vampires and other ghouls.
Donations are accepted and benefit Give Kids the World and there is a special Blood Drive connection on Oct 29. Starve the vampires!
Phillips Farm Haunted Farm
- Where: 6701 Good Hope Church Road, Cary, NC
- When: Sept 24- Oct 29, Every Fri & Sat, 7:30pm- 11:30pm
- Cost: $25 cash ($27 CC) per person
- Website:
- Not recommended for 12 and under
Not only does Philips Farm in Cary have one of the biggest and most popular Fall farm experiences in Wake County, they also take it to another level at night with their Haunted Farm.
The four scary attractions include live actors, flashing lights, sudden scares, dark spaces and sound effects. You’ll be daring to live through
- The Field of Lost Souls
- The Rebellion Trail
- Big Top Terror
- The Gore House
Clayton Fear Factory
- Where: 1620 Loop Road, Clayton
- When: Sept 30 – Oct 31, 2022; 7pm..-10p.m.
- Cost: $25
- Website: https://claytonfearfarm.com/
The most legendary Halloween attraction in Johnston County is the Clayton Fear Farm. Get ready to run, crawl, get through tight spaces in complete darkness.
Creatures of the night haunt the Slaughterhouse, Farmhouse, Fear Forest, Haunted Hayride, Fear Farm Academy and Black Hole attractions. Online ticket purchase required.
This haunted Halloween scream park is on the Boyette Family farm in Clayton, just a 30-minute drive from downtown Raleigh.
We loved their Fall Farm experience, which is sadly no longer running. Here are other 17 pumpkin patches and corn mazes near Raleigh to experience in the Fall.
Devil’s Playground Haunted Attraction
- Where: 544 Falcon Road, Lillington, NC
- When: Every weeknd, Sept 23rd – Oct 31st
- Cost: Start at $25
- Website: https://devilsplaygroundhaunt.com/
Time to survive a vacation to Hellfire Resort in the Underworld with demons, monsters and the undead. I reckon you go for the First Class Upgrade for extra spooky effects like getting snatched from your group!
There will also be carnival style games with haunted prizes and merch. Concession stands will sell goodies and you can purchase fall produce and pasture-raised meats from the farm.
You’ll find this haunted ranch at the Cathis Farm in Lillington, about an hour south of Raleigh. They also have a Fall festival.
Darkside Haunted Estates
- Where: 11959 NC-222, Middlesex, NC 27557 (40 mins – 1 hour)
- When:
- Friday & Saturday: September 23rd – November 5, 7-10pm
- Halloween night 10/31, 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm
- October 30th: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- October 29th: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm for low scare fun!
- Cost:
- Adult: $25 plus tax (Ages 13+)
- Child: $15 plus tax (Ages 12-)
- $5 parking
- Website:
From the ¼ mile haunted walking trail to the Mayhem Hayride through the backwoods, this Screamfest is filled with dynamic special effects in every haunted attraction at Darkside Haunted Estates.
Newest attractions include the Insane Asylum, JoJo’s Clown Town, the Slaughterhouse, the BUNDIE Hotel, the S. S. Sea Hag and RottenKorr Cemetery!
Haunted Forest Panic Point
- Where: 2808 Cedar Creek Rd, Youngsville, NC 27596 (about an hour)
- When: Sep 24 – Nov 5 Open on Halloween night
- Cost: Start at $30 – $75 (prices change for different nights and experiences)
- Website:
Are you ready for North Carolina’s most haunted house? That’s what the ratings say anyway.
There are five haunted attractions and 38 unique scenes at the Haunted Forest Panic Point. The featured attraction is the half-mile “Haunted Forest” Trail with over 30 haunters hounding your every step.
You’ll have a good two hours wandering through woodes with murderers, spiders and aliens, and getting chased by bootleggers and insane creatures.
Not for children under 8 and then only daredevils with an adult for ages 9-12. Everything is designed to scare the crap out of you so be warned. There will also be bonfires, food and music.
Granville Haunt Farm Drive Thru
- Where: 4534 US-15, Oxford, NC 27565 (about an hour from Raleigh)
- When:
- Every Friday and Saturday in Oct, Sunset to 10:30pm
- Oct 30 & 31, Sunset to 9:30pm
- Cost:
- $10+ depending on how passengers
- Website: https://www.granvillehauntfarm.com/tickets.html
Here is a unique Halloween experience about an hour from Raleigh. The Granville Haunt Farm Drive-Thru is an expedition through your favorite scary movies.
Drive through their giant movie screen and watch your favorite horror movie monsters come to life in their natural habitat. This unique haunt experience is fun for all ages.
Adults Only Halloween
Check out breweries and bars near you for their fun Halloween party events. There will be many happening across the month of October.
Haunting At Pour House Circus Show
- Where: The Pour House, Moore Sq
- Time: Sunday, Oct 9; doors 7pm and show 8pm
- Tickets: $18 – $25 Get yours here.
- 21+ or 18+ with parent
This is certainly one interesting sounding event. You’ll be dazzled by the best circus and sideshow acts in The Triangle including burlesque, pole dance, acro yoga, hooping, juggling, LED poi and other flow arts, spoken word, clown/mime, drag king/queen, contortion, and more!
Official Halloween Bar Crawl in Raleigh
- Where: Glenwood Ave
- When: Oct 22; 28, 29, and 31;
- Cost: $15
- Event Registration
Bring your best costume to this Halloween Bar Crawl party in Downtown Raleigh.
Ticket includes cover-free, full access to all of the top-rated venues in Raleigh while dancing to the hottest local DJs, enjoying discounted themed food specials at 5+ venues with 100’s of people, and following an easy-to-navigate digital bar list.
The 5th Annual Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball
- Where: Carolina Theater, Durham
- When: Fri Oct 28; Sat Oct 29, 7:30pm
- Cost: $12
- Book tickets
An exclusive Rocky Horror experience with a Retro presents a full-theatrical, FX-driven, light show-blazing, fog-blowing, call-backing, motion picture extravaganza! Guaranteed to thrill, chill and fulfill.
2022 Raleigh Zombie Walk
- Where: Moore Sqare, Raleigh
- When: October 29, 2022; 7pm
- Cost: Free
- Facebook page
Zombies Unite for a mile long trek in downtown Raleigh terrifying its residents. Dress up and drag, limp or shamble through the city in character as the undead.
Comment: What Halloween attraction are you most looking forward to? What Halloween event in Raleigh or nearby did we miss? Share below and why you love it.
