Out and About

24 Halloween events to check out in the Triangle

Halloween will be here before you know it, and there are a lot of events going on in October to celebrate. We picked our favorites and organized them by city.

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Midtown Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015
RALEIGH, N.C. — Halloween will be here before you know it, and there are a lot of events going on in October to celebrate.

To narrow down the choices, we picked our favorites and organized them by city. Just pay attention to the dates - Halloween falls on a Monday this year, so many of the events below take place on a Saturdays or Sundays, and some last the entire month.

Raleigh

Saturday, Oct. 22 - Midtown Pumpkin Palooza - This fall festival and fundraiser features a chili cook-off, smart phone scavenger hunt, adult trivia challenge, kids' activities, a dog costume contest, food trucks, beer and more.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - Day of the Dead 5K - A kids' run will begin immediately following the 5k race and there will be prizes for winners and for participants dressed in the three best costumes. There will also be face painting, a Mariachi band and cultural festivities.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - Scarecrow Festival - Come build a scarecrow at Pullen Park and enjoy other fall activities. Stuffing materials and forms to support your scarecrow are provided. Bring a picnic lunch if you like. Other fun family activities are also planned.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - Haunted Mordecai Free Festival - Enjoy an afternoon of Halloween-themed fun including food, music, games and crafts on the lawn at Mordecai Historic Park. There will be costume contests and paranormal investigation groups on site.
Art, food, music, dancing and local beer welcome and entertain participants in the Day of the Dead 5K.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - Special Halloween Movie Event at NCMA - It's a Halloween party at the NC Museum of Art! The horror begins at 6:30 pm followed at 9 p.m. screening of "What We Do in the Shadows," a vampire comedy and instant cult hit.
Sunday, Oct. 30 - Pints+Puppies Halloween Pup Crawl - Your pets can attend this one! City Social will take you and your pup on a Pup Crawl, stopping at all the best outdoor patios the street has to offer - just don't forget to wear your costumes!
Monday, Oct. 31 - Halloween Safe Night at the Museum - Kids ages 12 and under (with adult) are invited to the NC Museum of History to search out candies and treats as they walk along the trick-or-treat trail and through "The Story of North Carolina" display.
Monday, Oct. 31 - Kings Halloween - Doors open at 8:30 p.m. for this Halloween night show at Kings. Zack Mexico, Acid Chaperone and others will be on-stage.
Zack Mexico's John Saturley performs at the Pour House during the final night of Hopscotch 2015. (Jake Seaton / WRAL.com)

Durham

Saturdays & Sundays in October - Pumpkin Patch Express - Climb aboard a train for a journey to the NC Museum of Life & Science's pumpkin patch. Pick the perfect pumpkin to decorate and take home, then enjoy crafts and a variety of carnival games before returning to the station.
Sunday, Oct. 23 - Durham Symphony Orchestra's 3rd Annual Halloween Spooktacular - This free event offers fun for the whole family such as live symphonic music from Maestro William Curry and the Durham Symphony Orchestra, a Paperhand Puppets Intervention puppet show, a costume contest, local food trucks, wine and beer, children's activities and much more.
Every Friday & Saturday - Durham Pub Crawl & Haunted Adventure - You'll spend approximately 25 minutes in three of Durham’s hottest, hip and clever bars and pubs during this 1-mile, fast-paced haunted tour. Between each bar, you'll visit four haunted, ghost & paranormal locations. Just make sure to register to claim your spot!
Durham Food Truck Rodeo
Sunday, Oct. 30 - Halloween Food Truck Rodeo - Enjoy an array of food trucks and stick-to-your-ribs to sweet treats. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to make it a picnic.
Monday, Oct. 31 - Explore the Urban Wild: Bats at Hallow-Eno - This free adventure at West Point on the Eno includes exploring the world of bats during a Halloween night walk. Bring weather‐appropriate clothing (costumes are encouraged) and lots of curiosity.
Monday, Oct. 31 - Halloween VI Paranormal Party at Motorco - It's a Halloween party at Motorco with DJ Rang, DJ Forge and PlayPlay. There's a costume contest, and the first 31 people to arrive get in for free.

Chapel Hill

Monday, Oct. 31 - Homegrown Halloween - One of the largest Halloween events in the Triangle, Homegrown Halloween often sees crowds of more than 30,000! Police always ramp up security to accommodate the large number of people decked out in costumes at this family-friendly event. If you want to be in a crowd and see a lot of crazy costumes, this event is for you.
Thousands flock to the annual Halloween celebration on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill on Saturday, October 31st, 2015. (Photo By: Lexi Baird / WRAL.com)
Friday, Oct. 28 - Thrills n’ Chills Moonlight Tour – A hauntingly fun, nighttime walking tour of campus by moonlight as a prelude to Halloween that includes tales of Chapel Hill traditions, mysteries and even a ghost story or two.

Carrboro

Monday, Oct. 31 - Halloween Carnival - This Halloween night carnival is perfect for kids and adults. There will be carnival games and programs for all ages with prizes. Popcorn, sodas, hot chocolate, apple cider and coffee will be sold at the concession booth.

Cary

Thursday, Oct. 27-Saturday, Oct. 29 - A Really Scary Cary Film Series - A Cary favorite, the majestic trees and winding path at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre are transformed into towering pines at this three-night event. Patrons will thrill to some of the most scary movie classics on the big screen and get to visit a haunted house as part of their admission price.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - Cary's Great Pumpkin Carve - Stop by the pumpkin patch in downtown Cary to pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve at one of the carving stations or bring your own. Pumpkins will be lit for display and judged in a variety of categories. Stay for family-friendly Halloween movies shown outdoors, including "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."
Pumpkins are ready for carving at Ken's Produce in Garner on Oct. 15, 2011.
Saturday, Oct. 29 - Halloween Mall Crawl - This event is a trick-or-treating alternative for young families who don't want to stay out late on Halloween. Dress up the kids and bring them to Cary Towne Center for an indoor trick-or-treating experience.

Garner

Sunday, Oct. 23 - Trick-or-Eat Food Truck Rodeo - There's free admission and free parking to this rodeo with 15 food trucks. Don't forget your costume.

Fuquay-Varina

Friday, Oct. 28 - Trick-or-Treat Downtown - This annual event is sponsored by the merchants along the Fuquay and Varina retail districts. Parents are invited to dress-up their little ones, grab a bag and visit the merchants that display the sign, “Trick or Treat Here!”
Sunday, Oct. 30 - Fall Festival at Destination Community Church - All are invited to this free fall festival featuring food, rides, face painting, candy, "trunk-or-treating" and more.

Wake Forest

Thursday, Oct. 27 - Halloween Spooktacular - This year's festivities will include a costume contest, face painting and cupcake walk, along with a variety of other ghostly games and activities and free pumpkin giveaways while supplies last.
For more Halloween events, search "Halloween" in our best bets calendar.

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