It’s a full-on week of Halloween and Charlotte brings the events, no matter if you’ve been planning your costume for the last six months or whether you’ll throw on cat ear headbands from the dollar bin. Since the holiday falls on Wednesday this year, you’re getting a Wednesday Addams treat—twice the chance for murder and mayhem on the weekends and everything in between.
October 28th
Red Clay’s 4th Annual Howl-o-ween
12 p.m.-7 p.m.
245 Clanton Rd.
An event for the fur-babies! Bring out your best doggie-and-me costumes for treats for your puppies and a costume contest at 4pm. Magnolia’s Poboys will be on site.
Día de los Muertos
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
6500 S. New Hope Dr.
Día de los Muertos is a holiday separate from Halloween, but don’t miss out on this family-friendly day celebrating family who have passed. There will be face painting, stilt walkers, crafts for children, horse drawn carriage rides and more. The Beer Garden will be open for beverages, lunch and treats. This event is free for members or with a General Admission ticket ($12.95 for adults, $6.95 for kids 2-12).
Family Fun Fest at Sycamore Brewing
12 -5 p.m.
2161 Hawkins St.
Sycamore Brewing is the location of another great family event. Bring the kids, the dogs, and yourself in costume for a contest with different category and prizes for each winner. No matter if you win, make sure you get a photo in their Pumpkin Patch, go trick-or-treating at each food truck, enjoy live music and try one of the fresh seasonal beers from Sycamore Brewing or ciders from Wild Blossom Cider. Best part is, this event is free.
Costumes & Companions at NoDa Run Club
10:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2921 Tryon St.
A one, three or five-mile run is the perfect way to excuse the weekend debauchery. This costume run and contest with the NoDa Run Club takes you through the NoDa NE neighborhood. Participation is totally free and prizes will be awarded!
October 29th
The Haunted House at Caswell Station
9 p.m.-12 a.m.
366 N. Caswell Rd.
Halloween isn’t complete without a haunted house. Make a night of it with a great meal at Caswell Station, and then walk through the haunted house afterwards. Tickets are $5, which includes one drink voucher, including seasonal drink specials. Costumes are encouraged.
October 30th
Rocky Horror Picture Show
8 p.m.
208 N. Tryon St.
Another Halloween classic you can’t miss out. Relish the spirit of the season by making your way Uptown for a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring “That Type” – Rocky Horror Charlotte Cast. Tickets are $20, which includes a Rocky Horror-themed cocktail.
October 31st
Trick or Treat at the Market
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
224 E. 7th St.
A great event to bring your costumed kids out to trick-or-treat at the 14 small businesses in the 7th St. Public Market.
Spook Your Pooch Halloween Contest
4-10 p.m.
1440 S. Tryon St. Ste. 110.
Trick-or-treat with the costumed pups at Spook Your Pooch. Prizes will be from Wooden Robot Brewery, KeenDog, TwistedEats, Skipper, Pet Wants Charlotte: The Urban Feed Store, Social Pet at Charlotte and The Dog Salon. Scary movies and awesome treats will be waiting!
Fourth Ward Halloween Parade and Costume Contest
5 p.m.
Fourth Ward Park
301 N. Poplar St.
The parade meets at the fountain on 6th and Popular for a “Parade through the Park,” followed by costume awards for the kids, pets and parents. children. Trick-or-treat the neighborhood after and then work out the candy surge with a bouncy house on games at the dead end on 9th St.
Halloween Trivia Night
8-10 p.m.
3221 N. Davidson St.
Big Pop will be leading a “Trivia Spooktacular” starting promptly at 8:30 p.m. at the Solstice Tavern. There will be prizes and drink specials. Costumes encouraged!
City Lights ’80s Horror Night
8 p.m. – 2 a.m.
555 S. McDowell St.
Eighties nostalgia is the perfect Halloween party with a backdrop of the city, live music, costume contest with cash prizes, and two craft cocktails (or wine or beer). Tickets are $20.
King-o-Ween
6 – 10 p.m.
4001 Yancey Rd.
Brewers at 4001 Yancey will be serving all of the delicious variations of their infamous Pumking brew, as well as hosting a costume party with awesome prizes and a silent disco.
Petra’s Halloween Bash
7 p.m.-1:45 a.m.
1919 Commonwealth Ave.
There is no cover charge for this great night of live music from Broom Stick, Human Pippi Armstrong and DJ Monsterpiece, karaoke (hosted by Mike Earle), and a gallery opening reception featuring art works by Kelly Keith. To top it all off, there will be a midnight costume contest with a $100 cash prize.
Halloween Party Bus
9 p.m.-1 a.m.
AMC Theatre
7325 NorthLake Mall Dr.
Fifty bucks will get you a seat on the party bus with food, drinks, games, and music. Costumes are required and a good time is for certain.
Photo by Cody Hughes @clhughes21