October in Charlotte is packed with Halloween events, from neighborhood candy crawls and costume parties to haunted trails designed for people who actually want to be scared.

The advantage of planning early is that the biggest events start well before Halloween night, and several of the most popular attractions run throughout the month.

This 2026 guide brings together family-friendly celebrations, trick-or-treat events, pumpkin-picking stops and haunted attractions around Charlotte and the surrounding metro.

Family-Friendly Halloween Events

Owl-o-ween at Carolina Raptor Center — October 17

Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville is inviting families to wear costumes and trick-or-treat along the Raptor Trail on Saturday, October 17.

It is an easy choice for families who want Halloween fun without the scares, with the added bonus of seeing birds of prey along the way.

Trunk or Treat for Wishes — October 17

Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina is hosting its second annual Trunk or Treat for Wishes in Charlotte from 3 to 5 p.m.

The afternoon includes decorated trunks, candy, raffles, giveaways and family activities while supporting local wish families.

Mischief and a Movie at Rea Farms — October 17

Rea Farms is planning a free Halloween afternoon and evening from 4 to 9 p.m., with entertainment, costumes and a movie-night atmosphere.

This is one of the better options if you want a full family outing instead of a quick candy stop.

Goodies & Goblins at Promenade on Providence — October 23

Goodies & Goblins starts at 5 p.m. with trick-or-treating through participating businesses at Promenade on Providence.

After the candy run, families can settle in on The Green for an outdoor movie beginning around sunset, making this a free South Charlotte option that can fill most of the evening.

Davidson Halloweekend — October 23

Davidson's annual Halloweekend includes the town's Halloween March down Main Street, with lineup beginning at 5 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

A pumpkin-carving party runs on the Town Green from 4 to 6:30 p.m., and the finished pumpkins become part of the community Jack-O-Lantern Walk.

ACC & Friends Trunk or Treat — October 23

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control is teaming with Subaru South Charlotte and community partners for a free trunk-or-treat from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Pineville.

Expect candy, decorated trunks, food trucks, a kids putting green and adoptable shelter dogs, with costumes encouraged.

Stalloween at Stallings Municipal Park — October 24

Stallings Municipal Park is hosting its annual Stalloween celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. on October 24.

The free event is designed as a community Halloween afternoon with costumes and family activities, making it a useful option for families southeast of Charlotte.

Sensory-Friendly Trunk or Treat — October 24

A sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat is scheduled at Ignite Achievement Academy in Charlotte from 4 to 6 p.m.

For families who benefit from a more accessible Halloween environment, this is one event worth putting on the calendar early.

NoDa Downtown Candy Crawl — October 25

The NoDa Downtown Candy Crawl returns Sunday, October 25, with family-friendly trick-or-treating beginning at 4 p.m. around the Johnston YMCA and downtown NoDa.

The neighborhood event is part of the larger NoDaWeen celebration and gives families a walkable way to collect candy while visiting local businesses.

Halloween in Huntersville — October 25

Huntersville Athletic Park hosts this free community celebration from 4 to 7 p.m., with trick-or-treat booths, live entertainment, food for purchase, costume contests and activities for all ages.

The finale is a 300-drone Halloween show, which makes this one of the more distinctive family events in the Charlotte area this year.

Halloween Storytimes — October 26 and October 28

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches are also getting into the season, with Halloween Family Storytime at Independence Regional Library on October 26 and an Itty Bitty Halloween Storytime and Costume Parade at Myers Park Library on October 28.

These are lower-key choices for younger children who may not be ready for a big nighttime event.

NoDaWeen House Decorating Contest — October 31

NoDa closes the month with its neighborhood house decorating contest, with participating homes keeping their displays up through Halloween night.

It gives residents and visitors another reason to walk through the neighborhood and see some of Charlotte's most creative Halloween decorations.

Pumpkin Patches and Fall Stops

Carrigan Farms Pumpkin Picking — October weekends

Carrigan Farms in Mooresville is offering pumpkin picking on weekends throughout October, including October 3 and 4, 10 and 11, 17 and 18, 24 and 25, and Halloween.

The farm setting makes it a good daytime pairing for families who want pumpkins and fall photos without committing to a nighttime Halloween event.

Hodges Family Farm Pumpkin Patch

Hodges Family Farm remains one of Charlotte's familiar pumpkin-patch stops, with fall visitors able to wander the farm and shop for pumpkins during the season.

Admission has been listed as free, with purchases and activities handled separately.

For the Brave: Haunted Attractions Around Charlotte

SCarowinds — Select nights September 11 through November 1

Carowinds turns into SCarowinds on select nights with scare zones, live shows, rides after dark and separately ticketed haunted mazes.

The park specifically says the experience is not recommended for children under 13, so this is firmly in the teen-and-adult side of the Halloween guide.

Scarrigan Farms — Select October nights

Carrigan Farms transforms more than a mile of its Mooresville property into the Scarrigan Farms haunted trail on select October nights through November 1.

Reservations are required, and the attraction is intended for ages 12 and older.

If your idea of Halloween involves being chased through the woods rather than collecting candy, this is one of the area's signature options.

Lake Hickory Haunts — Through November 7

Lake Hickory Haunts in Hickory is back for its 2026 season with 13 attractions included in general admission, ranging from indoor haunted environments to outdoor scare experiences.

It is farther from central Charlotte than the other attractions in this guide, but it is built as a full-night destination rather than a single haunted house.

Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trail — October 23

Matthews Community Center is hosting the Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trail from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. with both a less-intense option and a full-fright experience.

Current listings show admission at $10, making it one of the more approachable paid haunted options close to Charlotte.

NoDa Ghosts & Legends Walking Tours — October 24

NoDa's annual Ghosts & Legends Walking Tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue into the evening from Stu's Barrel House.

The approximately one-mile route mixes neighborhood history with ghost stories and local legends, with tours lasting about an hour.

NoDaWeen Freaky 5K Costume Run — October 24

Before the ghost tours get going, the Freaky 5K Costume Run starts at 5 p.m. at Great Wagon Road Distilling Company.

Costumes are encouraged, and the route runs through one of Charlotte's oldest neighborhoods as part of NoDaWeen weekend.

How to Use This Guide

For families with younger kids, October 17 through 25 is the busiest stretch, with multiple free trick-or-treat events before Halloween itself.

For teenagers and adults looking for scares, SCarowinds, Scarrigan Farms and Lake Hickory Haunts run across multiple weekends, which means you do not need to wait until October 31.

The smartest move is to choose the big-ticket attraction first, then fill the rest of the month with free neighborhood events.

Event schedules, ticket availability and weather plans can change, so confirm the latest details with the organizer before making a special trip.

We will keep updating this Charlotte Halloween guide as more 2026 events are announced.