Halloween events in the Raleigh area
There are some events for Halloween 2020 in Raleigh and Wake County to celebrate, even if that looks different this year.
🎃 Wake County Libraries: A slew of events from kids- or teens-focused to scarier programming for adults:
- Halloween Drive-Thru Spectacular: Pick up a “creepy craft” and “tasty treats” in the drive-thru. Costumes encouraged. Oct. 25 or Oct. 30 at East (Knightdale), Southeast (Garner) and Northeast (N. Raleigh) regional libraries. (for kids)
- Boo! On the Go!: A pickup event on Oct. 29-31 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4-6 p.m., costumes encouraged. Available at many of the branches. (for kids)
- Halloween storytimes. Watch Halloween-themed storytimes for kids anytime.
- Submit a spooky story: Deadline is Oct. 24, details here, for teens.
- Haunted Carolina: Paranormal researchers and scientific explorers answer your questions in a Zoom call Oct. 22. Free, but register. (adults)
🎃 Ghouls Night In: This 21+ virtual event from the Museum of Natural Sciences will include interactive elements like a scavenger hunt, a guided cocktail class, trivia and more. Free but registration required. (Oct. 30, adults only)
🎃 Converging Stories: Fear. While the theme was inspired by the week of Halloween, these Raleigh storytellers will share true stories around “fear” and its many interpretations. A Raleigh Convergence event. Get tickets here. Oct. 26, for adults.
🎃 Haunted Mordecai Festival. While this year will be virtual, you’ll see “the first live-streamed paranormal investigation of Mordecai Historic Park,” with more info here. Oct. 31.
🎃 Zombiepalooza. The Cary theater will go virtual and stream local zombie short films for its annual Zombiepalooza. Oct. 23.
🎃 Dix Park family drive-in movie. The park will show “Hotel Transylvania” drive-in movie style, at the former soccer fields on Halloween night, gates at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m. Tickets required and go online at 12 p.m. Oct. 23. [tickets]
🎃Dark Raleigh Walking Tour. From the City of Raleigh Museum, learn the history of the “tortured souls” of Raleigh’s past. $25, some tickets remain. Appropriate for 16 and older. Oct. 29-30. [tickets]
🎃Haunted car wash. In Morrisville, a pandemic-birthed idea where you stay in your car, like a drive-through haunted house. But a car wash. INDY Week has details.
Anytime events:
🎃 Drive — or walk — to Halloween lights. WRAL has a list of locations around the Raleigh area, including the Oakwood Halloween House, of course.
🎃 Visit a pumpkin patch. See our guide to 7 Raleigh area locations from markets to festive family outings.
🎃 Town of sCary Halloween walk. The town is encouraging residents to share some Halloween cheer by hiking, walking, strolling or running the Greenways in costume. Hashtag #sCaryHalloweenHike!
Nature Park Ghost Trail in Apex. Visit the Pine Loop Trail at Apex Nature Park, 2500 Evans Road, Apex, for a decorated nature trail. Listen to a spooky story on your own device with headphones.
READ MORE: What’s happening now with COVID-19 in Wake County
READ MORE: Ideas to spend your time in Southeast Raleigh
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What is safe for Halloween?
North Carolina issued guidance for celebrating safely, which includes lower risk activities:
🎃 Carving and decorating pumpkins, while keeping a distance from people outside your household (lower risk)
🎃 A Halloween scavenger hunt outside, where kids can look for Halloween-themed items at a distance (lower risk)
While trick-or-treating is considered a moderate risk activity, low- or no-touch trick-or-treating can be done through:
🎃 Placing goodie bags at the end of a driveway,
🎃 spacing out candy on a table,
🎃 tossing candy to kids from 6 feet away OR
🎃 creating a “candy chute” to pass candy to trick-or-treaters from a distance.
What are your creative ideas to celebrate safely? Send how you’ll celebrate to editor@raleighconvergence.com for potential inclusion in this post!
