Halloween Events and Spook-tacular Spots
Halloween is right around the corner, and Durham does the holiday as only the Boo City can. Here's your guide to Halloween events and all things spooky season.
Boo-yah. It's time to wear a costume, watch throwback horror films and shop for Halloween-worthy novelties while eating a terrifying amount of candy! Celebrate all things spooky with these Durham Halloween activities and autumn events, as well as the lesser-known corners of the city that are sure to make your hair stand on end.
Halloween Events in Durham
Trick or treat your family to some sweet and spooky Halloween fun. Pumpkins, candy (lots of candy corn) and yummy fall treats await at these kid-friendly Durham Halloween events.
Pumpkin Patch Express at the Museum of Life and Science
Dates: Every Saturday & Sunday in October, beginning September 27
Tickets: $16 per person; kids under 2 are free (plus general admission to the museum)
Jump aboard the Ellerbe Creek Railway at the Museum of Life and Science for a pumpkin-picking expedition. Enjoy arts and crafts, a hay maze and other games, then return home with your perfect Jack O’ Lantern.
DPR Fright Night
Date: Friday, October 17
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Location: Edison Johnson Recreation Center, 500 W. Murray Ave.
Durham Parks and Recreation's Fright Night is a can't-miss opportunity for screams and scares, sure to send shivers down your spine. Head out to Rock Quarry Park for carnival games, costume parades, haunted trails and activities for all ages.
Witches and Warlocks Night Out
Date: Friday, October 17
Time: 5 - 9 p.m.
Location: downtown Durham
Grab your broomsticks and witch hats and head out to downtown Durham for a fun night out with local businesses staying open late with festive deals and offerings.
Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun Art Market
Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 4-9 p.m.
Location: The Glass Jug Beer Lab, 5410 NC Hwy. 55, Ste V
Created by Creators Club and hosted by The Glass Jug, this art market will be the place to go to get all your locally crafted Halloween decorations, accessories and more. Enjoy a beverage and food from Gator on the Grill while you peruse the stands of 15+ vendors and enjoy live music.
Bull City Boos Fest
Dates: Saturday, October 18
Time: 4-11 p.m.
Location: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St.
Tickets: $23.18 for adults 21+, $12.51 for teens; $7.18 for kids 12 and under
It wouldn't be a Durham Halloween without an event for beer lovers! Wear your costume to join The MAKRS Society for a beer and Halloween fest at Durham Central Park with sips from local vendors, plus face painting, food trucks, DJs, decorations and more.
Hallow-Eno
Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: West Point on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro St.
Campfire stories, hayrides, crafts, face painting and treats all add up to one amazing, family-friendly Halloween celebration in Durham! Bring the kids (12 and under) out for this free event at West Point on the Eno. No guarantees you won’t return home without a sugar high!
Fruit Flea: Gothtober
Date: Sunday, October 19
Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: The Fruit, 305 S. Dillard St.
Spend a spine-chilling day of Goth themed fun at The Fruit Flea. With over 40 vendors filling up The Fruit, you're certain to find whatever spooky handcrafted goods you may desire. Sip on a drink, get your picture taken and discover new local makers, all while your favorite horror movies are projected on screen.
Duke Homestead’s Halloween Phantasmagoria
Date: Friday, October 24
Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Rd.
Tickets: $10 advance/$15 at the door. Kids 3 and under are free.
People of all ages are invited to wander the property to discover what wonders await. No experiences are designed to scare, but some may not be appropriate for young children. The educational event takes place at the 19th-century homestead of the Duke family. BYO flashlight!
BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science
Dates: October 25, 26, & 31
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tickets: Included with general admission to the museum
Gather your gremlins and head to the Museum of Life and Science for BooFest. Don your costumes and celebrate the season with activities in the lab, themed enrichment, spooky encounters around the museum and more Halloween-themed fun.
Barktoberfest
Date: Saturday, October 25
Time: 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St.
Join Durham Parks and Rec for an afternoon of doggone good times at Durham Central Park. Local celebrity judges will determine the winner of the pup costume contests, and you can enjoy treats from local food trucks and brewers while watching canine attendees show off their wooftastic tricks.
Halloween Storytime on the Roof
Date: Wednesday, October 29
Time: 10: 30 a.m.
Location: The Roof at The Durham, 315 E. Chapel Hill St.
Grab a coffee and a seasonal treat at the downstairs cafe before heading up to The Roof at The Durham Hotel for Halloween Storytime. Suit up in your best halloween costume to sit with your little ones and enjoy seasonal stories, songs and dances from Durham County Library.
SIX at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center
Date: Tuesday, October 28-Sunday, November 2
Time: evening shows at 7:30 p.m.; weekend matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday
Location: DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center
If you're more into HallowQUEEN than Halloween, see the history of the SIX wives of Henry VII, the Broadway show that has become a global sensation.
Halloween Events at Durham Bars and Breweries
Halloween is a holiday for night owls and late-night aficionados. True to form, Durham's bars and breweries celebrate the season with parties and themed events all month long. Here are a few:
- Gag! to Death at The Fruit & Club ERA | October 31, 9:30 p.m. Dance party with multiple DJs.
- 12th Annual Halloween Costume Party at Mystic Farm and Distillery | October 31, 6:00 p.m. Haunted trail, live music, scary story telling and cocktails.
- Deep Creeps Halloween Bash at Queeny's and Kingfisher | October 31, 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. DJs upstairs, downstairs and on the Roadrunner patio, plus cocktails, a costume contest and more. Tickets $10 at the door; $20 advance VIP tickets available online guarantee entry before 9 p.m. and include a Halloween cocktail.
- The Get Down: Halloween Edition at The Roof at The Durham Hotel | October 31, 7 - 10 p.m. Boogie down in your costume with a DJ, cocktails and a costume contest.
- Howl at the Moon Halloween Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo | October 31, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Get glowy for a black light costume dance party and contest!
Durham's Spookiest Spots
Perhaps the must-see spooky spots of Durham are right under your nose. For those who might be more intrigued by a little mystery and hauntingly historic places, check out these eerie spots.
Arcana Bar & Lounge | It's said that the ground Arcana Bar & Lounge is on is filled with paranormal experiences waiting to be discovered. Erin Karcher, the creative force behind Durham's Arcana Bar and Lounge says, "According to at least one customer, Arcana has a ghost cockatiel that flies around above the sofas." They host spooky and fun events like Goth Prom, a night of sipping craft cocktails, clearing cobwebs, finding clarity in the tarot cards and engaging in dusty rituals of courtship and despair.
MagikCraft - Bull City Magic | This Ninth Street shop specializes in metaphysical products, including incense, candles, tarot decks and alternative healing supplies. Stop in for tarot or palm readings and medium work.
Fate & Folklore | A step into Fate & Folklore's downtown shop is a journey into a spellbound world. Shop witchy wares by local makers, get your cards read, attend workshops and energ readings, prepare for seasonal rituals and more. The experts behind the counter will help you explore the shop's spiritual realm.
Find Stranger Things in Durham | The writers of Netflix's hit series "Stranger Things," Ross and Matt Duffer, grew up in Durham. Naturally, they've drawn inspiration for the show from their hometown. Some of the references, like Enzo's and Bullock's Bar-B-Cue, are everyday, normal connections. But others get a bit more... strange. For instance, the forest the gang calls Mirkwood in the show and Durham's Duke Forest actually both converge at the corner of Kerley and Cornwallis. For a spooky, strange day, hop in the car and seek all of these spots out.
Conniption Bar & Lounge | We know you are just dying to enjoy a cocktail at Conniption Bar & Lounge, a cocktail bar serving drinks in, well, an old coffin shop. With a menu showcasing abundant gin cocktails and more, co-founders Melissa and Lee Katrincic are on a mission to "serve drinks strong enough to revive your spirits." Take in the vibes at the bar and enjoy their spin on the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2 cocktail.
Dunnagan Trail/Eno River State Park | If you're into seeing the supernatural in its natural environment, take a stroll by the sinking grave and gravestone of Catharine Dunnagan while hiking the Dunnagan Trail in Eno River State Park. The adventure will be replete with the sounds of the season – try not to be spooked by the crunchy leaves, cobwebs, canopies and fallen timber.
Maplewood Cemetery | The rich history of the Maplewood Cemetery is alive and well with the pasts of many Durham luminaries.
Embrace the Camp
Head to the theater and get into the spirit of the Time Warp with an interactive viewing of the season's most iconic film.
Rocky Horror Picture Show: Halloween Ball
Dates: October 30-31
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15
Location: The Carolina Theatre
Now in its eighth year, the Carolina Theatre and Retro Film Series present a "fully interactive, theatrical FX-driven, light show-blazing, fog-blowing, call-backing, costume-wearing, motion picture extravaganza" you won't want to miss. Head there for door prizes, grab bags, and concessions specials.
And if you're more into classic horror films than musical theater, check out the Carolina Theatre's monthlong lineup of scary flicks.
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