This weekend in Charlotte (Oct 30-Nov 1)

Hi neighbors! If you’re new here, my name is Matthew, and I’m always looking for things to do with my young family. Now I’m sharing them with you.

You can fill this whole Halloween weekend with free plans. Start Friday at the Candy Crawl in NoDa or the free trunk or treat and concert in Gastonia, then trick-or-treat at Birkdale Village Saturday morning. Old Town Rock Hill keeps the free fun going all afternoon. On Sunday, Dia de Muertos at Camp North End is free too, and the rain should hold off until evening.

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Weekend weather: Friday is sunny with a high near 80. Saturday (Halloween) is mostly cloudy and dry, high near 70, low around 51. Sunday stays mostly cloudy and dry during the day, high near 69, with a 30% chance of showers after 7pm. Clocks fall back an hour early Sunday morning. (NWS Charlotte, updated Thu Oct 29 morning.)

If you only pick one: Make it Halloween Daze at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. Kids 12 and under get in free with a free online ticket.

Hours and prices change, so check the link before you go. Always-open parks and indoor stops are under Places.

Metro

Larger local events worth a morning or afternoon.

Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights (Carolina Renaissance Festival)

Effort: MetroAges: All ages (kids 12 and under free with a free online ticket this weekend)
  • Area: Carolina Renaissance Festival, 16445 Poplar Tent Rd, Huntersville
  • Cost: Kids 12 and under Free with a free online ticket for your date; ages 4 and under always free; adults 13+ $37.99 + tax; free parking
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1, 9:30am-5:30pm. Trick-or-treating at over 100 spots in the village, a Halloween Treasure Map at the front gate, a costume contest, and zombie jousting three times a day. Every child needs a ticket, and if a date sells out, adults need theirs in advance. Rain or shine; no pets. Weather: dry both days; Sunday showers hold off until evening.
  • Link: Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights

Festival Dia de Muertos (Camp North End)

Effort: MetroAges: All ages
  • Area: Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte
  • Cost: Free; $5 suggested donation; some Kids Zone activities may have a small fee
  • Practical: Sun Nov 1, 12-6pm. Live music, a Catrina parade at 4pm, community altars, folkloric dance, crafts, food, face painting, and a bounce house. There are two free parking areas. Weather: mostly cloudy and dry, high near 69; showers possible after 7pm, after the event ends.
  • Link: Festival Dia de Muertos

Road trip

Worth the car seat. Half- or full-day drive.

Patterson Farm Fall Fun (Mount Ulla)

Effort: Road tripAges: All ages (under 2 free)
  • Area: 10390 Caldwell Rd, Mount Ulla (~50 min from Charlotte, estimate)
  • Cost: Farm Fun Pass Sat $19.95 online / $22.95 gate; Sun $16.95 online / $19.95 gate
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31, 10am-6pm; Sun Nov 1, 10am-5pm. Sunday is the last Sunday of the season. The pass covers 40+ farm attractions. Last entry is an hour before closing, and the farm suggests arriving at least 2 hours before. Weather: dry Saturday and Sunday.
  • Link: Patterson Farm Fall Fun

Hall Family Farm (final weekend, Lancaster SC)

Effort: Road tripAges: All ages
  • Area: 445 W Rebound Rd, Lancaster, SC
  • Cost: No admission fee; activities a la carte
  • Practical: Fri Oct 30, 12-8pm; Sat Oct 31, 9am-6pm; Sun Nov 1, 9am-6pm (final day). Sign the farm’s online entry waiver, and call or text 704-562-4021 before driving out. Small pumpkins are still around, but mediums are running low. No outside food or pets. Weather: dry all weekend in daylight.
  • Link: Hall Family Farm

Around the corner

Smaller neighborhood plans. Short time blocks, quick and easy days.

Candy Crawl and Monster Market (NoDa)

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: Urban District Market + Seoul Food courtyard, 2315 N Davidson St, Charlotte
  • Cost: Free; shopping, food, and drinks extra
  • Practical: Fri Oct 30, 4-8pm. A family-friendly Halloween market hosted by POP.culture. Free parking lot on site, and the 25th Street light rail stop is close. Rain or shine. Weather: sunny, high near 80.
  • Link: Candy Crawl and Monster Market

Downtown Mooresville Halloween Candy Grab

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: Broad & Main Streets, downtown Mooresville
  • Cost: Free
  • Practical: Fri Oct 30, 3-5pm sharp. Downtown businesses hand out thousands of pieces of candy, plus surprises from the Mooresville Fire and Police Departments and a Witchy Flash Mob. It draws a big crowd, so don’t be late. Come in costume. Weather: sunny, high near 80.
  • Link: Downtown Mooresville events

Free Trunk or Treat & Concert with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (Gastonia)

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: CaroMont Health Park, Rotary Centennial Pavilion, 800 W Franklin Blvd, Gastonia
  • Cost: Free; food trucks extra
  • Practical: Fri Oct 30, doors 5:30pm, show 6pm. Trunk or treat plus a live kids’ concert from Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Wear costumes. Weather: clear and mild, low around 55.
  • Link: Trunk or Treat & Concert

Birkdale Village Trick or Treat

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: Birkdale Village (The Parkway), Birkdale Commons Pkwy & Sam Furr Rd, Huntersville
  • Cost: Free
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31, 10am-12pm. Trick-or-treat at participating shops and restaurants. Check in at the Concierge from 10am for a map. Candy is while supplies last, so go early. Weather: cloudy and dry.
  • Link: Trick or Treat at Birkdale Village

Pumpkin Splash (Eastway Regional Rec Center)

Effort: Around the cornerAges: 8 months-15 years
  • Area: Eastway Regional Recreation Center, east Charlotte
  • Cost: $7, registration required
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31, 10:30am-12:30pm. Kids pick a pumpkin from a floating pool patch. Bring a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket (loaners available). Registration is open until Sat noon. Weather: doesn’t matter much, since you’re getting wet anyway.
  • Link: Pumpkin Splash

Old Town Rock Hill Halloween (BOO-HaHa + Spooktacular)

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: Fountain Park and Main St (300 E Main St), Old Town Rock Hill, SC
  • Cost: Free; food trucks and vendors extra
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31. BOO-HaHa 11am-1pm at Fountain Park, then Spooktacular 1-7pm on Main St. Haunted house at The Freedom Center, train rides, a fun house, live music, a scavenger hunt, and free popcorn and cotton candy. The Main Street Children’s Museum stays open late until 7pm. Weather: cloudy and dry, high near 70.
  • Link: Halloween Spooktacular

Boos and Ghouls Trunk-or-Treat (Tega Cay)

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: Glennon Center parking lot, 15083 Molokai Dr, Tega Cay, SC
  • Cost: Free
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31, 4-6pm. Trunk-or-treating, a DJ, and a costume contest for all ages. Weather: cloudy and dry.
  • Link: Boos and Ghouls

Sweet Street Trunk-or-Treat & Festival (Kannapolis)

Effort: Around the cornerAges: All ages
  • Area: NC Research Campus, 150 N Research Campus Dr, Kannapolis
  • Cost: Free, including cotton candy and ice cream; food vendors extra (some cash only, some card only)
  • Practical: Sat Oct 31, 5-8pm. Trunk-or-treat with tons of candy plus a festival. No dogs. Weather: cloudy and dry, cooling off after dark.
  • Link: Sweet Street

Final weekend

Last chances for fall favorites before they close for the season.

  • Tweetsie Railroad daytime (Blowing Rock): Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1, 10am-6pm. Sunday is the last daytime day of the season. Schedule
  • Hodges Family Farm pumpkin patch (east Charlotte): last day Sat Oct 31, 9am-6pm (gate closes 5:30). No admission; parking $5/car; hayrides $5 per person, 2 and under free. Pumpkin patch
  • Sweetwater Farms pumpkin patch (Huntersville): last day Sun Nov 1. Free entry to buy pumpkins; farm admission $6 online / $7 at the door, under 2 free. Pumpkin patch
  • Hunter Farm (Weddington): final weekend. Fri 3-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Pumpkin patch and wagon rides to the petting barn (reserve online; walk-ins if space). No dogs. Fall season
  • Shelby Corn Maze (Shelby): last day Sun Nov 1. Fri 4-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 2-8pm. Farm admission $16 (ages 3+). Shelby Corn Maze

Little kids

Made for the youngest trick-or-treaters.

  • Boo Bash! Halloween Storytime (Independence Regional Library, 6000 Conference Dr): Sat Oct 31, 10:30-11:30am, ages 0-5, Free. Costume stories and songs, then a mini trick-or-treat around the library. Event page
  • Happy Hauntings at Main Street Children’s Museum (133 E Main St, Rock Hill): Sat Oct 31, 10am-12pm, birth to 6. Monster ball toss, potion puppets, and creepy crafts. Check the link for admission. Event page
  • Great Pumpkin Halloween Parade (Kings Mountain): Fri Oct 30, line up 9:30am, parade 10am, newborn to 7, Free. A costume foot parade from the Cherokee St lot to the Gazeboo at Patriots Park, with stories, songs, and candy. Event page

Have a great weekend out there.

Matthew