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Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, and the Triangle has a full week of free trunk-or-treats, festivals and spooky nights out to go with it, from Raleigh's park trunk-or-treats on Thursday, October 29, to HollyFest in Holly Springs and BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham on Saturday, October 31. Most of the events below are free, and every date, time and place comes from the town, the venue or the organizer.
Here is what is happening from Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November 1, in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina and Durham. Plans can change with the weather, so check the organizer's page before you go.
Quick look: Halloween week in the Triangle
- Wed, Oct 28: Spooky Tails for dogs in costume, Apex
- Thu, Oct 29: Trunk-or-treats in Raleigh (Lions Park, Lake Lynn, Marsh Creek) and Cary (Downtown Cary Park), Morrisville Boo Bash, Wake Forest ghost walks, AfterHours: Science of Fear (21+) at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham
- Fri, Oct 30: Witches Night Out in downtown Apex, Durham BOO Bash, Biltmore Hills Trunk-Or-Treat in Raleigh, last Wake Forest ghost walks
- Oct 30 to Nov 1: Pumpkin Palooza at Pullen Park, Raleigh
- Sat, Oct 31: HollyFest in Holly Springs, BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, Trunk-or-Treat and Pumpkin Parlor in Raleigh, a costume market in Morrisville, and trick-or-treating in neighborhoods across the Triangle
- Nightly through Oct 31: Apex Tour of Frights decorated homes
Raleigh Halloween events
The City of Raleigh's parks run most of the city's Halloween events, and many are free. See the full list on the City's Celebrate Fall with Raleigh Parks page.
Trunk-or-treats on Thursday, October 29
- Lions Park Trunk-Or-Treat, Lions Park, 516 Dennis Avenue, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free, all ages. Music, crafts, decorated trunks and the City's Rec'd Out mobile recreation unit.
- Lake Lynn Trunk-Or-Treat, Lake Lynn Community Center, 7921 Ray Road, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free, all ages. Registration is encouraged but not required.
- Transportation and Treats, Marsh Creek Community Center, 4 to 7:30 p.m. Free, all ages. Listed on the City's fall events page.
Biltmore Hills Fall Festival: Trunk-Or-Treat
Location:Biltmore Hills Park, 2615 Fitzgerald Drive, Raleigh
Date: Friday, October 30, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m.
The 4th annual trunk-or-treat with the Raleigh Police Advisory Board has candy, inflatables, carnival games, free pizza and a fall photo backdrop. It is free for ages 3 to 13, with no registration. Event details.
The Haunted at the Pines
Location:Carolina Pines Park, Raleigh
Date: Friday, October 30, 2026, 8 to 10 p.m.
A nighttime scare for ages 10 and up. The City lists it at $5 a person on its fall events page.
Pumpkin Palooza at Pullen Park
Location:Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh
Dates: Friday, October 30, to Sunday, November 1, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pullen Park turns into a fall playground for Halloween weekend. Each $14 ticket includes a digital scavenger hunt, a ride on the Pullen Park train, a small pumpkin to take home, and fall crafts and games. Kids' costumes are encouraged. Buy a time slot ahead of time through the City's Pumpkin Palooza page. Pullen Park sits just inside the Beltline, near NC State; see our Inside the Beltline guide.
Trunk-or-Treat and Pumpkin Parlor
Location:John P. "Top" Greene African American Cultural Center, 401 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 3 to 6 p.m.
Trunk-or-treat in the parking lot with the NC Black Women Empowered 50+ club, then head inside for three hands-on pumpkin stations: pumpkin seed science, a pumpkin "pound-away" with mallets and golf tees, and a pumpkin decorating parlor. Free, all ages. Register on the City's page.
Fear Fest: Teens After Dark
Location:St. Monica Teen Center, Raleigh
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m.
A free Halloween night for middle and high school students, ages 12 to 18, from Raleigh Parks. See the City's fall events page.
Exploring Raleigh this fall? Our Raleigh area guide covers the city's neighborhoods and parks.
Cary Halloween events
Cary Police Department Trunk or Treat
Location: Park Street at Downtown Cary Park, 327 S. Academy St., Cary
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Cary Police Department's Downtown Team lines Park Street with decorated trunks for pre-Halloween trick-or-treating. Wear a costume. It is free and open to the public. Event details.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Cary Theater
Location:The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St., Cary
Dates: Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8 p.m.
The cult classic gets two Halloween-weekend screenings downtown. It is rated R. Prop bags are provided, and outside props are not allowed. Friday's screening is sold out. Tickets for Saturday, October 31 are on The Cary Theater's site.
The Town of Cary keeps its full lineup, plus Halloween safety tips, on its Halloween events page. For more on the town, see our Cary area guide.
Apex Halloween events
Spooky Tails
Location:Apex Nature Park, 2600 Evans Road, Apex
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m.
Bring your dog in costume to visit vendors, join organized trail walks and enter the dog costume contest. Free. Town of Apex event page.
Witches Night Out
Location:Salem Street, downtown Apex
Date: Friday, October 30, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m.
Downtown shops and restaurants stay open late with themed experiences and specials. From 6 to 9 p.m., the Mayor will be on Salem Street to pick the top three witch costumes. See the Witches Night Out page and the Mayor's Costume Awards listing.
Tour of Frights and Scarecrow Row
Dates: Tour of Frights nightly through Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m.
Apex homes and businesses with some of the town's best Halloween decorations are mapped on three routes (orange, purple and green). Stay in your car if you are driving, or on the sidewalk if you are walking, since yards are private property. Get the map on the Town's Seasonal Tours page. Scarecrow Row, with community-decorated scarecrows, is at Apex Community Park the week of October 31; the park closes at 10 p.m. (Town of Apex Halloween page).
See our Apex area guide for more on the town.
Holly Springs: HollyFest
Location:Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, 2401 Grigsby Avenue, Holly Springs
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holly Springs' annual town festival lands on Halloween this year, with local artists, businesses, food vendors, local entertainment and children's activities. It is free for all ages. Extras this year mark the town's 150th anniversary: guided line dancing every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a scavenger hunt in the free HollyQuest app, and a mini pumpkin patch where the first 1,000 children can pick and decorate a free pumpkin. Parking is not allowed on the neighborhood streets next to Sugg Farm, so follow the event parking signs. HollyFest details. More on the town in our Holly Springs area guide.
Wake Forest: Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walks
Location: Meet outside Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.
Dates: Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30, 2026, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Storytellers from Firebox Theatre Company lead about 75 minutes of haunted history through the downtown business district, mostly along South White Street. Tickets are $20 a person, and every guest needs one, including children. Each tour takes up to 20 people. The walks are not recommended for children under 8, anyone under 17 needs an adult, and pets should stay home. Tickets and details.
Trick-or-treating in Wake Forest is on Saturday, October 31, and the Wake Forest Police Department recommends 6 to 8 p.m. (Town of Wake Forest). See our Wake Forest area guide.
Morrisville Halloween events
Morrisville Boo Bash
Location:Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m.
Trick-or-treat at candy stations run by local businesses and groups, plus face painting, balloon twisting, music, pumpkin voting and free apple cider. It is free and open to all ages, and there is a sensory relaxation tent for a quiet break. Park at Morrisville Elementary School, 1519 Morrisville Parkway, or walk in on the greenway. Town of Morrisville event page.
Costume Party at the Western Wake Farmers Market
Location:Indian Creek Trailhead Park, 101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8 a.m. to noon
Wear a costume to the Saturday market and trick-or-treat at vendor booths for free. Market event page. See our Morrisville area guide.
Fuquay-Varina: Fire Department Open House
Location:Fire Station 1, 301 S. Fuquay Avenue, Fuquay-Varina
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Start Halloween morning by meeting firefighters, touring the station and seeing the equipment up close, with face painting, inflatables and fire safety tips. Town of Fuquay-Varina fall events. More in our Fuquay-Varina area guide.
Durham Halloween events
Durham Parks & Recreation BOO Bash
Location:W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville Street, Durham
Date: Friday, October 30, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m.
Carve a pumpkin, decorate your own trick-or-treat bag and stop by the Halloween photo booth. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Event details.
BooFest and AfterHours: Science of Fear at the Museum of Life and Science
Location:Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Avenue, Durham
Dates: AfterHours: Science of Fear, Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:30 to 10 p.m. (21+); BooFest, Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Grown-ups get a costume night first at AfterHours: Science of Fear, with spooky crafts, games, a DJ and food and drink samples from local vendors (ages 21 and up). AfterHours: Science of Fear details. On Halloween, BooFest invites everyone to come in costume for spooky challenges, a costume catwalk and crafts, and it is included with admission. BooFest details.
See our Durham area guide and our downtown Durham guide.
Trick-or-treating on Saturday, October 31
Most Triangle towns trick-or-treat on Halloween itself, whatever day of the week it falls on. The Town of Apex says it does not set a date or hours. In Wake Forest, police recommend 6 to 8 p.m. If your town has not posted hours, follow your neighborhood's lead. A porch light on is the usual sign that a home is handing out treats.
One more date: daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, so clocks go back an hour the night after Halloween, and evenings get dark earlier the week after.
Selling your home this fall? A Halloween-week checklist
If your home is on the market or about to be, Halloween week is a good reminder of a few small things buyers notice.
- Plan showings around trick-or-treat time. Evening showings on October 31 can overlap with a busy front walk. Ask your agent to set showings earlier that day.
- Keep the path clear and lit. Wet leaves, hoses and props on steps are easy to trip on, and a well-lit walk helps both trick-or-treaters and buyers.
- Skip open flames. Battery candles or flashlights in jack-o'-lanterns are a simpler choice when strangers are touring the home.
- Think about your photos. If you are about to list, take photos before or after the decorations go up so your listing does not look dated in November.
- Get ready for darker evenings. With clocks going back on November 1, check that porch and yard lights work for late-afternoon showings.
Curious what your home could sell for this fall? Start with our home value estimate or see how we help sellers.
What's next: November in the Triangle
Halloween weekend rolls right into November, with holiday tree lightings, the Raleigh Christmas Parade and Thanksgiving turkey trots. See our guide to the best events in the Triangle this November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What Halloween events are in Raleigh in 2026?
Raleigh Parks hosts free trunk-or-treats at Lions Park and Lake Lynn on Thursday, October 29, and at Biltmore Hills Park on Friday, October 30, plus Pumpkin Palooza at Pullen Park from October 30 to November 1 ($14) and a free Trunk-or-Treat and Pumpkin Parlor at the Top Greene African American Cultural Center on Saturday, October 31, from 3 to 6 p.m.
When is trick-or-treating in the Triangle in 2026?
Most towns trick-or-treat on Halloween itself, Saturday, October 31, 2026. The Town of Apex does not set hours, and the Wake Forest Police Department recommends 6 to 8 p.m.
Where are trunk-or-treats near Raleigh and Cary in 2026?
On Thursday, October 29, there are free trunk-or-treats at Lions Park and Lake Lynn in Raleigh and on Park Street at Downtown Cary Park, plus the Boo Bash at Morrisville Community Park. Raleigh's Biltmore Hills Park has one on Friday, October 30, and the Top Greene center in Raleigh has one on Saturday, October 31.
What is happening in the Triangle on Halloween day 2026?
On Saturday, October 31, you can go to HollyFest in Holly Springs (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free), BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham (10 a.m. to 3 p.m., included with admission), the Fire Department Open House in Fuquay-Varina (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), the costume market in Morrisville (8 a.m. to noon), Pumpkin Palooza at Pullen Park, or the Trunk-or-Treat and Pumpkin Parlor in Raleigh (3 to 6 p.m.).
When is Witches Night Out in Apex in 2026?
Witches Night Out is Friday, October 30, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Salem Street in downtown Apex, with the Mayor's Costume Awards from 6 to 9 p.m.
Are there Halloween events for adults in the Triangle?
Yes. The Museum of Life and Science in Durham has AfterHours: Science of Fear, a 21+ Halloween night, on Thursday, October 29, from 6:30 to 10 p.m., The Cary Theater shows The Rocky Horror Picture Show (rated R) on October 30 and 31, and the Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walks run October 29 and 30.
Thinking about calling the Triangle home?
A week like this shows each town's personality: trunk-or-treats in Raleigh's parks, late shopping on Salem Street in Apex, a ghost walk in Wake Forest and a town festival in Holly Springs. If you are thinking about a move, it is a good time to see these places for yourself. Our team can help you compare towns and neighborhoods across the Triangle.
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