Cape FEAR Frights! Wilmington's Premier Halloween Spots

As October rolls around, leaves start to fall, temperatures begin to plummet (well, at least, they’re supposed to), and Wilmington comes alive with scary thrills, tours, and festive fun all month long! Whether you’re searching for the place to score the best pumpkin for carving, a place to test your endurance for outrunning the undead, or suspenseful tours on the story-filled streets of downtown, I’ve got you covered! Join me as we explore and as we mark our calendars for the premier Halloween spots Wilmington has to offer this spooky season. 

The first stop on our cross-town tour is by far the most paranormal on this list. Step back in time with the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington and explore the history that lurks in the haunted streets of downtown. This 90 minute guided tour leads brave patrons by stories pulled from historic letters, photos, and oral accounts of residents–through chilling tales of real life paranormal encounters. Wander down old alleyways, through graveyards, and into haunted buildings, all part of the 30+ actively haunted sites of downtown Wilmington. Each tour always hits around six to eight of these spooky spots, so no two ghost walks are ever the same. Pricing is around $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, students, and servicemembers, and free for children under age 6. So, think you have the guts for this night of ghoulish history?

Now for our next stop, no Halloween season is complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch. Lucky for us, Wilmington has a plethora of spots to pick the perfect pumpkin for carving. One local favorite (and my personal favorite) is the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch, right on the corner of College and Oleander. With a wide selection of outstanding pumpkins and friendly, welcoming attendants, picking out the perfect pumpkin here is a total breeze. Now, if you're chasing that classic fall farm vibe, the Trask Family Farms has you covered! Located on Blue Clay Road in Castle Hayne, this beloved local spot boasts the biggest pumpkin patch in the area, plus a 4-mile corn maze for the whole family to get lost in (on purpose, of course). If those two don’t fit your fancy, you can stop by the family-owned Amber Dale’s Pumpkin patch located at 2307 N College Road. Locally owned and operated, you’ll see nothing but kind, smiling faces there. Pumpkin perfection is just a patch away!

Our final stop on this spooky Wilmington tour is one that’ll really get your heart racing: Wilmington’s Undead Mile Zombie Run. The run is a thrilling annual event that lets you test your endurance and nerves as you sprint through a course filled with hungry “zombies” ready to chase you down. Runners can sign up as either ‘survivors’ or ‘zombies’, turning the race into a full-on battle between the living and the undead. The course is packed with twists, turns, and plenty of scare, keeping the Halloween spirit alive with costumes, music, and friendly competition. Whether you’re running for your life or chasing your next snack of brains, The Wilmington Zombie Run is the perfect mix of fright and fitness, if you’re fast enough to survive, that is.

Whether it's a haunted tour, a pumpkin patch, or a heart-pounding zombie run, Wilmington’s Halloween scene has something spooky and fun for everyone this season.