Spooky Halloween Events in Gaston County
Updated: Oct 4
Get ready for a spooktacular time as Gaston County unveils its bewitching lineup of Halloween events in 2023! From family-friendly pumpkin patches and eerie haunted trails to Halloween-themed races and chilling movie nights, there's something for every age group. Join the little ones for kid-friendly fun, experience the thrill of spooky paddles, shop for the perfect costume, or immerse yourself in the macabre atmosphere of haunted theaters. With hay rides and a variety of activities, Gaston County promises a bewitching Halloween celebration for all!
Scarecrow Hollow
Oct 2nd-30th | at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Come explore the Garden and have fun seeing these local creations as we celebrate fall! While some Scarecrows are traditional, some are space age, and others are made of live plants, each one is a magical contribution to our fall festivities! Each Scarecrow is unique and is designed by members, supporters, and local organizations.
Pumpkin Patch and Hay Rides
at Lineberger Farm
Wagon rides, pumpkins, fall décor, muscadines, and apples. From 9 - 5 everyday the whole month of October 2023.
Hickory Grove Haunted Trail
Settled in the backwoods of the South Fork River, the Hickory Grove Haunted Trail is one of the original and oldest haunted attractions in the Charlotte, N.C. area. Our guides will lead you through a dark winding path filled with uncertainty and suspense! If you're ready for a heart pounding stroll on a brisk autumn night. If you have a passion for horror or are curious about the unknown or unseen. We dare you to enter our woods!
HALLOWEEN RACES
Stanley Creek Massacre 5K/ 10K
October 28th | at Harper Park in Stanley
Looking for a challenging course! Join us for the Stanley Creek Massacre 5k or 10k. Event takes place at 8 am at Harper Park.
Trick or Trail
October 28th | at Warlick YMCA
This outdoor trail run includes the beautiful Sytz Family Trail System located at the Warlick Family YMCA in Gastonia, NC. The trail covers over 3 miles and is great for participants at all levels. Our 1-mile Fun Run is a friendly race involving participants participating for their own enjoyment rather than competition. Trick-or-Trail will have fun for all ages with fall festival. We will have a bouncy house, basketball hoops, corn hole, 5k race, 1-Mile Fun Run race, S'mores, pumpkin decorating, cotton candy, and vendors. This event is perfect for people and children of all ages to dress in a costume and run alongside friends and family!
HALLOWEEN SHOPPING
Wandering Witches
Oct 14th | at Gaston Pour House
Welcome to our cozy gathering of witchy vendors and intuitive readers at the Wandering Witches Spooky Season pop-up! Enjoy a cuppa (or 2) while you shop all the magical things - crystals, spells, candles, tarot cards, jewelry and more. Card readings will be available for $25 a session, so be sure to come early to book your spot. Our events are open to all ages, so bring the whole family. See you there!
HALLOWEEN MOVIES & THEATRE
Friday the 13th
Friday 13th | at Belmont Drive-In
Get in the Halloween spirit at this showing of Friday the 13th at this iconic drive-in recently opened in Belmont.
Movies in the Park: Ghostbusters
Oct 14th | at Stowe Park
Grab your friends, grab your chairs, and head down to Stowe Park for a fun night of movies under the stars featuring Ghostbusters on the jumbo outdoor screen with epic immersive sound. FREE arcade games, and cornhole. Popcorn, candy, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
Sweeney Todd
Oct 20-29th | Gastonia Little Theater
An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett's luck sharply shifts when Todd's thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up... and the carnage has only just begun!
Movies in the Park: Casper
Oct 28th | at Stowe Park
Grab your friends, grab your chairs, and head down to Stowe Park for a fun night of movies under the stars featuring Casper on the jumbo outdoor screen with epic immersive sound. FREE arcade games, and cornhole. Popcorn, candy, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
The Haunting of Hill House
Oct 26-28 | at Cherryville Little Theatre
based on the novel by Shirley Jackson about the most famous haunted house in the country. Get your tickets to see The Haunting of Hill House directed by Autumn Bolton at Cherryville's Little Theatre.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Nov 4th | at CityCade
Join us for a night of costumes, props and the TIME WARP! No cover - movie starts at dark!
SPOOKY PADDLING
Sup or Treat
October 21st | In Belmont
This is a Halloween themed paddle with a Spooktacular twist hosted by Anchored Soul. We will paddle out in costume on a preplanned route with several SUP-to-Treat locations along the paddle route where you'll stop for a tasty treat. There are several costume prize categories. Come dressed to impress! After the paddle we'll have an x-large bonfire with hot dogs, drinks and s’mores.
History Ghost Paddle
Oct 29th | at Riverside Marina
Reserve your space now for one of these spooky kayak tours on the Catawba River in Belmont, NC from Riverside Marina. These fun tours will take off from the marina as the sun is setting and you will listen stories about the history of Belmont.
FOR THE KIDS
Bake & Treat
Tuesdays | T Jeffers Center & Park
There are no tricks in this children's Bake & Treat baking class! The class is on Tuesdays from October 10th through 31st. 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Ages 5-8.
Halloween Bash
October 13th | at Schiele Museum
Get ready to enjoy a hair-raising, spine-chilling, spook-tacular Halloween event at The Schiele! Celebrate with haunted happenings after hours .Costumes welcome!
Hocus Pocus Parade
October 13th | in Cherryville
Join us for the Annual Hocus Pocus Parade that travels around the city of Cherryville and is so much fun for the whole family. Oh and of course CANDY!
Halloween Fest
October 20th | at Dallas Park
Halloween Fest will be held Friday, October 20th at 6:30pm at the Citizens Resource Center at Dallas Park. Costume contest, games, and family fun. Wear your costumes to enter a raffle and join for fall festival games, activities, popcorn, Kalani's Italian Ice & more!
Scary-Ville
October 21st | in Cherryville
Please join us for a family friendly spooky night on Cherryville’s main street. This event has quite possibly become our most anticipated of the year. costume contest, haunted house, hay rides, games, food vendors and musical entertainment.
Paint a Pumpkin
Oct 23rd | at Lowell library
Paint a fun Fall decoration for your porch! A limited number of small pumpkins will be provided, but you may bring your own pumpkin as well. For all ages.
Treat Walk
October 26th | in Lowell
Meet on the streets of downtown Lowell for the Treat Walk through participating local businesses.
BooFest
October 28th | at Stowe Park in Belmont
Family-friendly Halloween fun! An afternoon of activities, artisan vendors, food vendors, touch-a-truck, and plenty of candy for trick-o-treaters at Stowe Park in Belmont.
Cherryville's Little Monster March
Oct 27th | in Cherryville
A Halloween parade for children kindergarten and younger. Please join us in Cherryville for the Little Monster's March parade. All participants are part of the parade and will be lead down Main Street. After walking the parade parade goers will have an opportunity to trick or treat with downtown merchants.
Trunk or Treat
Oct 28th | Bessemer City
Bessemer City Parks and Recreation Department invites you to our Community-Wide Trunk or Treat from 10 am to 12 pm in Downtown Bessemer City. This family friendly event will offer trick-or-treating, games and fun! Free event and open to the public. Do not forget to wear your costume and bring your friends and family!
The Wonderful Adventure to Oz
October 28th | at Patriots Park in Kings Mountain
Journey down the Yellow Brick Road to Patriots Park in Downtown Kings Mountain, Saturday, for The Wonderful Adventure to Oz! Meet live characters from the Land of Oz as you walk through an interactive journey down the Yellow Brick Road! Enjoy trunk or treat, hayrides, live farm animals from the Gale Farm, costume contests and so much more.
Great Pumpkin Parade
October 31st | at Patriots Park in Kings Mountain
Trick or Treat, Bags of Sweets, Ghosts and Goblins Will Walk Down the Street! The City of Kings Mountain invites little pumpkins ages 0-first grade and their parents to City Hall to begin a spell binding journey to Patriots Park where music, inflatables and games await at every turn.