Halloween In North Carolina: A MapQuest Guide

From zombie parades and costume contests to haunted houses and hayrides (to haunted anything!), the Halloween season casts its spell and awakens our inner ghouls and goblins. As part of FrightQuest -- a MapQuest series on spooky destinations and activities -- here are three options to celebrate Halloween in North Carolina that are sure to be a scream.
— Don Amerman

Batty Battleship’s Halloween Bash

A relative newcomer to North Carolina’s Halloween festivities, Batty Battleship’s Halloween Bash marks its annual observance with a one-night event near the end of October. Its venue is the battleship USS North Carolina, which is permanently anchored in Wilmington. The Halloween fun, which includes trick-or-treating, storytelling, costumes, food, games and other activities, is toddler- and family-friendly. Admission to the evening event is $5 and free for children younger than 2. Designed to entertain trick-or-treaters of all ages, the bash features tattooing -- temporary, of course -- as well as a bounce house and caricature drawing.

1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401 | Get Directions

Kersey Valley Spookywoods Haunted Attraction

Enlivening the Halloween scene in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region is Kersey Valley Spookywoods Haunted Attraction in High Point. HauntedHouseRatings.com selected the sprawling attraction as one of America’s 13 best haunted houses, and the Travel Channel profiled Spookywoods on America’s Scariest Haunted Attractions. Open on select nights from late September until early November, Spookywoods offers multiple bone-chilling attractions, including the House of Darkness, Prison Break and Military Zombie Shoot-Out. Ticket prices are $20 each for Thursday or Sunday admission and $30 for Friday or Saturday. Spookywoods is designed for visitors who are 10 or older.

1615 Kersey Valley Road, High Point, NC 27263 | Get Directions

Trick Or Treat Under The Sea

For folks who’d like to experience a Halloween with a distinctly aquatic theme, the North Carolina Aquarium’s Trick or Treat Under the Sea in Manteo may be just the ticket. Count Sharkula, the marine counterpart of Transylvania’s Count Dracula, hosts the one-night event in late October. In addition to trick-or-treating, the event features food, crafts, costume contests and screaming contests. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets usually sell out quickly, and no tickets are sold on the night of the event.

374 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954 | Get Directions

The Travel Channel touts Kersey Valley Spookywoods Haunted Attraction as one of "America's scariest Halloween attractions."

Did we miss a Halloween event in North Carolina? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Want other great Halloween-season ideas? Check out FrightQuest and our coverage in South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

Interested in more stories about North Carolina? Go to Patch and scroll the list of states to get great local coverage of your neighborhood.