Halloween Weekend in Wilmington: 21 Ways to Celebrate

Halloween on a Saturday means the parties start Thursday and keep going all weekend. Here is what's happening across Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, grouped by the kind of night you're after. Several of these need tickets in advance, and we've flagged the ones with limited spots.

Get outside in costume. Ponysaurus kicks things off Thursday with its free Pony Run Halloween Costume Run: pick 1, 3 or 5 miles through downtown, check in around 6:30 PM and finish with a pint. On Saturday at 6 PM, Wilmington Outdoor Adventures leads a one-hour Spooky Paddle on Greenfield Lake, kayaking under the Spanish moss at sunset with ghost stories along the way ($64, gear included, and credit toward a future tour if you come in costume).

Bring the kids. The Children's Museum of Wilmington's EEK! Week Festival runs 9 AM to noon on Halloween morning with costumes, crafts and experiments ($15, or $5 for members). Cape Fear Museum's Cape Fearful Skies family planetarium show runs at 1 and 3 PM; tickets are required and include museum admission. On Friday night, Wrightsville Beach Park shows Ghostbusters: Afterlife for free at dusk, so bring blankets and chairs.

Bring the dog. Pups on the Pier at Oceanic is a Howl-oween costume contest on Saturday: the party starts at 4 PM, the Pup Parade is at 5:45 and judging is at 6, with awards for Funniest, Most Creative and Best Human and Pup Duo.

Get properly scared. The Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington's Haunted Pub Crawl runs Thursday through Saturday from the riverfront at Market and Water Streets ($25, 21+). Poplar Grove opens its manor house and grounds for Halloween-night paranormal tours at 6 and 8 PM, with only 16 spots per tour, so book ahead. On Friday, Jungle Rapids turns its laser tag arena into Torment, a haunted house with live actors and fog (7 to 11 PM, $25, ages 10 and up). Also Friday, Haunted Rooms America runs an overnight ghost hunt aboard the Battleship North Carolina, 8 PM to 2 AM ($149, 18+, very limited tickets). For something gentler, Flytrap Brewing screens the original Friday the 13th in its pumpkin patch at 7 PM, free, with free popcorn.

Hear the music. On Friday, a string quartet plays Danse Macabre, Psycho and Beetlejuice by candlelight at The Elia (8:45 PM, from $40, no late entry). Also Friday, Electric Enclave's Nightmare on the Pier brings bass headliner ALLEYCVT to the pier at Port City Marina (doors 5 PM, 18+), with the official afterparty at Bowstring. Saturday is tribute night: This Petty Luxury plays two Nirvana sets at Flytrap Brewing, and Given to Fly brings Pearl Jam to Bowstring. If rockabilly is more your speed, Zombie Fest at The Eagle's Dare has Screamin' Rebel Angels and a cash prize for the best costume (21+).

Win the costume contest. Cabana Bar and Grill's After Dark party on Friday has an adult trunk or treat and a $50 prize for best costume. The Barzarre's Halloween Eve Variety Show on Friday is $5 if you show up dressed and $10 if you don't. On Saturday, Seven Mile Post has Eastbound live until 10 PM, then DJ SBZ until 1 AM, with cash prizes for the top three costumes ($5 cover, 21+). Tap Yard's costume contest with DJ TOXXXIC starts at 10 PM, and The Barzarre goes dark with eight hours of darkwave and postpunk.

One more thing: daylight saving time ends at 2 AM Sunday, so set your clocks back an hour before bed.

Times, prices and ticket availability can change, so check each listing below before you head out. Last checked October 2026.

Header photo: Alfredo Marco Pradil on Pexels.