How to Spend Halloween in Asheville

In Asheville, Halloween isn't just one night; it's a whole month of haunted history, mountain mystery and costumed fun.

As fall color spills down the Blue Ridge, ghost tours roll through downtown Asheville, corn mazes rustle in the valleys and pop-up bars trade their twinkle lights for cobwebs. Whether you're after a good scare, a great costume party or a trick-or-treat the whole family will love, here's how to spend Halloween in Asheville in 2026.

What are the best ghost tours in Asheville?

LaZoom Comedy Bus Tours

• LaZoom's Ghosted: Asheville's Comedy Ghost Tour: a 60-minute evening bus ride through Asheville's haunted tales played for laughs, ages 17 and up, leaving from The LaZoom Room at 76 Biltmore Ave. with tickets from $44 (the Lil Boogers tour is the family version).
• Haunted Asheville: the city's original ghost tour, about two hours on foot through its strange history, nightly and rain or shine, meeting in the alley behind the Asheville Masonic Temple at 80 Broadway; $26.95 adults and $14.95 for kids 14 and under, and it often sells out.
• Gray Line's Haunted History & Murder Mystery Ghost Trolley Tour: about 75 minutes of ghoulish delights, Monday through Saturday through mid-November, departing 7 p.m. from Pack's Tavern at 20 S. Spruce St.; $35 adults and $17 for ages 5 to 11, reservations required.

Where are the best Halloween parties and events in Asheville?

• The Haunting at Golden Pineapple: a Halloween cocktail pop-up from the Miracle and Sippin' Santa team, Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 at 503 Haywood Rd. in West Asheville, pouring craft drinks like the Widow's Whisper and the Scream-sicle.
• Ghosts of 1907 Party at Pack's Tavern: Pack's Tavern will host a Halloween party in its historic Century Room on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with a live DJ, tarot readings, a costume contest, themed cocktails and a light buffet. 21+, $15 tickets.
• Top of the Monk: The downtown Asheville cocktail bar is debuting Halloween-themed additions to its October menu of handcrafted classic cocktails. Highlights include the Brandied Pumpkin Sour with pumpkin reduction and whipped cream, the smoky Potion de los Muertos, and the Japanese Cold Noodle, a vegetarian take on a fat-washed rum drink.
• Marquee Masquerade:  Get your costume ready, Asheville! The Marquee Masquerade, the city’s most anticipated costume party, comes to town Thursday, October 29, from 6 to 9pm. Compete in the legendary Monster Mash Costume Contest, dance to DJ Free Parking and sip spooky cocktails and CBD slushies. 
• Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcast: a live Unexpected Pleasures shadowcast as a Tim Curry tribute at The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage, Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m., 131 Sweeten Creek Rd.; $12 plus fees, all ages with a ticketed guardian.
• Feral Friday Horror Fest Screening & Fundraiser: two blocks of horror, thriller and experimental shorts from the Asheville Film Festival at the Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway, Friday, Oct. 23 from 7 to 10 p.m., with a red carpet, costume contest, charcuterie and raffle; $25 general admission or $49 VIP, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit festival.
• Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics: a string ensemble playing Halloween favorites by candlelight in the historic Asheville Masonic Temple at 80 Broadway, Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8:45 p.m., from $47.50, ages 8 and up.
• Hot & H*rny & Haunted Comedy: a Modelface Comedy lineup riffing on dating, lust and relationships at RAD Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St., Saturday, Oct. 24 at 9:30 p.m., 18 and up, $18.
• The Pink Lady Party at The Omni Grove Park Inn: a toast to the resort's legendary ghost in Elaine's Dueling Piano Bar, Thursday, Oct. 29 from 7 to 10 p.m., with themed cocktails, tarot readings, dueling pianos and a costume contest.
• Marquee Masquerade: A Monster Mash: the River Arts District market's annual costume contest, Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 36 Foundy St., with judges and prizes, a spooky set from DJ Free Parking, a signature Halloween drink and THC slushies from White Lab Exotics.
• Comedy at The Funk: Dark Jokes: a night of dark, gross and edgy stand-up headlined by Chris Higgins and Matty Ryan in the Cultura Room at Wicked Weed Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Ave., Friday, Oct. 30 at 9:15 p.m., 18 and up, $18.
• Zombie Silent Disco: a costumed rooftop dance party with three channels of music at The Roof, 95 Roberts St., Friday, Oct. 30 from 7 to 11 p.m.; $15 in advance or $20 at the door, headphones included.
• Young Frankenstein: a screening of Mel Brooks' PG-rated horror spoof starring Gene Wilder at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
• Wicked Spooky 5K & Creepy Crawly Climb: a costumed South Slope run, Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9 a.m. from Wicked Weed Funkatorium, with finisher medals, a free beer for runners 21 and up and a new quarter-mile kids' hill race.
• Asheville Halloween Bar Crawl: a 21-and-up crawl through seven downtown bars, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 4 to 10 p.m., starting at The Tiki Easy Bar and ending at Banks Ave.; advance tickets $15.
• Haunted Higgins: Halloween Comedy with Chris Higgins: a Modelface Comedy stand-up show with Worth Osborne at French Broad River Brewery, 101 Fairview Rd., Saturday, Oct. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m., 18 and up, from $22.
• 80's Throwback Halloween Party: throwback hits, dancing and spooky cocktails at Färməsē Cocktail Lounge, 5 Biltmore Ave., Saturday, Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Ella Halloween Ball: Dressed to Kill: Ella's first Halloween ball at 49 Broadway, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight, with a DJ, themed cocktails like the Deadly Nightshade and a costume contest whose winner takes home $500 and the Golden Ghoul trophy. 21+, $20 tickets.
• 13 on 31: a free costume party for Urban Orchard Cider Co.'s 13th anniversary at 24 Buxton Ave., Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m., with '70s, '80s and '90s vinyl from The Free Range DJ, specialty drinks and Fire Flights of hot pepper ciders.
• Halloween-night concerts: Wednesday at The Orange Peel (8 p.m., 18+), Dana and Alden at The Grey Eagle, the Land of the Sky Symphonic Band's Halloween Spooktacular at White Horse Black Mountain (7:30 to 9:30 p.m.) and Denver progressive bluegrass quartet Magoo at Asheville Music Hall (9 p.m.).
• Little Shop of Horrors at Asheville Community Theatre: the man-eating-plant musical running through Oct. 11, with evening shows and weekend matinees; $43.56 adults and $23.76 youth.
• Hauntville High: Class of '26: an adults-only immersive theater experience in the style of high school horror, running three nights, Oct. 29 to 31, at Asheville's Hazel Robinson Amphitheater. Small-group tours lead you backstage, onstage, above and below stage, where a gnarly, raunchy cast of teachers awaits their new students: you.

What are the best family-friendly Halloween events in Asheville?

• Eliada Fall Festival & Corn Maze: an eight-acre corn maze with a corn cannon, tractor rides and a jumping pillow, Sept. 25 to Nov. 1 at 49 Compton Dr., $15 admission supporting Eliada's work with children and families.
• Asheville Festival of Frights: a month of free and low-cost Asheville Parks & Recreation events at city community centers, Oct. 4 to 31, from Barktoberfest to a Día de Muertos celebration and a Halloween Trunk or Treat Fest.
• Día de los Muertos Celebration at Xico: a festive brunch at 175 Biltmore Ave., Sunday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a communal ofrenda where guests can bring photos and marigolds, free face painting, a DJ and Chef Scott Linquist's Pan de Muerto French Toast.
• The Haunted Trail at the Adventure Center of Asheville: a family-friendly haunt through 18 scenes with actors behind barriers, select nights Oct. 10 to 30, $20 for ages 4 and up, with a Sensory-Friendly Night on Oct. 25.
• Tricks-n-Treats Dog Festival at The North Carolina Arboretum: costumed-dog contests, a scavenger hunt and vendors, Sunday, Oct. 25, included with the Arboretum's parking fee.
• Wolf Howl-O-Ween at WNC Nature Center: a guided sunset tour of the wolf habitats, Friday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by games, crafts and a costume contest.
• BOO Ridge Halloween Movie Night: a trick-or-treat trail on the concourse at HomeTrust Park, 30 Buchanan Pl., followed by Hocus Pocus in the outfield, Friday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.; bring a blanket, since chairs aren't allowed on the field.
• Tanger Outlets Boo Bash: free trick-or-treating across the outlet center, Sunday, Oct. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m., plus the Boo Dash 5K on Oct. 18 benefiting the Asheville Police Department Foundation.
• Halloween on Haywood: free tricks and treats from local businesses and nonprofits along Haywood Road in West Asheville, Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31, plus a free Halloween BINGO card (available starting Oct. 26) with a gift bag for the winner.
• Trick or Treating at Grove Arcade: costumed trick-or-treating through the downtown landmark's shops and restaurants at 1 Page Ave., Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 to 6 p.m., with pumpkin decorating and Halloween photo spots.
• Bear's Burial Grounds: Halloween on the South Slope: a spooky themed property and photo op at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ, 135 Coxe Ave., Oct. 12 to 31, with family trick-or-treating from noon to 3 p.m. on Halloween and the Dance with the Dead party with Deejay Delight from 8 to 11 p.m.; free and all ages.
• Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview: free entry with pumpkins, cider, slides and creek play Wednesday to Sunday, with weekend hayrides by donation.

Where can you take a Halloween workshop in Asheville?

• Forest-Themed Pumpkin: Make & Take Fall Decor: a hands-on class decorating a forest-themed 7.5-inch faux pumpkin with instructors Ruth Gonzalez and Cristi Bloch at Reems Creek Nursery, 76 Monticello Rd., Weaverville, Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon, all materials included.
• Spooky Raku Workshop at Odyssey ClayWorks: a River Arts District session glazing up to six pre-fired pieces and finishing them raku-style in an outdoor kiln, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 236 Clingman Ave. Ext.
• Ghoulish Wax Carving Workshop at Torched AVL: a five-hour West Asheville class carving a spooky wax design that gets cast in bronze, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $175 per person, ages 12 and up.

Where are the best mystical and occult shops in Asheville?

• House of Black Cat Magic: a West Asheville metaphysical shop and black cat lounge at 841 Haywood Rd., run with rescue Binx's Home for Black Cats, open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Asheville Wellness Tours: tarot readings at your home, a rental, a park, a café or over Zoom, from $160 for up to four guests.
• Asheville Pagan Supply: candles, books, herbs and ritual supplies, open since 2014.
• Auratherapy in the Grove Arcade: aura photos and readings plus chakra-themed candles, fragrances and crystals, open daily.