How to Spend Halloween in Asheville

Article last updated 07/17/2025

Pisgah National Forest

With the crisp arrival of autumn, Asheville also welcomes a magical time of secrets, surprises, and a hint of the supernatural. Experience the thrill of spooky season in the Asheville area — from late-night drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway to delicious fall treats, special seasonal events and more — with our guide below.

Haunted Tours and Halloween Experiences in Asheville

LaZoom Ghosted Comedy Tour – You'll laugh! You'll scream! You'll see ghosts! Pick up some local brews at LaZoom Room and hop on the Big Purple Bus for a hilarious guided tour of Asheville's most ghostly tales.

Haunted Asheville Tours – Developed by renowned paranormal expert and TV personality Joshua P. Warren, these family-friendly, two-hour walking tours delve into Asheville's haunted past and darkest secrets while also sharing insight on how paranormal investigation works.

Haunted History and Murder Mystery Trolley Ghost Tour – Hosted by Gray Line Trolley, experience more than an hour of ghoulish delights across Asheville, all from the comfort of an iconic red trolley.

Haunted Self-guided Driving Trail – What is it that gives Asheville so many ghost stories? Tales of the haunted, the creepy, the eerie, and the outright macabre mark the landscape here with sites that locals love — or fear.

The Asheville Museum of History has created a 22.5-mile self-guided driving tour that leads to 11 sites around town and takes a little over an hour.

Halloween Costume Contests, Parties and More

Wicked Spooky 5K | Wicked Weed Funkatorium | October 25, 2025
Lace up your tennis shoes and outrun the ghouls and goblins at this 5K race that begins and ends at Wicked Weed's Funkatorium on the South Slope. Costumes are certainly encouraged and prizes await for the most creative, terrifying, and quirky getups.

Official Halloween Bar Crawl | Hi-Wire Brewing South Slope | October 31 & November 1, 2025
This annual bar crawl kicks off at 2 p.m. at Catawba Brewing's South Slope location and hits six locations throughout the night. It's $10 for a night of bar crawling, music and dancing.

Pup-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest | Hi-Wire RAD Beer Garden | October 29, 2025
Starting at 5 p.m., costumed pups can strut their stuff on the "dogwalk" to compete for Hi-Wire Brewing gift cards and other prizes. The event will take place at Hi-Wire's RAD Beer Garden and will benefit a local animal rescue. Also on Halloween, The Dark Market returns to Hi-Wire's RAD Beer Garden from 5:30-9 p.m., featuring spirited handmade gifts and goods.

The Pink Lady Party | The Omni Grove Park Inn | TBD
Enjoy a night of treats and no tricks at the ghostly Pink Lady Party at Elaine's Dueling Piano Bar at The Omni Grove Park Inn. The night will be of themed cocktails, small plates, treats and private tarot readings.

Art in Autumn Glass Pumpkin Patch at the North Carolina Glass Center | TBD
Stop by to pick out your very own hand blown glass pumpkin from the carefully curated patch. And stick around to check out additional handmade fall items and all of the harvest fun. Every purchase helps support the non-profit North Carolina Glass Center, as well as 30+ local glass artists.

LazrLuvr Halloween Party at Highland Brewing | October 30, 2025
Break out the spandex and tease the hair for this throwback '80s party. LazrLuvr, the ultimate '80s tribute band, will be rocking anthems that defined a generation. On Halloween, from 5:30-9 p.m., Highland hosts Dark Market: Asheville's Halloween, featuring 35+ artists and makers selling a variety of goods from oddities to herbs to tarot and more.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | October 31, 2025
Taking place at the historic Asheville Masonic Temple, the Opal String Quartet presents a multi-sensory musical experience under the gentle glow of candlelight. Hear tunes from Michael Jackson's Thriller to songs from Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Halloween, Ghostbusters, The Nightmare Before Christmas and more.

Family-Friendly Halloween Events

Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze | September 26 - November 1, 2025 (Friday - Sunday)
This family-focused event includes an eight-acre corn maze, corn cannons, hayrides, lawn games, a bouncy pillow and more. Proceeds benefit Eliada, a nonprofit agency serving children and families of Western North Carolina.

The Haunted Trail at Adventure Center of Asheville | October 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17-19, 23-26, 2025
Bring the kids to this family-friendly haunt at the Adventure Center of Asheville. Walk a haunted trail filled with live actors and explore a pirate ship escape room, meet a live mermaid and enjoy contests, pizza, and sweet treats. Then climb the aerial Glow Trail through the Treetops Adventure Park. Ideal for ages 3-13.

Junior Wolf Howl-O-Ween | TBD
Spend your evening at Asheville's WNC Nature Center for an exploration of biofacts, animal games, and an opportunity to meet a live animal, followed by a trek to our wolf habitats located onsite at the Nature Center for a howling session. Discover the legends and lore of these top predators and celebrate the spooky season with some sweet treats. Show off your best animal-themed costumes and get ready for a wild "Howl"-o-ween. Recommended for kids ages 5-12.

Halloween-Themed Classes at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts | TBD
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts offers a fun lineup of Halloween-themed classes in the lead up to the holiday. Details to come.

Nighttime Rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway

For those willing to brave the witching hour, experience a one-of-a-kind night drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping to take in moonlit view at overlooks along the way.

Coffee Shop Delights

As the autumn winds sigh through the streets, seek refuge in the warmth of Asheville's cozy coffee shops with a tasty fall drink. Spots like Double D's, where coffee, tea, and fanciful sips and desserts await inside a red double-decker bus, or cozy PennyCup Coffee Co. on the Block, are the perfect places to spend an afternoon. Savor a cup of liquid gold with a cup of cinnamon-laced cappuccino or a pumpkin spiced latte.

Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards

For a quintessential autumn experience, spend an afternoon at a nearby pumpkin patch or apple orchard. You can pick your own at most of them. Farms near Asheville, like Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard and Justus Orchard, offer both pumpkin and apple adventures amid hayrides and other family-friendly activities.

Fall Color Hunts in Asheville Neighborhoods

Wind your way through Asheville's many neighborhoods this fall with this family-friendly guide. Take an electric tour of downtown, explore the vibrant River Arts District or find peace in laidback Fairview. There are plenty of ways to make the most out of your visit here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Live Theater and Haunting Performances

Asheville's arts scene delivers top-notch theater year-round, but October presents a perfect opportunity to play up the drama with a Halloween-themed performance. October 3-26, 2025, the Montford Park Players close out their season of outdoor drama with She Kills Monsters, a drama-comedy that blends reality with the imaginary game world of Dungeons & Dragons as a high schooler finds herself on an action-packed adventure to save her sister's soul. And Asheville Community Theatre will present a youth rendition of Beetlejuice Jr. October 26 & 27.

Occult Stops and Shops

Glimpse your future through a tarot reading, or tap into your own mystical potential at an Asheville occult shop.

Enjoy some animal cuddling-time and therapy with a visit to House of Black Cat Magic, an occult supply store that doubles as a black cat lounge in West Asheville. The shop is partnered with Binx's Home For Black Cats, so you could connect with a new feline friend to take home.

Peek into your future with a tarot reading with Asheville Wellness Tours. They offer readings for parties, couples or individuals. Or, discover the raven with the key at Asheville Pagan Supply, an metaphysical supply store specializing in candles, books, herbs and accessories, folk magic, and ritual supplies.

If you're looking to gain new insights into your spirital energy, visit Auratherapy in the Grove Arcade for an aura reading. Combining technology and intuition, a professional aura reader reveals your aura personality and chakra health.

Autumn's Bounty at Farmers Markets

Embrace the harvest season at Asheville's farmers markets, where you can savor the flavors of fall with fresh, local produce and handmade crafts. It's a chance to shop for gourmet mushrooms, local honey, seasonal produce and more. Come hungry, because there's locally roasted coffee, fall-flavored baked goods, and more brunch bites to be had.

Fall is an especially great time to experience orchards, farms and roadside stands as well, since most are stocked with edible and decorative gourds, autumn harvest arrangements and wreaths, various vegetables and more than enough jarred and packaged goods.

More Fall Events

Enjoy time in Asheville and celebrate the spooky season with some extra fun fall events:

As you navigate the magic of Halloween in Asheville, remember that the season is not just about the spooky and the supernatural. It's about celebrating the beauty of transition, the richness of tradition, and the enduring sense of wonder that the mountains impart.

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Blue Ridge Mountain Layers / Photo: James Reynolds