Celebrate Halloween in Asheville
photo by: ezekiel_coppersmith
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! Grab a local beer 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 Friday night walking tours are the only tours to include admission to the Asheville Mystery Museum, located in the basement of the Asheville Masonic Temple.
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 their iconic red trolleys.
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 WNC Historical Association at the Smith-McDowell House created a 22.5 mile self-guided driving tour for you to enjoy.
Halloween Costume Contests, Parties and More
Friday The 13th Halloween Circus Spectacular | Girl & Goblin | October 13
Celebrate this once-in-every-11-years event with a night of comedy and circus fun at the Girl and Goblin.
Cat Fly Halloween | Wedge Brewery at Foundation | October 14
Get campy with it at the Wedge Brewery this October with a night honoring camp film's place in film culture. Dress up in your most creative costume and watch the creepiest indie films of the South.
Dress up, get spooky, and dance to three separate DJs playing all sorts of music through headphones that you control with a switcher.
Prepare for a haunting good time including music from DJ Nex Millen, drinks from Saint Brighid's, a 360 photo booth, a costume contest and more at the Marquee in the River Arts District.
Come find out what goes bump in the night at Asheville's only ghost tour that goes through the cemetery! Come dressed in your best costumes to win prizes from local Asheville businesses.
Highland Brewing's Meadow will be filled to the brim with amazing vendors at their Monster Market, and The Loudes will be live on the Meadow Stage.
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.
Spooky Performances
A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | AyurPrana Listening Room | Oct 28
The Splatter Play at The Magnetic Theatre | October 6 - 21 (Thursdays - Sundays)
Just in time for Halloween, get soaked in stage blood and gore during the The Magnetic Theatre's The Splatter Play by Abby Auman. This not-to-be-missed spectacle is an immersive experience with blood ... so much blood.
The Rocky Horror Music Show at Asheville Music Hall | October 21
It's about time for the Time Warp! Asheville Music Hall will be presenting the songs of Rocky Horror in a rock club setting. Think of it as a Rocky Horror Tribute Experience. Costumed characters will be playing the songs live with snippets of the movie dialogue plus on-stage narration between songs.
Wonderland Legacies: Alice's Adventures in Murderland | October 6 - 28
Just in time for Halloween, local playwright Will Storrs brings us this World Premiere reimagining Alice and the characters of Lewis Carroll’s story in a seasonally-appropriate way. Sure to be a horribly good time!
Family-Friendly Halloween Events
Eliada Home Fall Festival and Corn Maze | September 30 - October 30 (Fridays - Sundays)
This family-focused event includes a small corn maze, a corn cannon, bouncy pillow, hayrides, a straw maze and a number of other activities for kids to enjoy. The cost is $12 per ticket and proceeds help fund Eliada's mission to help children succeed.
The Haunted Trail at Adventure Center of Asheville | October 6-7, 13-14, 20-22, 27-30
Bring the kids to this family-friendly haunt at the Adventure Center of Asheville. Walk a haunted trail filled with live actors, Halloween lights, spooky sounds and funny jokes. Then climb the aerial Glow Trail as they light up the night with two trails at theTreetops Adventure Park. Geared towards families with kids ages 3-13.
Junior Wolf Howl-O-Ween | Oct. 31
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. Recommended for kids ages 5-12.
Black Mountain Old Depot Art by the Tracks in Black Mountain | October 28
Enjoy some art by the tracks this year in Black Mountain for a family-friendly art-tastic day of fun featuring over 50 artists from the local region, as well as live music.
Halloween-Themed Classes at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts | October 16 - October 27
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts has a fun lineup of Halloween-themed classes in the leadup to the holiday, including "Make Your Own Cemeterrarium," "Dark Arts: Making Collographs," "Thriller Spiller: Classic Choreography with Claire", and "RIP Yoga."
Create Your Own Fun
Take a Nighttime Ride 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 at overlooks long the way to enjoy a midnight snack. Explore the twists and turns in the heart of the mountains under the moon and let adventure be your guide.
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 delicious sips 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 spice latte.
Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards
Get your hands dirty and feel the earth beneath your feet as you select the perfect pumpkin or pluck a crisp apple. Farms near Asheville, like Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard and Justus Orchard, offer both pumpkin and apple adventures.
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 hunting for fall color.
Occult Stops and Shops
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 might walk away with a new familiar when you visit! Or, peek into your future with a tarot reading at Earth Magick in downtown Asheville. This local occult supply store offers products from simple incense to tinctures, plus readings from experts with over 60 years of combined experience. Venture further north to Raven and Crone, an old age metaphysical supply store with locally-made products and all you need for the season. If you're looking to gain new insights into your aura, visit Adoratherapy in the Grove Arcade. Combining technology and intuition, Adoratherapy offers Auratherapy, where professional aura readers reveal your aura personality and chakra health.
Take in Autumn's Bounty at Local 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. You'll be shopping alongside chefs from the best city restaurants like Sovereign Remedies and The Market Place, just to name a few. Fall is an especially great time to experience these locals markets. Tailgates and roadside stands are stocked with edible and decorative gourds, autumn harvest arrangements and wreaths, various vegetables and more than enough jarred and packaged goods.
