Things to Do in
Charlotte This Week.
October 26 to November 1, 2026, Halloween weekend has officially arrived in Charlotte, and the city is going all in. The Charlotte Hornets hosted the Washington Wizards on Monday and host the Philadelphia 76ers on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31. Indigo Girls and Linda Perry played Knight Theater on Tuesday, sombr headlined Spectrum Center the same night, and SCarowinds keeps its haunted nights running toward the November 7 season finale. Then the main event: Halloween night with bar crawls across Uptown and South End, live music at The Fillmore, and the Carolina Renaissance Festival's Halloween Daze in Huntersville.
This is the biggest week of the Charlotte fall calendar: Halloween. The week builds from a Monday Hornets game in Uptown to a jam-packed October 31, when the Hornets host the 76ers on Halloween night, costumed crowds take over the bars of Uptown and South End, live bands play Halloween sets, SCarowinds hits its most atmospheric weekend of the season, and the Carolina Renaissance Festival celebrates Halloween Daze in Huntersville. Whether you love a good scare, a family-friendly festival, or live music, Charlotte has a Halloween for you this week, and SCarowinds keeps the scares running through Saturday, November 7.
Monday through Friday.
The Charlotte Hornets hosted the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center on Monday, with AJ McLean and Skilla Baby also playing Monday night in the Music Factory. Indigo Girls and Linda Perry headlined Knight Theater on Tuesday while sombr brought the You Are The Reason Tour to Spectrum Center, and the Halloween energy built through Thursday, when Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE played The Fillmore and SCarowinds rolled through its biggest nights. The first bar crawls stepped off in Wilmore and Uptown, and the weekend is still fully ahead.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Charlotte Hornets open their home week in downtown at Spectrum Center against the Washington Wizards. With the NBA regular season in full swing, this is a great chance to experience the electric energy of a Uptown game night at the newly renovated arena. Grab dinner or a drink on the way in, the bars and restaurants around the arena stay busy from Tip-Off to final buzzer. Tickets through the Hornets' official site and Ticketmaster.
AJ McLean presents Alexander James: The Better Man Tour
The Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd
Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean brings his Better Man Tour to The Fillmore on Monday night, presenting rising artist Alexander James for a night of pop and rock storytelling. It is a fun, nostalgia-tinged way to open Halloween week in the Music Factory district, with breweries and restaurants on every corner before and after the show. Tickets through Live Nation.
Skilla Baby: The Price of Fame Tour
The Underground, 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Detroit rapper Skilla Baby brings The Price of Fame Tour to The Underground on Monday night. Known for his melodic, streetwise flow and a growing national following, he is one of the most talked-about young voices in hip-hop right now. An energetic Monday night show at the intimate venue in the Music Factory district.
Indigo Girls & Linda Perry
Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon St, Uptown
Indigo Girls, the folk-rock duo known for "Closer to Fine" and decades of activism-minded songwriting, share the stage with legendary producer and songwriter Linda Perry at Knight Theater in Uptown. It's a thoughtful, intimate evening of songwriting at one of Charlotte's best acoustically refined venues. A perfect midweek cultural night out before the Halloween frenzy begins.
sombr: You Are The Reason Tour
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
Rising pop artist sombr brings the You Are The Reason Tour to Spectrum Center on Tuesday night with special guests The Last Dinner Party and The Hellp. Fresh off a breakout year, sombr's slick, emotionally charged pop translates beautifully to an arena stage. A big midweek show in Uptown Charlotte, with dinner spots and parking garages within a short walk of the arena. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
Sonic: Live in Concert
Ovens Auditorium - 2900 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
The blue blur himself headlines Ovens Auditorium on Tuesday night: Sonic: Live in Concert brings the beloved video game character to the stage in a multimedia concert experience with music, lights, and big-screen storytelling for the whole family. A great pick for kids who grew up on the games, and a fun low-key midweek option just east of Uptown. Tickets through Live Nation.
John Cameron Mitchell
The Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd
Writer, actor, and director John Cameron Mitchell, the creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, brings an evening of storytelling and conversation to The Fillmore on Tuesday night. Expect a warm, funny, and deeply candid show from one of theater and film's most distinctive voices, a great midweek option in the Music Factory district. Tickets through Live Nation.
Uptown Book Fair
Victoria Yards, 501 S Davidson St, South End
The Uptown Book Fair brings local authors, independent presses, and book lovers together at Victoria Yards in South End on Tuesday evening. Browse new and used titles, meet Charlotte writers, and catch readings and signings in one of the city's most creative industrial spaces. A low-key, community-minded night out for readers.
SCarowinds, Halloween Week
Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Fort Mill SC
SCarowinds, the region's biggest and most immersive haunted attraction, keeps its 2026 season running all the way to its true finale on Saturday, November 7, so Halloween week is the atmospheric peak but not the last chance. Expect haunted mazes, scare zones, costumed monsters roaming the midway, and thrill rides running into the night, with a "No Boo" necklace for anyone who wants the rides without the scares. It's a short drive across the border into Fort Mill, South Carolina, from south Charlotte.
Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE: Home on the Range Tour 2026
The Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd
Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE bring the Home on the Range Tour 2026 to The Fillmore on Thursday night. Two of the most respected voices in underground hip-hop, they are known for dense, introspective lyricism and low-key, hypnotic live sets. A thoughtful, can't-miss show for rap fans in the Music Factory district.
Charlotte Official Halloween Bar Crawl
Uptown Charlotte, multiple stops
Charlotte's official Halloween bar crawl kicks off Friday night and runs through Saturday, winding through Uptown venues with drink specials, costume contests, and a lively crowd in full Halloween gear. Two of the signature stops are Tattoos & Booz Lounge and Encore Nightclub. Whether you are in costume or just people-watching, it's the social kickoff to the biggest party weekend of October.
The Fright Crawl, Wilmore Kickoff
Starts in Wilmore, near South End
The Fright Crawl, billed as Charlotte's #1 Halloween bar crawl, kicks off its multi-night Halloween pass Friday evening in the Wilmore neighborhood near South End. Costumed crawlers hop between bars with specials and themes, with a second Halloween Day crawl on Saturday. It's the perfect way to celebrate before the main event on the 31st.
Ray Volpe, EDM Halloween Shows
Blackbox Charlotte, North Charlotte
Dubstep and bass artist Ray Volpe plays a back-to-back Halloween weekend run at Blackbox Charlotte with midnight sets on both Friday and Saturday nights. For electronic music fans, it's a high-energy, late-night way to ring in Halloween weekend, the bass keeps going well past midnight into November 1.
The Renaissance Orchestra
The Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd
The Renaissance Orchestra takes over The Fillmore on Friday night, delivering a big-band celebration of classic soul, funk, and R&B. With a full horn section and powerhouse vocals, they turn the venue into a dance floor the night before Halloween. A lively, dress-up-friendly way to kick off the spooky weekend in the Music Factory district.
Saturday & Sunday.
Halloween night on Saturday, October 31 delivers a Charlotte Hornets home game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center, bar crawls across Uptown and South End, live music at The Fillmore, SCarowinds' biggest Halloween nights of the season, and family trunk-or-treats across the metro, plus the Carolina Renaissance Festival's Halloween Daze through Sunday. Sunday closes with Young Miko at Spectrum Center, YEBBA at The Underground, and David Sedaris at Ovens Auditorium, and SCarowinds keeps haunting through Saturday, November 7.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Spectrum Center, 333 E Trade St, Uptown
The Charlotte Hornets host the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center on Halloween night, one of the most fun game nights of the NBA season. Expect a costume-friendly crowd, arena-wide Halloween festivities, and a marquee Eastern Conference matchup in the heart of Uptown. Grab dinner in Uptown or South End before tip-off, then walk over in costume. Tickets through the Hornets' official site and Ticketmaster.
Halloween Night Bar Crawls Across Uptown & South End
Uptown & South End, multiple venues
Halloween night brings a full slate of themed bar crawls across the city. The Charlotte Official Halloween Pub Crawl runs 3–11 PM from Tattooz & Booz in Uptown. The Official Halloween Bar Crawl party goes 5 PM–2 AM at Novelty House Rooftop. And the Fright Crawl Halloween Day crawl steps off 1–8 PM from Pins Mechanical Co in South End. Costumes are the whole point, get dressed up, meet your neighborhood, and crawl your way through the Queen City's best Halloween bars.
Sammy Rae & The Friends, Halloween Live Show
The Fillmore Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St, South End
Brooklyn indie-pop collective Sammy Rae & The Friends headlines a Halloween-night show at The Fillmore in South End, an intimate but spacious music hall with great sound and a fun, danceable vibe. Expect costume-clad crowds and a warm, community-feeling concert to cap off the holiday. A fantastic alternative to the bar-crawl scene for music lovers.
Carolina Renaissance Festival: Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights
16445 Poplar Tent Rd, Huntersville NC
The Carolina Renaissance Festival's signature Halloween weekend, Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights, lands exactly on October 31 and November 1 this year. Trick-or-treating at more than 100 village locations, costume contests, and free child admission make it one of the most family-friendly Halloween traditions anywhere near Charlotte, jousting knights, artisan shops, turkey legs, and mead, all in costume. About a 30-minute drive north of Uptown.
SCarowinds, Halloween Weekend
Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Fort Mill SC
Catch SCarowinds on its biggest Halloween weekend of the season. Halloween itself is the busiest and most atmospheric night of the year at the park, eerie lighting, roaming scare actors, and the rides running under full autumn skies. The 2026 run continues through Saturday, November 7, but this is the definitive Halloween night for thrill-seekers.
Trunk-or-Treats & Neighborhood Halloween for Families
Neighborhoods & parks across the Charlotte metro
For families with little ones, Halloween is all about trunk-or-treats. One of the metro's biggest is the Town of Indian Trail's Halloween Spooktacular at Chestnut Square Park in Union County, with an enormous trunk-or-treat line, costumes, and family fun. Dozens of neighborhoods, churches, and community centers across Charlotte, Matthews, Mint Hill, and the lake towns host their own events, check your local HOA and community calendars for the one nearest you.
All Hallows' Feed Community Halloween
Black Wednesday, 529 Briar Creek Rd, Charlotte
All Hallows' Feed is a free community trick-or-treat celebration with food and a winter-coat distribution for families in need, held at Black Wednesday on Briar Creek Road on Halloween day. It is a warm, give-back way to celebrate the holiday while supporting Charlotte neighbors, free and open to everyone who wants to join in the spirit of community.
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes, Final Weekend
Pumpkin patches & farm stands across the metro
Late October is the last stretch for pumpkin patches and corn mazes across the Charlotte region. Farms in Huntersville, Matthews, Indian Trail, and the surrounding counties offer hayrides, u-pick pumpkins, corn mazes, and seasonal treats, many closing for the season right after Halloween. It's a lovely low-key way to spend a fall Saturday with the family and support local farms.
Victoria Monét
Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre - 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd, Charlotte
Victoria Monét takes the Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre stage on Wednesday night, closing out the riverside amphitheater's October season with her slick, disco-tinged R&B. Coming off a Grammy-winning breakout, her show is all velvet harmonies, sharp choreography, and joyful energy under the open sky. Tickets through Live Nation.
World Short Track Championship
Charlotte Motor Speedway - Concord NC (about 20 min north of Uptown)
The World Short Track Championship brings hundreds of short-track racers from across the country to the dirt track at Charlotte Motor Speedway for three nights of sprint cars, late models, and more in late October. It's one of the biggest short-track racing weekends of the year in the Carolinas, with affordable tickets and a paddock full of race teams for fans to browse. Check charlottemotorspeedway.com for the full schedule and event details.
Young Miko
Spectrum Center - 333 E Trade St, Uptown
Puerto Rican reggaeton star Young Miko brings her tour to Spectrum Center on Sunday night. Her bold, melodic style and streaming success have made her one of the most exciting young Latin artists on the rise, and Charlotte gets an arena headline show to close out Halloween weekend. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
David Sedaris
Ovens Auditorium - 2900 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte
Bestselling humorist David Sedaris brings his signature storytelling to Ovens Auditorium on Sunday night. Expect sharp, laugh-out-loud essays from one of America's most beloved comic writers, delivered in the warm, deadpan style his fans adore. A perfect low-key Sunday night out after the Halloween excitement. Tickets through Live Nation.
YEBBA
The Underground, 820 Hamilton St, Charlotte
Soul singer YEBBA plays The Underground on Sunday night, closing out Halloween weekend with her stunning, powerhouse vocals. The Charlotte-born artist has earned Grammy nominations and national acclaim for her raw, emotional delivery. A hometown show in an intimate room, and a beautiful way to end a big weekend in the Music Factory district. Tickets through Live Nation.
Festival Día de Muertos
Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte
The free Festival Día de Muertos fills Camp North End with music, dance, art, and community ofrendas (altars) on Sunday, an annual celebration of Día de los Muertos presented by the Latin American Coalition and the Levine Museum of the New South. Families are welcome, altars honor loved ones who have passed, and the food and marigold-scented air make it one of the warmest community gatherings on the fall calendar. Free and open to all.
St. Ann's Family Carnival
St. Ann Catholic Church, 3635 Park Road, Charlotte
The annual St. Ann's Family Carnival on Park Road is a beloved south Charlotte tradition: carnival rides and games for the kids, food, face painting, a bake sale, bingo in the afternoon, and a friendly parish community that runs it as its main fundraiser of the year. Free to attend and open to everyone, it is a gentle, family-first way to spend a fall Sunday after the Halloween frenzy.
Ongoing & recurring.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
16445 Poplar Tent Rd, Huntersville NC
Runs Saturdays & Sundays through November 22, this weekend is Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights with trick-or-treating and costume contests
SCarowinds at Carowinds
Carowinds, Fort Mill SC
Halloween nights through Saturday, November 7: haunted mazes, scare zones, and night rides on their final stretch of 2026
Charlotte Hornets Home Games
Spectrum Center, Uptown
The NBA regular season is underway: the Wizards visit Monday night and the 76ers come to town for a Halloween-night home game on Saturday, October 31
Fall Exhibitions at the Mint Museum
Mint Museum Randolph & Uptown
Rotating art and design exhibitions continue through the fall at both Mint campuses
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Multiple access points across Charlotte
30+ miles of paved trails perfect for crisp autumn walks, runs, and bike rides in October
Don't miss these.
Carolina Renaissance Festival Halloween Daze (Saturday & Sunday)
This is the most family-friendly Halloween tradition in the entire region. Trick-or-treating at 100+ village spots, costume contests, and free child admission make it a stress-free, memory-making day out. The Renaissance Festival is one of my favorite Charlotte-area fall traditions, and Halloween weekend is its most magical.
SCarowinds Halloween Nights (through November 7)
If you love a good scare, catch SCarowinds on Halloween weekend, the atmospheric peak of its 2026 run. Halloween proper is the busiest night: the rides, the scare zones, and the whole park under autumn night skies. The season actually stretches to Saturday, November 7, so scares lovers get two more weekends after this one. It's a bucket-list Charlotte experience for thrill-seekers.
Hornets Halloween Home Game (Saturday Night)
The Hornets host the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center on Halloween night, and it is one of the most fun game nights of the NBA season: a costume-friendly crowd, arena-wide Halloween festivities, and a marquee Eastern Conference matchup in the heart of Uptown. Grab dinner before tip-off and walk over in costume. It is the perfect centerpiece for a big Halloween weekend.
Hornets Home Game + Indigo Girls (Monday & Tuesday)
Start Halloween week the fun way: catch the Hornets at Spectrum Center on Monday night for the full Uptown game-day experience, then ease into a thoughtful double-bill with Indigo Girls & Linda Perry at Knight Theater on Tuesday. No matter what you pick, this week knows how to build to Saturday.
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