Halloween weekend is here, and the Triangle’s calendar is packed with festivals, trick-or-treating, haunted attractions, live music, and local markets. From family celebrations in Raleigh and Durham to art walks in Hillsborough and Sunday outings in Cary, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the weekend.

This Triangle Weekend Event Guide for October 30–November 1, 2026, highlights free and affordable things to do across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and surrounding communities.

Schedules and prices are based primarily on the supplied listings. Confirm details with organizers before traveling. Free admission may not include food, drinks, or activities. All times are local.

Friday, October 30: Festivals, Art Walks, and Halloween Fun

Start the Weekend With Coffee, Farm Activities, and Food

Tasting at Ten — Durham
Start Friday with a free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center at 10 a.m.

Howling Cow Fall Fest — Raleigh
Visit Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum from 1–6 p.m. Admission is free, with charges for some activities.

Foodees Fest — Raleigh
Triangle Town Center hosts Foodees Fest from 1–9 p.m. Admission is free; food purchases cost extra. The festival continues Saturday and Sunday.

EgyptFest
Explore the festival at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Cathedral from 4–8 p.m., with free admission.

Skate Night at Dix Park — Raleigh
Head to The Chapel at Dix Park from 5–10 p.m. for a free skate night. Registration is required.

Family Halloween Events on Friday

Put on your costumes and choose a community celebration:

• Haunted Hill Trunk or Treat Festival: 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill Community Center Park. Free.
• Amplify Health’s Monster Bash: 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh. Confirm admission.
• Carrboro Halloween Carnival: 5:30–8 p.m. at Carrboro Town Commons. Free.
• Police vs. Fire Softball Showcase and Truck or Treat: 5:30–8 p.m. at Durham Athletic Park. Admission ranges from free to $10.
• Carolina Collegiate High School Trunk or Treat and Community Open House: 5:30–8 p.m. in Durham. Free.
• Covenant Christian Church Trunk or Treat: 6–8 p.m. in Cary. Free.
• Kick or Treat the Trail: 6–8 p.m. at Knightdale Station Park. Free.
• The Capital Church Trunk or Treat: 6–8 p.m. in Garner. Free.
• St. Paul’s Christian Church Community Trunk or Treat: 6–8 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
• Greenwood Commons Trunk or Treat: 6:30–8:30 p.m. at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP. Free.

Art Walks and Friday Evening Outings

Last Fridays in Hillsborough combines several free events. The Makers Market and Live on the Lawn run from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse, while the downtown Art Walk continues until 9 p.m.

Hillsborough Gallery of Arts also hosts the Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour Preview Show opening reception from 6–9 p.m.

In Cary, explore the Final Friday Cary Art Loop from 6–9 p.m. Admission is free.

Additional Friday options include:

• Fridays on the Front Porch: 5–8 p.m. at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. Free admission.
• Vinyl Night: 6–9 p.m. at Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Oak & Ink Bookish Boutique: 6–10 p.m. at Tap Yard in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Front Porch Friday: 6–10 p.m. at Haven Farm in Knightdale. Free admission.
• Raleigh International Folk Dancers: 6:30–10 p.m. at Glen Eden Pilot Park. Free.

Friday Frights and Nightlife

For an evening with a spooky twist, consider:

• Scare-o-lina Skies: 6–7 p.m. at Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill. Tickets are $14.95–$16.95.
• Duke Homestead’s Halloween Phantasmagoria: 6:30–9:30 p.m. in Durham. Tickets are $15.
• Spirits of Wake Forest: Ghost walks with multiple departures between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. from Wake Forest Town Hall. Tickets are $20.
• Halloween Silent Disco: 7:30 p.m. at Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt in Durham. Tickets are $10–$15.
• Haunted at the Pines: 8–10 p.m. at Carolina Pines Community Park in Raleigh. Admission is $5.
• Halloween Karaoke and Costume Contest: 8–10 p.m. at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP. Free admission.

Fullsteam Brewery ATC in Durham lists free Horror is a Public Good screenings at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. Check film titles and age suitability.

Saturday, October 31: Halloween Across the Triangle

Morning Markets and Fall Festivals

Start Halloween with a farmers’ market or outdoor festival:

• Carrboro Farmers’ Market Costume Contest: 7 a.m.–noon. Market admission is free; costume-contest votes cost $1 each.
• Howl-Ween Market and Touch-a-Truck: 8 a.m.–noon at South Durham Farmers’ Market at Hub RTP. Free admission.
• Durham Farmers’ Market Fall Fest and Durham Craft Market: 8 a.m.–noon at Durham Central Park. Free admission.
• Boos & Brews: 8 a.m.–noon at Midtown Farmers Market in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Day of the Dead 5K and Street Festival: 9 a.m.–noon at Centro Mexican Restaurant in Raleigh. The street festival is free; race registration is listed at $40–$45.
• Owloween: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at American Wildlife Refuge in Clayton. Free.
• HollyFest: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs. Free admission.

Foodees Fest continues at Triangle Town Center from 11 a.m.–9 p.m., while EgyptFest runs from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Saturday Trick-or-Treating and Family Celebrations

Halloween activities stretch from morning through evening:

• Trick or Treat at North Hills: Begins at 10 a.m. in Raleigh. Free.
• Tails From the Crypt: Noon–3 p.m. at Trophy on Maywood in Raleigh. Free admission.
• All Hallow’s Smash: Noon–3 p.m. at The Scrap Exchange in Durham. Free.
• Maul-O-Ween and Gouge Wrestling: Noon–5 p.m. at Rebus Works in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Halloween Harvest Festival: Noon–7 p.m. at Triangle Town Center. Free admission.
• Book Harvest’s Book or Treat: 1–4 p.m. in Durham, featuring free books and Halloween fun.
• Not So Scary Trunk or Treat: 1–4 p.m. at Hope Valley Farms YMCA in Durham. Free.
• Halloween Village: 3–5 p.m. at Lafayette Village in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Trick-or-Treat the Trail: 3–5:30 p.m. at White Deer Park in Garner. Free.
• Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Parlor: 3–6 p.m. at John P. “Top” Greene Park in Raleigh. Free.
• Halloween Night School of Rock: 4–6 p.m. at Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Halloween at The Plant: 4–9 p.m. in Pittsboro, with a costume contest, night market, parade, and live music. Free admission.
• Aversboro Trunk or Treat: 5–7 p.m. at Aversboro Road Baptist Church in Garner. Free.
• Baptist Grove Church Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat: 6–8 p.m. in Raleigh. Free; registration required.
• Rawls Baptist Church Family Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat: 6–8 p.m. in Fuquay-Varina. Free.

Historic Tours and Farm Adventures

For an alternative to traditional Halloween celebrations, explore a historic site or visit a farm:

• Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours: Four one-hour departures between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Mordecai Historic Park. Tickets are $6–$10.
• North Carolina State Capitol Tours: Free guided tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
• Maplewood Cemetery Halloween Tours: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Durham. Listed admission is $0–$15.
• Mill Open House: 1–4 p.m. at Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh. Free.
• Open Farm: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Sunrise Community Farm Center in Chapel Hill. Admission is $8.
• Halloween Tour and Explore: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge in Pittsboro. Admission ranges from $5–$40.
• The Witch’s Haunted Barn: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. at Firefly Farm in Hillsborough. Admission is $13.

Saturday Night Costume Parties and Music

Keep the Halloween celebration going with these evening events:

• TSB Thrillah Block Party: 7–10 p.m. at CCB Plaza in Durham. Free admission.
• Durham Beer Garden Halloween Party: Begins at 7 p.m., featuring Covered in Jam. Free admission.
• Bombshell Halloween Party: Begins at 7 p.m. at Bombshell Beer Company in Holly Springs. Free admission.
• Ghouls’ Night Out: 8–11 p.m. at The Longleaf Hotel in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Deep Creeps Halloween Party: Begins at 8 p.m. at Kingfisher & Queeny’s in Durham. Admission is $15.
• CRANKENSTEIN Halloween Bash: Begins at 8 p.m. at Crank Arm Brewing Company in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Halloween Dance Party and Costume Contest: 8:30 p.m.–11:59 p.m. at Yonder in Hillsborough. Free admission.

Check age requirements before attending brewery events, bar crawls, and late-night parties.

Free Haunted Attractions Both Nights

Two Raleigh attractions appear on both Friday and Saturday:

Deadford Manor presents its animatronic singing skeleton show from 7–8:30 p.m.

Edward’s Battle Haunted House welcomes visitors from 7–9 p.m. The free walk-through attraction raises money for critically ill children.

Confirm addresses, weather updates, and age suitability before visiting.

Sunday, November 1: Markets, Music, and Pet Parades

Shop Local and Explore Sunday Markets

• Pop Up ARTernative Market: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Chapel of Bones Coffee in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Pirates and Mermaids Holiday Market: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Haven Farm in Knightdale. Free admission.
• Foodees Fest: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. at Triangle Town Center. Free admission.
• Cary Underground Market: Noon–4 p.m. at Bond Brothers Beer Company, featuring bands and vendors. Free admission.
• Morgan Street Sessions: Noon–4 p.m. at Morgan Street Food Hall & Market in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Black Farmers’ Market: 1–4 p.m. at Durham Technical Community College’s main campus. Free admission.

Bring Your Dog to a Sunday Outing

Paws and Pints Group Dog Walk runs from 2–4 p.m. at Crank Arm Brewing in Durham.

Day of the Dogs Pet Parade and Costume Contest takes place at Crank Arm’s Raleigh location from 2–5 p.m. and its Durham location from 2–6 p.m. Admission is free.

Relax With Music, Games, and Community Activities

• Sunday Morning Yoga: 10–11 a.m. at Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh. Free.
• Kanikapila Ukulele Meetup: 1–3 p.m. at KōMANA Brewing Company in Cary. Free.
• American Mahjong Open Play: 1–3:30 p.m. at Hops & Flower in Durham. Free.
• Air Hockey Tournament: Begins at 1 p.m. at Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar in Raleigh. Free; check age requirements.
• The Producers screening: 2 p.m. at Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center in Hillsborough. Free.
• Open Mic: 2–5 p.m. at Oaklyn Springs Brewery in Fuquay-Varina. Free admission.
• The Classical Concert: 3–6:30 p.m. at Saint Francis United Methodist Church in Cary. Free, with suggested donations.
• Open Mic Night: 3–6 p.m. at Gizmo Brew Works in Raleigh. Free admission.
• Bluegrass Open Jam: 4–7 p.m. at Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary. Free admission.

Arts and Culture Throughout the Weekend

Durham FRINGE Festival opens October 30 and continues through November 8, with performances and installations around Durham. Free and ticketed experiences are available; check individual performance schedules. Explore the festival⁠. 

Sculpture in the Garden offers an outdoor art outing at North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. Published hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free, with a $5 suggested donation. 

Halloween Food Deals and Freebies

Krispy Kreme offers a free Original Glazed or Classic Ring Doughnut to guests visiting participating shops in costume on October 30 or 31. 

The supplied listings also advertise 31% off Baskin-Robbins scoops on October 31, a $6 Chipotle Boorito beginning at 3 p.m. on Halloween, and KFC’s “13 days of scary good deals.” Confirm participation, exclusions, and redemption requirements before ordering.

Make Your Weekend Plans With DoRaleigh

Whether you’re searching for free Halloween events in Raleigh, family activities in Durham, or weekend markets around the Triangle, this lineup offers plenty of options.

Reserve required registrations and timed tickets, check outdoor-event weather updates, and contact venues about accessibility needs. Keep DoRaleigh.com bookmarked for more local event guides and community news.

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