| Wilmington,
NC – October 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / When it comes to Halloween
destinations that appeal to all ages, it’s hard to top Wilmington,
North Carolina and the island beaches of Carolina
Beach,
Kure Beach and Wrightsville
Beach. During the month of October, more than two dozen Halloween-theme
events take place from the storied banks of the Cape Fear River to the
enticing shores of our colorful seaside towns. Thrill-seeking visitors
can get into the ‘spirit’ with bone-chilling tours, haunted attractions,
zombie walk/runs, spooky theatrical productions, scary movies, murder-mystery
and pirate cruises, and other ghoulish events. For younger goblins seeking
non-scary fun, there are fall festivals, nature programs, carriage rides
and trick-or-treat events at the Aquarium and Battleship, as well as museums,
parks, shopping venues and more.
Here’s a sampling of Halloween
Happenings:
Ongoing (year-round)—Ghost
Walk of Old Wilmington. 6:30pm & 8:30pm nightly thru Nov. 1; then
at 6:30pm nightly thru March. Costumed guides lead visitors through alleyways
with tales of haunted Wilmington. Admission charge. Meets at Water &
Market streets. Reservations required: 910-794-1866.
Ongoing (year-round)—Haunted
Pub Crawl. Wed.-Sat. 7:30pm, thru Nov. 1. Ages 21+. Admission charge.
Meet at Fat Tony’s, 131 N. Front St., Wilmington. Reservations required:
910-794-1866.
Ongoing (year-round)—Haunted
Cotton Exchange Tours. Daily tours; call for hours. Admission charge.
Cotton Exchange (parking lot street entrance, 300 block of N. Water Street),
Wilmington. 910-409-4300.
Ongoing (nightly in October)
– Museum
of Nightmares. 6pm-midnight, nightly. Special effects created by local
movie set artist Tony Rosen (credits: The Conjuring & Annabelle). Admission
charge. Museum of the Bizarre, 201 S. Water St., Wilmington. 910-399-2641.
Each Tuesday in October—Murder
Mystery Dinner Cruises. Solve an exciting who-dunnit on a 2-hr. dinner
cruise along the Cape Fear River. Audience participation; prizes. Boards
at 6pm; departs 6:30pm at dock (Water & Dock sts). Admission charge.
Reservations required: 910-343-1611; 800-676-0162.
Each Tuesday & Thursday—Pirate
Treasure Hunt Adventure. Join a costumed pirate storyteller to explore
Masonboro Island’s natural treasures. Learn about famous NC pirates Captain
Kidd, Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard. Board 4:15pm; sail 4:30pm. Admission charge.
Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours, 275 Waynick Blvd. (across from Blockade
Runner Resort), Wrightsville Beach. Advance reservations: 910-200-4002.
Each Friday & Saturday—A
Zombie, a Vampire, and a Werewolf Walk Into a Bar. 7pm. Admission charge.
A delicious Halloween themed 3-course meal accompanies this Halloween musical
dinner ticket. Adult themes; no children admitted. TheatreNow, 19 S. 10th
St., Wilmington. 910-399-3669.
Each Friday (Oct. 23, 30)—Haint
Blue Paranormal Ghost Tours. 7pm, 8pm & 9pm. Guided paranormal
ghost tours of Poplar Grove Plantation’s Manor House are offered at select
times on Friday nights. Tales include spirits (a.k.a. haints) (1850 to
1950) that continue to hover. Admission charge; advance reservations. Poplar
Grove Plantation, 10200 US Hwy. 17 N. 910-686-9518.
Oct. 23-25, 30-Nov. 1—The
Rocky Horror Show. 8pm. A Halloween cult classic returns to City Stage,
Downtown Wilmington. 910-342-0272.
Oct. 23-24 & 29-31—Halloween
Ghost Trolley & Barn. 6pm-9pm. Kid-friendly 30-minute horse-drawn
trolley ride and a fun spoof in the “haunted barn.” Horses and tour guides
are dressed in costume. Halloween-theme stories, songs & treats. Admission
charged. Departs at Market & Water streets.; 910-251-8889.
Oct. 24—Poplar
Grove’s All Hallows Masquerade. 7pm. Poplar Grove Plantation celebrates
35 years with an adult masquerade ball with food, music, dancing. Admission
charge. Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 Hwy 17 N., Wilmington.
Oct. 24—ZOMBIE
Run. Registration 3pm. Race begins at 5:30pm. Course features zombies
lying in wait for runners (costumes encouraged). It’s a friendly event
that raises funds for Paws4People. Hugh MacRae Park, Wilmington.
Oct. 24—Fall
Festival. 11am-3pm. Hayrides, food, games, activities, inflatables
and more. Free. Carolina Beach State Park Marina, Carolina Beach. 910-458-8206.
Oct. 28- UNCW
Halloween Carnival for Kids. UNCW campus. Wilmington. The annual Halloween
Carnival event is held for local children to visit UNCW for a safe and
fun Halloween! Student volunteers create and staff Halloween themed carnival
games for the children to enjoy. 910-962-3000.
Oct. 27—Batty
Battleship’s Halloween Bash. 5:30pm-8pm. A family event for little
ghouls and goblins. Games, activities, henna tattoos & storytelling.
Kids are encouraged to wear costumes. Admission charged; tickets required.
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, Wilmington. 910-251-5797.
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Oct. 28—Kooky
Spooky Jam-Boo-Read! 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. Kids’ literacy street festival
with scary stories and non-scary fall-theme activities. Kids dress in costume
or as book character. Other Halloween/fall activities throughout October.
Admission charge. Children’s Museum, Wilmington. 910-254-3534.
Oct. 28-30—Trick-or-Treat
Under the Sea. 4:30pm-8:00pm. Indoor trick-or-treating, face painting,
story-telling, magic shows, spooky divers and haunted gardens. Note: only
umbrella strollers permitted. Admission charge. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher,
Loggerhead Rd., Kure Beach; 910-458-8257.
Oct. 29—Cape
Fear Ghost Chase & Scavenger Hunt. 5:30pm. CFCC Anthropology Club’s
Ghost Chase & Scavenger Hunt. Teams of family/friends try to solve
the mystery and find the ghost. Participants should bring a cellphone or
digital camera to take selfies with the ghost as they search the waterfront
for clues. Meet at CFCC Union Station building (502 N. Front St., 3rd floor),
Wilmington. Admission charge.
Oct. 29-30—Fort
Fisher Haunted Trail Tour. Guided nighttime tour. Admission charge;
advance reservations required. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure
Beach. 910-458-5798.
Oct. 30—War
of the Worlds. 8pm. CFCC’s drama department presents a live production
of H.G. Wells’ 1938 War of the Worlds radio script. CFCC Humanities &
Fine Arts Center, 910-362-7999.
Oct. 30—Trick-or-Treat
at the Mall. 4-6pm. Kids arrive in costume and retailers provide candy.
Independence Mall, 3500 Oleander Dr., Wilmington. 910-392-1776.
Oct. 30-31—Halloween
Movie Night—Double Header. Bring chairs, blankets, coolers and candy
for scary screenings of Labyrinth (7pm) and Cape Fear (9pm). Popcorn and
beer/wine for sale. Admission charge. Bellamy Mansion, Wilmington. 910-251-3700.
Oct. 31— In
Memoriam: Victorian Mourning Customs Tour. A special Halloween exhibit
and tour of the Latimer House featuring Victorian mourning traditions and
spooky tales of woe! Tours at 7pm; 7:30pm & 8pm. Latimer House, Wilmington.
Admission charge. 910-762-0492.
Oct. 31— Spooky
Sound Paddle Fest. 8:30am-11:30am. A family-oriented paddle boarding
event with a non-competitive paddle race that includes standup paddle boards,
canoes, kayaks and other non-motorized water crafts. Prizes for best costume
& strangest water craft. Wrightsville SUP, 96 W. Salisbury St., Wrightsville
Beach. 910-378-9283.
Ongoing: SLEEPY
HOLLOW FAQ—Did you know? The FOX TV series “Sleepy Hollow” filmed its
first two seasons in Wilmington. Fans can download a FAQ sheet with a self-guided
tour of Wilmington locations that include historic buildings and Bellevue
Cemetery, where the Headless Horseman rode: www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/SleepyHollowFAQ.
City + Beaches: From
the river to the ocean, see where the water takes you this Halloween season.
Festivals and events provide a fun, affordable way to experience a destination.
For more information about seasonal specials, featured events and experiences,
visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/season/2015-fall-highlights.
For a FREE official visitors guide to Wilmington, N.C.’s historic river
district and the island beaches of Carolina
Beach,
Kure Beach and Wrightsville
Beach, please call 910-341-4030 or 866-266-9690. Before traveling any
distance, contact event venue to confirm details.
Media
Contact:
Wilmington
and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau
Connie
Nelson
Communications/PR
Director
910-332-8751
866-266-9690
ext. 120
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The
New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches
Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization
of New Hanover County, North Carolina that stimulates economic development
through the promotion of travel and tourism.
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