Fun across the area, with Fall festivals and Halloween-themed events for kids and adults. Check out these offerings in Franklin, Johnston, Nash, Wake, Wilson, and nearby counties.
Below happenings are listed by date in reverse order. Some events are multi-day.
At public gatherings, follow state coronavirus/Covid-19 safety measures for the good of yourself and others: wear a mask, keep your hands clean, and let everyone enjoy their time out-and-about with a bit of personal space. When in doubt, stand six feet out.
Haunted Dollhouse: Sunday, October 31, 2021 @ 5-8pm (Halloween Night)
Head to Comic World for their fourth-annual “haunted house” event with comics and candy for kids, a costume contest (up to age 15), and more. Walking through the Haunted Dollhouse is free, with 2-4 people inside at a time for social distancing. A food truck is planned offering fairground-type foods.
Comic World is located at 122 E Gannon Avenue, Zebulon, NC.
Follow Comic World here.
Halloween Trunktacular: Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 5:30-8pm
Get the kids to Oh My Lard for this second-annual event. Kids can trunk-or-treat, and there will be inflatables, music, a costume contest, and food.
Held at Oh My Lard restaurant, 103 S Parker Street, Elm City, NC.
Contact Oh My Lard with questions or to sign up your vehicle “trunk” and pass out candy.
Dia de Los Muertos: Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 5-8pm
Wilson Arts will hold this special event with candy for kids (costumes encouraged), family activities, and a supply of tacos (while they last). Listen to Mexican folkloric ballet and mariachi music. There will be a community altar set up for this day of the dead, and attendees are encouraged to bring framed photos of deceased loved ones.
Wilson Arts is located at 204 Nash Street S, Wilson, NC.
See details here.
Downtown Bailey Trick or Treat on the Street: Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 5-8pm
Sponsored by the Bailey Chamber of Commerce. Businesses and individuals will be decorating tables and handing out candy. Food trucks will be in town, too.
Held in downtown along Main Street, Bailey, NC.
Contact the Bailey Chamber with questions or to request a table for your business.
Smithfield Trunk or Treat: Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 10:30am-12:30pm
Join Smithfield Parks and Recreation for this trunk-or-treating event for kids.
Held in Smithfield Community Park, Smithfield, NC.
See details here, plus other Halloween Events (Egg Haunt on October 28 and Boo Bash on October 29.)
Imagination Station Annual Boo Bash: Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 10am-2pm
The Saturday before Halloween, Imagination Station will be hosting its “Spooky Spectacular of Halloween Fun and Science” in its courtroom. All activities are included with museum admission. See fees and details here.
Imagination Station is located at 224 Nash Street SE, Wilson, NC.
Imagination Station will also be holding a Halloween Science event on Thursday, October 21, 2021 @ 9:30-11am ($12 fee).
Fall Festival at Oak Ridge Farms: Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 9-3pm
Shop the farmers market, see the farm animals and equipment, purchase from food trucks and local vendors. Kids may play games, paint pumpkins, see “princesses,” and more for kids including treating (no tricks). Raffle, too. Admission $2 per person, with children under 3 free.
Festival activities will be on the farm at 92 Thomas Arnold Road, Zebulon, NC.
Visit Oak Ridge Farms on FB for event flyer and updates.
Fall Fun Festival: Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 6:30-8:30pm
This event by Webbs Chapel Baptist Church includes a cake walk, costume contests, food, games, and more. Suggested donations $1-$5 to attend, with funds going to family in need.
The church is located at 2771 Webbs Chapel Road, Macclesfield, NC.
Follow the church for updates.
Creatures of the Night: Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 6-9pm
Take a fun tractor ride through the forest at this NC Museum of Natural Science’s location at Contentnea Creek. Learn about the creatures who live among the trees and trails.
Held at A Time for Science, 949 Contentnea Lane, Grifton, NC.
Pre-registration required; register via www.atimeforscience.org ($5).
Knightdale Trunk-or-Treat: Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 5-9pm
Head to Knightdale Station Park with the kids to get treats and see the decorated vehicle judging, then stay for a movie! Food trucks will be onsite.
Address is 810 N First Avenue, Knightdale, NC.
For details, see www.knightdalenc.gov/…/trunk-or-treat.
Wendell Halloween Treat Trail: Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 5pm
Wendell Parks and Rec will hold its annual, non-scary Treat Trail for kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult. Local vendors will hand out treats for kids, and business information for adults. Dress for outdoors and walking, child-friendly costumes encouraged.
Held at Wendell Community Center, 601 W Third Street, Wendell, NC.
Follow Wendell Parks and Recreation for updates.
Downtown Trick-or-Treat: Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 1-3pm
Clayton Parks and Recreation is offering safe trick-or-treating, designed for preschool age children and younger. Walk the kids down Main Street and let them collect free candy from local businesses.
Start at Horne Square, 348 E Main Street, Clayton, NC.
See Clayton Parks and Rec special events here.
Johnston County Heritage Center Ghost Walk: Thursday, October 28, 2021 @ 6:30-8:30pm
Join this planned annual Ghost Walk in-person at Smithfield’s historic Riverside Cemetery.
Cemetery is located at the corner of Front and Church Streets, Smithfield, NC.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students (grades K-12). Children 5 and under will be given free admission (with paid adult/supervision).
Details on their website.
Trunk or Treat Historic Downtown Selma: Thursday, October 28, 2021 @ 5:30-8pm
The town’s Parks and Rec Department will hold a free, safe Trunk or Treat with other activities including inflatables, music, and car/costume contests with prizes. This is a rain or shine event.
Held behind Town Hall, 115 E Anderson Street, Selma, NC.
Visit Selma Parks and Rec here.
Clayton Harvest Festival: October 27-31, 2021
Five days of fun! Carnival rides and games, food, vendors, a Latin American Festival, a BBQ contest, and more.
Held in various Clayton, NC locations.
See detailed schedule of events at www.claytonharvestfestival.com.
Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival: Saturday, October 23, 2021 @ 4-8pm
This event presented by Stantonsburg PH Church, and includes games, a yard sale, silent auction, lunch boxes for sale, and all proceeds to to the church youth group.
Held at 309 Moyton Avenue, Stantonsburg, NC.
See details here.
Fall Fling: Saturday, October 23, 2021 @ 1-4pm
This annual hay ride by Clayton Parks and Recreation offers inflatables, pumpkin painting, and a hay ride with interactive storytelling.
Location is 715 Amelia Church Road, Clayton, NC.
See Fall Fling details here.
Note: This organization is also holding a Boo Bash Halloween Dance on October 22, 2021, 6-8pm, for individuals 13+ with developmental and/or physical disabilities. Pre-registration is required.
Stoney Point Trail of Terror “Trunk or Treat” Night: Saturday, October 23, 2021 @ 1-3pm
This Halloween attraction is run by, and benefits, the Stoney Point Fire Department. On one night each year, the FD holds a free family event where kids age 12 and younger may trick-or-treat at the fire department.
Held at 7221 Stoney Point Road, Fayetteville, NC.
This year’s Trail of Terror (ticketed scary attraction) will be open October 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30 @ 8-11pm and October 31 @ 8-10pm (Halloween night). See details and information about the Trail of Terror hours at www.undeadfd.com. Follow the FD on social media for updates here.
Fall on First Festival: Saturday, October 23, 2021 @ 10am-4pm
Family fun at this festival includes inflatables, music, pumpkins/mums, music, a BBQ contest, and more.
Held in Knightdale Station Park, 910 N First Avenue, Knightdale, NC.
Visit Knightdale Parks & Rec here for festival flyer and updates.
Note: This organizer is also holding K-Fest Arts and Education Festival on October 9, 2021, 10am-9pm.
Halloween Spooktacular Drive Thru: Thursday, October 21, 2021 @ 6-8pm
Drive through with the kids and get them goodie/treat bags, while supplies last, provided by the town and county. Optionally, wear costumes and decorate your vehicle as you come for treats!
Held at the Nash County Agricultural Center, 1006 Eastern Avenue, Nashville, NC.
See the Nash County Parks & Rec flyer here.
Note: For more Nashville, NC Fall/Halloween offerings, see our article on the town’s October happenings.
Farmville Ghost Walk 2021: October 21-30, 2021 @ 6-8pm
Pick a night, get a ticket, and tour the Town of Farmville and “encountered ghosts and spirits along the way, be entertained and trilled by this parade in reverse.”
Tickets ($10 per person) may be purchased at the Farmville Public Library and Re/Max Preferred Realty-Greenville.
Follow the Farmville Community Arts Council for updates.
Wake Forest Halloween Boo Bash: Thursday, October 21, 2021 @ 4:30-7:30pm
This Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department event is a free, family-oriented festival for children ages 12 and younger.
E. Carroll Joyner Park is located at 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest, NC.
See details in article here.
Outdoor Fall Vendor Fest: Saturday, October 16, 2021 @ 9am-2pm
This Bunn Garden Club fundraiser will have vendors, baked goods, hot dogs, and raffles. Stop by and support this club’s local works.
The event will take place outdoors at 361 NC-98 Hwy W, Bunn, NC.
Follow the Bunn Garden Club for updates and to see event flyer.
Fall Festival at Zebulon UMC: Saturday, October 9, 2021 @ 10am-3pm
This festival includes inflatables for kids and face painting, plus a marketplace, country store, craft store, and a plant sale!
Held at Zebulon United Methodist Church, 121 W Gannon Avenue, Zebulon, NC.
See flyer here.
Wendell Harvest Festival: Saturday, October 2, 2021 @ 10am-9pm
This event by the Wendell Chamber of Commerce includes a parade, Kids Village with games and activities, live performances, vendors, food trucks, and a night-ending concert by The Brickhouse Band.
Held in downtown Wendell, NC.
See details at www.wendellchamber.com/wendell-harvest-festival.
Home Place Harvest Fest: Saturday, October 2, 2021 @ 9am-4pm*
Head to the farm for this special event offering “a day full of fun for all ages.” In addition to pumpkins/mums, the farm has a corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, plus ice cream and other treats. During Harvest Fest, there will be vendors, too.
Held at Home Place Strawberries & More, 3055 Chinquapin Road, Farmville, NC.
Visit the farm website, homeplacestrawberries.com/events, for details.
*Farm website lists start time as 10am; social media lists 9am.
Fall Bazaar & Craft Show: Saturday, October 2, 2021 @ 9am-4pm
Shop local vendors at this special event. Vendor spots $25 each.
Held at Zebulon Rehabilitation Center (Guardian Care), 509 W Gannon Avenue, Zebulon, NC.
With questions or if interested in being a vendor, call 919.269.9621.
Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival: October 1-2, 2021
Annual festival in downtown. See schedule of activities via the Spring Hope Chamber festival website.
Held along Railroad Street, Spring Hope, NC.
Follow the pumpkin festival here.
Spirits of Wake Forest Ghost Walk: September 30 through October 30, 2021 @ 6:30pm *and* 8pm
See article with Ghost Walk details here. Purchase tickets in-advance.
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Note: Events may be added to this list throughout the month. To request inclusion of a free or low-fee event, email details to the Editor. Sponsor names and logos are not included in listings. Events are added at the editor’s discretion.
Originally published September 30, 2021. Updated October 11 with additional events.
