Communities across the Cape Fear region are rolling out a packed schedule of Halloween celebrations for Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, offering everything from charity fundraisers to outdoor movie screenings, wwaytv3.com reported. With Halloween landing on a Saturday this year, local organizers across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Columbus counties have lined up roughly 30 distinct festivities ranging from family-friendly trunk-or-treats to late-night haunted forest trails, according to reporting by Port City Daily.
Fundraisers and Community Screenings Anchor the Weekend
Charity and community spirit take center stage early in the weekend. All Four Cats Rescue is hosting a haunted car wash fundraiser on both Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mako Express Wash in Wilmington. Priced at $25 per wash with all proceeds supporting the animal rescue, drivers can select between a spooky haunted experience or a standard scare-free wash.
For families seeking outdoor entertainment, Wrightsville Beach Park is screening a free outdoor showing of Ghostbusters: Afterlife at 6:45 p.m. The evening features special guest appearances by the Ghostbusters of Cape Fear, alongside concessions available for purchase.
Meanwhile, downtown Wilmington businesses are running a daytime pumpkin hunt from noon to 4 p.m., inviting participants to search for hidden pumpkins and win prizes from local museums. Younger children can also visit the Children’s Museum of Wilmington for its EEK! Week Festival from 9 a.m. to noon, featuring pumpkin slime, crafts, games, and animal encounters.
Trunk-or-Treats and Municipal Safety Measures
Downtown Burgaw will host its annual Halloween trunk-or-treat celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. around the Pender County Courthouse Square, featuring candy, costumes, music and activities for families.
To help keep young trick-or-treaters safe, the Wilmington Fire Department is opening all 10 city fire stations to the public from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Officials encourage families to wear high-visibility clothing, remain vigilant around traffic, and leave fire station bay doors completely clear so emergency crews can respond rapidly to calls.
Nightlife, Live Music, and Costume Competitions
Adult celebrations and nightlife events ramp up significantly across Wilmington venues. Reel Cafe is running Halloween activities through Saturday, featuring live music, karaoke, and a costume contest anchored by a $500 cash prize alongside themed food and drinks. Nearby, The Eagle’s Dare is hosting Zombie Fest on Saturday starting with doors at 6 p.m. and live music at 7 p.m., complete with its own cash-prize costume contest.
For horror film enthusiasts, The Rusty Nail is hosting a Halloween party starting at 7 p.m. Saturday. The venue holds unique cinematic history as a filming location for the movie Halloween Kills, and Saturday’s gathering features free live music and a costume contest with prizes.
Further afield, the Cape Fear events calendar stretches across neighboring counties. Port City Daily notes that regional options include WalkerWorld’s Haunted Forest music and art festival at the Walkerworld Organic Artist Retreat in Castle Hayne on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8 p.m., featuring live music, art, and a pirates-and-wenches costume contest with ticket prices ranging from $26.99 to $97.01.
Keep reading
Democrats Get Triple Boost in Key Senate Battlegrounds Days Before Midterms – Newsweek
Late Battleground Shifts in Maine, Michigan, and Texas Control of the United States Senate hangs in a precarious...
Halloween brings increased traffic fatalities, prompting safety concerns for trick-or-treaters
As families across the country stepped out for Halloween celebrations, state highway data and first responders highlighted a...
Ty Bryant, Jordan Castell are giving Kentucky ‘uncommon’ play and production at safety
Kentucky's Safety Tandem Delivers Uncommon Play and Production Ty Bryant and Jordan Castell entered this college football season...
Living Learning and Honors Community Applications | Housing – The University of Iowa
The housing application portal for new and transfer students at the University of Iowa officially opens on January...