What to do for Halloween 2023 in Charleston

The days are growing shorter and the temperature is cooling down, which means Charleston is gearing up for Halloween. City Paper has compiled a list of parties, festivals, shows and family-friendly fun for you to fill up your own spooky calendar. Happy haunting!

Through October

Boone Hall Fright Night

Boone Hall Fright Nights returns to Boone Hall in Mount Pleasant, where three terrifying attractions wait to be explored: Carnage, the hospital; Freaks Unleashed, the circus; and The Last Ride, featuring toxic waste and dangerous mine shafts. Tickets, starting at $38, are only available online this year, and there is a limited quantity for each night. The event runs Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 29.

Ghost tours return to the Old City Jail

Bulldog Tours’ iconic Old City Jail tour is back this month just in time for Halloween after a two-year renovation project. Tour guests continue to claim that they’ve spotted the ghost of Lavinia Fisher, America’s first female serial killer, more than 200 years after her execution. Guests can expect a haunted evening roaming the halls of the old jail where the city’s most notorious thieves, pirates and war criminals were once imprisoned while listening to spooky stories by Bulldog’s tour guides.

Hitchcock Halloween at Harold’s Cabin and The Pickled Beat

Harold’s Cabin’s themed holiday bars returned Oct. 3 with an Alfred Hitchcock-inspired metamorphosis of upstairs lounge, The Pickled Beat. The decorations depict references to Hitchcock films and Halloween-themed bites and cocktails will be added to the menu, including some drinks inspired by the Harry Potter series. The last day for the Halloween bar is Nov. 11. On Nov. 14, the bar will transform into White Christmas, a wintery wonderland, remaining magically snowy until Jan. 6.

Pumpkin patches and more

There are several places to pick out the perfect pumpkin this season. Boone Hall in Mount Pleasant hosts its annual pumpkin patch as well as an eight-acre corn maze, pig races, a petting zoo and more.

Legare Farms on Johns Island will host hayrides, a gem mine, a scarecrow factory and horse rides along with its pumpkin patch.

Jedburg Junction’s Pumpkin Junction, a pumpkin patch in Summerville, will have a petting zoo and horse riding for kids as well as live music, shopping and drinks for adults.

Southern Screams TRAPPED at Holy City Brewing

Test your mettle at Southern Screams TRAPPED haunted house at Holy City Brewing. This year’s attraction brings guests to the fictional town of Kellenville, nicknamed “Kill”enville due to travelers mysteriously going missing. As you move through the attraction, the town’s sinister secret begins to reveal itself. Afterwards, calm down the adrenaline rush with draft beers from Holy City Brewing. The haunted house runs Wednesdays through Sundays plus Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Tickets start at $20 with add-ons available, including Scare with Care glow necklaces, unlimited access all night to the attraction, expedited entry and an exclusive draft beer.

Spooky Walk and Talks

Local tour company Walk and Talk Charleston has added two tours to its offerings this season. Resting in Pieces: Charleston’s Churches and Graveyards, a daytime tour, covers gossip and tales of the peninsula’s oldest burial grounds, while Skeletons in the Closet takes place after dark and explores the many haunted houses and connected stories that are so scary they’ve stood the test of time.

Oct. 21

Spicy Saturday Drag Show

Tin Roof’s regular Spicy Saturday event is teaming up with Southern Screams, a horror production company, and Guilty Pleasures, Charleston’s premier adult store, to hold a pageant-style drag show and crown the first Southern Scream Thing, presumably named after the hand character, Thing, from The Addams Family. The competition takes place at 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at Tin Roof and features six drag queens competing for $575 in prizes on top of the new title. Medusa Chaos, Electra Lyte and Shesha Mansion as well as Spicy Saturday co-host, Mira Shatters will be the show’s judges. Both audience tickets and enrollment information can be found at the show’s ticketing site.

Oct. 22

Fright Night at the Ballet

The Palmetto City Ballet brings a haunting show to the Sottile Theatre, featuring murder mysteries, spirits and local ghost stories sure to entertain ballet enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The dancers will also give audiences a taste of their ballet adaptation of the classic novel Dracula, which is set to debut in 2024. Spooky attire is optional for the show at 3 p.m Oct. 22. Tickets are $50 or $40 for College of Charleston students.

Oct. 24

Dracula: Ballet with a Bite

You won’t soon forget the Columbia City Ballet’s rendition of Dracula: Ballet with a Bite at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Charleston Music Hall. Based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel, the performance tells the story of Count Dracula and his vampire maidens as they dance to original music by Tomas Semanski. Tickets start at $35.

Oct. 26

Hutson Alley Halloween

Coast Bar and Grill is throwing Halloween on Hutson Alley from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26 with an all-you-can-eat oyster roast and pumpkin carving. Attendees also receive three draft beer tickets, and other food and drink items will be available from Charleston’s Smallest Bar. Add some pizzazz to your hair with Sparkle Bar Fairy Hair, and those with the best-carved pumpkins will win prizes. Kids are free with the purchase of a $40 adult ticket.

Oct. 27

The Alley’s Studio 300 party

Head to The Alley for its annual Halloween party. This year, Studio 300: A Galaxy Far Away is taking things up another notch with an all-inclusive trip through the galaxies, complete with drinks, complimentary appetizers, free bowling, free arcade games and a silent disco. DJ Dolla Menu will provide disco-, Halloween- and Star Wars-infused music sets and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly. The event starts at 9 p.m. Oct. 27 and is for guests 21 and older. Tickets are $95.

Trick-or-treat at The Charleston Museum

The Charleston Museum is hosting a trick-or-treat at the museum, where kids can wear costumes for an afternoon of creepy crafts and spooky activities, plus follow the trick-or-treat trail in exclusive areas of the museum.

Oct. 27 and Oct. 28

The Rocky Horror Experience

Charleston’s Footlight Players are putting on a special screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show that includes more than the regular shadow cast. The show will have the classic callbacks, props and a costume contest. Adding to the experience, members of the theater company will perform certain acts with a live band. The bar will be open, and costumes are encouraged. Two showings take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and Oct. 28. Tickets are $28.

The Boogieman Festival

The Boogieman Halloween Festival returns to The Royal American for its third year. The kick-off party starts at 9 p.m. Oct. 27 with performances by The Mammoths, Bombargo and Kind Hearted Strangers. The doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10.

The festival starts at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 when bands will take over the two parking lot stages and keep the party going until 10 p.m. Headlined by local indie hip-hop duo Little Stranger, the music festival also welcomes 14 other bands, including Human Resources, Bill Wilson and Babe Club. The show is for guests 21 and older, and tickets start at $35.

Oct. 28

Dramaween for families

Charleston has no shortage of unique kid-friendly Halloween events. Drama Kids Charleston hosts Dramaween, a Halloween costume party for kids that includes improv, dancing and a costume contest.

Halloween Bar Crawl

Uptown Social and Blue Steel production company host this all-day event from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 28. The bar crawl includes Uptown Social in addition to Share House, Ink Charleston, Republic and more. Participants get free and priority entry to bars plus access to discounted drink specials like $4 shots, $3 Bud Lights and $5 Tito’s drinks. Crawl tickets start at $23 and include custom tees for the first 300 people to check-in, in addition to a registration party and the costume contest with four prizes totaling $1,000.

Mount Pleasant Fall Festival

Head to Mount Pleasant Towne Center’s annual Fall Festival, taking place from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct 28. The family-friendly event will feature live music, local art and food vendors, and cocktails, beer and wine for the adults. Kids spaces will offer fantastic entertainment with arts and crafts, face-painting, balloon animals, and more. Guests can bring along their dogs for the costume test benefitting Charleston Animal Society, the winner of which will receive a $500 giftcard to Park West Veterinary Associates.

Red’s Ice House Halloween Events

Dress as your favorite rock star for Red’s Ice House’s annual Halloween bash with a costume contest, which starts at 10 p.m. Prizes include $250 and a $250 gift card. Sponsored by Corona Light, the party boasts $5 Coronas as well as $5 Modelos to enjoy while rocking to music by DJ rDOT.

Taco Boy’s Halloween Party

Break out your best superhero costume for Taco Boy Folly Beach’s action figure-themed Halloween House Party. Hosted by Charleston-based content creator Andrea Serrano, Bacardi and Badd Kitty adult store, the event starts at 8 p.m. features live DJs, a photo booth and a costume contest with a $1,000 prize. Taco Boy will serve food until 11 p.m., and Bacardi brand Halloween-themed drink specials will be available for purchase. The event is free to attend for guests 21 and older.

Oct. 29

A Meeting of the Macabre – Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker

Two professionally trained actors will transport guests to a fictional interaction between Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker, both renowned thriller and horror writers. The characters discuss challenges, inspirations and secrets the writers dealt with, as well as performing dramatized readings from their works. Act quick and nab the last tickets for the show which takes place at Gage Hall at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Tickets are $25.

Tin Roof’s Halloween cover show

Tin Roof Charleston is hosting its 15th annual Halloween cover show at 6 p.m. Oct. 29. A lineup of 17 bands will dress up and play 15-minute sets covering songs by their favorite bands. A few choices include Johnny Cash, The Doors, The Killers and Radiohead.

Revelry Brewing’s “Animalistic” block party

Break out your best costume and head to Revelry Brewing on Conroy Street downtown from noon to 6 p.m. to celebrate its ninth anniversary during the annual block party. There will be a live DJ, multiple food trucks and the event will benefit Green Heart Charleston, a nonprofit bringing freshly farmed food to Charleson’s schools.

Oct. 29 and Oct. 30

Camellias Barbie Halloween Party

Haven’t gotten “Ken-ough” Barbie yet? For two magical nights, Hotel Bennett is hosting a party. fit for Barbie Land in Camellias, the hotel’s iconic pink Champagne bar. Tickets are $59 and include unlimited rosé and light bites, and the party starts at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Grab your best girlfriends, and head to the Dreamhouse for the night.

Oct. 30

Big Spooky Halloween Rock Show

Rock out with Spanish Moss at the Big Spooky Halloween Rock Show, hosted by Tin Roof Charleston. The alternative rock band is based in Charleston and has invited saxophone artist Jonathan Kammer to add some funk to their stage. Get ready for a spooky night with the four-member band as they play new original music and rock versions of classic Halloween songs. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 9 p.m. with special guest Chris Roberts of Sill Crow, a heavy blues rock band. The show is for guests 21 and older. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

Wicked Halloween at Music Farm

Step into a totally transformed Music Farm at 8 p.m. Oct. 30 for Wicked Halloween: A Haunted Nightlife Experience. Eerie decorations, fog-filled corridors and mysterious creatures surround you as you dance the night away. Tony Jack, a DJ who regularly plays at Share House and Uptown Social, will open for MADDI REESE, a Charleston-born DJ who made her way onto Bravo’s Southern Hospitality. Show off your most creative, innovative and extravagant costume for a chance to win a $1,000 prize in the costume contest. Tickets are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the door.