Your Local Guide to Halloween Fun

Those costumes deserve more than one outing! From a Halloween movie under the stars to decorated trunks and community celebrations, there are plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy October around Brunswick County.

We’ve gathered the Halloween happenings we’ve found and put them in date order so you can plan your evening—or a few of them. Bring the kids, make a date with the grandkids, or send this guide to someone who’s looking for a little Halloween fun.

Food trucks open at 5 PM ; movie begins at dusk, approximately 6:30–6:45 PM | Town Center Park, Ocean Isle Beach

Halloween fun comes with a movie this evening! Costumes are encouraged for this outdoor showing of Monster House. Arrive early if you’d like to visit the food trucks before the movie begins.

4–7 PM | Franklin Square Park, 130 E. West Street, Southport

Southport is starting a new fall tradition! Its first Hometown Harvest joins the Police Department’s National Night Out for an evening of candy, treats, fall activities, a hayride and a friendly tug-of-war competition. Kids can explore Public Works trucks and equipment, and families can meet members of the Police Department. Wear your costumes and enjoy a lap around the park for treats.

Fall market: 4–8 PM ; activities and music: 6–8 PM | Middleton Park Complex, 4610 E. Dolphin Drive, Oak Island

Two events come together for one full evening! This free, pet-friendly celebration includes an outdoor concert, trick-or-treating, first responder displays, a costume contest, carnival games, a fall market and food. Presented by Oak Island Parks & Recreation and the Oak Island Police Department.

Begins at 6 PM | Shallotte Riverwalk Park, 145 Wall Street, Shallotte

Put the Riverwalk on your Halloween calendar! Shallotte’s Spooktacular Halloween Event is another local stop for a festive October evening.

5–6:30 PM | Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Boulevard N., Sunset Beach

Costumes, candy and community come together at Sunset Beach Town Park. Along with decorated trunks and treats, organizers are planning a haunted bounce house, pet adoptions, police cars, fire trucks, Public Works trucks and a trashcan cleaning truck for the kids to check out.

8 PM | 9600 Number 5 School Road, Ash

Looking for a Halloween outing in Ash? Brunswick Health and Rehab’s haunted house and trunk-or-treat is listed for this evening. Check with the organizer about the haunted house’s suitability for younger children.

6–9 PM | Brunswick County Government Complex, 30 Government Center Drive NE, Bolivia

This fall festival appears in the local Halloween roundup you shared. Add it to your list of October outings and check the organizer’s announcement for the activity lineup.

5–6:30 PM | Town Center Park parking lot, Ocean Isle Beach

Town staff and local residents will have their decorated vehicles ready to welcome little ghosts, superheroes, princesses and more. This annual event is open to the public—wear a costume and remember your treat bag or bucket! Treats will be available until 6:30 p.m. or while supplies last, whichever comes first.

5:30–7 PM | Bridgeview Park, Holden Beach

Another beach-town stop for those Halloween costumes! Head to Bridgeview Park for Holden Beach’s Monster Mash Trunk-or-Treat and an evening of community Halloween fun.

5–7 PM | Oak Island Recreation Center, 4902 E. Beach Drive, Oak Island

Celebrate Halloween at Oak Island’s third annual Trunk or Treat. Decorated cars and candy will fill the evening, with first-, second- and third-place awards for the best-decorated cars.

Begins at 5:30 PM | In front of Southport Fire Headquarters, 1011 North Howe Street, Southport

A Halloween stop for your little superheroes! The Southport Fire Department’s event advertises plenty of candy, treats, prizes and fire safety materials. Bring those treat buckets and join the Halloween fun.

Bring your treat bags, keep an eye on the weather and check the host’s latest announcement before leaving home. Event schedules and outdoor plans can change, and treats may run out before an event ends.

Send it to the friend planning a family night, the neighbor with little ones, or the grandparents who love an excuse to join the fun. And if you know of another local Halloween happening, reply and tell us—we love hearing what’s going on around the beaches!

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