Halloween events in Cary 2026

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates and times come from each organizer’s own page, linked below.

Looking for trick-or-treat hours and police safety tips for Halloween night? See our trick-or-treat hours guide. Corn mazes and pumpkin patches are on our fall festivals page.

Updated Oct. 14: added Haunting at the Old Hotel at the Page-Walker, Saturday, Oct. 24.

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The season at a glance:

Who to call

• Town events: Cary 311, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits
• Pumpkin Flotilla: the town’s event contact, 919-462-3970
• Koka Booth Amphitheatre: 919-462-2025
• Cary police, non-emergency: 919-469-4012
• Emergency: 911

Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park

Friday, Oct. 23, 5 to 7 p.m., Bond Park Boathouse, 801 High House Road. Carved jack-o’-lanterns float across the lake at twilight while a band plays and food trucks serve. Boats are for rent from 4 to 6:15 p.m., with the last boat out at 5:45 p.m.

To put your own pumpkin in, drop it at the boathouse from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. The town’s rules, from its Pumpkin Flotilla page:

• About the size of a soccer ball and about eight pounds after carving. No minis or giants.
• Gutted and carved at home, with the lid.
• No paint, glitter, marker, candles or other add-ons. The town supplies the light and the float.
• Floats go first come, first served, and pumpkins are not returned.

The pumpkins are usually relit on the lake the next night, for viewing from the boathouse waterfront.

Downtown Cary Park

Zombiepalooza, Friday, Oct. 23, 6 to 10 p.m. The Cary Theater’s annual zombie short film competition plays on the Great Lawn Pavilion. Films run under five minutes and are family friendly, and this year’s theme is sports. It is free; bring chairs or blankets. In bad weather it moves indoors to The Cary Theater (event page).

Downtown Scary Park: Haunted Hotel, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 to 10:30 p.m. A free day of Halloween in the park, according to the park’s event page:

• 2 to 6 p.m.: family pumpkin carving on Frantz Square Lawn
• 6 to 7:30 p.m.: pre-movie activities at Academy Plaza and the Gathering House
• 7:30 p.m.: “The Haunted Mansion” (PG) at the Great Lawn Pavilion
• 9:30 p.m.: “Poltergeist” (PG), which the park says suits older viewers

Food trucks are on site, and outside food is allowed.

Cary Police Department Trunk or Treat, Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The department’s Downtown Team lines Park Street with decorated cars. Free; costumes encouraged (event page).

Trunk or Treat at Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Friday, Oct. 23, 6 to 8 p.m., 8003 Regency Parkway. The volunteers at WakeMed Cary Hospital sponsor this one, with decorated trunks, a costume parade and a pumpkin patch while supplies last. Tickets are on the amphitheater’s event page.

Haunted houses and late-night scares

Haunting at the Old Hotel is 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop, the restored former Page-Walker Hotel. The town lists it on its Page-Walker page and its Halloween events page; check there for tickets and age guidance.

Phillips Haunted Farm runs Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. through the season at 6800 Good Hope Church Road, with scare houses and a haunted wagon ride. The farm does not recommend it for children under 13 (haunted farm page).

The Rocky Horror Picture Show plays The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St., at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, as part of the theater’s Tim Curry spotlight. Tickets: Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.

Halloween morning in Morrisville

The Western Wake Farmers Market, 101 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville, about four miles away, holds a costume party with trick-or-treating at vendor booths from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31 (market event page).

Not posted yet

The town’s Mummy & Son Ball and the Cary Teen Council’s Haunted Walk at Bond Park were both held in October 2025. Neither had a 2026 date on the town’s Halloween events page when we checked. We will add them if they are announced.

What this means for you

• Want a pumpkin in the flotilla? Carve it by Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22.
• Free options for young children: the police trunk-or-treat, Scary Park’s pumpkin carving and the first movie on Oct. 24.
• Parking downtown is tight on event nights; the Pumpkin Flotilla draws a crowd at Bond Park too.

More October events are on our things to do this month page.

Frequently asked questions

What Halloween events are in Cary in 2026?

The Pumpkin Flotilla is Friday, Oct. 23, at Bond Park, Downtown Scary Park is Saturday, Oct. 24, and the Cary Police Department’s trunk-or-treat is Thursday, Oct. 29, on Park Street.

When is the Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park?

Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bond Park Boathouse, 801 High House Road. Carved pumpkins are dropped off at the boathouse from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.

Is there a haunted house in Cary?

Phillips Haunted Farm, 6800 Good Hope Church Road, runs Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. this fall. The farm does not recommend it for children under 13.

Are there trunk-or-treats in Cary?

Yes. Koka Booth Amphitheatre hosts one from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and the Cary Police Department hosts a free one from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, on Park Street.

Where can I see The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Cary?

The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St., screens it at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.