Halloween in Charleston 2026
Charleston is known for its Halloween celebrations. When it comes to the most hallowed of eves, this city gives other famous haunted cities — like Salem and New Orleans — a run for their money.
From haunted hotels to creepy graveyards and plantation fright nights, you won’t find a shortage of Halloween activities in South Carolina. Check out some of our favorite things to do on Halloween in Charleston in 2026.
Things to Do on Halloween in Charleston – 2026
Here are the eight best things to do on Halloween in Charleston in 2026. No matter whether you’re visiting for the thrills or just to enjoy a bit of a spooky atmosphere, there’s something for everyone on Halloween in the Holy City.
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Nothing says Halloween in Charleston like visiting a haunted dungeon. The Provost Dungeon in Downtown Charleston once held American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Yet before the war, the land was once home to a jail that housed pirates, including Stede Bonnet (and possibly even Blackbeard).
Today, it’s said that the dungeon is still haunted by those who haven’t been able to move past their dark time in these quarters. It’s not surprising, considering the dungeon was once the site of executions and torture. Many visitors claim to see old chains that still hang from the walls of the dungeon swinging on their own. Sometimes, visitors report being pushed by unseen hands or seeing strange orbs of light in the darker areas. Tour the Provost Dungeon in Charleston to find out for yourself.
Park Circle Oktoberfest hosted by Holy City Brewing
Celebrate Oktoberfest in Park Circle on Saturday, September 12, 2026, with German beer, delicious food, and lively music from the Hans Schmidt German Band and the Dirndl Dames Oktoberfest Band. The fun kicks off at 11 am and goes until 5 pm, featuring contests like the pretzel toss, sausage toss, stein hoist, brat eating contest, and plenty more!
Poogan’s Porch
You can’t celebrate Halloween in Charleston without visiting a haunted restaurant.
With so many bars and restaurants located in some of Charleston’s oldest buildings, it’s no wonder this city is full of haunted eateries and watering holes. If you’re looking for an extra diner to join you at your table, Poogan’s Porch is one practically surefire way to see a sighting.
One of Charleston’s oldest restaurants, Poogan’s Porch, serves up some of the most delicious lowcountry cuisine in South Carolina, with a side of haunted entertainment. It’s haunted by not one — but two spirits. Many diners have reported a woman in black trying to free herself from the restaurant, who is believed to be one of the house’s former owners, Zoe St. Armand. Many diners also claim to feel the ghost of a small dog playing at their feet, who is thought to be the restaurant’s namesake dog, a terrier named Poogan.
Charleston’s Alleys
Past Charleston’s large thoroughfares sit a complex pattern of back alleyways and narrow streets. While these streets are often inhabited by some of Charleston’s elite, they’ve also seen some of Charleston’s darkest history. Pirates and drunken sailors once roamed these narrow passageways — and some believe they still do.
In fact, Philadelphia Alley is thought to be one of the most haunted in the city. You can hear the history of Philadelphia Alley and many more on Charleston’s Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour.
It may not be an ‘official’ ghost tour, but our Charleston’s Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour will still get you ghost-adjacent. And who knows? You might even see one of Charleston’s long-departed souls with your own eyes!
Magnolia Plantation
Charleston’s plantations are some of the area’s biggest attractions at Halloween. Most of the plantations are decorated for the holiday and offer a variety of themed activities for both children and adults.
Magnolia Plantation runs a family fright night in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Included in the $10 admission are haunted train rides, a hay maze, face painting, a costume contest, and other Halloween treats. It’s fun for the whole family! Magnolia prides itself on offering fun that everyone in the family can enjoy — including little ones.
If you’re planning on spending Halloween in Charleston, don’t miss out on these historical properties.
Battery Carriage House Inn
Want to spend an entire haunted night on Halloween in Charleston
While some visitors prefer to be terrified for a few hours, others crave the promise of getting creeped out for an entire night. If you want a more “authentic” spooky experience, why not stay at a haunted hotel for a night or two?
Charleston is known for its haunted hotels, and none is scarier than the Battery Carriage House Inn. This historic inn attracts guests year-round for its quaint architecture and convenient location. Yet if you’re looking for some extra entertainment, you’ll want to stay for the ghosts.
Request to stay in rooms 3, 8, or 10 for the spookiest experiences. You might run into some glowing lights, floating apparitions — and even a headless torso.
St. Michael’s Graveyard
Like most graveyards in Charleston, St. Michael’s Graveyard is super haunted, and it’s no wonder: it’s the oldest church in Charleston.
If you head down to the churchyard, you might even see some of the city’s most famous ghosts wandering around. Head past the grave of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney to hopefully meet one of the signers of the US Constitution. Also buried here are former governors John Rutledge and Robert Young Hayne — amongst many others of Charleston’s elite.
Boone Hall Fright Nights
If you’re looking for something spookier for Halloween in Charleston, head to Boone Hall Fright Nights. Though the plantation features a pumpkin patch for the entire family by day, it’s known for its spookier Halloween activities by night. In September and October, the entire plantation is transformed into a farmhouse of horrors. The Boone Hall pumpkin patch, corn maze, and Halloween party (replete with Halloween costumes and haunted houses, and a costume party) ensure plenty of Halloween fun.
Four different areas offer guests the opportunity to become entirely scared out of their wits for a few hours.
Charleston Horror-Fest
If you’re looking for more of a spooky spectacular (and you’re a fan of classic horror movies), be sure to check out the Charleston Horror-Fest this October!
Taking place on October 18, from 10 am to 5 pm, this horror fest is presented by OurCons, creators of pop culture, horror, and anime festivals throughout the U.S.
The festival is for participants of all ages, so feel free to bring your little ones (as long as they’re into classic horror).
Admission is $20 for all visitors, and children under 11 get in for free!
Exhibitors will sell items, including comic books, magazines, toys, movies, artwork, and jewelry. There will even be a few special guests in attendance.
The event takes place at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in North Charleston.
Children’s Day Festival
While not necessarily a Halloween activity per se, the Children’s Day festival is a fall family-friendly event that may be just as exciting as trick-or-treating.
Head to the Park West Recreation Complex in Mount Pleasant on October 18, 2026, from 12 pm to 5 pm for rides, games, and live entertainment.
Past years’ activities have included mini golf, carnival rides, pony rides, and inflatable slides.
Food and drink will be available for purchase.
The best part? The event is completely free! There is no charge for everything from the live music to rides. Snag free parking at Cario Middle School or Charles Pinckney/Laurel Hill, and take a short walk to the festival, or hop on one of the free shuttles.
Charleston Official Halloween Bar Crawl
If you’re child-free on Halloween, you can participate in several different bar crawls, including the “official” Halloween bar crawl of Charleston.
This bar crawl takes place two nights in a row — on October 30th and October 31st, which is perfect for parents who want to enjoy some child-free fun one night and still make it trick-or-treating with their kids on Halloween.
The crawl starts at 4 pm at Bay Street Biergarten. Can’t make it that early? No problem, head over any time between 4 pm and 6 pm before crawling nine bars with two to three drinks or shots included in the $15 ticket price.
Just make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. The price goes up to $40 per person if you buy tickets at the door.
Tickets can be purchased on the Crawl With Us website.
King Street Bar Crawl
If you’re more about the pomp and circumstance than you are the free-flowing liquor, check out the King Street Bar Crawl.
Each year, more than 1,500 crawlers head to King Street on Halloween to enjoy drink specials, DJs, swag, and one of the craziest costume contests in South Carolina, where the winner will take home $2,000, with prizes in the following categories:
- Best Overall – $700
- Best Group – $700
- Funniest – $300
If you want to participate, you’ll need to purchase tickets in advance on Eventbrite. The early-bird price is $19.46, but the price goes up once October rolls around.
The crawl takes place on King Street from 2 pm to 10 pm on October 31st and starts at Uptown Social and Share House.
Moncks Corner Halloween Festival
If you have little ones, check out the Moncks Corner Halloween Festival on October 28, 2026.
This festival is in its 15th year and features a costume contest for kids, “trunk or treating”, homemade crafts, and local food trucks.
The festivities run from 5:30 pm to 8 pm.
A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
For a less spooky and more moody Halloween experience, head to the Charleston Unitarian Church on Friday, October 30th for the candlelight concert.
The Unitarian Church will be lit by candlelight while a string orchestra plays some of your favorite spooky instrumental pieces, including:
- “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
- “Tubular Bells” (Theme from The Exorcist)
- Beetlejuice (Theme)
- The Addams Family (Theme)
- Halloween (Theme)
- Psycho (Prelude)
The event starts at 6:45 pm and runs for 60 minutes.
Haunted Houses: Southern Screams & XScreamScapes
Most of the events on this list are for the faint of heart. If you need to get your blood pumping a little, head to Holy City Brewing in North Charleston on select dates between September 25th to November 7th for Southern Screams Haunted House 2026.
Southern Screams hosts two different haunted houses, including MACABRE and LIGHTS OUT.
If you just want to be a little scared, check out MACABRE, a spooky immersive experience. If you’re the type of person who wants to celebrate Halloween by being scared into oblivion, make sure to book your tickets for LIGHTS OUT.
No matter whether you want to be totally spooked (or just a little intrigued), head out to XScreamScapes for an immersive escape room experience that also includes a little bit of time travel.
On select dates, you can enjoy the tamer version during the day or the more intense version at night. XScreamScapes is located at 2430 Air Park Rd, North Charleston.