Courtney Wisecarver
If you know us, you know that fall is perhaps one of our favorite times of the year. We love everything it has to offer, from the crisp, cool nights to the fun Halloween frights. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself on the Outer Banks during this most spooky of seasons, be ready for a fang-tastic time! No matter if you’re the Hallow-queen of scares or just looking for a gourd time, we’ve rounded up the best tricks and treats to satisfy all the ghouls and goblins in your group this Halloween.
*Updated for 2026
The Irma in Kill Devil Hills.
Explore Our Haunted History
As you venture to the Graveyard of the Atlantic this Halloween, we invite you to learn more about our haunted history. Witness why we are cryptically coined for the shipwrecks that meet our shores at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras. Or take a creepy crawl through time on an OBX Ghost Tour in Manteo.
For a bit of fright reading, we recommend checking out our blog Haunted Outer Banks: Spooky OBX Ghost Stories. Learn all about our spine-chilling past, including several ghosts that reportedly make an eerie appearance every so often today!
Eat, Drink, and Be Scary
While we can’t boast brilliant fall foliage tours like our neighbors to the north, we like to think that the Outer Banks offers a great alternative. Every year when October hits, our local restaurants break out their fall menus. From savory autumnal salads at TRIO Restaurant & Market to bloody pumpkin-spiced donuts at Duck Donuts, delicious seasonal eats can be found all across OBX. — And we’re here to try every single one of them! Check out our Fall Food Tour blog for our guide to eating across the banks this season.
Ghostly Gallies of the Outer Banks is coming to your favorite OBX restaurant or bar from October 9th through November 2nd, 2026. Participating restaurants include Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill, Goombays Grille & Raw Bar, Bonzer Shack, and Lucky 12 Tavern. Indulge in ghoulish drinks, fantastic food, and spooky events for all brave souls who dare to enter. Be on the lookout for Michael Myers and Ghostface from Scream – they may lurk in the shadows of one of the Ghostly Gallies.
If you’re looking for more boo-ze, we have a few spots in mind. Head over to Swells’a Brewing to try “octoobs,” their Oktoberfest marzen. Stop by Outer Banks Brewing Station‘s Pumpkin Patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin for this year’s jack-o’-lantern.
Downtown Manteo is transformed into Halloween Island for the spooky season. Starting on October 1st, 2026, 13 venues in Downtown Manteo are serving up the most bewitching brews and sinister sips. Explore Manteo’s walkable downtown as you enjoy a Halloween-themed bar crawl throughout Halloween night.
Family #SquadGhouls
During Halloween, family-friendly fun can always be found! Island Farm on Roanoke Island is an incredibly educational and entertaining experience. A living history site that invites visitors to experience early life on the Outer Banks, this working farm truly comes alive with its autumn harvest. Fall on the farm brings fun events that include games, crafts, cider, a pumpkin patch, and much more.
Get into the spirit of Halloween by carving a pumpkin! The Elizabethan Gardens hosts A Night of 1587 Pumpkins. Because the English colonists came to Roanoke Island in 1587, the Elizabethan Gardens will light 1,587 jack-o-lanterns on Friday, October 30, 2026. The event runs from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm and includes trick-or-treating and contests in addition to pumpkins. Help them reach their number of carved pumpkins by heading there on October 28th or October 29th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm to carve a free pumpkin to add to the pumpkin path.
The Town of Duck is hosting its 3rd annual Trunk-or-Treat event on Saturday, October 17th, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Town Hall near Duck Town Park. Stick around after the event to watch a Movie on the Green – The Nightmare Before Christmas will be shown.
The Outer Banks Halloween Parade of Costumes happens each year on the Sunday afternoon before Halloween at Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills. This year’s event will be on October 25, 2026, starting at 2:00 pm. The 13th annual event includes trick-or-treating, photo props, costume contests, and a costume parade. This event is free and family-friendly.
Trick or Treat on the OBX
If you’re seeking the best trick-or-treating route on October 31st, take a stroll down 1st Street in Kill Devil Hills. But make sure to park at the nearby Lowe’s or Publix as the streets will be brimming with ghouls, goblins, and ghosts. Enjoy a night of silly sights and delightful frights as the neighborhood dresses up and decorates the homes for an evening of candy-fueled fun.
Creep It Real With These Adult Frights
To the adults in the crew looking for a night of true frights, beware. We have several options to choose from. But know that you go at your own risk… The woods come alive just a few minutes’ drive from Manteo at East Lake’s Wicked Woods. The terror begins at 7:30 pm on select Fridays and Saturdays in October, opening on October 16, 2026. Or head to Currituck to experience a new set of scares at the Backwoods Haunt, where live actors and multiple scare zones will bring your nightmares to life. The 2026 event runs from October 3rd through November 1st, from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. And for thrills in the light of day, make sure to check out the Outer Banks’ very own OB-Xscape Room!