How to Safely Celebrate Halloween in Downtown Raleigh
Halloween looks a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have *spirit* to celebrate the spooky season. From haunted tours to ghostly treats and drinks, we’ve created a list of ways to celebrate Halloween in a safe, yet exciting way. Halloween also falls on a Saturday, so you’ll have a full day of haunts!
If you are or know a Downtown Raleigh business offering Halloween specials or activities, please let us know by emailing us at communications@downtownraleigh.org.
Last updated 10/29/20
Terrifying Treats
Bittersweet Halloween Rice Krispy Treats - Bittersweet is offering a classic homemade rice krispy treat but with a spooky twist. A tiny colored skull is on top of each treat to get you in the Halloween spirit. See their takeout menu here.
The Cupcake Shoppe Creepy Cupcakes - The Cupcake Shoppe is offering limited cupcake flavors like the classic Halloween candy, Butterfinger, through Halloween. See the full list of flavors and order online here.
Gravy Goodie Bags - Gravy will have goodies galore on the 30th and 31st for the best-dressed ghosts & ghouls in costume. It's bound to put a spell on you! See more on their Instagram here.
lucettegrace Trick or Treat Macaron Box - The Trick or Treat macaron box includes four special flavors that you can only get in this box: pumpkin, maple pecan, chocolate peanut butter, and caramel apple. Only a limited number will be made and once that quantity has been ordered they will go away, so don’t miss out. They will be available for preorder starting Tuesday, Oct 27th. Pre-order online here.
Rocket Fizz Pumpkin Spice - From pumpkin spice soda to fudge, Rocket Fizz is offering lots of sugar, (pumpkin) spice, and everything nice treats for the holiday! See more here.
Raleigh Raw’s Pumpkin Patch Bowl - The Pumpkin Patch bowl is like pumpkin pie in a superfood parfait and is creamy, smooth, & sweet. This treat has no artificial tricks up its sleeve, but it DOES have newly added pumpkin-spice cashew butter on top. Grab it at your convenience and revel in the spiciest season of the year. Order online here.
Raleigh Rolls Pumpkin Pie Rolls - Raleigh Rolls has seasonal Pumpkin Pie Rolls! Made with homemade organic pumpkin purée and a dash of cinnamon, it makes the perfect fall treat. See all their flavors here.
Sitti Restaurant Treat Bags - Your reservation just got sweeter! Dine with Sitti the 30th or 31st in your most spooktastic costume, and you'll receive a treat bag filled with goodies! See some of the treats included in the bag on their social here.
Videri Chocolate Bonbon Gift Box - Videri’s spooky 8-piece bonbon gift box contains each of the following: blood orange ginger caramel skull, dark chocolate ganache, honey caramel coffee ganache, apple cider caramel muscadine ganache, and salted caramel Earl Grey ganache. Preorder online starting Monday, Oct 26 here.
Yellow Dog Pumpkin Hand Pies - Yellow Dog Bread Company has all the cute and delicious fall goodies like a spooky Pumpkin Hand Pie! They are also offering pumpkin loaves, pumpkin pop tarts, monster cupcakes, and autumn spiced lattes! Order takeout here.
Hair-Raising Refreshments
42 & Lawrence Creepy Coffee - 42 & Lawrence is offering their most popular Halloween drink called “The Headless Horseman,” a dirty chai. Classic pumpkin spice lattes are also available. Try them both iced or hot. See other spooky flavor offerings here.
Black and White Coffee Roasters - Looking to take a break from pumpkin-flavored items? Visit Black and White Coffee Roasters at Videri Chocolate Factory for a seasonal ginger pear latte. See more about B&W’s offerings here.
Garland's Alien Cocktails - Just in time for Halloween, Garland is introducing their new cocktail “Brown Mountain Lights”! Bourbon, oloroso, Alma de Trabanco, black cardamom, black walnut bitters. Just like the effect of the ghost lights in the Appalachian mountains that this drink is named after, you will be mesmerized by this illuminating elixer. Is it ghosts? Is it aliens? Is it whiskey? I want to believe! Learn more about Garland here.
The Pit Fall-Themed Cocktails - Try out some fall flavor in your cocktails with The Pit’s Pumpkin Pie White Russian or Apple Cranberry Mojito. Learn more on their website here.
Raleigh Beer Garden Halloween Brews - Raleigh Beer Garden is offering a full menu of Halloween libations for you to enjoy. Try out their "Vampire Mist Mule", "Black Magic Sangria", "Poisoned Apple Shooter" and more are available through Nov 1. See details on their social here.
Sir Walter Cursed Coffee - Take a taste of Sir Walter’s family-friendly drink called the “Spooky Walter” which is a cinnamon cold brew with pumpkin cream. Or you can spice things up with an adult-friendly drink like their “Cinnamon Martini” which is cinnamon smoked old fashioned with spiked apple cider. Find the menu and order to-go here.
Trophy Brewing Scary Spirits - Check out Trophy Brewing's Halloween Cocktail menu on Morgan Street! Just a few featured here, "Witches Brew", "Headless Horseman", "Purple People Eater", and "Slasher Flick", check out the full list here! Only available through Halloween, get in here!
“Zomb-tea” From Budacai - Budacai is *dying* to introduce you to their new drink called the Zomb-tea! With flavors of honeydew and strawberry, this special drink is to die for! This drink will only be available until November 1st so come out and try it if you dare.
Spooky Shopping
DECO Raleigh Greeting Cards - Want to share the Halloween spirit? DECO Raleigh is selling Halloween-themed greeting cards for you to send to family or a friend. Check out their new online shop here.
The Green Monkey’s Halloween Room - Talk about Halloween fans! The Green Monkey has a whole room dedicated to Halloween items like pumpkin candles, spooky figurines, costume accessories, and more! Shop all their items here.
Marbles Corner Store Costumes - Need a new costume? Marbles Corner Store is selling Halloween costumes for kids. From ice princesses, astronauts, ballerinas, firefighters, and more, they have a variety of options for your little one! Shop in-store Wednesday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm or shop online.
Raleigh Vintage DIY Costumes - Looking for a cute throwback costume for Halloween this year? Raleigh Vintage is the perfect place to go thrifting for a DIY costume. View their items online here.
Horrifying Happenings
Dark Raleigh: A Walking Tour
Oct 29 & 30, 6:30 pm
Behind the history of Raleigh’s great statesmen and leaders lies a dark and troubled past. Our friends at the City of Raleigh Museum bring to life the stories of the Capital City’s tortured souls in Dark Raleigh, an "after hours" interactive walking tour. Why do you need ghosts when you have the real stories? Get ready for Halloween on this true death, true crime tour. Learn more and register here.
Ghouls Night In With NC Museum of Science
Oct 23, 6-9 pm
Save your candy and trick or treat with the big kids – Adult Night style. Put on your favorite costume and join the North Carolina Museum of Science for a night of virtual thrills and chills at Ghouls Night In! Discover nocturnal creatures (dead, alive, and possibly the living dead). Play Spooky Trivia and a horror howls edition of Name that Tune. Costumes or festive attire encouraged! You must be at least 21 years old to attend. See the full schedule here.
Halloween Chalk Art Walk
Oct 31, Around Downtown Raleigh
Grab a pumpkin latte and enjoy an autumn stroll downtown during the Halloween weekend. Discover murals of chalk art by celebrated local artists as you peruse your favorite haunts. Several works of art will be created, so you’ll be in for new treats (no tricks!) throughout the weekend. Mask up and check out the special sweet treats at nearby businesses. Chalk murals will be completed at 1:00 pm on Oct 31. Read more details here.
Halloween-Themed Moore Square Market
Oct 28, 3-6 pm
Join City of Raleigh and Downtown Raleigh Alliance for a spooky-themed Moore Square Market on October 28, 3 pm-6 pm. Vendors will be offering Halloween-themed desserts and products, pumpkins, and more. Throw on your costume and visit the market to be entered into a drawing for a Downtown Raleigh gift card. Stop by the market info booth to pick up a pre-packaged candy pack to enjoy and a decorating kit to glitz up your pumpkin at home (free while supplies last). Enjoy live music by Robert Thornhill while you stroll through the market. Be sure to wear a face-covering to the market, maintain 6ft or more between you and others while you visit, and wash/sanitize your hands frequently. See more about Moore Square Market here.
History and Highballs: Spirits of Oakwood
Oct 29, 7 pm
Join the NC Museum of History and Oakwood Cemetery’s Executive Director, Robin Simonton, on Thursday, October 29th at 7 pm for an adults-only “History & Highballs” and hear stories about some of the citizens who’ve been laid to rest in Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Downtown Raleigh. The special guest bartender will be Angela Salamanca, owner of Centro Mexican Restaurant and Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria. Register here! An email containing the Zoom link will be sent to all registrants an hour before the program.
Monster Madness at Marbles Kids Museum
Oct 21-Nov 1
Celebrate Halloween with not-so-scary decor and activities at Marbles Kids Museum, daily through November 1. Wear your costumes and celebrate the season with silly spooky twists throughout the museum-like Pumpkin Patch Play, Creature Seeker, Make-your-own-Monster, gobs of googly eyes, and an outdoor photo-op! Monster Madness is included in regular museum admission from October 21 through November 1. Timed-entry tickets are required! Visit the Marbles website today to schedule your visit and book your tickets.
Transfer Co. Food Hall Pop-Up Outdoor Halloween Market
Oct 31, 2pm-6pm
Mark your calendars for a socially-distant afternoon extravaganza of music, food, shopping, and spooky fun! Join Transfer Co. Food Hall Saturday, Oct 31, from 2 pm – 6 pm, as they welcome back Triangle Pop-Up for an outdoor shopping experience. With vendor booths 6+ feet apart, social distancing and mask-wearing required, hand sanitizer aplenty, and being entirely outdoors – it’s an eating, drinking, and *spooky* shopping opportunity you can feel good about! More info here.