Halloween events in Durham 2026

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates and times come from the organizers and from the event listings of Discover Durham, the county’s visitors bureau, and the Downtown Durham calendar.

Halloween 2026 is past. Halloween week in Durham ran from the city’s free Trunk or Treat on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science on Saturday, Oct. 31. Halloween falls on a Saturday, so the parties fill the whole weekend. For what time to go door to door, see our trick-or-treat hours page.

Updated Nov. 3: every event on this page has now taken place; we will post the 2027 dates each fall.

Who to call

• Durham Parks and Recreation events: 919-560-4355; weather line 919-560-4636, then 8
• Museum of Life and Science: 919-220-5429
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Emergency: 911

At a glance

City parks Trunk or Treat

Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Holton Career and Resource Center, 401 N. Driver St. Durham Parks and Recreation announced its annual trunk-or-treat, with businesses, groups and neighbors decorating cars and handing out treats, in a fall events notice we read Oct. 11. The notice is no longer on the department’s website, and we found no change of date. Call 919-560-4355 to confirm before you go, and the weather line, 919-560-4636 then 8, if it rains.

Museum of Life and Science

The museum at 433 W. Murray Ave. has two Halloween dates left:

• AfterHours: Science of Fear, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. A 21-and-over night in costume, with spooky crafts, games, talks on the biology of fear and food and drink samples (tickets).
• BooFest, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Trick-or-treat challenges on the second floor, pumpkins popped in Gateway Park, a costume catwalk and a spooky craft studio, included with admission ($24; members free) (BooFest page).

For families

From the Downtown Durham calendar and the organizers:

• Halloween Storytime on the Roof, 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at The Durham Hotel, 315 E. Chapel Hill St.
• Family-friendly Halloween party, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Thursday, Oct. 29, at the train car and patio on the American Tobacco Campus. Lutra Cafe and Bakery and Ment Beverage host free pumpkin carving and ghost paperweight-making (listing).
• Bull City Boo Bash, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Aloft Durham Downtown, 345 Blackwell St.: costume prizes, a vendor market and a community candy trail. Pets are welcome (listing).
• The Great British Bike Off, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St. Ton Up North Carolina’s free vintage British motorcycle show, with a swap meet, food, music, horror movies and a bonfire.
• Halloween Pet Costume Party, 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Ment Beverage Co., 312 Blackwell St.; free.

For adults

• The Magician, Rex Ingram’s 1926 silent horror film with an original live score by Andy Stack, Kelly Pratt and Tim Mislock, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St.
• Costume Silent Disco, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Nasher Museum of Art, 2001 Campus Drive.
• Witches Night Out on the Roof, 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at The Durham Hotel.
• Halloweekend at The Velvet Hippo, Friday and Saturday nights, Oct. 30-31.
• Halloween Drag Brunch, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Counting House in the 21c Museum Hotel, 111 N. Corcoran St.
• Halloween night parties on Saturday, Oct. 31: Mystic Farm & Distillery’s costume party and haunted trail from 7 p.m. at 1413 Stallings Road, and ghost walks and a true crime walking tour downtown ($15) on the Downtown Durham calendar.

Already past

Fright Night (Oct. 16), Bull City BOOs Fest (Oct. 17), the Spookeasy at Mystic Farm (Oct. 23), Hellathon ‘26 (Oct. 23-24), Rocky Horror at The Blue Note Grill (Oct. 24) and Pumpkin Patch Express (through Oct. 25) have all run for 2026.

What this means for you

• Free with small children: the city’s Trunk or Treat on Oct. 28, the American Tobacco Campus party Oct. 28-29 and the pet costume party on Oct. 31.
• Book ahead: AfterHours sells tickets that sell out.
• Downtown parking is tight on Halloween night; see getting around for the decks and road closures before you drive.

Hosting a trunk-or-treat at a church, school or business? Send the details through our contact page and we will add it. More: things to do this weekend and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What Halloween events are in Durham this week?

The city’s Trunk or Treat is 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Holton Career and Resource Center; a free family party runs Oct. 28 and 29 on the American Tobacco Campus; AfterHours for adults is Oct. 29; and BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science is Saturday, Oct. 31.

Is there a free trunk-or-treat in Durham?

Durham Parks and Recreation announced its annual Trunk or Treat for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 401 N. Driver St. The notice has come off the department’s website, so call 919-560-4355 to confirm.

When is BooFest at the Museum of Life and Science?

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is included with museum admission, which the museum lists at $24; members get in free.

What is there for adults on Halloween in Durham?

AfterHours: Science of Fear (21 and over) is 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Museum of Life and Science. On Saturday, Oct. 31, Mystic Farm & Distillery holds its costume party and haunted trail from 7 p.m.

What are the trick-or-treat hours in Durham?

The City of Durham does not set official hours. Our trick-or-treat hours page has the details for Saturday, Oct. 31.