Dying to scream this Halloween? 6 places in Wilmington to scare your socks off
![NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME...for the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington. With the early turn to darkness, the 6:30 p.m. start sets the scene well for many Port City scary tales on the downtown walk. It's a 90-minute tour, however, so maybe sleep in for 30 minutes to make up the difference. [CASEY PERRELL/FOR THE STARNEWS]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/tBa8.SrZnWjroYlW7y14cQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/star-news/b71d7df1cb87bde260a8158532851b57)
There are no shortage of frights in Wilmington -- from rumors of haunted mansions and houses and underground passageways to the many locally known ghosts, to being the film site to horror movie favorites such as Scream (2022) and Halloween Kills -- the Port City is filled with spookiness.
While many may be spending their Halloween trick-or-treating, costuming it up, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns or lighting a bonfire, this list of action is for those who seek to be sacred in the city long known as one of the "most haunted cities in the South."
Here are some of the best places to get a fright in Wilmington this Halloween.
Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington
No list of Wilmington's spooky side is complete without a journey though the area's many haunted homes and hotspots for ghostly encounters. The 90-minute tour takes teaches people about the city's haunted history and details more recent paranormal encounters on the tour.
WHEN AND WHERE:
8 Market St., meet in front of the Ghost Walk sign on Market and Water Streets
March 1 to Oct. 31 starting 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
LEARN MORE: Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington
Phobia Haunted Trail
This interactive haunted trail in the Leland woods is on its 5th season of live scares and this year features Dr. Von Witz, who will test guests to face their fears in order to make it out in one piece.
WHEN AND WHERE:
2859 Maco Road NE, Leland, NC
Open Fri, Sat, Sun until Nov. 6, from 8pm to Midnight
LEARN MORE: Phobia Haunted Trail
Grissettown Haunted Trail
This Brunswick County haunted trail may seem a little out of the way, but its for a good cause. All the actors providing scares are firefighters and community volunteers, and the money raised will help fund the fire department.
WHEN AND WHERE:
758 Longwood Road, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Every Fri, Sat and Halloween, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
LEARN MORE: Grissettown Haunted Trail
The Haunted Pub Crawl
For the scare-seekers who are of age, there's no better way to learn the spooky history of Wilmington while having a brew than on the Haunted Pub Crawl. Drinks are not included or required on the over two hour excursion -- so even those who don't imbibe can enjoy.
WHEN AND WHERE:
8 Market St., meet in front of the Ghost Walk sign on Market and Water Streets
Wed thru Sat at 7:30 p.m. and starting Nov., Fri and Sat at 7:30 p.m.
LEARN MORE: Haunted Pub Crawl
USS Battleship North Carolina Ghost Hunt
This overnight ghost hunt experience allows intrepid spook seekers to access normally off limit areas to search for spirits on one of the most haunted battleships in the country.
WHEN AND WHERE:
1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington, NC
Oct. 28, 29 - 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.
LEARN MORE: Battleship Ghost Hunt
Goosebumps in the Grove
Enjoy a more family-friendly Halloween event at this two-day gift show and carnival at the Poplar Grove Plantation. The event features vendors, food trucks, carnival games and a haunted mansion.
WHEN AND WHERE:
10200 US Highway 17, Wilmington, NC
Sat, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
LEARN MORE: Goosebumps in the Grove
Reporter John Orona can be reached at 910-343-2327 or jorona@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Best places to get a scare in Wilmington this Halloween
