Tricks and Tips for Your Trip to SCarowinds from Insider Courtney Weber

The best time of year is here! Fall in Charlotte: The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and I can sit outside and enjoy a nice meal. Plus – it's spooky season! Let the costumes and creativity run wild and come visit SCarowinds at Carowinds to have a scary good time now through Oct. 27. I have all the details you need.

SCarowinds highlights

New in 2024 

• Lobotomy’s Oddities: Circus of Madness: This new scare zone features Bob Lobotomy, SCarowinds' demented ringmaster, showcasing his bizarre collection of oddities. 
• Wake the Dead: A Murder Mystery Musical: An interactive murder mystery in the Carowinds Theater, where guests decide who’s guilty. With different endings at each performance, it’s perfect for repeat visits. 
• Tricks and Treats: Though it's not part of SCarowinds, I’m so excited for this one! It’s a family-friendly daytime Halloween event with pumpkin patches, live entertainment, a parade and delicious fall foods.
• Oktoberfest: Another daytime, non-SCarowinds event, Oktoberfest offers authentic German food, beer and fun activities. It runs through Nov. 2.

My favorites

• Mazes: Either Slaughterhouse or Paranormal Inc. 
• Food and drink items: the Buffalo Chicken Ranch Flatbread Pizza and the Diablo Pull Apart Bread. Our Halloween-themed "blood bag" cocktails or mocktails available throughout the park are also really fun. 

Insider tips for SCarowinds

Do's 

• Purchase admission online: New in 2024, you can enjoy Tricks and Treats, Oktoberfest and SCarowinds with one admission ticket and seamlessly transition from day to night events. 
• Arrive Anytime: Since SCarowinds is no longer a separately ticketed event, you can arrive anytime. I recommend arriving around 3 p.m. to avoid traffic and enjoy Oktoberfest before the Tricks and Treats parade kicks off at 6 p.m. When night falls, SCarowinds opens. 
• Purchase Fright & Fast Lane to skip the line: This bundle lets you skip lines for mazes and rides, giving you more time to enjoy the event. 
• Purchase a No-Boo Necklace if you’re timid: Guests who want to enjoy SCarowinds without the scares can wear a No-Boo Necklace, which prevents monsters from frightening you (except in mazes).

Don'ts

• Arrive without a chaperone if underage: All guests 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone at least 21 years old starting at 4 p.m. One chaperone can accompany up to 10 guests. IDs will be required for entry. 
• Bring a bag: For safety and efficiency, bags are not allowed during SCarowinds. Guests may only bring a small medical bag, no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”. 
• Wear a costume or face paint: Costumes, masks and face paint are not allowed during SCarowinds – leave the scares to our talented staff! 

My other favorite Charlotte haunts: 

Charlotte’s great – I love the seasonal changes and the proximity to the lake, mountains or beach. It offers the benefits of a large city, including a world-class airport, while still maintaining a small-town charm. It’s such a vibrant city with no shortage of activities. This is just a small sampling of my favorites:

• Old-school entertainment: When I have out-of-town guests, I always take them to one of Charlotte’s old-school entertainment spots such as duckpin bowling or an arcade. I’m naturally competitive and love winning, whether it’s bowling or tackling one of Charlotte’s amazing escape rooms. 
• Plaza Midwood neighborhood: Charlotte also has some fantastic restaurants, offering everything from soul food to international cuisine, especially in locally owned neighborhood spots in Plaza.

Outside of fall, Carowinds offers more seasonal events and top-rated roller coasters, including Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster. Carolina Harbor, our 26-acre water park, boasts a wide variety of water slides, wave pools, play structures and a 3-acre children’s play area. If you want to stay on-site, Carowinds offers accommodations at Camp Wilderness and SpringHill Suites by Marriott. 

In 2025, Carowinds' Camp Snoopy will unveil two new family-friendly attractions as part of the largest investment in family attractions in the park's history: a family launch roller coaster and an interactive raft ride. So visit again in spring for more family fun!

For more Charlotte recos, insider Maggie Carpenter has the scoop on coffee and music.