Sponsored Content
Travel and Outdoors

Spells, spirits + spooky soirees: a recipe for fun in Winston-Salem this fall

From scenic hayrides to ghost tours, Winston-Salem is worth the trip this fall.

October 9, 2025 • 
Julia Pizzuto
Sponsored by
Photo 1: People dressed in costumes holding cocktail glasses up in a toast. Photo 2: A swing ride at a fair, lit up at night. Photo 3: Carved pumpkins glowing at night, with a fair visible in the background. Photo 4: Two women dressed in colonial attire walk across the grass between colorful houses, with fall leaves on the ground.

Winston-Salem serves up plenty of ways to celebrate the season.

Photos provided by Visit Winston-Salem

A city that’s been around since 1766 knows a thing or two about ghosts, and it’s just a quick, scenic drive away.

Winston-Salem is teeming with wickedly fun things to do this month. As a hot spot for history, local legends, and ghost tours, October is one of the best times to visit.

Here are our top picks for the whole family:

  • Old Salem Night Watchmen Tours | Friday, Oct. 17-Friday, Oct. 31 | Venture on a spine-tingling, lantern-lit journey through Old Salem’s original buildings
  • Pumpkin Pick Hayrides at Tanglewood | Available all October | Take a scenic hayride through Tanglewood Park to a pumpkin patch
  • Boo! At Bethabara | Saturday, Oct. 25 | Step into colonial Halloween at this historic park with spooky songs, stories, a magic show, and the chance to meet some “spirits” of Bethabara’s past
  • Ghoul Times at Kaleideum | Saturday, Oct. 25 | Join in for a family-friendly costume party, haunted obstacle course, rooftop dancing, science experiments, and trick-or-treating

20+ more October events

Read More
3 images showing people speaking at the front of a conference room with a large audience sitting and listening.
Sponsored
Look ahead with local leaders at this annual real estate event
Midtown Raleigh Alliance’s Real Estate Forum brings the community together over coffee, treats, and inspiring conversations.
Sponsored by
A rotating gif featuring: Photo 1: A woman and a child walk hand in hand on a sunny sidewalk. A chalkboard reads "Go Heels, Blue Cups" nearby. People bustle in the background. Photo 2: A musician in a bright orange cap and sunglasses sings into a microphone, playing an acoustic guitar under a blue canopy. Drummer and guitarist in the background. Photo 3: A family enjoys a sunny day on the grass by a historic mansion. A small child and man greet a dog, while a woman with sunglasses sits nearby, smiling. Photo 4: A person pours orange sauce over a plate of food featuring pulled pork, cornbread, rice, and greens at an outdoor event. Photo 5: A smiling couple takes a selfie on a rooftop overlooking a sunny urban street with trees, cars, and pedestrians below.
Sponsored
3 ways to get your fill of fall in Chapel Hill
Why settle for one fall festival when you can experience music, food, and art all season long?
Sponsored by
A rotating gif featuring: Photo 1: A woman and a child walk hand in hand on a sunny sidewalk. A chalkboard reads "Go Heels, Blue Cups" nearby. People bustle in the background. Photo 2: A musician in a bright orange cap and sunglasses sings into a microphone, playing an acoustic guitar under a blue canopy. Drummer and guitarist in the background. Photo 3: A family enjoys a sunny day on the grass by a historic mansion. A small child and man greet a dog, while a woman with sunglasses sits nearby, smiling. Photo 4: A person pours orange sauce over a plate of food featuring pulled pork, cornbread, rice, and greens at an outdoor event. Photo 5: A smiling couple takes a selfie on a rooftop overlooking a sunny urban street with trees, cars, and pedestrians below.
Sponsored
3 ways to get your fill of fall in Chapel Hill
Why settle for one fall festival when you can experience music, food, and art all season long?
Sponsored by
Load More