Cover Photo courtesy of Linzy Laird

Whether Halloween to you is all about the costumes and candy or you choose to err on the side of terror, Columbia SC is prepared to offer both tricks and treats this spooky season.

Pumpkin Picking at Clinton Sease Farm

First thing’s first. If you’re going to celebrate Halloween, you need to be equipped with the proper tools. Finding the perfect pumpkins for you and your family is a must and while you’re at it, you may as well make a day out of it! Hop on a hayride, see if you’re up to the corn maze challenge and cozy up to the campfire.

 

Deceased Farm

Discover what goes bump in the night as you work your way through the region’s most immersive Halloween horror experience. Not for the faint of heart, you’ll face your greatest fears through a 3-D nightmare, a monster-laden farm and 2 acres of terrifying cornfields where you never know what may be waiting for you around each corner. Wait for your hands to stop trembling before you wind down with a game of zombie paintball, some s’mores around the coffin fire pit or a refreshing “Deceased Brew.” 

 

Scarecrows in the Garden

Stroll through the grounds of the Robert Mills House & Gardens to see the friendly faces in Historic Columbia’s annual Scarecrows in the Garden exhibit. Some have even been designed by local artists and you can vote on your favorites!

 

Spirits Alive!

Is it the chill in the air that’s sending a shiver down your spine… or is it something else? Let your costumed tour guide lead you through the gravestones at Elmwood Cemetery for an eerie moonlit visit with the dead. You’ll learn about Columbia’s peculiar past and trust us, you’re going to want to make sure you have a flashlight handy.

 

Boo at the Zoo

At Halloween, it’s not the animals who rule the night at Riverbanks Zoo – your little ghosts and goblins do! Take them along the Trick-or-Treat Trail or aboard the Spooky Spots & Stripes Railroad. It’ll be all laughs at Frankenstein’s Foam Zone and Mummy’s Eeky Freaky Dance Party. End the night with a Spooky Safari and a Marshmallow Roast to ensure a Halloween your family will never forget.

 

Growl at the Moon

Give your Halloween costume a test run at South Carolina State Museum for an evening of live music, food and craft beer. Guests will have access to The Wizard of Oz 4-D Experience, a rock and roll laser show in the planetarium and night sky observing in the Boeing Observatory throughout the night. Don’t leave without a full growler of beer to take home with you!

 

Scary Movies at the Nickelodeon Theatre

What’s Halloween without watching at least one scary movie? Nickelodeon Theatre has you covered with a viewing of the Mary Shelley classic "Frankenstein" and the ultimate scary movie "Halloween." Grab some popcorn, a beer or wine and settle in for some chills + thrills. 

 

Columbia City Ballet Presents “Dracula: Ballet with a Bite”

Get sucked into the hypnotizing story and dancing of “Dracula: Ballet with a Bite.” The haunting show follows Count Dracula and his Brides of Darkness as they pull Transylvania and the audience into their trance. You’ll definitely get in the Halloween spirit and maybe even come away with some last-minute costume inspiration.

 

Halloween Hoopla

Is there anything sweeter than trick-or-treating with the little ones? Take them door-to-door at EdVenture for a fun and safe experience. Then, burn out their sugar rush by smashing some pumpkins or toying with the slime machine.

 

Looking for more fall events in Columbia SC? Check out our calendar of events