Guide to The Great Pumpkin Fest 2023, Carowinds’ daytime Halloween event
The Great Pumpkin Fest 2023 transforms Carowinds into a lively hub of family-friendly Halloween daytime entertainment, including activities with Peanuts characters, a new parade, and even Dole Whip.
As Linus says while waiting for his hero in the pumpkin patch, there’s “nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see” at The Great Pumpkin Fest.
The Great Pumpkin Fest is perfect for families looking for a kid-friendly Halloween event in Charlotte — or grown-ups who prefer a fun-not-frightening autumn activity. And yes, kiddos are allowed (nay, encouraged) to attend in their Halloween costume.
The celebration runs Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29, 2023, at Carowinds. The event serves as a friendlier companion to Scarowinds, the park’s nighttime haunt, with Snoopy by day and scaries by night!
We checked out The Great Pumpkin Fest on its opening day of the season, Sept. 16, 2023.
New ‘Tricks and Treats Parade’
“Tricks and Treats Parade” is a new addition to The Great Pumpkin Fest for 2023. Carowinds has gradually introduced seasonal parades over the past few years and this one complements the calendar nicely along with the park’s summertime and holiday parades.
Stepping off each day of The Great Pumpkin Fest at 3:30 p.m. in the County Fair area, “Tricks and Treats Parade” travels through the North Carolina side of the park and ends near Intimidator. Along the way, it stops for party moments featuring favorite spooky songs like “Monster Mash.”
“Tricks and Treats Parade” utilizes many of the same floats as “Procession of Nightmares,” new this year for Scarowinds; however, the daytime version omits a float with a giant clown head (probably for the best.) The music and dancers in each production are completely different — peppy at The Great Pumpkin Fest; eerie at Scarowinds.
Both parades are great additions to their respective events. Space is often available along the parade route right up until showtime, but the most congested spot is near the park’s main plaza.
Camp Snoopy is Kids HQ for The Great Pumpkin Fest
Many of The Great Pumpkin Fest’s offerings appeal to kids and adults alike. However, the Camp Snoopy area is homebase for the event’s activities geared toward young children.
These include:
- The Cemetery, an assortment of pay-to-play carnival games (prize guaranteed!)
- Woodstock’s Kookie Corn Maze
- Peppermint Patty’s Hay Bale Maze
- Lucy’s Mummy Pit, a soapy, sudsy play area
Plus, Peanuts characters mingle with guests near the Snoopy fountain and kids can pick out their own pumpkin to take home next to Harmony Hall.
This year, Carowinds scaled back trick-or-treating in Camp Snoopy, but it’s for a good reason. Guests on the hunt for sweets should head to Plaza Stage right after the 3:30 p.m. parade. As a dance party commences, performers distribute “buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets” of candy, as Ryan Allen, the park’s director of live entertainment, put it.
Festive, Park-Wide Live Entertainment
Live entertainment is the star of The Great Pumpkin Fest. With four returning shows and the aforementioned new parade, families could easily spend their entire Carowinds visit enjoying the festival’s productions, without ever riding a single roller coaster, and have a great time. The fact that a skyline of coasters surrounds the park is just a bonus this time of year, and makes for a well-rounded day in the park.
At the open-air Camp Theater inside Camp Snoopy, “The Monsters Are Coming, Charlie Brown!” stars Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. If you’ve always wanted to see Snoopy do the “Thriller” dance, look no further.
On the stage inside Harmony Hall, “Whistlin’ Willie’s Wake” features live vocalists recounting in song the life and times of their dearly departed friend, Willie. The show makes for excellent entertainment while enjoying lunch at Harmony Hall, but anyone is welcome to grab a seat and watch. Jovial, humorous, and self-aware of its kitsch, “Whistlin’ Willie’s Wake” is spiritually reminiscent of Orlando’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue. Here for it.
Two music groups perform Halloween hits outdoors. In Blue Ridge Junction, The Monster Bash Band features singers named “Mariah Scarey” and “Billie Eyeless.” On the Harmony Hall patio, The Skele-Tones (known as The Pumpkin Patches in previous years) dress the part in fun, skeleton-inspired attire.
For showtimes, check the Carowinds app or scan the QR code on festival signage in the park.
Yes, They Have Dole Whip
The Great Pumpkin Fest and Scarowinds share a menu of autumn treats throughout the park. Walking tacos, Oktoberfest pizza, and a cotton candy turkey leg are among the season’s specialty items.
Carowinds also has its own Halloween Dole creation. Available at Shake Central near Kiddie Hawk, the “SCREAMcicle Shake” pairs vanilla ice cream with Orange Dole soft serve, topped with whipped cream and a Hersey’s Orange Blossom bar.
We’ll have more detailed coverage about Carowinds’ fall menu items later in the season, complete with recipes and insight from John Loukas, the park’s executive chef. In the meantime, check out the full list of what’s available and where to find it here.
Staying in the Park for Scarowinds
New for 2023, Carowinds allows daytime guests to remain in the park if they plan on staying for Scarowinds that evening. Formerly, those guests had to leave and come back.
With the new First In Fright procedure, guests can enjoy both The Great Pumpkin Fest and Scarowinds in one visit without exiting Carowinds. By 4:45 p.m., guests with valid Carowinds daytime and Scarowinds nighttime admission can enter a holding area and enjoy attractions in Aeronautica Landing until Scarowinds’ 7 p.m. start.
Read full details about First In Fright here.
Planning Your Visit to The Great Pumpkin Fest 2023 at Carowinds
The Great Pumpkin Fest takes place Saturdays and Sundays, now through Oct. 29, 2023. The festivities officially commence 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., but several offerings happen outside of those hours, including the headlining “Tricks and Treats Parade” at 3:30 p.m.
Speaking of, if you’re not planning on staying for the parade, exit the park before it begins. Once it takes to the streets, navigating your way out of the park can be cumbersome, with several pathways closed to foot traffic. (But the parade is awesome, just stay.)
The Great Pumpkin Fest is included with daytime Carowinds park admission. Daily tickets start at $39.99. Season passes for 2024 are now available, starting at $94. Guests who purchase a 2024 season pass will receive admission for the rest of 2023, including The Great Pumpkin Fest, for free. Passes of the gold tier (starting at $105) and above also receive admission to Scarowinds and WinterFest.
Tickets and season passes are available here.
The Great Pumpkin Fest digital park map is available here.
For tips on visiting the more sinister side of Carowinds’ spooky season, check out our 2023 guide to Scarowinds:
