SCarowinds is the after-dark Halloween event at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2026 it runs on select nights from September 11 through November 1, so check the park calendar for the exact operating days. Scare zones, live shows and rides are part of the evening, and the haunted mazes are sold separately. The headline addition for 2026 is Jason: Blood Reign, a maze themed to Friday the 13th, along with three new scare zones and four new shows.
The event suits teens and adults who want mazes, scare actors and coaster rides after dark. The park does not recommend it for children under 13, and every guest needs their own paid ticket. Families with younger kids have a separate daytime option, Tricks and Treats, which runs on weekend days before the scares begin. Park admission covers the scare zones and shows. Mazes need a Haunted Attractions Pass or a bundle.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Dates: Select nights, September 11 to November 1, 2026
- Event nights: Select nights (check the park calendar)
- Haunted houses: 5 mazes, plus The Conjuring: Beyond Fear as a separate experience
- Scare zones: 5
- New for 2026: Jason: Blood Reign maze
- Ticket: Park admission plus a separate Haunted Attractions Pass for mazes
What’s new for 2026
Jason: Blood Reign is the new maze. It is a Friday the 13th experience set in the dark woods around a summer camp. The official event page lists it under immersive experiences, while other event guides count it as the fifth maze, so it is best to treat it as part of the maze lineup.
Three scare zones are new: Carnevil – Midway of Mayhem, Lost Souls and Restricted. Coverage from Haunted Attraction Network describes Carnevil as a clown-themed zone, Lost Souls as a cult story and Restricted as a 1959 government weapons test. Four shows are also new: The Resurgence, Blade Drummers: The Sacrifice, Sinister Slide Squad and Incantations with the Enchantress.
Haunted houses and scare zones
The returning mazes are Paranormal Inc., Slaughterhouse, Silver Scream Studios: Director’s Cut and The Toothfairy. Jason: Blood Reign joins them this year. The Conjuring: Beyond Fear is a separate walkthrough set in the world of the Conjuring films, where guests act as paranormal investigators. It is priced apart from the maze pass and uses its own reservation.
The scare zones are Carnevil, Lost Souls, Restricted, The Hollow and Grave Garden. These are open to anyone with park admission, and they are generally milder than the mazes. Six live shows round out the evening. The returning ones are The Spectral Sisters and Wake the Dead.
Daytime and family activities
Tricks and Treats is the family option. It runs on select days from September 12 through November 1, and Amusement Today reports it as Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The activities include a trick-or-treat trail through Crossroads, a costume contest at Camp Snoopy, a pumpkin patch, Mask Maker’s Mash, the Phantom Foam Pit, a Skelebration Dance Party, a new comedy troupe called Clean Up Crew, The Spectral Sisters and PEANUTS meet and greets. The park describes it as all fun and no fear.
SCarowinds itself starts in the evening. Event guides give start times of about 6 or 7 p.m., and some list the mazes as opening around 7 p.m. Hours differ by night, so confirm the day you plan to visit.
Tickets, passes and Fast Lane
Regular park admission includes the scare zones, shows and rides. The official page lists SCarowinds bundles, which combine admission and mazes, from $55, and a Haunted Attractions Pass alone from $10. Processing fees of up to $9.99 plus tax apply. Attractions Magazine reports that the maze pass price varies by night and that The Conjuring costs a separate $15 to $25. Prices change with demand, so check the checkout page for your date.
Fast Lane passes are sold through the park’s event pages and start at $45, according to the Tricks and Treats page. Season passholders can add the maze pass, and Attractions Magazine lists an all-season maze pass at $49. Buy online through the Carowinds site, which now sits under the Six Flags domain.
Tips for your visit
Choose your night with the calendar in hand. Weekend nights are usually the busiest, so consider a Friday or Sunday if the schedule allows. Arrive early enough to ride the coasters, Fury 325 among them, before you spend time in maze lines.
Plan for changing October weather with a layer and comfortable closed shoes. The park recommends that children under 13 skip the event, so use Tricks and Treats for younger kids. Guests who want fewer scare actor encounters can buy the No Boo! necklace, listed at $19 by Attractions Magazine. Give parking and gate lines extra time on peak nights.
Explore more: every theme park Halloween event for 2026, by state.
SCarowinds presented by SNICKERS at Carowinds FAQs
When does SCarowinds 2026 start and end?
SCarowinds 2026 runs on select nights from September 11 through November 1, 2026. Operating days and hours vary, so check the Carowinds calendar before you buy.
Is SCarowinds included with park admission?
Partly. Park admission covers the scare zones, live shows and rides during the event. The haunted mazes need a separate Haunted Attractions Pass or a bundle, and The Conjuring: Beyond Fear is sold separately.
Is SCarowinds too scary for kids?
Carowinds does not recommend it for children under 13. Younger children are better suited to the daytime Tricks and Treats event, which runs on select days from September 12 through November 1 and has no scare content.
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Photo: Floppersop / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.