A familiar chill will be descending upon Carowinds when SCarowinds returns this fall with all-new scares that will bring guests’ worst nightmares and unimaginable horrors to life. This year, guests will come face to face with their fears – and up to 300 monsters nightly – as they brave the park’s 16 tantalizing experiences, including seven spine-chilling scare zones, five mazes, and four ominous shows. SCarowinds returns for 19 terrifying nights from Friday, September 16 to Sunday, October 30.
SCarowinds will take visitors on a frightening journey through Paranormal Inc., a new maze offering interactive storylines, branching paths, and aerial stunts as visitors team up with the ghostbusting heroes from the fictional television show of the same name. Only the bravest will venture inside the Hayden Hill Sanitarium to investigate where patients have been tortured for decades by deranged doctors. The evil medical staff prowls the halls looking for new patients, and the demonic spirits of their victims haunt the sanitarium.
All-new scare zones will taunt and torment guests as they navigate the darkness from one terrifying maze to the next, including The Harlequin Club, where guests enter the world of a twisted traveling troupe of cringe-worthy circus folk and sinister sideshow acts, and Tricksters, where guests do not want to knock on any of the doors on this street. In addition to the debut of Paranormal Inc., SCarowinds will unveil a gruesome lineup of new shows including Heads Will Roll, The Lost Souls, and The Mane Stage.
These new haunting experiences add to the exciting repertoire of returning scares that include mazes (Depths of Darkness, Silver Scream Studios, SlaughterHouse, and ToothFairy), scare zones (Blood Yard, GraveWalkers, Outlaw’s Revenge, Ripper Alley, and The Hollow) and the Bagpipe and Drum Show.
Located in the Celebration Plaza area of Carowinds, the park will open the Evil Emporium, an immersive retail location dedicated to SCarowinds. Open during operating hours, the Evil Emporium gives guests the opportunity to take home specialty SCarowinds-themed merchandise.
Specialized foods and specialty adult beverages have been created by the executive chef, John Loukas, and his culinary teams to further enhance the already immersive experience. Guests also can revel at select attractions open during SCarowinds and can enjoy exclusive photo opportunities.
SCarowinds Admission:
Nightly Admission: Buy tickets at Carowinds.com and save up to $40 off the front gate general admission price.
Discounted military admission tickets may be purchased by eligible service members.
Season Pass Bring-A-Friend SCarowinds admission tickets are available online on select days for as low as $34.99.
Fast Lane and Fright Lane: Ride and scream all night long with priority access to all mazes as well as unlimited boarding on all Fast Lane attractions. Fright & Fast Lane starts as low as $89 and varies by night. Separate SCarowinds park admission is required and not included.
SCarowinds has welcomed millions of visitors for 21 years and has become the Carolinas’ premier Halloween event. SCarowinds is open from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of entertainment during the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. For the full calendar and operating hours, visit Carowinds.com.
To increase safety and provide efficient entry into the park during the SCarowinds event, guests will be asked to adhere to the policy which states that no bags of any kind larger than 6.5” x 4.5” x 2” may be brought into the park after 7:00 p.m. ET on SCarowinds event nights. All bags will be subject to search.
The Great Pumpkin Fest Returns to Carowinds
This fall, ghosts and ghouls of all ages are invited to don their favorite costumes and celebrate during Carowinds’ The Great Pumpkin Fest. Taking place on select days from September 17 through October 30, this special event, with just a speck of spooky, is available during park operating hours from noon to 5:00 p.m. ET.
The Great Pumpkin Fest attendees will encounter family-friendly and event-exclusive entertainment can celebrate the season alongside the PEANUTS Gang and can discover sweet and savory menu items inspired by fall flavors and the Halloween season.
Spooky fun for the whole family will include:
Shows: Bluegrass JamBOOree, Monster Bash Band (new), The Cauldron Crew (new), The Monsters Are Coming Charlie Brown, The No Bones Band (new), The Pumpkin Patches (new), The Sidekicks (new), and Whistlin’ Willie’s Western Wake
Activities: Linus’ Pumpkin Patch, Lucy’s Mummy Pit, Peppermint Patty’s Hay Bale Maze, Sally’s Crafts, Trick or Treat Trail, and Woodstock’s Kookie Corn Maze
2023 Gold Season Passes are available for the lowest price of the year and include unlimited visits this year and next, free season-long parking, unlimited visits to Carolina Harbor Waterpark, admission to seasonal events like SCarowinds and The Great Pumpkin Fest, discounts on meals and merchandise, and Bring-A-Friend discount offers.
Carowinds continues to hire 450 seasonal associates, with hourly wages starting at $15. Job opportunities are available in all park operating areas, including in food and beverage, safety and security, SCarowinds character talent, ride operations, and more. Carowinds offers flexible schedules, reward and recognition programs, and many perks for its associates including discounts, exclusive events, and free admission to any Cedar Fair park.
On Wednesday, September 14, Carowinds will host an in-person hiring event from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET at the Carowinds’ employment office located at 14523 Carowinds Boulevard, Charlotte, N.C. 28273.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @iamcg83