Carowinds Seasonal Events: What to Know Before You Go
Overview: Carowinds' Event Calendar
Carowinds runs a standard operating season from spring through fall, plus two major overlay events that extend the year. SCarowinds is the Halloween event (September through October) and WinterFest runs through the holiday season (late November through early January). Both events are included with general park admission as far as park entry goes, but some elements cost extra.
The park also debuted two new events in 2025. Here's what each delivers.
SCarowinds (Halloween)
Dates
SCarowinds runs select nights from mid-September through Halloween. In 2025, the schedule was:
- September 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28
- October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 23-26, 30, 31
These are evening events that typically start when the daytime park transitions, the park does not shut down for set-up. Hours vary by night; check the calendar before you go.
What's Included With Admission
SCarowinds admission (via your regular day ticket or season pass) gets you into the park and access to:
- All rides and coasters that operate during the event (a subset of the full ride lineup)
- Four outdoor scare zones spread across the park
- Ambient atmosphere, costumed actors, theming throughout the midway
The 2025 scare zones included Harvest Fear, The Hollow, plus two new additions: Glitch and Cleaver Brothers: Sideshow of Dreams.
What Costs Extra
Starting in 2025, haunted mazes require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass. This is a change from prior years when mazes were included with event admission, even season passholders must purchase the add-on.
- Haunted Attractions Pass, $10-$30 depending on the night. This covers all haunted mazes except The Conjuring.
- The Conjuring: Beyond Fear, $15-$25 separately. This is a 20-minute premium experience based on the film franchise. It's branded as a "SCREAMium" attraction where guests interact with scenes from the films and hunt cursed artifacts. Sold separately and not included with the Haunted Attractions Pass.
Buying tickets in advance for less-crowded nights saves money. Friday and Saturday peak nights cost more. A Tuesday in October on the lower end of those price ranges represents good value.
2025 Specific Additions
SCarowinds 2025 marked the event's 25th anniversary. New mazes included Defex 2.0 (industrial horror theme) and Silver Scream Studios: Director's Cut (a remixed version of a fan-favorite from earlier years). The Conjuring: Beyond Fear was the marquee addition and generated the most attention.
Crowd Impact
SCarowinds nights are busy, especially in October. October Saturdays at Carowinds are some of the highest-attendance nights of the year. The maze queues specifically can run 45-90 minutes on peak nights even with the Haunted Attractions Pass. If you're going for the mazes, arrive early in the evening and hit them before the main ride crowd arrives.
For guests who primarily want to ride coasters, SCarowinds dates offer the benefit of evening hours with the full ride lineup. Coaster wait times during SCarowinds evenings are not significantly worse than a standard weekend day.
WinterFest
Dates
WinterFest 2025 ran November 28, 2025 through January 3, 2026. Hours were 12-8 PM on most days, 12-9 PM on Saturdays. The event was separate from standard park operating hours.
What's Included
WinterFest is included with a valid season pass or a WinterFest day ticket (sold separately from a standard day ticket). The event features:
- More than 5 million lights across dozens of themed zones
- A curated set of 29 rides and attractions operating during the event, including Snoopy's Racing Railway
- Seasonal food and holiday-themed entertainment
- Christmas and holiday character experiences in Camp Snoopy
- Live shows and musical entertainment on select dates
What Makes It Worth Going
The light displays are the primary draw and they're genuinely impressive at scale. Families with young kids who go for the atmosphere rather than the coaster lineup tend to have the best experience. The event runs at lower capacity than peak summer days, which means shorter waits on operating attractions.
The Camp Snoopy area leans into the holiday theming heavily, character appearances with Snoopy and the Peanuts crew in holiday costumes are a WinterFest staple.
Crowd Impact
WinterFest draws significant crowds on Thanksgiving weekend, the week between Christmas and New Year's, and New Year's Eve. Non-holiday weeknights in December are the quietest. If you're going for the lights and atmosphere, a December weeknight is the best balance of experience and manageable crowds.
New 2025 Events
Carowinds debuted two new event concepts during the 2025 season. Specific details were announced in January 2025. The park has moved toward a fuller event calendar with Spring Haunt, summer concert nights, and other limited-run activations in addition to the two major anchor events. Check the Carowinds event calendar when planning a visit outside of the standard summer season, the event schedule fills dates that would otherwise be dark.
Ticket Tips for Seasonal Events
- Season passes typically include WinterFest and SCarowinds admission, but not the SCarowinds haunted maze add-on since 2025.
- Advance tickets for SCarowinds haunted mazes can sell out on peak nights. Buy before you go.
- WinterFest day tickets are sold separately and are not interchangeable with a standard admission ticket.
- The Carowinds app lists current event hours, which vary night by night during SCarowinds.
For how events affect wait times on specific days, the crowd guide has the breakdown.
Thoosie