Lights. Camera. Killer Vacation!

Famous for both haunted sites and film and TV locations, Wilmington is a perfect getaway for the horror film enthusiasts. Classics such as “Firestarter,” “Silver Bullet,” “Maximum Overdrive” and “The Conjuring” filmed here and be on the lookout for recent productions including "Halloween Kills," "Scream" and "The Black Phone" to hit theaters soon. Find out more about Wilmington's famous film locations and embark on your own self-guided tour.

Stop in to the Museum of the Bizarre to see horror memorabilia and movie props like the "Halloween" Michael Myers mannequin and the Annabelle doll from "The Conjuring," along with frightful sights like shrunken heads and the Fort Fisher Mermaid.

Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington

Journey into the depths of old Wilmington on a 90-minute adventure to the city's most actively haunted homes and burial grounds. Listen to true ghostly occurrences told by professional storytellers and ghost hunters, including actual encounters during recent tours. This nationally acclaimed, award-winning tour has appeared on MTV, Haunted TAPS, the Discovery Channel, Learning Channel and History & Travel Channel and was named "One of America's Top 5 Tours" by USA Today and "Top 10 Tour in the U.S." by Trip Advisor. Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington is the perfect mix of history and haunts.

Schedule & Admission:

• Tours embark nightly. Check website for times.
• Adults: $17 | Seniors/Student/Military: $15
• Children 6 and under are free.
• Space is limited, and visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Haunted Pub Crawl 

For the 21+ ghouls, Wilmington and its island beaches offer plenty of mischief just waiting to be discovered. Whether it be a haunted pub crawl or festive block party, get into costume and prepare to have some fun. Grab a pint or two as you adventure around the city’s most extraordinary pubs, hearing true ghostly and grizzly tales of murder, mayhem, love, lunacy, humor, debauchery and more. Haunted Pub Crawls is available year-round.

Schedule and Admission:

• Available Wednesday-Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m.
• Tickets are $22.50 plus tax; drinks and tips are not included.
• Space is limited, and visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

Poplar Grove's Paranormal Ghost Tours 

Join a guided tour at the Poplar Grove Plantation to chance a visit from spirits in and around the Manor House. Deceased members of the Foy family still make their presence known in particular rooms of the house. Then, bring the whole family for a frighteningly fun time at GooseBumps in the Grove Oct. 30-31. This kid-friendly event will feature food trucks, tricks and treats, carnival games and more.

Schedule & Admission:

• Ghost Tours are available each Friday in October at 8 and 9 p.m.
• Tickets are $15

Halloween Carriage Ride

Dress up the children for an entertaining evening where even the horses are in costume. Giddyup and enjoy a fun ride through the Historic District in downtown Wilmington on a Halloween Ghost Trolley Ride, where costumed drivers tell ghost stories tailored for young audiences.

Schedule & Admission:

• Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31 with tours leaving between 6-9 p.m.
• Adult: $14 | Children under 12: $6
• Free treats will be provided for the children.
• Advanced registration is required. 

Haunted Battleship NORTH CAROLINA

The most decorated battleship of WWII is destined to have some lingering souls, so it's no wonder the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA was ranked as a Top 25 Halloween pick of all time by Syfy network’s "Ghost Hunters." Unexplained voices, disembodied footsteps and hatches that move on their own are just a few of the sightings reported. Step aboard for a self-guided tour and dive into this important piece of maritime history or spend an evening investigating the paranormal activities aboard the ship with Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Ghost Hunt USA.

Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour

Learn the history and haunts of one of Wilmington's most paranormal locations. In use since the Civil War, the Cotton Exchange was one of the largest cotton export companies in the 19th century. Today, it is home to 30 specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants - but things still go bump in the night. Tour up the stairs, down alleyways and through courtyards of the eight interconnected buildings and hear their haunting history. Don't forget to bring your camera, people are always capturing strange things on the Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour. 

Schedule & Admission:

• The Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour is on-demand, call to schedule your tour at (910) 409-4300
• Adults (ages 13+): $12, Kids (ages 5 to 12): $5, Kids under 5: Free, Single Travelers for private tour: $25

Where the Dead Rest

Both Bellevue Cemetery and St. James Parish were listed on Fox News Travel's List of "Spookiest Cemeteries in the U.S." As you wander through St. James, look for the grave of Samuel Jocelyn Jr., who was buried alive and tried to claw his way out of his grave. Jocelyn's story is feature on the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, but make sure and ask to hear the full story, as tours vary nightly. Bellevue Cemetery appeared in the locally-filmed FOX Television series "Sleepy Hollow" and while enchanting during the day, seems fit for a headless horseman by night.

Schedule & Admission:

• Download the St. James Cemetery Self-Guided Walking Tour
• Bellevue Cemetery is open between 8 a.m. & 5 p.m. daily for a self-guided tour
• Free Admission

Places to Stay

Pair your scare with a stay at the Graystone Inn and walk the grand staircase, a setting used in the Wilmington-filmed Stephen King movie "Cat's Eye," or relax in the library or dining room, used as a set for the FOX Television series "Sleepy Hollow." With a variety of historic inns and period bed and breakfasts to choose from that often embody the spirit of the holiday, plan your stay in a location fit for a Halloween vacation.