Foodie's Guide to Fall at Carowinds
Ashlyn Pecchio
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In 2024, Carowinds is set to host three exciting fall events, all included in the price of one ticket. Tricks and Treats and Oktoberfest will offer autumn-inspired fun for all ages, while a familiar chill will descend upon the park for SCarowinds, the Carolinas’ premier Halloween event.
Seasonal Specialties
Our culinary team has crafted specialized foods and specialty adult beverages to enhance your immersive experience during Tricks and Treats and SCarowinds. These new, limited-time menu offerings showcase the rich flavors of fall and the playful spirit of the spooky season.
Bewitching Bites
Indulge in savory, seasonal items throughout Carowinds, ranging from hearty meals for those with monstrous appetites to scrumptious snacks perfect for ghosts and ghouls. Satisfy your sweet tooth—or vampire fangs—with these sugary treats available around the park:
- Birria Eggrolls – A fun twist on a traditional eggroll with a non-traditional filling of Adobo braised beef and Monterey Jack cheese. Served with a flavorful au jus, cilantro, and onions. Available at Burrito Café.
- Bomb Pop Extremes Fire Cherry Ice Pop - Turn up the heat with a bold new twist on an iconic frozen treat. This ice pop starts with a punch of fiery heat, then gradually cools off for a sweet and fruity Cherry finish. It pairs sweet and heat, blazing colors, all in the iconic Bomb Pop® shape. Available at the Coca-Cola Marketplace in the Blood Yard scare zone.
- Buffalo Chicken Ranch Flatbread Pizza –Topped with buffalo chicken and a ranch drizzle. Available at Terminal A and Leonardo’s Hometown Italian Food.
- Diablo Pull Apart Bread – Jalapeño cheddar pull apart bread with a spicy ranch drizzle. Available at Blue Ridge Fixins.
- Fried Dino Egg – Breaded and deep-fried deviled eggs with bacon and green onions. Available at Terminal A.
- Witch’s Fingers Sandwich – Spicy chicken sandwich with habanero aioli. Available at Blue Ridge Country Kitchen.
- Zombie Brain Funnel Cake – Red velvet funnel cake topped with green apple filling and gummy worms. Available at Funnel Cake Emporium and World’s Greatest Funnel Cakes.
Screaming Shakes
The seasonal offerings at Shake Central are to die for. Enjoy these sweet treats all day and all night:
- Dr. Jeckle & Mr. Hyde Shake – Salted caramel milkshake topped with caramel-coated popcorn, peanuts, and a salted caramel drizzle.
- Boo-nilla Shake – White chocolate milkshake topped with vanilla cookie crumbles and crunchy banana chips.
Sinister Sips
Guests 21 years and older can enjoy a variety of limited-time adult beverages to stir up their spirits this fall during both Tricks and Treats and SCarowinds. Six specialty cocktails are available at the Blue Ridge Tavern bar and the Harmony Hall bar:
- From the Grave – Crawl out of the ground with this blend of Irish whiskey, green apple syrup, and Sprite® – garnished with black sugar and gummy worms.
- Full Moon Margarita – A midnight black concoction of tequila, triple sec, and sweet & sour, served with a Tajin rim.
- Red Rum Runner – A murderous concoction based on the classic rum tropical punch, garnished with a bloody Chamoy pineapple wedge.
- I Vant to Drink Your Blood – Bloody your cocktail with a strawberry puree syringe into a vodka, lemonade, and peach schnapps vampire concoction.
- Trick-or-Treat – Captain Morgan, vanilla syrup, pineapple, and sour mix.
For guests who prefer a non-alcoholic option, two zero proof cocktails are also available at the Blue Ridge Tavern bar and the Harmony Hall bar.
- Enchanted Elixir (zero proof cocktail) – A shimmering, color-changing mystery blend of blue curaçao, lemon, and Sprite®.
- Apple Pie (zero proof cocktail) – Apple cider, white grape juice, and apple butter syrup with a cinnamon sugar rim.
Additionally, one limited-time cocktail is available exclusively at the Blood Yard Bar. The Extreme Inferno Lemonade Cocktail is a reshfreshing vodka lemonade garnished with a sweet and spicy Bomb Pop Extremes Fire Cherry Ice Pop. This specialty beverage is also available "spirit-free."
Blood Bags
Sip on deliciously spooky Halloween “blood bag” cocktails, or try our mocktail versions, available at various locations throughout Carowinds this fall:
- Type A+ – A postive-ly delicious infusion of vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, cranberry, and grenadine.
- Type B- – Red wine infused with other fresh fruit flavors.
- Zombie Juice – Our better-than-brains concoction of granny smith apple syrup, pineapple juice, lemonade, and vodka.
- Witch’s Brew – A hexing concoction straight from the cauldron of blood orange syrup, sweet and sour, tequila, and shimmering edible glitter.
- Vampire’s Kiss (mocktail) – An immortal combination of lemonade, cherry syrup, vanilla, and haunting edible glitter to sink your teeth into
- Pixie Potion (mocktail) – Lemonade infused with blue raspberry and green apple, shimmering with edible glitter.
Signature Hand-Crafted Cocktails
The signature, hand-crafted cocktails at Terminal A have been given a terrifying twist for the fall season. Each cocktail is served in a souvenir Aeronautica Landing cup:
- After Midnight – Palmetto Apple Pie Moonshine, Jack Daniels Apple cider, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice.
- It’s Alive! – White Claw® Vodka, sour apple liquor, melon schnapps, and Minute Maid® Lemonade.
- Ferryman of Souls – Aviation gin, blue curaçao, pineapple, lime juice, simple syrup, and melon.
- Forbidden Fruit – Pimms No. 1, apple brandy, lemon juice, simple syrup, ANGOSTURA® bitters, and Peychaud's bitters.
- Medusa’s Madness – Coconut rum, mezcal, matcha tea, hot honey syrup, lime juice, orange bitters, and jalapeño slices.
- Wicked Tree – Woodford Reserve® Bourbon, maple syrup, orange slices, and orange bitters garnished with rosemary sprig.
Oktoberfest
The all-new Oktoberfest event will bring a taste of Germany’s world-famous festival to Carowinds. Guests will enjoy authentic German food and a wide selection of beer against a backdrop of family-friendly entertainment and activities.
German-Inspired Bites
Embrace the authentic flavors of Oktoberfest with these German favorites:
- Fried Potato – Mini potato cakes served with sour cream and apples. Available at the Oktoberfest tasting booth near the Cedar Creek VIP Lounge.
- German Nachos – A bed of potato chips topped with cheese sauce and currywurst. Available at the Oktoberfest tasting booth near Shake Central.
- Gingerbread Hearts – Fresh gingerbread cookies, an Oktoberfest staple. Available at the Harmony Hall bar.
- Honey Glazed Pork Wings – Sweet and crispy pork wings. Available at the Oktoberfest tasting booth near the entrance to Harmony Hall.
- Käsespätzle – Authentic German cheese spaetzle. Available at the Oktoberfest tasting booth near the entrance to Harmony Hall.
- Linzer Cookies – One large cookie with a sweet jam filling. Available at the Harmony Hall bar.
- Pretzel Necklace – A wearable snack item. Available at the Harmony Hall bar.
- Pretzel Nuggets – Bite-sized soft pretzels served with a side of warm cheese. Available at the Oktoberfest tasting booth near Shake Central.
- Sausages – Bratwurst or smoked sausage served on a warm bun. Available at the Oktoberfest tasting booth near the Cedar Creek VIP Lounge.
Brews
Prost! Raise a stein to our wide selection of beer, including imported German Oktoberfest offerings:
- Samuel Adams – Octoberfest
- Gilde – Oktoberfest (only available at Carowinds)
- Hofbräu München – Oktoberfest
- Hofbräu München – Original
- Paulaner München – Hefe-Weizen
- Paulaner München – Munich Lager
Experience all three of Carowinds’ fall events, including the delectable dining offerings, with a 2025 Gold Pass.