UNC Charlotte Hosts Annual Haunted Union Event

Hundreds of students transformed the Popp Martin Student Union into a Halloween haunted house, dance floor, and gaming space.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in College Life

A red-brick university student union entrance at dusk, lined with glowing carved pumpkins and orange and purple string lights, with fallen autumn leaves on the walkway. — UNC Charlotte hosted its annual Haunted Union on October 29, 2026, drawing hundreds of students to the Popp Martin Student Union for a Halloween haunted house, dance floor, and gaming space. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

UNC Charlotte held its annual Haunted Union in the Popp Martin Student Union on October 29, 2026, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hundreds of students attended the Halloween event, hosted by the Campus Activity Board with the Center for Student Involvement.

Why it matters

The event gives students a campus-based Halloween option and reflects the university's ongoing effort to build community through student programming. Its continued annual presence since 2010 shows it has become an established part of campus life in Charlotte.

The event ran for three hours, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., on October 29, 2026, and has been held annually since 2010. A line dance on the first floor grew to more than 20 participants, while the exact total attendance was not reported.

The players

UNC Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public research university in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving a large undergraduate student body.

Center for Student Involvement

The Center for Student Involvement is the UNC Charlotte office that coordinates student organizations and campus engagement programs.

The details

Students moved through a haunted house in Room 340 featuring spider webs, fake blood, smoke machines, sound effects, and costumed scare actors. Additional attractions included a trick-or-treat station offering candy and coloring sheets, a gaming area with several TVs, and a karaoke room, with the gaming and karaoke rooms added this year.

2010: The Haunted Union was first held as an annual event.
October 29, 2026: The event ran from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Popp Martin Student Union.

Campus Tradition

The Haunted Union has run every year since 2010, and this year's addition of karaoke and gaming rooms extends the event beyond its original haunted house format. Its continuity shows how UNC Charlotte has built a recurring Halloween tradition around student programming in the Popp Martin Student Union.

Students at UNC Charlotte gained a free, on-campus Halloween activity with haunted house, games, and karaoke options. The event offers a low-cost way for students to socialize during the fall semester without leaving campus.

The takeaway

Campus events like the Haunted Union show how student organizations can build lasting traditions that bring people together. Students looking for low-cost social options can check their university's activity board for similar programming.