The Most Popular Halloween Candy in North Carolina Might Be A Surprise

The spooky season is here, which means it's time to indulge your sweet tooth with some tasty Halloween candy! A new study from CandyStore.com lists the favorite trick-or-treat sweets of every U.S. state, with some surprising results. Which Halloween candy is the favorite in North Carolina? Let's take a look!

CandyStore conducted this study by reviewing candy purchases state-by-state from the past 16 years, with a special focus on the months leading up to Halloween. And as expected, the results are fairly scattered. This year, North Carolinians have a Halloween hankerin' for M&M's! Last year's top candy for the Tarheel state, Reese's Cups, came in 2nd place, followed by Hershey's Mini Bars in 3rd.

North Carolina isn't the only state to crave those sweet chocolatey morsels. California, Kansas, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont all have M&M's at the top of their Halloween shopping list as well. Personally, I prefer chocolates in my trick-or-treat bucket more than fruity or sour candies so I'm happy to see so many other states agree with us! (Side note: don't ask me why I'm still trick-or-treating at almost 30 years old. Mind your business.)

M&M's tied Sour Patch Kids for the highest number of states in which they're #1. But in terms of pure sales figures, Reese's Cups still dominate the market as they have for years. However, the study suggests that M&M's may usurp the top sales spot sooner rather than later.

But overall sales for Halloween are set to skyrocket this year as a whole. According to the National Retail Federation, total spending for the spooky season is predicted to exceed $12 billion, which blows previous years' sales out of the water. This is great news for North Carolina Halloween fans and candy fans alike. So this Halloween season have fun filling up on M&M's, North Carolina!

Oh, and for the record, the #1 candy in Utah is candy corn. So, you know, don't go to Utah...

National Ghost Hunting Day is an annual event that takes place on the last Saturday of September. So how are you going to celebrate here in North Carolina? By visiting the most haunted places in the state of course.

It was created to celebrate the thrill of investigating haunted locations, the unexplained, and searching for evidence of the afterlife. Kind of like when you are cleaning your teenager's bedroom. Believe it or not, the first National Ghost Hunting Day was celebrated in 2016! On National Ghost Hunting Day, paranormal teams from around the world come together to embark on the world's largest ghost hunt. The event is an annual international investigation of the paranormal.

Ghost hunting stirs up images of abandoned buildings, dark corners, and things that go bump in the night. It embraces history while breaking open the supernatural and seeking to solve the mystery of the unknown.

To celebrate National Ghost Hunting Day, many people visit haunted locations and participate in ghost hunts. Some popular places to visit include the Wildwood Sanitarium in Salamanca, New York
and the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, North Carolina is no slouch when it comes to haunted happenings! National Ghost Hunting Day sounds like the perfect opportunity for a teambuilding fieldtrip or ghostly ghouls night out!

North Carolina is known for its mysterious mountains and eerie marshes, which set the perfect stage for spine-tingling tales of the paranormal.

Now, before you set off on this ghostly adventure, you might want some gear to track what you experience. No, I'm not talking about proton packs, young Egon (as cool as that would be!) Our friends over on TikTok have some great recommendations on what you may want to have in your arsenal of ghost hunting fun:

There you have it! Mark your calendars for September 30th, gather up some friends, steady your nerves and have some ghost-hunting good times!

Here are some of the most haunted places in North Carolina:

The Biltmore Estate is a popular tourist attraction and is also known for being one of the most haunted places in North Carolina. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions, hearing strange noises, and feeling cold spots throughout the estate.

Lydia's Bridge is a popular spot for ghost hunters. Legend has it that Lydia was a hitchhiker who died in a car accident on the bridge. Her ghost is said to haunt the area, and people have reported seeing her apparition and hearing strange noises.

The New Hanover County Library is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who was a patron. Her apparition has been seen over the years, and people have reported hearing footsteps and seeing books move. A ghost after my own book loving heart!

The Omni Grove Park Inn is another popular tourist attraction that is also known for being haunted. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions, hearing strange noises, and feeling cold spots throughout the hotel.

The Brown Mountain Lights are a mysterious phenomenon that has been observed for centuries. The lights are said to be the ghosts of Cherokee Indians who died in a battle on the mountain.

The Haunted Duke Mansion is said to be haunted by the ghost of James Buchanan Duke, who developed Duke University, Duke Energy, and the Duke Endowment while residing there. Visitors have reported seeing his apparition and hearing strange noises.

 Brunswick Town is a colonial ghost town that was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions and hearing strange noises throughout the ruins.

Roanoke Island is known for its mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Colony in 1590. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions and hearing strange noises throughout the island.