Best Halloween Events in New England
Curious about the Best Halloween Events in New England? Check out this spook-tacular collection of events to get you in the haunted Halloween spirit!
By Aimee Tucker|Aug 05 2021|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanNew England sure knows Halloween, and each year events and festivals throughout the region draw crowds in search of all things spooky, ranging from tricks and treats to horror and gore. While Salem, Massachusetts takes top honors each year with its packed calendar of Haunted Happenings, below are a few additional top picks for Biggest and Best Halloween Events in New England. We’ve gone with chills and thrills over terror, so if your taste runs towards the macabre (think Spooky World in Litchfield, NH or Field of Screams in West Greenwich, RI), consider this a starting point! Know of another spook-tacular event? Be sure to share it with us in the comments! Happy Haunting!
Best Halloween Events in New England | Updated for 2024
Roger Williams Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular | Providence, RI
September 27 – November 2, 2024
Wander among nearly 10,000 carved and lighted pumpkins (some with spectacular designs) displayed on the quarter-mile Wetlands Trail at the Roger Williams Zoo. On Thursday through Saturday nights, performers add to the festive environment and entertain the kids. Costumes encouraged!
Terror at Quassy | Middlebury, CT
TBD
Dare to visit spooky dungeons, misty walkways, zombie hospital, haunted cemetery, and more at this popular amusement park. Don’t miss the nightly-themed live performances at the Carousel Theatre stage.
Fright Fest at Six Flags New England | Agawam, MA
Select Nights, September 21 – October 27, 2024
Enjoy thrills by day, and fright by night as the park offers over 20 shows, attractions, and haunted areas along with their world-class rides. Special events include concerts, a trick-or-treat trail for kids, and an interactive comedy show.
ScrEEEmfest at Canobie Lake Park | Salem, NH
Weekends, September 21 – November 2, 2024
As night falls, the attractions turn spooky. Enjoy Canobie’s most popular rides plus live entertainment and five walk-through haunted attractions. Kid-friendly attractions include a Pumpkin Palace, petting zoo, and nightly Monster Parade.
Haunted Boston Ghost Tours | Boston, MA
Ongoing
Enjoy a lantern-lit 90-minute walking tour of Boston’s most historically haunted places led by a costumed professional. Hear chilling tales of Boston’s most famous ghosts and spooky sites, while learning more about the city’s rich past. This family-friendly tour is both entertaining and just the right amount of spine-chilling.
The Portsmouth Halloween Parade | Portsmouth, NH
October 31, 2024
This annual community-funded event, taking place on Halloween night in the seacoast city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, calls itself “a grassroots, all-inclusive celebration of community, creativity and free expression that walks, stalks, dances, trumpets and drums its way through downtown Portsmouth.”
What are your picks for the best Halloween events, ghost tours, or the best haunted houses in New England?
This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated.
SEE MORE:
5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England
Most Haunted Hotels in New England
Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts
I lived in Winooski Vermont for three years and I have to say that the states there far outshine doing Halloween than anywhere else I have ever lived, which is mostly in the northwest. I remember in 1995 seeing everyone in Burlington decorating for Halloween, the smells of apples in the air, the pumpkin patches, festivals and everyone’s enthusiasm. Though i moved from there over 20 years ago if hold a special place in my heart for autumn colors, friendly people and warm fresh apple cider. I miss you Yankee. Thanks for still being around.
One of the best Halloween adventures is in Pittsford, Vermont at the Pittsford Fire Department’s Haunted House.
This year’s activities take place October 18, 19, 25, and 26. Pittsford is a little north of Rutland and a little south of Brandon on State Route 7.
The house is located deep in the woods, down a dark roadway. You ride in on hay wagons … and … well … things happen all the way to the Haunted House. Then it gets really scary!
It starts at dusk … you should go.
How much is this activity?
What a great list! I also really love the Roger Williams Zoo’s Jack-o-lantern Spectacular. The whole evening was truly magical! Thank you for the mention of the Horror Film Festival–that one must have slipped past me last year.
Franklin County Pumpkinfest held in Turners Falls, MA, this Saturday October 18th. This is the 5th year of the Pumpkinfest, and every year surpasses the previous. Food, Music, Art, Fun and of course PUMPKINS. They offer free shuttling from 2-10pm from Turners High School, Sheffield Elementary School, AND new this year – you can also park in the Kuzmeskus/Travel Kuz lot on Main Road in Gill.
(https://www.facebook.com/pumpkinfest) ( http://www.turnersfallsriverculture.org/event-details/events/franklin-county-pumpkin-fest-2014.html)
Greetings,
Would like to know how and when to submit an entry for Halloween Events 2015. We have presented the Historic Ghost Tour of East Bridgewater Village for 6 years. My haunted antiques shop, Mrs. Swift’s & Moore Antiques, at 16 W. Union St. in East Bridgewater is located in an Old Masonic Hall, built in 1892. It was once a Funeral Parlor and is located in the Bridgewater Triangle. Our tour is a fully researched,2 1/2 walking tour through the streets and alleys of E. Bridgewater. There are 12 costumed characters and props including a viewing parlor and an embalming room used by David Ross Drake, who was an embalmer there years ago. The last half hour takes place in a cemetery where we tell the story of Francis Davis Millett, who went down on the Titanic, as well as the story of one of Lizzie Borden’s lawyers, who is buried there also. Our investigation team, M.A.P.S ( massachusettsareaparanormalsociety.com) has once again completed an awesome season for 2014. Thank you.
2019 and still going strong! This will be the 12th Annual Historic Ghost Tour of East Bridgewater Village. Join costumed characters who portray local residents of the past. It’s a 2 hour researched walking tour through the streets and alleys of East Bridgewater Village, which is located in the Bridgewater Triangle. My haunted Antiques Shop, Mrs. Swift’s & Moore Antiques is located in an Old Masonic Building which was built in 1892. The back room of my shop was once a Funeral Parlor. It’s a hauntingly delightful shop with a personality of its own. Much positive activity here! This year, the Historic Ghost Tour of East Bridgewater Village will be held on Fri. and Sat. evenings from Sept.27th through Nov.9th. Ages 14 and older. Presented by M.A.P.S. mapsparanormalteam.com
Hi Lorrie,
You can submit an event at any time using this link: yankeemagazine.com/submit-an-event
Thank you for this list! So much I did not know, like there’s a Six Flags in NE?!? Thanks 🙂
Hey Guys, Club Getaway in Kent CT is hosting two Halloween events that are going to be spook-tacular! We have our summer camp for Grown Ups all inclusive weekend for 21+ on October 7-9. Pumpkin carving, hayrides, ziplines, haunted houses, costume parties, and our Jets vs Giants touch football game.
We our opening up our doors to families October 10th for Columbus Day from 11-4. Spend the day as a family at the adventure park, hiking through the changing trees, or bobbing for apples in line for the hayride. Close out the day with an outdoor fall BBQ.
Check it all out at http://www.clubgetaway.com
I would like to recommend Haunted Overload in Lee, NH! the craft involved in this fantastic eerie village in the woods is phenomenal!
I HIGHLY recommend “Fortress of Nightmares” – celebrating their 13th year! Over a hundred volunteers join together to create an atmosphere of terror and panic … all to raise funds for the preservation and restoration of Historic Fort Adams in Newport, RI. The place is creepy enough during the day – imagine how it looks and feels at night! 2017 October Haunt Nights (7-10pm): Fri 13; Sat 14; Fri 20; Sat 21; Fri 27; Sat 28. Not recommended for children under the age of 12. Check it out: https://fortressofnightmares.com.
How about ‘PUMPKIN TOWN’ at ‘Paul’s & Sandy’s Too’ in East Haddam. CT -All the month of October up to the final parade Hollowen, night.
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I’m really surprised no one has mentioned, The Witch’s Dungeon at The Bristol Historical Society Museum, 90 Summer St., Bristol, CT that opened for the month of October this weekend as a “must see” spot for Halloween fun that won’t scare the “puddins” out of your little ones. It’s based on an artistic “old silver screen star” horror film wax museum that’s been in existence for 52 seasons. It’s a shame that noted travel guides throughout New England can’t review anything cultural for the children for Halloween but gory haunted exhibits. The exhibit even has the famous puppeteer Bill Diamond, (that worked with Jim Henson) with his dragon “Gorgo” there this weekend and the weekend of the 27th to entertain the little ones. There are many artists who have volunteered their time and talents to this exhibit. Can’t anyone give this little non-profit some publicity. They are very talented artists to go so under-rated. There are other things to see and do in Bristol, CT.
It moved to Plainville CT
Now we know the places to go on Halloween is where the witches are in Salem, MA. Ghost and goblins and much more roaming the streets of Salem, MA.
Don’t forget about us!! We run some very large Halloween festivals in New England all year! Facebook.com/grimoireacademy!
Lake Compounce has decided to no longer host the Haunted Graveyard. Its moved to Quassy amusement park & has been renamed Terror at Quassy
Thanks so much for letting us know! We’ll update the post.
Legendsoffear.com. Haunted Hayride and walking trail in Shelton, CT.
There are ghost tours on Block Island Daily until Halloween Day. The Old Harbor Walking Tour schedule is on our website blockislandghosttours.com