From pumpkins to spooky movies, here are 18+ Halloween events in the Louisville area
From the annual Jack O' Lantern Spectacular, a spooky wonderland with more than 5,000 intricately carved and illuminated pumpkins, and Kentucky Shakespeare's "The Woman in Black," to the Ultimate Halloween Fest, which is bringing back the nighttime parade, there's something for everyone this Halloween season.
What Halloween activities are going on around Louisville?
Here is a list of Halloween activities and events, in date order, taking place in Louisville that will surely put you in a spooky mood.
Happy Halloween!
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
As fall rolls in, Shaker Village transforms into a festive autumn escape. Enjoy hay wagon rides (6 p.m.); spirit strolls, and a guided lantern-lit stroll to the 1811 Shaker Cemetery (5:30 and 7 p.m.) at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg, Friday and Saturday now through Oct. 28. Hayrides cost $5 for ages six and older, and are free for ages five and younger. Spirit Strolls: are $15 or $10 for annual pass holders. Find more details at shakervillageky.org.
Holiday World Happy Halloween Weekends
This family-friendly event at Holiday World, 452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, Indiana, includes rides and lots of Halloween shows and events including Holidog’s 3D Halloween Adventure, 12 acres of corn mazes, hay rides, Professor Holiday’s Wacky Workshop of Wonders, The Monster Mash, Carnival Chaos, Kitty’s Dance Spooktacular, SCAREbnb, Trick-or-Treat Trail and Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, now through Oct. 29. Tickets cost $44.99 Saturdays; $39.99 Sundays, and is free for ages 3 and younger. Find more details at holidayworld.com.
Legend at Pope Lick
WHAT: Known around the state as the home of Louisville’s most infamous monster, the Goatman. The Legend at Pope Lick features the Escape Goatman, part haunted trail and part escape game; Ches McCartney’s Horror Hike, guided night hike; the Goatman Festival that features vendors, food, games, live music, escape rooms, movies Friday the 13th (Oct. 13) and Harry & the Hendersons (Oct. 14) and more.
WHERE: 4002 S Pope Lick Road
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, 8-11 p.m. through Nov. 4
COST: Tickets start at $20
MORE INFORMATION: Escape Goatman is for ages 18 and older, under 17 requires a parent or adult. legendatpopelick.com.
'Sleepy Hollow' Experience
This "Sleepy Hollow" theatrical haunting experience at Old Fort Harrod State Park, 100 S. College St., Harrodsburg, Kentucky, will take the audience through a haunted journey into the world of the most famous ghost story ever told – Ichabod Crane and The Headless Horseman, with a new spin as the audience becomes part of the action. The event takes place Sept. 28 through Oct. 31, Thursday through Saturday, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are Thursday, $39, $29 for ages 12 and younger; Friday and Saturday, $49, $39 for ages 12 and younger; Sunday, $34, $24 for ages 12 and younger. VIP is $89 and includes a private haunted cocktail party with music and scares inside the mansion 30 minutes prior to the show. Military and first responders receive 15% off ticket prices with code ThankYou15. Purchase tickets at brianclowdus.com.
Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom
The glow is orange at Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, 937 Phillips Lane. During the day, see more than 1,000 bright orange pumpkins all over the park, and enjoy world-class rides, fall-themed games, street performers, colorful characters and trick-or-treating. After sundown, the park transforms into a whimsical wonderland with larger-than-life pumpkin sculptures. The Halloween event takes place Sept. 30 through Oct. 29, on Saturday, 2-10 p.m. and Sunday, 2-9 p.m. Tickets range from $29.99-$54.99. Find more details at kentuckykingdom.com/explore-the-park/festivals-events/pumpkins-at-kentucky-kingdom.
Jack O'Lantern Spectacular
The Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular transforms a quarter-mile trail into an art gallery with more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkin masterpieces created by local artists at Iroquois Park, 1080 Amphitheater Road. Timed ticket entry to the amphitheater is Sunday-Thursday, 6:30-10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 to 11 p.m. from Oct. 3-31. Tickets are $15, $13 for seniors, $12 for ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and younger Sunday-Thursday; $20, $17 for seniors, $15 for ages 3-12, and free for ages 2 and younger Fridays and Saturdays. Food, drinks, and spirits are available for purchase. Tickets are available at Iroquois Amphitheater and at jackolanternlouisville.org.
'The Woman in Black'
Continuing its Halloween tradition, Kentucky Shakespeare presents this spine-tingling ghost story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by a specter. He engages a skeptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. "The Woman in Black" takes place at Kentucky Shakespeare Headquarters, 616 Myrtle St. from Oct. 4-29. Shows are Wednesday through Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $27. There are no matinees the weekend of Oct. 7 due to the St. James Court Art Show. Find more details at kyshakespeare.com.
'The Haunting of Blackwood Hall'
Whodunnit Murder Mystery Dinner Theater presents this gothic mystery, set in turn-of-the-last-century Savannah. Get ready to see a skeletal hand on a sofa, a mysterious veiled woman, and a mystic who hears the voices of the dead. The show takes place at the Bristol Bar and Grille Downtown, 614 W. Main St. on Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. show, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $59.50 and include dinner, show, tax and gratuity. Find more details at whodunnitky.com.
Kitties and Cocktails at the Calumet Club - Friday the 13 Edition
Join the Animal Protection Association Halloween Kitties and Cocktails event that features a costume contest, complimentary appetizers prepared by Chef Z, cash bar, music by A Class Act DJs, silent and live auctions, a 50/50 cash raffle, wine and bourbon pull, door prizes, and more. The Oct. 13 event takes place at the Calumet Club, 1614 E. Spring Street, New Albany from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $50 per person or $375 for a table of eight. Adoptable cats will also be attending the event. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at apa-pets.org.
Belle of Louisville Ghost on the River
Be prepared to come face-to-face with ghosts and apparitions, real and imagined when you step aboard the 108-year-old haunted Belle of Louisville for this Ghost on the River tour. Create your own “Pepper’s Ghost” illusion and capture your ghostly image on camera, as well as tarot card readings, a costume contest, and complimentary tasting stations. The Oct. 13 event is from 7-9 p.m. and tickets are $39.99 or $37.99 for seniors. For ages 21 and older. Costumes are encouraged. Reservations are required. Call 502-574-2992 or visit BelleofLouisville.org.
Haunting: A Lamplit Tour of Death & Mourning
Take this guided tour of the museum by the soft glow of lamps. Learn of mourning traditions practiced during Louisville's Gilded Age, the many deaths that occurred throughout the home's history, as well as the lingering spirits who refuse to leave Louisville's Castle, known as the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, 1402 St. James Court. The event takes place Oct. 13-15 from 7-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children. Advanced ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Call 502-636-5023 or visit conrad-caldwell.org.
Louisville Orchestra 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
See one of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films, "The Nightmare Before Christmas," projected in its entirety on the big screen accompanied by a dark and charming live musical score by the orchestra. Jason Seber is the guest conductor. The Oct. 18 event takes place Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St., at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20. Find details at louisvilleorchestra.org.
Victorian Ghost Walk
Celebrate one of the most haunted neighborhoods when a cast of characters return from the grave to tell their stories in Old Louisville. Part walking tour, part porch play, hear stories about Simon Kracht, the infamous resurrectionist who stole just-buried corpses for the city medical college; millionaire Alfred Victor DuPont, who died at the hands of a scorned mistress and Lucinda, the grief-stricken lunatic who proclaimed herself “Queen of America” in 1885, these are just some of the ghosts waiting to entertain you this year. The tour starts at Conrad-Caldwell House, 1402 St. James Court. The event is Oct. 20-23, 6-11 p.m. Tickets are $34.99. Find more details at louisvillehistorictours.com/victorian-ghost-walk.
Louisville Orchestra: Fright Night
The Louisville Orchestra will perform musical selections that will send chills up your spine and have you shaking in your seats. Bob Bernhardt is the conductor for this event at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. It takes place on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $32. Find more details on louisvilleorchestra.org.
Treat or Treat Street
Trick or treat for children. Bring you bag for your treats. Hosted by the Fairdale Community Club. The evet takes place at the Fairdale Playtorium, 10104 Mitchell Hill Road, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26.
Ultimate Halloween Parade & Festival
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Halloween parade, organizers are bringing back the nighttime parade along with a new route ending at Lynn Family Stadium, where the Ultimate Halloween Parade and Festival will be held for four days with entertainment options for all ages that include a haunted house, food, fun zone, vendors, tethered balloon rides, and more. The event takes place at Lynn Family Stadium, 350 Adams St. Tickets are $30, $20 for ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and younger. Proceeds from the Ultimate Halloween Parade & Festival will support Don’t Be A Monster bullying prevention program. Find more details at ultimatehalloweenfest.com. Here's a brief schedule of events:
Oct. 26 (6-10 p.m.): Molly’s Midnight Villains (music)
Oct. 27 (6-11 p.m.): Balloon Glow; The Dead Speak (music); Kids costume contest and trick-or-treating
Oct. 28 (noon to midnight): Parade (8:30 p.m.; Balloon glow; Blues Brothers (music); Freddy & the Kruegers (music); Kiss Army (music); Adult costume contest; Boos Crawl – bar hop from balloon to balloon
Oct. 29 (12-6 p.m.): Car show; King Bee & The Stingers (music); Pet costume contest
Louisville Orchestra: (Un) Silent Film
The Louisville Orchestra will take you on a frightening musical tour with a freakish ballet and a brand-new score to a terrifying classic film, "Nosferatu." Teddy Abrams is the conductor of this event, which is part of the Coffee and Classics Concert Series. It takes place at Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. on Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. and Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Find more information and purchase tickets at louisvilleorchestra.org.
Jack Daniel Wicked Garden
A weekend of ghastly fun with concerts, a costume contest with a $1,000 prize, a car show, vendors, train rides food and more takes place at the Jack Daniel Wicked Garden in Paristown, 731 Brent St. Find more details at paristown.com. Here's a brief schedule:
Concerts: Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes (Oct. 27, 8-10 p.m.); Top Shelf (Oct. 28, 8-10 p.m.).
The RADrevival Automotive Lifestyle Festival. Features cars, costumes and music from the 80s and 90s. All makes and models are welcome from 1980-1999. Spectators are encouraged to wear costumes. Oct. 27, 6-10 p.m.
Artisan Vendor Market: Featuring unique and handcrafted treasures and Halloween keepsakes or gifts. Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kroger Fresh Express Trackless Train Rides: A family-friendly ride through the Wicked Garden. Oct. 28 and 29, noon to 5 p.m.
Dachshund Halloweener Derby: These wiener dogs will race in their most spooktacular costumes, and the winner takes home the title of ‘Halloweener Derby Champion!’ Presented by Kentucky Dachshund Rescue. Oct. 29, 2 p.m.
Noogiefest
The annual Noogiefest at Gilda's Club Kentuckiana, Clubhouse, 2440 Grinstead Dr., features games, treats, music and crafts. Costumes are encouraged at the free event, which takes place Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is not required. Find more details at GCK.org.
Hermitage Farm's Meet Your Maker Halloween Market
The Hermitage Farm Meet Your Maker Halloween Market features over 40 vendors with one-of-a-kind products, spooky entertainment, food and beverages by Barn8 Restaurant, music, trick or treating, hayrides and more. The event takes place at 10500 W. Highway 42 Goshen on Oct. 28 and 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find details at touroldham.com.
7th Annual Halloween for Huntington's Disease
The 7th Annual Halloween for Huntington's Disease party features a costume contest with prizes, music by the Juice Box Heroes, a night of theatrics by CirqueLouis performers, fire dancers, choreographed dance performers and a bar with Halloween theme drink specials. White Castle cheeseburgers will be provided (11 p.m.). It takes place at Mercury Ballroom, 611 S. 4th St. on Oct. 28, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $40 or $75 for VIP tickets, which include access to upstairs lounges, seating areas and bars; free appetizers from Volare Restaurant and Black Jockeys Lounge; free VIP light-up bling for the first 200 people, special VIP acts, and more. Proceeds to benefit the Kentucky Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society. For ages 21 and older. Cash bar uses credit and debit only. Find more at halloweenforHuntingtons.com.
Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Halloween events in the Louisville area 2023
