Celebrate Halloween All October Long with These Spooky St. Louis Events Wednesday August 28, 2024 Share AttractionsEntertainmentFamily-FriendlyOutdoors By Rachel Huffman From haunted houses to fear farms, St. Louis has hair-raising Halloween events that will make your blood run cold. The question is: How many horrors can you handle? Fright Fest | Photo courtesy of Six Flags St. Louis Fright Fest September 13 to November 3 With thrills both on and off the rides, Fright Fest at Six Flags St. Louis is one of the spookiest fall festivals and events of the season. During the day, family-friendly attractions abound, but in the evening, all the creatures that go bump in the night haunt the park. Expect rides in the dark, haunted houses and other scare zones. The Darkness September 13 to February 15 Journeying into the depths of The Darkness, you never know when your next step will be your last. Located in Soulard, the two-story haunted house was completely renovated this year. Featuring Hollywood set designs, alarming animated effects and formidable live actors, America’s scariest attraction is now longer and more terrifying. The Darkness also encompasses a 3D haunted house dubbed Terror Visions, a five-minute serial killer escape room, a monster museum and a horror store. Field of Nightmares September 20 to October 31 This time of year, Brookdale Farms gives us the heebie-jeebies. Here, spirits roam the land and stalk the living. Plagued by evil, the Field of Nightmares admits only the bravest souls. Are you one of them? Haunted Bus Tour September 20 to November 9 Steel your nerves and open your senses. Boogie Bus Express, a St. Louis-based party bus company, has transformed one of its buses into a paranormal portal, taking those who dare to board into the darkest depths of local history. Following a clairvoyant guide, you’ll journey into the unknown with ghostly whispers, chilling tales and eerie encounters. Steeped in horror and rotting from despair, unnerving stops on the haunted bus tour include the Lemp Mansion, which witnessed three suicides among other tragic deaths; a Colonial-style house in the Bel-Nor neighborhood, which inspired The Exorcist; and the notorious McPike Mansion, where current owners Sharyn and George Luedke hold regular séances to connect with the dead, among other sinister spots in Alton, Illinois. During the frightful exploration, you’ll have a chance to reconnect with the living over a stiff drink at local bars such as Bluff City Grill, Ragin Cajun Piano Bar and Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. Buckle up and enjoy the ride – if you dare. Fright at the Museum September 28 to October 26 For those who revel in the extraordinary, Fright at the Museum promises endless entertainment that will send shivers down your spine. The one-of-a-kind Halloween festival at City Museum features heart-pounding performances that push the boundaries of possibility, alongside carefully curated exhibits with artifacts that defy explanation and specimens that challenge imagination. When you need a break, step into the shadows of the Vampire Bar, where darkness and decadence intertwine. Here, you can sip crimson elixirs that transport imbibers to another realm of intoxicating ambiance and tantalizing flavors. Coven & Cauldron, a dimly lit pub, boasts a different world of magic, mystery and macabre, enticing curious mortals and practicing witches with enchanting brews. Fright at the Museum lasts for a month, giving you ample time to experience all the thrilling and captivating oddities and curiosities that City Museum has to offer this fall. Halloween Nights October 3 to 27 People of all ages will have a fa-boo-lous time at Grant’s Farm this season. During Halloween Nights, you can take a haunted tram ride featuring the Headless Horseman, watch spirited magic shows in the amphitheater and do the monster mash during the courtyard dance party. If you have the guts, journey into the nightmare-inducing scare zone. Otherwise, you can simply enjoy the Halloween décor and festive vibe on the farm. Halloween Nights | Photo courtesy of Grant’s Farm Boo at the Zoo October 10 to 30 Boo at the Zoo is a not-so-scary Halloween celebration for the whole family. Come for the spellbinding decorations and stay for the fall-inspired food. Entertainers will be strolling around the Saint Louis Zoo, and you can visit the animals at Stingrays at Caribbean Cove, the Herpetarium and the Insectarium. Beyond the Grave October 12 See STL Tours, operated by the Missouri Historical Society, combines unmatched knowledge with engaging storytelling, giving residents and visitors alike the opportunity to interact with the Gateway City in innovative and unexpected ways. This two-hour bus tour focuses on death and how it has shaped living in St. Louis. Although death connects us, humans’ perceptions, practices and relationships to it have changed over time. Beyond the Grave will explore these shifts and their mark on the region’s built environment such as historic hospitals and cemeteries. History After Dark: Spirits from Beyond October 12 This curious event will take you behind the scenes at the Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center. Uncover unusual artifacts from the collection, learn about the iconography of grave markers at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, design your own headstone and savor signature cocktails. Tickets are $15, and they include one complimentary drink. Music that Goes BUMP in the Night October 17 The St. Louis Public Library – Central Library will host an enchanting evening full of eerie and exhilarating sounds for Halloween. During the free, family-friendly concert, a dynamic Gateway Festival Orchestra chamber group will explore the intriguing elements that make music scary. Don’t worry, though – future maestros will be more intrigued than frightened by the music’s blend of melody and suspense. Wicked Wings and Wine October 18 The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House will celebrate the spirit of Halloween with its Wicked Wings and Wine happy hour. As twilight approaches, sample local beers, wines and spirits while you learn about owl butterflies, which watch over the night with the huge eyespots on their wings. Take a stroll through the torch-lit garden to a soundtrack of hair-raising songs but be prepared – you might encounter other unearthly creatures on your path. If you dare, you can also snack on dishes from the Bug Chef. Frights and Heights October 19 Halloween returns to the Gateway Arch for its annual Frights and Heights event. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best costumes and participate in various Halloween-themed activities. Trick or Tram will offer spooktacular sights on the ride to the top of the tallest monument in the U.S. The ghosts of Dick Bowser, Meriwether Lewis and others will entertain audiences with living history performances. And a puppet show will describe Lewis and Clark’s journey west, including some scary true stories from the trail. Families can also enjoy freaky face painting, boo-loon animals, creepy crafts and mesmerizing music. General admission is free, but advanced registration is required. Boo at the Zoo | Photo courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo Haunted Happy Hour October 24 Looking for an eerie date night idea? Head to The Magic House for Haunted Happy Hour! Attendees will enjoy a night of food, spirits and fun in the museum, featuring a haunted mansion tour, Halloween photo opportunities, a costume contest and more. Reservations are required, and you must be 21 or older to attend. Ghost Stories and Guitars October 24 Zombies will descend on the Missouri History Museum this October, and they are frightfully funky! Slip into your best costume and grab your dancing shoes – this event boasts Halloween-themed rock and pop performances for fiendish fun and scary-ment. Throughout the night, a ghost from St. Louis past – a.k.a. community tours manager Amanda Clark – will regale the crowd with unnerving tales of otherworldly history around a fire. Spirits in the Garden October 25 Raise your spirits with samples from regional breweries, wineries and distilleries at this sinister soirée hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Between sips, you can meet local paranormal investigators, talk to fortune tellers, learn about the spirited history of the garden and strut your stuff in a monstrous costume contest. Throughout the evening, fire performers and stilt walkers will dazzle guests while Rockstar DJs spin screaming good tunes to incite dancing. Pumpkin Glow October 25 and 26 The annual pumpkin glow in historic St. Charles promises deals, squeals and, of course, plenty of pumpkins. Glowing carved pumpkins will illuminate South Main Street, and Legends & Lanterns characters will offer chilling ghost stories and haunting encounters. You can also take advantage of the extended store hours to snag locally made gifts and souvenirs. Central West End Halloween Street Party October 26 Year after year, St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood hosts the region’s most legendary Halloween party. Family-friendly daytime activities, including a children’s parade with costumed characters, a dog parade, pumpkin-decorating and trick-or-treating will kick off the festivities. Then, as the sun sets, the street party continues with an adults-only monster bash. Known for its elaborate costumes and cash prizes, the adult costume contest will take place alongside live music performances. Throughout the evening, enjoy food and drinks from area businesses such as AC Hotel St. Louis Central West End, Brennan’s, Drunken Fish, Edera Italian Eatery, Kingside Diner, Maryland House and Up-Down Arcade Bar. Shipwrecked Halloween October 26 All-inclusive BOOze packages and thrilling live music at six venues – being shipwrecked never sounded so fun! Gather your skeleton crew and head to Ballpark Village for this scARRRy pARRRty. Are you a scaredy cat? That’s OK. There are plenty of other events and activities for fall fun in St. Louis. Share
