Celebrate Halloween All October Long with These Spooky St. Louis Events Wednesday September 27, 2023 Share AttractionsDiningEntertainmentFamily-FriendlyHistoryMusicOutdoorsShopping 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 Until October 29 With thrills both on and off the rides, Fright Fest at Six Flags St. Louis is one of the spookiest events of the season. During the day, family-friendly attractions abound, but at night, all the creatures that go bump in the night haunt the park. Expect rides in the dark, haunted houses and other scare zones. Fright at the Museum September 29 to October 28 City Museum aims to amaze, mystify and utterly entertain visitors with this one-of-a-kind event. Fright at the Museum welcomes you on a journey into the unknown with carefully curated exhibits of bizarre, enigmatic and extraordinary artifacts that defy explanation and challenge imagination. Mesmerizing performers such as contortionists and fire dancers will also push the boundaries of possibility. To quench your thirst throughout the night, step into the shadows of the Vampire Bar where darkness and decadence intertwine. Here, you can sip a signature blood bag cocktail – the crimson elixir is an exploration of flavor with a hint of danger. Frights at Height September 29 to October 28 Looking for an entirely new level of terror? This fall, Go Ape, a treetop adventure course in Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park, will offer a one-hour, gravity-defying, blood-curdling experience filled with zombies, ghosts and ghouls. This activity is not for the faint of heart, as thrill-seekers will tackle wobbly obstacles and epic ziplines, never knowing what’s hiding in the dark corners of the adventure park. Field of Nightmares September 29 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? Photo courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert October 6 and 8 This spine-tingling experience will revisit one of Tim Burton’s most adored films, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Feel the thrill as the film unfolds on the big screen with dialogue, singing and effects accompanied by Danny Elfman’s hauntingly charming score, brought to life by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Bring your families, don your frightful costumes and immerse yourselves in the macabre beauty of Halloween. Remember, every day is Halloween in our world! Halloween Nights October 6 to 29 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 mad scientist 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. Wicked Wings and Wine October 13 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 and wines 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. Boo at the Zoo October 13 to 29 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. Photo courtesy of Six Flags St. Louis Frights and Heights October 14 Halloween returns to the Gateway Arch for its annual “Frights & 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 enjoy freaky face painting, boo-loon animals, creepy crafts and mesmerizing music. Every child will also receive a free one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise ticket from the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, which will be good for the 2024 cruise season. Trick-or-Track October 21 Pumpkins and pirates and princesses, oh my! Let your kids get creative with their costumes before tracking around for treats at the National Museum of Transportation. The event includes miniature train rides through the dark and Serengeti Steve and the Reptile Experience. Fun fact: Serengeti Steve, a reptile handler, was on season 7 of America’s Got Talent, and he holds the Guinness World Record for holding a venomous live scorpion in his mouth for 17 minutes and 17 seconds. Beyond the Grave October 21 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 has 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: Curiosities and Cocktails October 25 This curious event will take you behind the scenes at the Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center. Uncover unusual artifacts from the collection, discover your ghost persona and savor signature cocktails. Tickets are $15, and they include one complimentary drink. Photo courtesy of Grant’s Farm Haunted Happy Hour October 26 Looking for a spooktacular evening? 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 26 Zombies will descend on the Missouri History Museum on Oct. 26, 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 27 Get in the Halloween spirit at this chilling tasting. Local and regional breweries, wineries and distilleries will serve samples while attendees strut their stuff in a costume contest, dance to spooky tunes spun by Rockstar DJs and play games provided by Game Nite. If you gravitate toward eerier activities, you can meet local paranormal investigators and learn about the spirited history of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Throughout the evening, you can also enjoy a fortune teller, fire performer and stilt-walking Frankenstein’s monster. Pumpkin Glow in Historic St. Charles October 27 to 28 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. Halloween Costume Cruise October 28 Scare up a costume for this themed cruise aboard the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. As you sail through the dark, along the Mississippi River, you’ll be able to calm your nerves with drinks and dancing. The winner of the costume contest will also receive two tickets to the New Year’s Eve Party Cruise. Are you a scaredy cat? That’s OK. There are plenty of other events and activities for fall fun in St. Louis. Share
