18 spooky (but not scary) Halloween events in Philadelphia

Philadelphians take Halloween very seriously. As one of the most historic towns in the country, Philly is brimming with ghosts, haunts, and legendary cemeteries with spookiness that must’ve spilled out into the general populous.

Every October, the city transforms into a spooktacular season of Halloween filled with local bar crawls, seasonal pop-ups, and street markets and festivals. The centuries-old cemeteries and military forts open their gates for candlelit ghost tours, and the world-famous zoo and many of the museums celebrate the holiday with themed events and exhibits.

Venture through South Philly to see the Gubitosi family’s 12-foot skeleton clawing out at passersby or peruse Northern Liberties’ Sue Moerder Skull Art’s collection of bones and skulls she intricately adorns with mandalas, lace, and peculiar metal objects. There’s also Daryll Jones’ shop “for goths and other spooky nerds” on South Street called The DreamEerie. And that’s just to name a few.

Now, if you want to be scared out of your wits, we have a guide to haunted attractions across the region. But for this guide, we’re keeping it spooky (not scary) and family-friendly, plus some ideas for a hangout with adult friends and an evening date night.

It doesn’t matter if you live in the city or come in from the burbs, these are the Halloween events in Philadelphia you don’t want to miss.

Every Saturday and Sunday from Oct. 14 to Oct. 29, the Philadelphia Zoo celebrates Halloween with seasonal decor, costume parties and trick-or-treating for kids. Boo at the Zoo is included in a general admission ticket. Buy tickets at visit.philadelphiazoo.org/events.

⌚ Oct. 14-29, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 $20-$25 🌐 philadelphiazoo.org 📍 3400 W. Girard Ave. 📞 215-243-1100

Every Saturday and Sunday in October, the Franklin Institute hosts spooky science and Halloween-themed activities for its guests, including trick-or-treating, live science shows, demonstrations with electrical gadgets and a meeting with Gourd’n the Giant Pumpkin Robot. Franklin Fright is included in a general admission ticket. Buy tickets at tickets.fi.edu.

⌚ Sept. 30-Oct. 29, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 $21-$25 🌐 fi.edu 📍 222 N. 20th St. 📞 215-448-1200

On Oct. 28 from noon to 4 p.m., the South Street Headhouse District is throwing a Halloween bash for families including free pumpkin decorating, circus performances, costume contests, and trick-or-treating at local businesses. Parents can come back on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. for South Street’s first-ever Halloween Costume Crawl & Bar Bash starting at 5th and South Streets.

⌚ Oct. 28, noon-4 p.m. 💵 Free 🌐 southstreet.com 📍 2nd St. & Pine St.

For an afternoon in one of the city’s most gorgeous parks, there are two opportunities to bring kids (ages 10 and under) to Franklin Square for Halloween fun. On Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. enjoy pumpkin picking and decorating and then return on Oct. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. for trick-or-treating — all for free, but reservations are recommended as capacity is limited. Reserve a spot for your kids by using the form provided on Franklin Square’s Facebook event page at facebook.com/franklinsquarephiladelphia/events.

⌚ Oct. 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & Oct. 28, noon-2 p.m. 💵 Free with RSVP 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square 📍 6th St. & Race St.

Sunset Social, the West Philly rooftop restaurant, bar, and green space overlooking the west side of Center City, is inviting families to join in on some Halloween fun with kids’ costume contests with prizes, a doggie costume contest, face painting, free pumpkin decorating and a bunch of giant board games like Connect 4 and Jenga.

⌚ Oct. 22, noon 💵 Free 🌐 sunsetsocialphl.com 📍 129 S. 30th Street

Trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating isn’t the only thing Franklin Square has brewing in its cauldron. Every night in October, there’s an opportunity to try your hands at 18 holes of spooky mini golf with family, friends, or a first date.

⌚ Oct. 1-31, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 💵 $15 for adults, $12 for kids 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org/events/spooky-mini-golf 📍 200 N. 6th St

South Philly’s East Passyunk Avenue is home to a strong community of local independent businesses and restaurants that throw one heck of a street festival. For Halloween, join the East Passyunk for Fall Fest & Spooky Saturday for a costume party, trick-or-treating, craft vendors, live music, and more. It’s sure to be a monster bash.

⌚ Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Free, pay as you go 🌐 visiteastpassyunk.com 📍 1904 E. Passyunk Ave.

Visit the Ardmore Music Hall, the Main Line’s premier concert venue, for an afternoon of costumed Halloween fun with craft beer, local vendors, and performances by the staff band (21+ to enter unless with a parent or guardian).

⌚ Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 💵 Free, pay as you go 🌐 ardmoremusichall.com 📍 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore

The costumed and jovial New Year’s Day celebrators are throwing a Halloween Street festival this Oct. 21 with a beer garden, food trucks, local vendors, fire pits, costume contests, live bands, and of course the Mummers!

⌚ Oct. 21, noon-5 p.m. 💵 Free, pay as you go 🌐 mummersmuseum.org 📍 1100 S. 2nd St. 📞 215-336-3050

The fourth annual Darksome Art & Craft Market is back at Mount Mariah Cemetery in Southwest Philly this Oct. 7. Join 100 spooky local artists and vendors as they sell their wares to the public and enjoy live music with food and drinks. A $5 entrance fee is used to help upkeep the cemetery grounds.

⌚ Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 $5 to enter 🌐 darksomecraftmarket.com 📍 6201 Kingsessing Ave.

You don’t want to miss the city’s largest dog costume contest of the year. Hound-o-Ween and Fall Festival is back with a $500 top prize to the best costumed furry friend in the city, plus food, drinks and live music for the humans. Register your dog for the contest at streettails.org/hound-o-ween. This event helps the organization partner, Street Tails Animal Rescue.

⌚ Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 💵 $30 per pet to enter contest, free admission to watch 🌐 streettails.org/hound-o-ween 📍 700 block of N. 2nd St.

While others are getting spooky and scary, why not have some laughs with All Hallow’s Comedy at the Adrienne Theater? Hosted by horror movie favorites like The Girl From The Ring or Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th, these weekly comedy shows throughout October will have you belly-laughing, not scream-crying. October dates: Oct. 6 at 9:30 p.m. with The Girl From The Ring, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. with Jason Vorhees, Oct. 21 at 9:30 p.m. with a to-be-announced host, and Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. with Michael Myers.

⌚ Throughout October 💵 $13-$38 🌐 feverup.com/m/117538 📍 2030 Sansom St.

Get regal and step into the grand halls of Cairnwood Estate, an elegant Gilded Age sanctuary, for a masquerade ball. This Halloween, you’re invited to the estate’s Royal and Regency Masquerade Ball to don your best gowns and suits and enjoy decadent food, signature libations, dancing, and regal surprises. At the end of the night, the “Diamond” of the ball will win a fabulous prize. Remember, masks are required and the dress code is black-tie optional. Tickets are available at www.cairnwood.org. Ages 21+.

⌚ Oct. 27, 7 p.m. 💵 $75-$100 🌐 cairnwood.org 📍 1005 Cathedral Rd., Bryn Athyn 📞 215-947-2004

Celebrate this Halloween on the decks of a historic sailing vessel turned restaurant and bar. Moshulu is permanently docked at Penn’s Landing ready to invite costumed party-goers to live jazz in the ballroom, a throwback Hip-Hop in another, and a DJ dance party on the heated main deck, plus an acoustic live music lounge. Costumes are strongly encouraged but not required. This is a 21 and over event that requires ID unless you are an actual ghost, poltergeist or apparition that currently resides on the ship. Ages 21+.

Tickets available at facebook.com/moshuluphilly/events.

⌚ Oct. 28, 9 p.m. 💵 $20-$60 🌐 moshulu.com 📍 401 S. Columbus Blvd. 📞 215-923-2500

Monsters, goblins, and ghouls can be scary, but you know what can be even more horrifying? The gruesome history of infection and inoculation in Philadelphia during the times of medicine when bloodletting was used and smallpox and yellow fever ran rampant in the streets. Find out what it was like to live in the 18th century and then shuffle through the Betsy Ross House for a spooky, shadowy tour. Join in on the spookiness with a 30-minute tour on Friday and Saturday evenings in October.

⌚ Oct. 13-28, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 💵 $12 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org 📍 239 Arch St. 📞 215-629-4026

For those daring enough to meander through the paths of Laurel Hill East’s cemetery at night, there’s just the event for you. Under moonlight and flashlight, walk through the cemetery and learn of the rich history and spirits residing underneath. (Get $2 tickets as a part of the Art-Reach ACESS Admission program for ACESS cardholders with valid ID).

⌚ Oct. 27-28, 7 p.m-10 p.m. 💵 $12-$25 🌐 laurelhillphl.com 📍 3822 Ridge Ave. 📞 610-668-9900

Candlelight Concerts puts on live performances by — you guessed it — candlelight with thematic music for the season. For Halloween get serenaded with spooky tunes in two locations, Laurel Hill East cemetery and the rooftop Bok Bar, and transcend into the spiritual plane with renditions of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, the Stranger Things theme song, and Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” The single-night concert at Bok Bar is on Oct. 13 with shows at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., while Laurel Hill East will be hosting multiple shows from Oct. 17-25. Find tickets at candlelightexperience.com.

⌚ Throughout October 💵 $30-$60 🌐 candlelightexperience.com 📍 (Bok Bar) 800 Mifflin St. / (Laurel Hill East) 3822 Ridge Ave.

Fort Mifflin, a bastion of defense against British forces during the American Revolution, is home to many ghosts, say the historic site’s wards today. Located in deep South Philadelphia, join the fort’s guides with nothing but the light of your candle and tour the hallowed grounds of Fort Mifflin to see if the spirits might rise this Halloween. There’s also fascinating history to learn! This year enjoy the tour only on Oct. 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 27, 28, and 29. Tickets available at fortmifflin.us.

⌚ Throughout October 💵 $15-$22 🌐 fortmifflin.us 📍 6400 Hog Island Rd. 📞 215-685-4167