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We want to take you behind the scenes, to give you insider information you won't find anywhere else. This is where we pull Bloomington's hip happenings together with recommendations from our team, first-hand accounts from project producers, and guest blogs by local gurus.  The Backstage Blog helps you stay in front of it all.

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Halloween Happenings in Bloomington

Categories: Family Fun, Events, General

Curious about what's going on in Bloomington this October? We've rounded up every Halloween-themed event, from the downright spooky to the family-friendly — and everything in between. 

Creepy butcher standing in the Barn of Terror
Photo by Adam Reynolds

Fowler Pumpkin Patch

Date: Opening for the fall season on Saturday, September 24
Time: Tuesday through Thursday, 4:00-7:00 pm / Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am-7:00 pm
Location: Fowler Pumpkin Patch
Admission: Free

Enjoy quintessential fall fun at Fowler Pumpkin Patch, complete with a corn maze, petting zoo, hayrides, u-pick pumpkin patch, and more. Hayrides are offered continuously starting at 11:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays.
 

Barn of Terror Haunted House

Date: Every Friday & Saturday in October plus Halloween night
Time: 8:00 pm-12:00 am / 8:00-10:00 pm on Halloween
Location: Barn of Terror
Admission: General admission is $10.00 per person; children 10 & under are $5.00 each.

Visit the Barn of Terror, Indiana's sixth-best haunted house, for a proper night of Halloween frights.
 

Forbidden Hollows Haunted Farm

Date: Every Saturday in October plus Halloween night and the following Friday & Saturday
Time: 8:00-10:00 pm
Location: Forbidden Hollows Haunted Farm
Admission: $20.00 per person

Get spooked at the Forbidden Hollows Haunted Farm.
 

Baker's Junction Haunted Train

Date: Every Friday and Saturday in October plus Halloween night
Time: 7:00-10:00 pm
Location: 7898 Fairfax Rd., Smithville, IN 47401
Admission: $5-$10 per person

The haunted train is celebrating its 29th season in 2022.
 

Halloween Candy Pairing Tastings

Date: Every weekend from Saturday, October 1-Sunday, October 30
Time: Various times
Location: Oliver Winery
Admission: $25.00 per ticket

Enjoy your favorite childhood candies paired with various wines during the annual Oliver Winery Halloween Candy Pairing Tastings.
 

Harvest Hootenanny Block Party

Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Switchyard Brewing Company
Admission: VIP tickets are $75.00 per person; general admission for ages 16+ is $10.00 per ticket during the pre-sale or $15.00 per ticket at the door; those younger than 16 and designated drivers are free.

Enjoy live music, pie-eating and pumpkin-carving contests, cornhole, food trucks, fall beers & hot mulled cider, and activities for kids at Switchyard Brewing Co.'s all-ages Harvest Hootenanny. 
 

Movies in the Park: Ghostbusters

Date: Friday, October 1
Time: 7:45 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free

Pack blankets and snacks and head to Switchyard Park for an outdoor screening of Ghostbusters.
 

IU Cinema Friday Night Frights

Date: Friday, October 7
Time: 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required

Enjoy a screening of The Watcher at 7:00 pm and The Black Phone at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
 

Howl at the Moon

Date: Friday, October 7
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free

Both dog owners and animal lovers are invited to participate in this glow in the dark walk around 1.5 miles of Switchyard Park — pups in attendance must be leashed and current with all vaccinations. The first 50 dogs to arrive will receive a glow stick for their collars!
 

Trick or Treat Trail

Date: Saturday, October 8
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: RCA Community Park
Admission: $5.00 per child.  One adult is admitted free with paid child admission; each additional adult is $2.00. 

Bring the kids in costume to this family-friendly Trick or Treat Trail. 
 

Day of the Dead Community Altar

Date: Tuesday, October 12 through Tuesday, November 2
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: Free

Honor loved ones who have passed by adding an offering to Bloomington's Day of the Dead community altar.
 

IU Cinema Friday Night Frights

Date: Friday, October 14
Time: 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required

Enjoy a screening of Suspiria at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
 

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch

Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Monroe County Courthouse Lawn
Admission: Free

Pick out your own homemade blown-glass pumpkin or simply admire the display of over 900 glass pumpkins at the 13th annual Great Glass Pumpkin Patch! 
 

Dearly Departed Cemetery Tours

Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 5:30-9:30 pm
Location: Rose Hill Cemetery
Admission: $12.00 per person

Enjoy a night of ghost tales and haunted history at the Rose Hill Cemetery.
 

IU Cinema Friday Night Frights

Date: Friday, October 14
Time: 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required

Enjoy a screening of Bodies Bodies Bodies at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
 

IU Science Fest

Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Multiple locations across the Indiana University campus
Admission: Free

Participate in over 150 hands-on science activities, demonstrations, and talks at Science Fest. Event times and admission are to be determined — check back frequently for updates.
 

Bloomington Pumpkin Launch

Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Monroe County Fairgrounds
Admission: $10.00 per vehicle

Witness pumpkins flying through the sky and enjoy live music, children's activities, and food vendors during the annual Bloomington Pumpkin Launch!
 

Buskirk-Chumley Halloween Film Screening

Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $18.00 per ticket

Enjoy a screening of Nosferatu at 2:00 pm and Twilight at 8:00 pm at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
 

Skate and Scare

Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 6:45 pm
Location: Frank Southern Ice Arena
Admission: $6.00 per person plus $3.00 per skate rental

Skate through a haunted house on ice while listening to spooky tunes at Frank Southern's Skate and Scare! Come in costume for a chance to win prizes.
 

Safe Night Trick or Treat

Date: Thursday, October 27
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Monroe County Fairgrounds
Admission: Free

The Monroe County Fair Board & Monroe County 4-H Clubs invite you to trick or treat in costume at this safe night event.
 

Ghostly Gathering

Date: Friday, October 28 through Sunday, October 30
Time: 2:00-8:00 pm Friday; 9:30 am-8:00 pm Saturday, 10:00 am-2:30 pm Sunday
Location: Paynetown State Recreation Area
Admission: $7.00 per Indiana-plated vehicle / $9.00 per out-of-state vehicle

Enjoy an assortment of Halloween-themed, family-friendly events at Paynetown SRA's Ghostly Gathering!
 

Downtown Trick or Treat

Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 5:00-8:00 pm
Location: The Square
Admission: Free

Bring the kiddos in their best costumes to downtown's annual Trick or Treat Walk. The community band will also be playing spooky tunes on the Courthouse lawn for trick-or-treaters to enjoy!
 

Dennis James Hosts Halloween

Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $14.00-$28.00 per person

Take the whole family to Dennis James' annual spooky spectacular, packed with music and mayhem! 
 

Festival of Ghost Stories

Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Bryan Park
Admission: Free

Enjoy a night of scary storytelling beneath the stars at the Festival of Ghost Stories.
 

IU Cinema Friday Night Frights

Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required

Enjoy a double feature of Shaun of the Dead and Slither at 7:00 pm or Kill List and The Descent at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
 

Halloween Weekend at Oliver Winery

Date: Saturday, October 29 & Sunday, October 30
Time: 11:00 am-8:00 pm on Saturday; 12:00-6:00 pm on Sunday
Location: Oliver Winery
Admission: Free

Spend Halloween weekend at Oliver Winery — enjoy complimentary pours of their mulled Beanblossom Hard Cider, a free pumpkin with qualifying purchases of wine in the tasting room, and more.
 

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Date: Saturday, October 29
Time: 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $15.00 in advance / $20.00 at the door

Enjoy Bloomington's annual fall screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  
 

National Visit a Cemetery Day

Date: Monday, October 30
Time: All day
Location: All Monroe County cemeteries
Admission: Free

Visit one of Monroe County's many historic cemeteries on Halloween in honor of National Visit a Cemetery Day.
 

Trick or Treat

Date: Monday, October 31
Time: 5:30-8:30 pm
Location: Monroe County

Enjoy the annual night of Halloween trick-or-treating in Monroe County, rain or shine. 
 

Alyssa Davis

Alyssa Davis

Alyssa is the Digital Content Coordinator at Visit Bloomington. She's also a proud Indiana University alumna, Millennial cat lady, and Formula 1 enthusiast.