Spooky Spectaculars

Barn of Terror Haunted House: Every Friday & Saturday, Halloween Night | Barn of Terror | 8:00 pm - 12:00 am, Halloween: 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm 

Forbidden Hollows Haunted Farm: Every Saturday in October Plus Halloween Night and the Friday and Saturday after Halloween

Dearly Departed Cemetery Tours: October 18 | Rose Hill Cemetery | 6:30 pm (family-friendly tour), 8:00 pm (adults only tour)
What legends lie hidden in Rose Hill Cemetery? Explore the stories that have outlived the deceased at one of Bloomington's first city cemeteries.

Festival of Ghost Stories: October 25 | Bryan Park | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
A Halloween-time tradition, the Festival of Ghost Stories features haunting tales of ghosts and horror that will tingle the spine. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and dress warmly to avoid the chill as seasoned storytellers spin their tales in the dark. Best suited for adults, teens, and older school-age children; may not be appropriate for younger children. Rain location: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.

National Visit a Cemetery Day: October 27 | Monroe County Cemeteries 
The Monroe County History Center Cemetery Committee invites you to check out one or several of the many fine cemeteries around Monroe County.

Pumpkin Patches

Fowler Pumpkin Patch: Opening Saturday, September 28, Thursday - Sunday | Fowler Pumpkin Patch | Times Vary
You will find the pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, and a petting zoo. Hayrides offered every 15 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. Cost is $5 per person (children under 3 y/o are free). Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 

10th Annual Great Glass Pumpkin Patch: October 12 | Monroe County Courthouse Lawn | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 
Come pick out your very own handmade blown glass pumpkin at the 10th annual Great Glass Pumpkin Patch! We will have over 900 glass pumpkins for display and sale spread out on the Monroe County Courthouse lawn like a real pumpkin patch. There will also be face painting, pumpkin painting, workshops and more from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. 

Bloomington Pumpkin Launch: October 26 | Monroe County Fairgrounds | 11:00 am 
Fall has arrived and pumpkins are flying in the skies over the Monroe County Fairgrounds! Launcher teams send pumpkins soaring through the air in competitions for both accuracy and distance, so get a team together to build and enter a pumpkin launching device. There will also be live music, food vendors, and more! Cost: $10/vehicle

Free Pumpkin Day!: October 27 | Oliver Winery | 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Take home a pumpkin for free with the purchase of three wine bottles from Oliver Winery! 

Movies & Shows

Movies in the Park:  Beetlejuice: October 4 | Bryan Park

Dennis James Hosts Halloween: October 24 | IU Auditorium | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bloomington’s favorite musical mastermind, Dennis James, returns for his annual spooky spectacular Dennis James Hosts Halloween.
This world-renowned cinema organist and IU alum brings silent film to life on IU Auditorium’s 4,543 pipe organ, and this year, the family-friendly event will feature the classic silent film The Lost World.

Spooky Beats & Movie Treats: October 25 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater | 5:30 pm
The name doesn't lie. Come out to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for some spooky beats by the Bloomington Community Band. They will be performing classic Halloween tuned accompanied by horror videos and ghoulish favorites such as the Addams Family and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." This will be followed by the seasonal favorite, "Scooby-Doo Stage Fright." This event is sure to be fun for the entire family!

Rocky Horror Picture Show: October 26 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater | 7:30 pm & 11:30 pm
Cardinal Stage’s 13th annual screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show returns with two screenings of the cult-classic film! Pre-show event and costume contest (which will feature some awesome prizes!) begin 30 minutes before each screening. This year’s pre-show is hosted by the one and only Oriana Peron! Entry fee for the costume contest is $5.

IU Cinema: Universal Monster Mash ("The Mummy" and "The Wolf Man"): October 31 | IU Cinema | 7:00 pm 
Enjoy classic Universal Pictures horror films to get you in the spirit for the spooky holiday! 
 

For the Kiddos

Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: October 18 | Banneker Community Center | 5:30 pm 
Dress in costume for a howling good time! Hear slightly spooky stories, make creepy crafts, play ghoulish games, jam to monster music and, of course, get a Halloween treat! Registration fee is $5 per family.

Trick or Treat Trail: October 19 | RCA Community Park | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The paved trail through the woods comes to life with your child's favorite movie, storybook, and fairy tale characters! Stop at stations to trick-or-treat and hear a story. 

Downtown Trick or Treat: October 25 | Courthouse Square/Downtown Businesses | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Let's celebrate Halloween in style, and by supporting local businesses and celebrating Family!

Skate and Scare: October 26 | Frank Southern Ice Arena | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Have a scary good time at the Frank Southern Ice Arena! Skate through their haunted house on ice to the sounds of spooky tunes. Come in costume for a chance to win prizes. Admission is $6/person and $3 for skate rental. 

Trick or Treat: October 31 | City of Bloomington and Monroe County | 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

For the Adults

Harvest Hootenanny Block Party: October 3 | Switchyard Brewing Company | 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Celebrate the best time of the year in Indiana with beer, live music, food, and fun! Expect a pie-eating contest, mulled hard cider, special beer releases, and so much more all benefiting the Bloomington Playwrights Project & Big Brothers, Big Sisters of South-Central Indiana!

Wine and Halloween Candy Pairing: October 13 & 20 | Oliver Winery | 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Enjoy Sunday afternoon pairing classic Halloween treats like Skittles and Butterfingers with Oliver wines. Three classic candy and wine pairings are included with a $5 wine tasting. 

Halloween Costume Contest and Party: October 25 | Cardinal Spirits | 8:00 pm
The best place for boos and booze is Cardinal Spirits annual Halloween bash at the distillery! Don't miss their costume contest with BIG prizes, fall cocktails, and old-school Halloween treats. As always, they will snap and post photos of costumes for the coveted social media prize.

Dizgo and Costume Contest: October 31 | The Bluebird

Costume Contest Karaoke: October 31 | Bear’s Place

Costume Contests!: October 31 | Kilroy’s on Kirkwood, Kirkwood Stacks, and Kilroy’s Sports Bar

Halloween Dance Parties: October 31 | Kirkwood Stacks and Kilroy’s Sports Bar

Other Haunted Happenings for all Ages

Talk and Book Signing by Author Bob Moody for his book, The Terror of Indiana: October 10 | Monroe County History Center

Nature Sounds: Decomposers: October 11 | Rose Hill Cemetery | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
The Nature Sounds series combines a live, acoustic performance by local musicians with an educational nature presentation about the sounds made and found in all of our outdoor spaces.

Howl at the Moon: October 11 | B-Line Trail | 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Leash up the pups for a glow-in-the-dark pooch pawty and one-mile, after-dark walk on the B-Line Trail. The first 50 dogs receive a glow stick for their collars, and humans are welcome to bring their own glow sticks to light up the night! Arrive early to take part in Fido fun with games and activities including a doggy photo booth!

Ghostly Gathering: October 25 - 26 | Paynetown State Recreation Area | Times Vary
Enjoy a weekend of creepy, ghostly activities at this annual event. Friday, there will crafts and scary stories around the campfire. Saturday, expect more crafts, a costume contest, trick or treating, campsite decorating contests, and a Halloween party!

IU Science Fest: October 26 | Various Buildings on IU Campus | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
The IU College of Arts and Sciences invites you to come explore science on IU Bloomington’s beautiful campus. You’ll have the chance to participate in 150+ hands-on activities, demonstrations, and talks, representing 20 departments and disciplines, from physics to paleontology.