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Created by Lumi Hospitality
Updated for 2023
Oktoberfests, tricks, treats, and things that go bump in the night—if you’re living in, or around the Hartford area, we welcome you to indulge in all the fall events happening during one of the spookiest times of the year!
October is the month for all things scary, creepy, and pumpkin-y, and every year, Hartford is host to tons of Halloween–and fall-inspired events and activities for all ages, all month long. Keep on reading for our pick of the spookiest of the fall things to do in Hartford this season.
Pratt Street is always delivering family-friendly and completely original events and this Halloween is no exception! For two weekends in a row, Pratt Street will be the spooky setting for Hartford.com’s annual Bizarre Bazaar, an artisan craft fair that will host live music, local artisans, creepy connoisseurs, and more! Head over to Pratt on Saturday, October 21 and Saturday, October 28 to check it out.
The street will also be hosting a Halloween Trick or Treat event on October 28 during Bizarre Bazaar, so show up in costume and collect some candy ahead of the big night!
Parkville Market is hosting a Halloween party for families AND pets on Saturday, October 21 which will feature pumpkin decorating, a costume contest and parade for both pets and kids and so much more. Come for the Halloween fun and stay for delicious food and drinks!
This family-friendly Halloween event at the Connecticut Science Center on Sunday, October 22 invites families to put on their costumes, collect Halloween goodies throughout the museum, meet the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, do creepy crafts, and so much more! This is a free event for kids under 17.
For those looking for a fright or a chill down their spine that can only be settled with a sip of a fall-themed cocktail, here are our event recommendations for you! Note: these events are either recommended for kids aged 10 and older or adults 21+.
Okay, we know this one isn’t exactly a Halloween thing, but Oktoberfests are an important part of the fall season too! Parkville Market is hosting a big Oktoberfest celebration and turning their patio into a true biergarten with competitions like stein hoisting, yodeling and pretzel eating. This event will feature beers from Counter Weight Brewing Co. and Boston Beer Company. Festivities will be on October 7 & 8 beginning at 1pm.
On October 12, The Wadsworth’s Spirited Social will dare to mix the world of art and the supernatural. This truly one-of-a-kind, 21+ Halloween event will have it all: drinks and treats, special-effects makeup demonstrations, an immersive display room with oddities from the Curioporium, an outdoor witch trials history tour, a screening of a Guillermo Del Torro horror movie, and more… don’t forget to wear a costume!
Tour the Victorian home of Mark Twain like you never have before. A night filled with mysteries, creepy stories, and accounts of unexplained encounters that occurred in the Clemens family home. This is not recommended for children under 10. Tours start running on October 13.
Cedar Hill Cemetery is the final resting place for many notable and famous people and is known for its iconic and intricate gravestones. During the Halloween season, history comes alive during the Hallowed History Lantern tour where character actors share spooky stories about the residents. This event is on Friday, October 27 from 6-9pm with tour slots every 15 minutes.
While there’s nothing necessarily haunted about this event, it’s still worth mentioning! The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Tales of Halloween will take you on a musical adventure through some of the most iconic and creepy movie scores—featuring pieces from Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jurassic Park, and more. This event will take place in Seaverns Room at The Bushnell at 3pm on October 28.