It’s time to celebrate all things spooky. Whether you’re up for big scares and haunted adventures, or just want to show off your best costume and indulge in some Halloween candy, there are Halloween events happening all month long for everyone in Rochester, Minnesota.
Halloween events for Kids & Teens
Kids Ghost Paint Class
October 7, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Kids can learn how to paint an adorable ghost at this class, which provides a pre-drawn stencil and is great for ages 6+.
Littlest Halloween Party
October 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Nana Gogo Toybrary’s Halloween Party will have treats, sensory stations, face painting, art & crafts, music & dance!
BOO at the ZOO!
October 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costume and go trick or treating at the new nature center, participate in a themed coloring station, and watch an animal pumpkin “carving” contest.
Goats and Goblins Halloween Party at the Farm
October 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and October 29, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This Halloween party offers free treats for kids AND free trets for kids to feed the animals. Other activities include a corn pit, corn maze, petting zoo, bale towers, jump pads, wagon rides and pony rides.
Halloween Teen Karaoke Night
October 28, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Teens are welcome at St. James Coffee to get up on stage and sing to their heart’s content!
Halloween Theatre Events
Blithe Spirit
October 25-November 6, 2023 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm)
This high-spirited comedy is sure to tickle your goosebumps! Researching his novel, Charles, invites the medium Madame Arcati for a séance. Consumed in a trance, she unwittingly summons the ghost of Charles’s dead wife, Elvira, who makes a play to reclaim her husband, much to the chagrin of Charles’s new wife.
That Theatre Company presents Spookiest House on the Block
October 6 – October 21, 2023
The R-Rated Halloween comedy hit of 2022 is back! This time with a bigger cast, more dead bodies, harder laughs and an updated script. Come laugh into the Halloween season with this hilarious R-rated comedy!
Halloween Events for the Whole Family
Creepy Dolls: Murder at the Masquerade Creepy Dolls Exhibit
October 4 - October 28, 2023
History Center of Olmsted County
Test your detective skills at the scene of the crime along with additional story displays, each holding clues and important information. The dolls each selected some of their favorite rarely-seen items hidden away in the HCOC vaults to join them in the displays. Solve the crime and vote in person at the History Center of Olmsted County!
Friday the 13th Glow Run
October 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
This 5K Glow Fun Run welcomes all ages and all levels. Glow goodies will be handed out before the race to add to the fun!
Various Art Classes at Art Heads Emporium
Dates vary throughout the month of October
Art Heads Emporium has a wide variety of spooky art classes throughout the entire month of October. Make your own ghost terrarium, paint ghosts in the forest, make a spooky wreath, created pressed floral pumpkins and much more with the guidance of experience art instructors.
Freaky 5K
October 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Pine Island Secondary 5-12 (223 1st Ave. SE, Pine Island, MN 55963)
Costumes are encouraged at the third annual Freaky 5K and Kids Fun Run!
Halloween at Little Thistle
October 28, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Head to Little Thistle to witness a tarot card reader and a psychic! Plus, a costume contest starting at 6pm!
Halloween Events for Adults
Monster Mash Film Series
September 27-October 23, 2023 (various showtimes)
Each week, Pop’s Art Theater will take an original, golden age horror film and pair it with one of its modern counterparts. There’s something for everyone for the spookiest, and weirdest, set of double features you'll see all year!
Sept 27-Oct 2: Vampires — Dracula and Twilight
Oct 4-9: Frankenstein — Frankenstein and Young Frankenstein
Oct 11-16: The Creature — Creature from the Black Lagoon and Shape of Water
Oct 18-23: Zombies — Night of the Living Dead and Shaun of the Dead
Creepy Dolls: Murder at the Masquerade
October 13, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The History Center of Olmsted County’s collection of historic, creepy dolls entice the public to join them for an eerie evening at the Chateau Theatre in downtown Rochester. The event will include a dinner, cash bar (hosted by Bleu Duck), costume contest, DJ, live painting, and more! Inspect the displays to see if you can solve the crime before the shocking reveal at the end of the night! This is an 18+ event.
October Halloween Dance
October 14, 2023, 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Martial Arts Fitness Center (2849 Broadway Ave. South)
Begin with a lesson taught by Gary Dahl of Dahl Dance in the style of American Rumba, then dance the night away with special musical guests The D’Sievers! Costumes are highly encouraged.
Category Is Dance Party
October 21, 2023 from 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
This dance party features techno lights, pop-up drag performances, and more! Don’t miss the Halloween Costume Contest at 1am. This event is for ages 21+.
Hauntings with Hawk Trolley Tours
Various dates from September 29 – November 11, 2023
Pickup at Centerstone Plaza Hotel
Join Dr. Hawk Horvath aboard our trolley for an evening ride through Rochester's darker sides. The Hauntings with Hawk tour offers guests an evening adventure exploring the city's strange and macabre past -- with tales of grave-robbing, unsolved murder, mystery and mayhem as you travel past or visit many of the city's most haunted, most tragic, and sacred sites.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975) with a LIVE community shadow cast
October 27-October 31 (various showtimes)
Come watch the 1975 film THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975) with a LIVE community shadow cast! This event is for ages 17+. Select props are included with your ticket.
Halloween Bash
October 28, 2023 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Do the Monster Mash at the LTS Halloween Bash! There will be two costume contests throughout the night as well as themed drink releases.
The next big event is always just around the corner! Check out Experience Rochester’s Events Calendar for more things to do.