The people of Boston have embraced the city’s macabre past and turned it to offer a fulfilling Halloween experience for people of all ages. Halloween in Boston starts at least a month before the actual event on October 31st. One can experience castle adventures, magic shows, pumpkin carving and illumination, costume parade, themed-carnivals, trick-or-treating for children and 5k costumed-marathon run. For adults, they can either spend a family weekend or enjoy the adult-themed circus, comedy shows, graveyard tours and cruises. There’s even a cute costume parade for dogs! Next time you are in Boston in October, don’t miss out on the below-mentioned most popular Halloween events!
Halloween Events for Children
1. Halloween Celebration on Castle Island (Family)
For those looking for a weekend full of family Halloween fun, the Magical Halloween Castle at Fort Independence (Castle Island) is perfect. Fort Independence gets converted into a kid-friendly Halloween castle, with scary and non-scary parts, so it is suitable for children of all ages. There is story-telling, magic show, refreshments and many other activities.
How to Get In: Admission to the Castle Island, Boston is free. All the activities occur between noon and 4 p.m.
2. Trick-or-treating at Pru Boo (Family)
Pru Boo is the biggest Halloween party in the city of Boston for children as young as toddlers to 12 years old. The shops at the Prudential Center host this annual event with over 50 participating stores and restaurants. For a small donation of $5, children get to fill the trick-or-treat bags with candy from participating stores around the mall. All proceeds go to ‘The Home for Little Wanderers’ to benefit children. Children wear their scariest and cutest costumes to do trick-or-treating in addition to Halloween inspired activities, concerts in the South Garden, face-painting and magic shows.
Location: Prudential Center, Boston
How to Get In: Admission to Pru Boo is free.
Halloween Events for Children and Adults
1. Halloween in Salem (Family)
Salem, known as the ‘Witch Capital,’ is infamous since 1600s for its gory witch trials. Today, the city has totally converted its dark and haunted past into spooky fun for October. Each year, Salem hosts ‘Haunted Happenings’ – a series of Halloween events of tours, séances, haunted houses, psychic readings, magic shows, themed carnivals and live music. The city also offers witch museums, historical sites, and restaurants.
How to Get There: Drive down the scenic route or take the high-speed ferry from Boston.
How to Get In: Admission to the Salem Witch Museum and the House of Seven Gables is included with the Go Boston Card.
2. Boston Frog Pond Pumpkin Float (Family)
One of the most popular and beautiful Halloween events is the Boston Frog Pond Pumpkin float that takes place at the heart of the city of Boston. People bring in 8-inches Jack-O-Lanterns. The staff of Frog Pond illuminate these and set them afloat. By evening, it gets entirely illuminated with the pond full of glowing pumpkins. Children can wear different kinds of costumes to the event and participate in music, glow-in-the-dark games, magic shows, haunted corn maze video game trucks and crafts & treats that are Halloween-inspired.
How to Get There: One can take either the bus or the subway train to reach the city center.
3. Halloween Pet Parade - Faneuil Marketplace (Pet Show)
Halloween in Boston even has an event for dog lovers! The Halloween pet parade is one of the city’s favorite and cutest attractions. Watch as the dogs and owners both dress up in cute outfits and strut their stuff on this event. There are also prizes in several categories.
How to Get In: For those interested to register, please click here.
Location: Faneuil Hall Marketplace
4. The Boston Costume Dash (Family)
For fitness lovers, there is the Boston Costume Dash, which is a 5k run that benefits ‘Best Buddies.’ This is a charitable organization that is meant for the purpose of aiding people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Parents and children aged 10 years and older can dress up together in their Halloween costumes and participate. All runners are entitled to receiving a medal after the race, then get to party on the Common and participate in a costume contest.
Location: Copley Square, Boston - https://costumedash.com/boston/
How to Get In: The race starts at 9:00 a.m. The registration takes place between 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The registration fee is $45.
5.Ghosts and Gravestones Tour (It may not be suitable for children under 13. Children under 6 are not permitted)
This tour, also known as ‘fright-seeing,’ is for those who wish to be acquainted with the city’s gory past. The tour lasts for 90 minutes, a part of which includes walking. As the trolley winds its way through graveyards and execution sites, its costumed ‘gravedigger’ will entertain the guests with gory and haunted tales of the city’s past – torture, murder, and even people being buried alive! Of horrifying stories of the Boston Strangler, Jolly Jane, and Cotton Mather. Visit the 400-year old burial grounds and Boston’s most haunted hotel – The Omni Parker House.
How to Get In: Tickets for Ghosts & Gravestones tours need to be purchased separately from the tour company’s website - https://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/boston.
Halloween Events for Adults Only
1. ImprovBoston's GoreFest - "XV: Horror House" (Adult Comedy Show)
One of Boston’s most famous adult comedy clubs, it offers a musical romp and comedy show of sleazy humor, dangerous games, devised romances, and a hungry “House” that likes to eat. Guests can even expect some satire and mockery, plenty of flowing blood and flying guts. Don’t wear your good clothes. Keep a poncho handy. This show is not appropriate for the easily offended.
Location: ImprovBoston Theater
How to Get In: For tickets, please visit the website at www.improvboston.com/gorefest.
2. Cirque of the Dead (Adult-only Circus Show)
In its 5th year running, Cirque of the Dead is not for the faint-hearted. The Boston Circus Guild presents this adults-only extravaganza as demons, witches and monsters perform death-defying acrobatics, burlesque, and sideshow. This show is filled with humor and gore. Guests need to be careful as performers suspend themselves and lurk all around the venue. Boston comedian Wes Hazard hosts it, and Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band provides live and booty-shaking music!
Location: 4 Benson Street, Brighton, MA 02135
How to Get In: Tickets can be purchased by visiting the link - https://www.bostoncircusguild.com/cotd.php
