Photograph courtesy VisitCincy
Family Events
Jack-o’-lanterns meet the seven seas at Underwater Pumpkin Glow. The aquarium is full of festive decorations—carved pumpkin displays, pumpkin treats for the animals, and tanks decked out in festive decorations. New for this year are kids pumpkin decorating crafts and a 10-foot tall Giant Pacific Octopus made of pumpkins. Now-Sun, Nov 2, Newport Aquarium, One Levee Way, Newport
Cincinnati Zoo Jack O’Lantern Glow
Back for the second year, the Zoo’s Jack O’Lantern Glow will feature more than 6,000 hand-carved pumpkins and fall displays along a half-mile trail. While most animals will be asleep, the Reptile House and Night Hunters will be open. Tickets vary by day and Zoo membership status. Oct 3-5, 7-12, 14-19, 21-26, 28-30; Cincinnati Zoo; 3400 Vine St., Avondale
Heritage Village Museum will be transformed into Haunted Village with ghosts, witches, cursed archeologists, fortune tellers, and the headless horseman all populating the town. There will also be games, storytelling, balloon art, face painting, and a concession stand. Tickets are $15 or free for museum members and kids two and under. Oct 10-12, 17-18, 24-25; Heritage Village Museum, 11500 Sharon Rd., Sharonville
Get in costume and head to the zoo for trick-or-treating, special animal enrichment, magic shows, fall snacks, Fiona hide-and-seek, and more. All activities are free with admission, but it’s requested that treat bags are brought from home. Don’t forget to check out the Zoo’s sustainable candy guide for buying Halloween treats. Oct 11-12, 18-19, 25-26; noon-5 p.m., Cincinnati Zoo; 3400 Vine St., Avondale
Recommended for families with young children, this non-scary trek through Caldwell Nature Preserve will be lined with carved pumpkins and character meet-and greets. Costumes are encouraged, but only with closed-toed shoes. Admission is $8 per person ages three and up. Fri, Oct 17, 6-8 p.m., Caldwell Nature Preserve, 430 W. North Bend Rd., Carthage
Join Queen City Charities for a family-friendly Halloween drag brunch. In addition to delicious food, there will be family-friendly activities, a costume contest with prizes, music from DJ Bobby G, and performances by Alexander Cameron, Molly Mormen, The Lady Phaedra, and Brock Leah Spears. Ticket prices vary per age group with all proceeds going to Queen City Charities. Sat, Oct 18, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., OTR Stillhouse, 2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine
Spooky movies will be screened all around downtown for free in the lead-up to Halloween. The screenings are: Oct 22, Beetlejuice at 8:30 p.m. on Fountain Square; Oct 23, Goosebumps marathon at 8:30 p.m. at Court Street Plaza; Oct 24, Hocus Pocus at 7 p.m. in Washington Park; Oct 24, A Nightmare on Elm Street at 11 p.m. at Memorial Hall (this requires a ticket and ID); Oct 25, The Haunted Mansion at 7 p.m. in Imagination Alley; Oct 26, Scooby Doo at 7 p.m. in Zeigler Park. Wed, Oct 22-Sun, Oct 26, various
The Morrow Arts Center is giving you the chance to destroy pumpkins in any which way you choose. A $10 smash pass will get you goggles, smashing tools, a pumpkin, and entry into the smash zones. A portion of the proceeds go to Myles Ahead Rescue Sanctuary and all pumpkin debris will be given to local farms for compost and feed. Fri, Oct 24, 6-10 p.m., Morrow Arts Center, 10 Miranda St., Morrow
In addition to Pumpkin SmashFest, the Morrow Arts Center will have two nights of Halloween fun including the Morrow Maul haunted attraction, late-night shopping, trick-or-treating, seasonal food and drinks, live music by Creep it Real, a dance party with DJ Clown, and more. Fri, Oct 24-Sat, Oct 25, 6-10 p.m., Morrow Arts Center, 10 Miranda St., Morrow
It’s all about dinosaurs at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s day of Halloween fun. Come in costume and check out some bones and fossils up close—plus there will be plenty of eerie art, delicious treats, and more spooky fun throughout Union Terminal. All activities will be included with regular museum admission. Sat, Oct 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate
Findlay Market Halloween Bites & Delights Tasting Tour
Market merchants will be sampling some seasonal treats. Tickets are $42 and include bites like fudge from Gibbs Cheese, chocolate from Maverick Chocolate, and Jalapeño Focaccia BLTs from Makers Bakers. Sat, Oct 25, 2-3:30 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
The Cincinnati Nature Center has created a nighttime Halloween trail with treats, games, crafts, animal encounters, nature education, and more. Kids who complete the trail will get a special prize. Flashlights are recommended. Tickets are $10 for CNC members and $18 for non-members. Sat, Oct 25, 6:30-8 p.m., Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Rd., Milford
Watch and sing along to the Disney Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus while the Cincinnati Pops provide live orchestrations. There will be an evening performance on Saturday and a matinee on Sunday. All kids tickets are half off with the purchase of an adult ticket. Sat, Nov 1-Sun, Nov 2, Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Adult Events
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at Cincy Shakes
This Halloween, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is putting on Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, a modern comedic take on the classic vampire tale. Christopher Gutherie, a Cincy Shakes mainstay in his 13th season with the company, will be playing the titular bloodsucking count. The play is recommended for PG-13 audiences. Fri, Oct 3-Sat, Nov 1, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Cult-classic horror film Evil Dead (1981) will be played at the Taft with live symphonic accompaniment to Joe Loduca’s original score. The screening will feature a newly restored HD version of the NC-17 movie. Tickets start at $51.70. Tues, Oct 7, 8 p.m., Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., downtown
Nightmare on Gay Street: Orbiting OTR Intergalactic Bar Crawl
For the second annual Midwestern Lesbian Halloween bar crawl, things are getting extraterrestrial with stops at Mecca, Homemakers, Pins, MOTR Pub, Liberty’s Bar & Bottle, and Alice. Tickets to the trek around OTR are $15 and include access to bar specials, a limited edition Midwestern Lesbian carabiner, and an exclusive Nightmare on Gay Street sticker pack. Check in is 5-7 p.m. at Mecca and there will be a free afterparty at Alice. Sat, Oct 11, 5 p.m., Over-the-Rhine
Aquarium After Dark: Pumpkin Bash
This is a grown-ups only Halloween party at the Newport Aquarium. In addition to the regular Aquarium After Dark activities (animal meet-and-greets, twilight tours, scavenger hunts, food stations, games), guests at the Pumpkin Bash will get to explore Underwater Pumpkin Glow, enjoy fall treats, and take part in a costume contest with bonus points for aquatic themed outfits. Tickets are $59.99. Fri, Oct 17, 7:30-11 p.m., Newport Aquarium, One Levee Way, Newport
Cincinnati Museum Center After Hours: Halloween Edition
Get ready for a spine-tingling evening at the museum with mad science experiments, creepy critters, hands-on demonstrations, costume contests, and more at this 21+ Halloween bash. Tickets are $20 and include full museum admission. Thurs, Oct 23, 7-10 p.m., Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate
It’s a Halloween party with a side of local craft beer tasting. For $30, (until October 20 when it becomes $40) you’ll get ten beer tastings from Cincinnati microbreweries. Gee, Your Band Smells Terrific will be playing some classic Hallows Eve hits as you sample the brews. Costumes are encouraged. Fri, Oct 24, 6-10 p.m., Ault Park Pavilion, 5090 Observatory Cir., Mt. Lookout
Carnegie Presents: The Rocky Horror Show
The Carnegie Theatre’s award-winning production of The Rocky Horror Show returns again this Halloween season starring Pam Kravetz as The Narrator and Drag Race alum Dusty Ray Bottoms as Dr. Frank N. Furter. This year’s production will include a special midnight performance on Halloween night. Tickets start at $18. Fri, Oct 24-Sun, Nov 2, The Carnegie, 1028 Scott St., Covington
Run for you life at this scary fun run on the banks of the Ohio River. Racers will take off from the Gates of Hell through the 5K course with blasting rock music all the way to the Fiery Finish where they’ll get to party with DJ Count Trackula. Registration is $40 in advance or $50 day-of and includes a t-shirt, medal, and afterparty entry. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Cure Starts Now. Sat, Oct 25, 7 p.m., The Banks, downtown
Art After Dark: All Hallows’ Eve
The Cincinnati Art Museum’s after hours Halloween party will feature spooky gallery tours, music from DJ Trub and DJ Clockwork (the late Mac Miller’s DJ), a giant puppet parade from the Visionaries + Voices SHOW OF HANDS Puppet Festival, cash bars, and special activations from Red Bull. Admission and parking are free and costumes are encouraged. Fri, Oct 31, 5-9 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Eden Park
Halloween Happy Hour Cooking Class
At this Tablespoon Cooking Co. happy hour class, you’ll learn how to make Spooky Blackberry Margaritas and Creamy Bacon and Jalapeño and Wonton Bites with a Spicy
Honey Sauce. Tickets are $80.96 individually or $121.93 for duos and include all food and drinks made in class, plus recipes to take home. Fri, Oct 31, 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., Tablespoon Cooking Co., 1731 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
The Official Halloween Bar Crawl
Drink your way around OTR in costume for two days with this bar crawl making stops at Bloom, Cobblestone, Liberty’s, MOTR, Queen City Exchange, Revel Urban Winery, and Rosedale. Drinkers can check in at either Rosedale or Cobblestone and the after party will be at Bloom. Tickets are $18.41 individually or $12.78 per person with a group. Fri, Oct 31-Sat, Nov 1, 4 p.m.-midnight, various
This two-day Halloween extravaganza in the Rhinegeist taproom will offer a festive experience for different audiences. On Friday night, DJ Bobby G will be in charge of the music for a killer drag show and late-night dance party. Sunday will feature more family friendly activities and a performance by the Naked Karate Girls. Both parties will have vendors and themed drinks and snacks available. Fri, Oct 31-Sat, Nov 1, Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Decorated Body Annual Halloween Party
The beloved Pendleton tattoo studio is opening its doors for a Halloween party with music, games, snacks, an open bar, and a tattoo gift card raffle. Entry is $10 and comes with a raffle ticket—come in costume to get another for free. Prizes include a $100, $300, and $500 gift certificate to the studio. Sat, Nov 1, 7-11 p.m., The Decorated Body, 1118 Broadway, Pendleton
Dogs
This festival in Glendale features a dog costume parade/contest, photo booth, canine cake walk, live training demos, a kissing booth with shelter pups, and more. The humans can enjoy live music, concessions, vendors, and raffle baskets. Saturday, October 4, 2-6 p.m., Harry Whiting Brown Community Center, 231 E. Sharon Rd., Glendale
At the Lytle Park Hotel’s first annual Pumpkin Walk, pups and people alike can admire the animal-themed carved pumpkins that are competing in a celebrity-judged competition where the winning animal welfare nonprofit will walk away with a cash prize. There will also be adoptable dogs, pet supply vendors, food and drinks, an exclusive canine-friendly hotel restaurant menu, and plenty of treats from the partnering Brewhaus Dog Bones. Sun, Oct 19, 1-5 p.m., Lytle Park, 501 E. Fourth St., downtown
This family-oriented Halloween carnival has it all—crafts, hay rides, pumpkin painting, trunk-or-treating, games—but the main event is the 2 p.m. Dog Costume Contest. Dogs must be registered by 1:45 p.m. and in costume, at least six months old, on a leash, and wearing ID tags. The winning pup will receive a handmade glass trophy. Sat, Oct 25, noon-3 p.m., ArtsConnect, 9158 Winton Rd., Springfield Twp.
Your dog will get to take part in canine tick-or-treating, a photo booth, and a costume contest. Local pet bakery, Pugalicious, will be providing treats. While the dogs can’t drink craft MadTree beers, they’ll be able to enjoy doggie ice cream. There will also be adoptable dogs from Proud Pups Rescue. Sat, October 25, 12-3 p.m., MadTree Brewing, 3301 Madison Rd., Oakley
Covington Pooch Parade & Doggy Poker Run
Costumed pups will be on parade at this fuzzy Halloween party that also includes vendors, a 3 p.m. dog costume contest, and a poker walk that could win you $500. Participants will stop by five local businesses to collect cards and whoever gets the best hand wins the cash prize. Poker walk registration is $25 and includes costume contest entry and a bandana. Sat, Oct 25, noon-4 p.m., The Promenade, W. Sixth St., Covington
Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest
Findlay Market will host this canine costume contest where the winner will receive a year’s worth of free food from Pet Wants. Second and third place will win gift cards, but all participants will receive treats. Judging will be based on creativity, cleverness, ability to keep the costume on, and overall cuteness. There are 30 slots and registration is five dollars. Sat, Nov 1, 4:30-6 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
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