12 Halloween activities in and around Northern New England

New England shines in October. As fall foliage displays wind down, thoughts turn to Halloween, conjuring images of ghosts, goblins and, of course, loads of candy. From trick-or-treating at a shuttered boys’ summer camp to walking an eerie forest trail, here are some hidden gems and popular haunts guaranteed to satisfy every ghostly desire.

Bring the kids to visit the rustic cabins of Tohkomeupog when this summer camp for boys turns into a trick-or-treat village. The cabins are decorated for Halloween and attended by costumed characters (not scary to most people).

Kids of all ages can follow the Trick or Treat Trail, more than a half mile of lighted pathways winding through the camp. Some parts are dark and forested—possibly haunted—but even the littlest costumed visitors will feel safe if they visit early in the day for the Halloweenie Walk.

Trick-or-treating is free, but guests can also visit the Kids Carnival for face painting, games, and food. Proceeds benefit The Laura Foundation for Autism and Epilepsy, which funds therapeutic recreation and educational programs for individuals with autism and/or seizure disorders. October 26.

After Hurricane Irene flooded the Ammonoosuc River in 2011, Dave Harkless, owner of Littleton Bike & Fitness, placed a pumpkin on a stump that the river had deposited outside his shop. Other jack-o’-lanterns quickly joined on the rocks nearby.

Harkless now collaborates with Littleton Parks and Recreation, Friends of Remich Park, and local high school students to place between 2,000 and 2,500 lighted jack-o’-lanterns along the town’s Riverwalk.

The Gathering has grown into a free weekend-long affair, with a pumpkin carving party the day before, afternoon trick-or-treating along Main Street, food trucks, a haunted walk, a concert, and a big bonfire. October 26.

For just one weekend, jack-o’-lanterns welcome families for outdoor trick-or-treating at the Strawbery Banke living-history museum. Guests travel from historic home to historic home in Portsmouth’s oldest neighborhood, collecting candy from costumed staff and volunteers.

Expect pirates, a mysterious fortune teller, and other characters to share ghostly tales. Visitors can also enjoy live music and games at this all-ages affair. This popular event typically sells out, so grab tickets early. October 24–27, rain or shine. Museum members $6, nonmembers, $12.

Get a real fright beneath the grandstand at the Champlain Valley Expo. Long after the festival has disappeared for the season, evil hordes move in to taunt unsuspecting visitors who travel through mazes and scary scenes.

This is no ordinary fright, however. Marking its 20th season, this fright fest uses a team of around 80 expertly trained volunteers and cinema-level visual effects to craft realistic scares. Fright masters attend a four-day intensive workshop each year in New York City to perfect live combat scenes, and many volunteers attend haunted event conventions throughout the year to learn the latest in jump-scares.

Not surprisingly, this event is not for the young nor for the faint of heart. Organizers suggest leaving kids younger than 13 at home. Visitors who get in over their heads can shout “safe word” to calm things down. But if horror is your vibe, come to the “extra bloody” shows toward the end of the month—and wear a poncho, ‘nuff said.

A portion of the proceeds benefit local charities. In 2023, this gory event donated $2,000 to the Champlain Valley Expo Heritage Fund and $4,000 to Habitat for Humanity. October 17–19 and 24–26. Adults, $18.

Enjoy a classic fall celebration, complete with hayrides, trick-or-treating, a sunflower maze, and pumpkin bowling at this outdoor history museum and working farm. Vermont-made ice cream, hot spiced cider, and apple cider doughnuts are available for purchase. October 27. Adult museum admission, $19 (free for members). Children in costume receive free admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Learn about “Boots” Berry, a ghost said to roam the Green Mountain Inn, and visit the alleged burial site of “Emily,” another local spirit, on this candlelight walking tour of Stowe’s haunted and historic sites.

Operated by historian Shawn Woods for a quarter century, the tours are recommended for ages 10 and up and limited to 30 participants—each carrying their own lantern.

Offered from September through December, the walks become extra spooky in the days leading up to Halloween. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in October. Adults, $12. Reservations required: Call 802-244-1173 or e-mail Newf1Ted@aol.com.

During spooky season, the nearly 100-year-old Leavitt Theatre becomes a realm of spine-tingling frights. Historical charm blends with modern scares, from a sinister apothecary and a disorienting hall of mirrors to a chilling clown den. Past and present converge in a night of spine-chilling thrills with strobe lights, simulated blood, and loud noises during an approximately 15-minute tour.

Planners expect to expand this season’s tours with even more frights, so check the website, Instagram, or Facebook for schedule and pricing details closer to the event. Since this is the stuff of nightmares, the experience is recommended for ages 12 and up.

The fun doesn't end with the haunting, however. The theater will screen free classic scary films in October, alongside an award-winning cocktail bar and dinner menu. Its annual Halloween party and costume contest takes place on October 26. October 18–20 and 25–27.

Visit if you dare. Guests who wander Haunted Grandview Manor encounter a funeral home complete with a morgue, an area packed with creepy clowns, and a cemetery full of spooky howls and hoots. Get ready for jump scares aplenty, thanks to almost 20 volunteers and a variety of animatronics both indoors and out.

The attraction, which originated in a private home, has grown into an annual event that attracts nearly 5,000 visitors every year. October 4–6, 11–13, 18–20, and 25–27, and November 1–2. “No Scare” events available in full daylight on Thursday nights and select weekend afternoons, with all the lights on and no actors nor animatronics. $25 for full-scare (recommended ages 12 and up), $10 for “no scare” showings.

Long after this splash park has closed for the season, the woods behind it become an epic trail of lights, sound, and heart-pounding moments.

Visitors pass through 14 scenes, including “Dollhouse of Doom,” new for 2024. The event is a fundraiser for free community events in Old Orchard Beach. Fridays and Saturdays, October 4–November 2, plus October 13, 27, and 31. Adults, $20.

The Presque Isle Historical Society shares creepy true stories about the historic downtown by lantern light or by hearse every October. The annual Haunted Lantern History Tours, available as a one-hour guided stroll or aboard a heated antique trolley, visit 13 spots around downtown where the events occurred. October 11–12. Walking tour, $5; Trolley tour (reservations required), $7.50.

Ghost hunters should consider the city’s Haunted Hearse Tour. Following in the footsteps of the Maine Paranormal Investigative Team’s 2018 visit in search of spirits, this is not for the faint of heart.

In what used to be the city hospital’s morgue (now part of City Hall’s basement), investigators have heard a noise that sounded like an angry man growling and seen blue orbs, as well as the essence of a young woman dressed in white.

Participants drive their own cars, following the society's Cadillac hearse and listening as the tour is broadcast over their car radios. Participants enter three of the 13 sites discussed—perhaps taking pictures to track lingering ghosts or spirits. October 17, 31. $10 (reservations required).

For nearly 40 years, Theater in the Open has been crafting a haunted trail that winds through Maudslay State Park, passing ghosts, ghouls and other eerie denizens who might actually be kids, many ranging in age from 12 to 16. But this is no amateur hour: These sometimes spooky and sometimes silly vignettes are carefully rehearsed and totally family friendly, down to the youngest guests.

To be completely safe, young children may ask for a magic acorn to ward off any frights. The event is literally a walk in the park with stops for different performances. Allow two hours, including a 10-minute stroll to and from the parking lot.

Proceeds from ticket and refreshment sales benefit the theater company’s summer camp and slate of year-round free productions. October 19–20. Tickets, $10. Parking $5 ($20 for out-of-state vehicles).

Eccentric scientist, inventor, engineer, and art connoisseur John Hays Hammond, Jr. had a particular interest in spiritualism, which is the focus of evening tours at the 1920s castle he built as an ode to historic edifices in Europe. These after-dark tours are an opportunity to explore the history of the Spiritualist movement and the occult side of the Hammond Castle Museum’s past.

With the castle dimly lit and guests given the option to carry electronic candles, the 55-minute fully guided specialty tour of the Gothic-inspired building shares tales that include Hammond’s attempts to communicate with ghosts. The whole space takes on a different feel at night—all dark shadows and subtle whispers, with a courtyard straight out of old-world Europe.

While this tour is not recommended for children under 13, kids are welcome at the museum’s annual Trick-or-Treat at the Castle on October 30 (timed tickets for adults are $10, it’s free for children).

The museum will also screen F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film Nosferatu on October 14 with live piano accompaniment. Candlelight and Spiritualism tour offered Thursdays from July through October, maximum 25 people per tour. Adult tour, $25.

New England native Jeanne O’Brien Coffey delights in sharing stories about her corner of the world. Her work has also appeared in Boston and Naturally, Danny Seo magazines.