Scare Scale: Guide to Halloween Activities in Fort Wayne, Indiana
With the changing leaves, costumes galore, and spooky events, October is always a festive time of year! But not every event is right for every person. Fort Wayne's largest Halloween celebration, Fright Night, returns Saturday, October 21! That one day in itself contains dozens of events for each age group and scare preference.
To help you out as you plan your October, we're sorting this month's events by scare level. Each section has tips for Fright Night events, as well as additional events happening throughout October.
1. Young Children Activities: Merry-Not-Scary
FRIGHT NIGHT (October 21):
Despite its name, Fright Night offers plenty of kid-friendly events that go light on scare, and heavy on fun! Grab your costumes and check out a few of these offerings on October 21 that are great for all ages:
- Zombie Walk — You'll find kids of all ages joining the Zombie Walk downtown at 3 pm. Everyone is welcome! NOTE: Some costumes may be a bit graphic or scary for our youngest ghosts and goblins.
- Halloween Haunt — Head to the Community Center from 3-6 pm during Fright Night for fun games and activities!
- Mad Science Day — Learn all about science at Science Central anytime from 10am-5pm. Demonstrations will be going on to teach kids all about the weird side of science!
See the full Fright Night Survival Guide for details.
THROUGHOUT OCTOBER:
Additional all-ages activities include —
- Wild Zoo Halloween — Visit the animals and wear fun costumes!
- Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival — Corn mazes, pumpkins, ice cream, and more can all be found at this fun farm festival.
- Pumpkin Path Display (Oct. 3-29) and Garden Trick or Treat (Oct. 28) at the Botanical Conservatory — The Botanical Conservatory has much to offer for spooktacular events!
- Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead at Auer Performance Hall at Purdue University Fort Wayne — An educational and fun concert about music around the world.
- Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead at Fort Wayne Museum of Art — This lovely exhibit honors the Mexican traditions of Day of the Dead.
- Kids' Halloween Hike at Lindenwood Nature Preserve — For kids ages 4-11, this not-so-scary Halloween hike will traverse through nature and Fort Wayne's beautiful trails!
- Halloween Party with Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press — A crazy light show and witchy harmonies, complete with wild costumes, make up this Halloween performance!
2. Teen Terror Activities
FRIGHT NIGHT (October 21):
Take it up a notch, and get zombified for the Zombie Walk! Then, discover the haunts of Fort Wayne with these additional Fright Night events:
- Old Fort Lantern Tours — Take a 50-minute tour of The Old Fort to hear bone-chilling stories. Look out for the headless horseman!
- Zombie Prom — Don't take off your zombie attire right away! Instead, head over to Bell Mansion and dance till you're undead!
See the full Fright Night Survival Guide for details.
THROUGHOUT OCTOBER:
Additional events for teens and older include —
- Fort Wayne Haunted Houses — Ghouls, goblins, and all things spooky are just waiting to scare you at these haunted houses!
- Escape Rooms — With plenty of Halloween-themed rooms to pick from, bring a team and try to escape!
- Growl-O-Ween: Static-X and SevenDust — Two metal acts from the 90s combine to make this Halloween show exciting, loud, and full of spooky fun!
- Werewolf Chase Fun Run — Outrun the werewolves and try not to get bitten!
3. Mature Audiences: Hauntings and Zombies
Up the frightening factor with the spoookiest stories and haunts around, perfect for an evening out with friends. These events are recommended for adults and not suitable for all ages.. Attend if you dare!
FRIGHT NIGHT (October 15):
- Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Botanical Conservatory — Experience the cult classic with a live audience! Does it make you shiver with antici...pation?
- Hobnobben Film Festival — Cinema Center's iconic film festival is bound to have some terrifying films showing!
See the full Fright Night Survival Guide for details.
THROUGHOUT OCTOBER:
Additional events for adults include —
- Nightmare Before Miracle Halloween Pop-Up Bar — Yes, a Halloween-themed pop-up bar by the team at Copper Spoon! (21+ only)
- Hysterium — One of Indiana's top haunts!
- Ghost Tours at the Bell Mansion — Encounter the paranormal on a 2-hour tour of the historic Bell Mansion, which served as a funeral home for more than 90 years. Visit all 3 floors, see the original gurneys and embalming tables in the basement, and learn about the spooky past. Choose a Ghost Tour, or take it up a notch and go lights out with a Flashlight Tour.
- Midweek Paranormal Fun — Tour Bell Mansion and learn how to use paranormal equipment to capture your own ghost activity!
- Halloween Psychic and Holistic Expo — Shop for holistic products and get your fortune told at this exciting expo coming to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum!
- Hunter's Moon Night Hike — Hike under a full moon, experience nature, and try to avoid bites from howling werewolves.
- Spooky Drag Brunch — Stunning performances from drag queens and delicious drinks await at this Halloween-themed performance at Birdie's Rooftop bar.
- Haunted Masquerade Ball — Don elegant attire and beautiful masks to dance the night away at the haunted Bell Mansion.
Plus, there are many other festive events for you to enjoy this October in Fort Wayne!
See the full Calendar of Events, or check out more spooky events for horror lovers.
*This post was originally published October 2018 and has been updated and reformatted. Last Updated: August 2023
