As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, Rochester transforms into a city of eerie excitement. October brings an array of spooky and family-friendly Halloween events, from ghostly hikes and haunted houses to pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating adventures. Whether you’re looking for thrilling scares or activities fit for the whole family, Rochester offers a little something for everyone during the Halloween season.
Getting into the Halloween spirit isn’t hard when there are so many spooky activities hosted in the Greater Rochester area. We talked to our Doud residents and leasing team to compile the quintessential list of 13 Halloween events in Rochester, NY, from visiting Rochester’s haunted sites to trick-or-treating at family-friendly events!
Prefer a more relaxed way to celebrate? Browse our list of cozy fall activities or plan a night in with our at-home date night suggestions!
Our Top Highlights:
- Rochester’s museums offer a host of Halloween events suitable for all ages! The Strong Museum, Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo offer trick-or-treating events alongside their exhibits.
- Ghost enthusiasts are in for a treat with several candlelit ghost walk tours and dinners led by paranormal historians. Thrill-seeking adventurers may prefer visiting Rochester’s haunted White Lady’s Castle and Rolling Hills Asylum.
- Looking for costume parties that just won’t quit? The ever-popular Official Rochester Halloween Bar Crawl showcases some of Rochester’s hottest bars. But the best event is the Museum of the Dead at the Memorial Art Gallery, which includes a movie, a dance floor, fortune-telling, and more!
1. Dinner and Ghost Stories at Union Tavern
Dates: October 6, 13, 20, 27, 4 pm
Location: Union Tavern, 4565 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14622
Visitors may know the restored Union Tavern is known for its New England-style fare, but ghost hunters view it as a nexus for paranormal activity. Some staff members have seen a ghostly woman standing by the fireplace—others have complained of specters in the building’s basement, perhaps a throwback to the tavern’s history as a speakeasy.
Dinner and Ghost Stories at Union Tavern is a unique dining experience that pairs delicious food with captivating lore about Rochester’s phantom residents! Enjoy a tasty meal in a real haunted house while learning about the Union Tavern’s history and ghost sightings.
It’s the perfect mix of local history and Halloween spirit!
2. Must-See Rochester’s Halloween Displays
Dates: August-October
Location: Various neighborhoods in Rochester, NY
Rochester residents take Halloween decorating seriously! Throughout August and October, you’ll find spectacular home displays that rival professional setups. Some homes even collect donations for charity.
If available, remember to check the display’s website or social media accounts for updates on the displays.
Don’t miss these standout spots:
- The Skeleton Army: (4017 Co. Rd. 4, Canandaigua, NY) View over 200 skeletons in this spooky (and kookie!) take on Halloween decór! The displays are divided into three areas: the skeleton army, the cemetery, and the haunted corn maze.
- Halloween on Ambush: (45 Ambush Lane, Churchville, NY) This 45-minute synced music and light show is a nationally recognized Halloween display in Rochester, NY! Custom-designed props and Blockbuster-level special effects take the holiday to the next level. The display also raises money for local nonprofits such as The Dream Factory.
- Terror on Salem Circle: (5 Salem Circle, Victor, NY) Dramatic call-backs to classic Halloween villains make this haunted yard display a staple in Rochester’s Halloween events. On Halloween, children can receive candy bars and toys!
- Orchard Hills Haunt: (36 Orchard Hills Dr, Spencerport, NY) Larger-than-life skeletons and colorfully lit ghouls make this display a must-see for Rochester’s Halloween enthusiasts!
- Brighton’s Halloween House: (321 Varinna Drive, Rochester, NY) Dubbed a “childhood dream come to life,” this Halloween display impresses by sheer scale. Synced lights, moody music, and animatronic skeletons combine to make this show unforgettable! The house also collects donations for charities in memory of lost loved ones.
Check out Rochester Mom Collective for more locations.
3. Dark Matter Scream Works
Dates: September – October Weekends
Location: 4430 Dewey Ave, Greece, NY 14616
You can’t make a list of Halloween events in Rochester, NY without including a haunted house! For over 10 years, Dark Matter Scream Works has amped the local scares with gruesome sets, committed actors, and a general love for all things horror. Tickets to Scream Works also grant access to two other haunted house attractions:
For additional haunted scares, most local farms offer haunted hayrides and corn mazes. See why the VerHulst Haunted Hayride and the Nightmare Manor took top spots in our fall activities list!
4. Seneca Park Zoo Afterhours Spooktacular Event
Dates: October 17-19, 5:30 – 8 pm
Location: Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY
The Seneca Park Zoo’s Afterhours Spooktacular is a three-day family-friendly event set, featuring pumpkin carving demonstrations, trick-or-treat stations, and Halloween crafts! Don’t miss the storytelling (where the Big Bad Wolf gets to share his side!) and show off your costume in the children’s costume contest.
Keep your eyes peeled for spooky surprises! The Zoo is decorated for Fall Fest throughout October, which includes a scarecrow hide-and-seek game, where you can vote for your favorite submission, and a fairy door scavenger hunt.
Closer to Halloween, guests can access the Conservation Graveyard exhibit and a special skull, bugs, and bones-themed bio-fact table!
5. The Enchanted Forest Walk at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center
Dates: October 19, 6-8 pm
Location: RMSC Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY
For a gentler Halloween event in Rochester, NY, the RMSC Cumming Nature Center is hosting an Enchanted Forest Walk! This half-mile loop takes visitors through a lantern-lit experience where they’ll encounter a cast of whimsical characters and learn about local nocturnal creatures.
Bring your flashlights (the Nature Center will provide red cellophane covers), and get ready to experience the magic of the forest! Warm up with cider and donuts after the hike.
6. Ghost Hunting & Movies at Rolling Hills Asylum
Dates: Year-round
Location: Rolling Hills Asylum, 11001 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany, NY
Rolling Hills Asylum was originally known as The Genesee County Poor Farm—a site designated to rehabilitating drunkards, lunatics, paupers, and others labeled as socially deviant. Some asylum visitors report experiencing a host of ghostly activity, and the now-defunct site has become a hotspot for paranormal investigators.
Rolling Hills Asylum offers ghost tours year-round, but October is the perfect time to explore its haunted halls. Throughout the month, enjoy special events like scary movie nights above a casket (with an all-you-can-eat nacho bar!), public ghost hunts, and guided walks. Check their events page for more details.
7. Museum of the Dead at the Memorial Art Gallery
Dates: October 25, 8-11 pm
Location: Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue, Rochester, NY
Celebrate Halloween in style at the MAG’s Museum of the Dead. This adults-only event is packed with spooky fun, including:
- Tarot card readings (reserve your time when purchasing your ticket)
- An organ concert in the Fountain Court
- On-site Ghost Tours Lead by the Monroe County Paranormal Association (MCPA)
- Screening of The Blair Witch Project
- Arts & crafts workshops at the M&T Bank Ballroom
- Live DJ and dancing at the Vanden Brul Pavilion
During the event, MAG employees will present guests who went above and beyond with cards indicating they’re in the running for the costume contest! Contestants can participate in various categories, earning coveted prizes from local businesses!
*Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance. Sales end on Friday, October 25th at 6 pm.
8. The Official Rochester Halloween Bar Crawl by Crawl With Us
Dates: October 26, 4 pm – 12 am
Location: Various venues, Downtown Rochester, NY
Rochester’s Official Halloween Bar Crawl is the largest pub-hopping event, with nearly 10 participating venues along East Ave! This is a “drink your own adventure” situation—once checked in, participants can come and go between each venue as they please.
Tickets include:
- 2–3 shots or drinks
- No covers for all bars
- Entry for the Mid Party (7-9 pm)
- Entry for the After Party (10 pm – 12 am)
- A stadium cup and bottle opener lanyard
- Exclusive food and drink specials
- Custom Halloween badge with vouchers for local venues
Don’t forget to have your photo taken by the Official Crawl With Us photographer at check-in to enter the National Costume Contest! Entries will be posted to Facebook (tag yourself!), and the contestants with the most likes could win $1,000!
9. Family Fun Day at Rochester Museum and Science Center
Dates: October 27, 11 am – 3 pm
Location: Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Bring the family for a day of science-themed Halloween fun at the RMSC’s Family Fun Day. Kids can trick-or-treat through the exhibits, make slime, and watch spooky science demos. It’s the perfect blend of education and entertainment for children of all ages.
10. Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks
Dates: October Weekends (Friday – Monday)
Location: Various haunted sites in Rochester, NY
Join a premier guided walking ghost tour with Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks, and learn about the city’s most spine-tingling haunted locations! With stories of murders, creepy encounters, and infamous legends, these tours delve deep into Rochester’s eerie history.
While the tours do not feature costumed actors or haunted house props, the subject matter might not be suitable for children. Having said that, many consider this to be a family-friendly alternative for guests who crave a haunting experience without the adrenaline rush of a haunted house.
Make sure to dress for the weather and bring comfortable walking shoes! Tickets are cash only. For tour locations and schedules, check the Rochester Ghosts events calendar.
11. Toddler Trick-or-Treat at the Strong National Museum of Play
Dates: October 31, 10 am – 2 pm
Location: Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square Drive, Rochester, NY
The littlest trick-or-treaters will have a blast at the Strong National Museum of Play’s Toddler Trick-or-Treat. Dress your child in their favorite costume and let them collect treats while enjoying Halloween party games, crafting, and a special dance party with a DJ!
The event is sensory-friendly. Access to the event is included in general admission tickets.
12. The White Lady’s Castle at Durand Eastman Park
Dates: Year-round
Location: Durand-Eastman Park, Lakeshore Boulevard, Rochester, NY
Rochester is no stranger to hauntings—take the remains of the White Lady’s Castle at Durand Eastman Park, for example.
Legend has it that this site was once the home of an overprotective mother whose daughter disappeared while on a stroll. Distraught, the mother roamed the park searching for her child and is said to haunt the area to this day. Visitors report sightings of a ghostly figure and spectral dogs patrolling the grounds.
While all that remains of the castle is a flight of steps and a stone wall, visitors still enjoy the peaceful walk and the potential to see beyond!
13. Spooky Escape Room at Mythical Escapes
Dates: Year-round
Location: 1169 Pittsford-Victor Rd, Ste. 100, Pittsford, NY 14534
As Halloween approaches, Mythical Escapes offers themed escape room experiences that touch on skin-crawling horror, folklore, or sci-fi topics. The games are 60 minutes long and designed to immerse guests in fun puzzles! While the games are generally family-friendly, some may have age limits depending on the theme. Contact the Mythical Escapes team with any questions ahead of time.
Discover More Halloween Events in Rochester, NY
From family-friendly museum days to thrilling ghost hunts, Rochester, NY, offers a wide variety of Halloween events for all ages. Whether you’re looking to explore the city’s haunted history or enjoy some spooky fun with the kids, there’s no shortage of activities to make this Halloween season memorable!
Enjoying Rochester living? Doud Apartment Homes offers quiet luxury apartments with easy access to Downtown Rochester. Talk to our leasing office to learn more!
