Fall is all about embracing the thrills and chills of Halloween! From ghost walks and haunted houses to trick-or-treating and pumpkin-smashing fun, there are plenty of ways to get into the Halloween spirit. Whether you're looking for family-friendly festivities or spine-tingling scares, Shores & Islands Ohio has plenty of tricks and treats in store for Halloween enthusiasts of all ages.
Get Scared Out of Your Gourd!
Here are some Halloween activities not meant for the timid. These haunted houses and thrilling adventures will get your heart pounding and your blood curdling.
Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends after dark is not for the faint of heart! Screamsters roam the park, lurking in every corner, ready to pounce. Brave haunted mazes and scare zones throughout the park, or take in Halloween-themed shows. The Conjuring: Beyond Fear is part escape room, part haunted house, and all interactive haunting experience! New this year, step into Diablo: The Infernal Path and enter a dark gothic world consumed by Evil. Face Diablo, Lilith, Mephisto and Baal as you journey through cursed cathedrals, ancient rituals and unspeakable horrors. Do you dare enter? Cedar Point’s intensely scary Halloween nighttime events are not recommended for those under age 13. HalloWeekends runs Thursday-Sunday through November 1; hours vary.
If you love haunted houses, one of the Midwest’s best is Ghostly Manor in Sandusky, consistently winning awards and open year-round. Each spooky season, they expand their haunted offerings with the pop-up Lake Eerie Fearfest, available Fridays and Saturdays through October 31. Lake Eerie Fearfest offers three additional haunts, both indoor and outdoor, and filled with frightening characters.
Interested in the paranormal and leaning into the history of ghost stories and all things otherworldly? There are three nights of Downtown Sandusky Ghost Walks originating from the Shores & Islands Ohio welcome center, October 28 through 30. Join a paranormal investigator and local historian on a 60-minute walking tour and hear the stories of curious sites, notable people, and of course, the paranormal! These tours are family-friendly. Enjoy a spooky evening at Spiegel Grove with lantern tours through the dark wooded grounds at Spirit Stories at Spiegel Grove 2026 on October 30. Hear spine-chilling tales of ghosts, legends and other-worldly phenomena.
On Halloween night, step back into the 1920s for an evening of mystery, intrigue, and murder at Historic Lyme Village’s Murder at the Mansion. Guests are invited to mingle throughout the historic mansion, meet a colorful cast of suspicious characters, uncover clues, and put their detective skills to the test when an unexpected murder turns the evening upside down. Come dressed in your best 1920s attire as you question suspects, follow the evidence, and decide who you think committed the crime. Or, join Firelands Winery for Seance & Spirits in The 1880, where magician Mike 
Brooks will attempt to communicate with Harry Houdini himself on the 100th anniversary of the Mr. Houdini's passing. Be dazzled and amazed all while listening to true haunted history of Firelands Winery/The 1880. Enjoy craft cocktails and light snacks during this very intimate evening!
Feeling Wicked? Spell, yeah!
Conjure up some fun for the family or the whole friend gang at these less frightening/more festive spooky-season events:
Halloween costumes are a lot of work! Looking for as many places as possible to show off those kiddos creative costumes? Visit Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends during the daytime hours for family-friendly fun. Kalahari Resorts & Conventions has its Kalahari Spooktacular, a public event every Saturday through Halloween. In addition to a costume contest, enjoy trick-or-treating, spooky storytime, hayrides, mini-golf, and more. Check out the Perkins Township Monster Bash on October 24 for games, pumpkin painting, and a pumpkin drop! Milan Museum’s annual 
Pumpkin Palooza is on October 25 and promises fall themed games and prizes, a pumpkin carving demonstration, costume contest, and more!
Who says Trick-or-Treat is just for the kiddos? Grown-ups looking for Halloween swag can check out the Hall-O-Wine Open House at Firelands Winery, Adult Trick-or-Treat at Gideon Owen Wine Company, or Halloween at the Bay for an island-wide celebration – all on October 24, or Tables & Treats at Chateau Winery & Vineyard on Halloween evening.
As the nights grow longer and a chill creeps into the air, Shores & Islands Ohio comes alive with thrills, chills, and plenty of spirited fun. Embrace the spooky side of the season. Happy Haunting!
