October has arrived, and the spooky season is in full swing. Across the state, Halloween events in Ohio in October bring glowing pumpkins, spine-tingling chills, and joyful family moments. Crisp air and eerie nights invite unforgettable adventures.
Family-Friendly Halloween Festivals and Events in Ohio
Start with kid-friendly fun. Boo at the Zoo shines across the state:
- Columbus Zoo & Aquarium: Boo at the Zoo runs Thursdays through Sundays, October 2–26, from 5–9 p.m. Walk decorated paths, ride the Boomerang train, trick-or-treat, and dance at the Monster Mash Party.
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Join Boo at the Zoo for a merry-not-scary event filled with spirited fun. Visit Adventure Cove October 10–12, 17–19, and 24–26 for costumes, characters, and Halloween fun.
- Akron Zoo: Families also love the Chillicothe Halloween Festival, filled with vendors, entertainment, and parades that brighten Yoctangee Park.
- Chillicothe Halloween Festival: (October 10–12) The festival opens daily in Yoctangee Park, featuring live music, a kids’ zone, haunted tent hours, pumpkin carving, and costume contests. Expect weekend favorites, including the haunted tent (with kids’ hour, early evening, and complete darkness later), coffin races, and the pumpkin drop.
Moderate Halloween Thrills in Ohio
Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends, September 11–November 2, bring family-friendly rides, fall fun, and entertainment during the day. At night, terrifying haunted mazes, sinister scare zones, and exhilarating live shows turn the park into a Halloween fright fest.
For even more fright, Fear Columbus Haunted House ranks among Ohio’s largest and most elaborate haunted attractions. Guests encounter multiple themed haunts under one roof, featuring movie-quality sets, professional lighting, and highly trained actors delivering non-stop scares. Locally owned and operated, it has earned its reputation as Columbus’s premier Halloween destination.
Outdoor Halloween Attractions in Ohio
The Brimstone Haunt was once a family homestead, but its fields now echo with curses and tales of a forgotten past. Darkness spreads through the corn as black vines twist and creep, drawing the brave into The Bog.
Around every corner, disturbing scenes blur reality while maze-like paths trap the lost. Escape if you can, or surrender to the madness of Psychosis.
Extreme Haunted Houses in Ohio
Ohio holds some of the nation’s most intense haunts. The Factory of Terror in Canton sprawls across multiple floors with endless screams. Blood Prison at the Ohio State Reformatory surrounds guests with steel bars, chilling echoes, and terrifying encounters.
Seven Floors of Hell near Cleveland challenges even the bravest with seven unique haunted attractions in one nightmarish location.
Other Haunted Attractions in Ohio
Looking for more thrills? Explore these standout attractions:
- Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory: Akron’s legendary double-feature haunt filled with decades of fear.
- Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park: Middletown’s sprawling complex featuring multiple haunted attractions in one place.
- Fortress of Fear: Alliance haunt with sinister sets, twisted mazes, and relentless scares.
- Chippewa Lake Slaughterhouse: Grisly scenes unfold inside a dark, abandoned building.
- Forest of Screams: Medina haunt combining haunted woods, hayrides, and nightmarish encounters.
- Nightmare Cleveland: A cinematic-style haunt with shocking detail and bold, high-energy scares.
Make October Count with Halloween Events in Ohio
From glowing pumpkins to haunted prisons, Halloween events in Ohio offer thrills, chills, and memories that last long after the season has passed. Grab your crew, carve out time, and embrace the spirit of Halloween in Ohio.
