Throughout October, dozens of attractions in Connecticut are celebrating the Halloween season by bringing on the spooky, with ghost tours, cemetery walks, paranormal lectures, haunted houses, terrifying trails and other spine-tingling entertainments.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, not all of the time-honored annual attractions are open this year. The ones that are open require masks on all visitors. Most require timed tickets be bought in advance to enforce social distancing. Tours have limited capacities. Obey all safety rules and everyone will have fun.
This list, geared toward adult events, is not all-inclusive. Visit the websites for ticketing and details.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond: The Bottolph-Williams House, 211 Main St. in Wethersfield, which was the inspiration for Elizabeth George Speare’s classic children’s novel “The Witch of Blackbird Pond,” will be open for tours the whole month of October, 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Sundays at 1 and 3 p.m. Advance registration required at criccio@webb-deane-stevens.org. $10. www.webb-deane-stevens.org.
Dustin Pari: Paranormal lecturer will give free Zoom talks about supernatural occurrences. “Spirits of New England” will be Oct. 1 at 6 p.m., presented by the Branford library; and Oct. 14 at 6 p.m., presented by the Killingly library. “Spirits of the World” will be Oct. 7 at 3 p.m., presented by the Cheshire library; and Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m., presented by Torrington library. “In Times of High Strangeness” will be Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., presented by Fairfield library; and Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m., presented by Torrington library. www.dustinpari.com.
Downtown Mystic Ghost Stroll: Two-hour walking tour of places in Mystic rumored to be haunted. Oct. 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31, starting at 7 p.m. $20. www.seasideshadows.com
Fright Haven: Haunted house with three attractions, “Psycho Ward 13,” “The Wasteland” and “Carnival of Lost Souls.” 411 Barnum Ave Cutoff in Stratford, behind LAC Fitness Center. Oct. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. $25, $40 Fast Pass, $60 front of the line. www.frighthaven.com.
Fright Haven in Shelton will continue its Halloween tradition of a haunted house. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant)
Rails to the Dark Side: Haunted train ride at Connecticut Trolley Museum, 58 North Road in East Windsor. Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30. Ticket sales start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. but the trolleys run until all ticketholders have ridden. $18. All tickets must be bought on premises. www.ct-trolley.org.
Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours: Tours of the Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Ave. in Hartford, focus on the history of paranormal beliefs and eerie happenings in the house. Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31, with tours leaving at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. $26, $18 child. www.marktwainhouse.org/visit/
The Haunted Isle: Trolley ride to the haunted woods. The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River St. in East Haven. Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Buy timed tickets online. $20, $100 for a group of six. www.shorelinetrolley.org.
Haunt on Eden: Outdoor haunted attraction at 396 Mt. Vernon Road in the Plantsville section of Southington. Oct. 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, with timed tickets at 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Buy tickets online at www.hauntoneden.com.
Friday the 13th 40th Anniversary: Screening of classic horror film. Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 7 at 7 and 10 p.m. at Cinemark Buckland in Manchester, Cinemark Enfield, Regal Brass Mill in Waterbury, Cinemark North Haven, Regal Branford, AMC Lisbon, Connecticut Post 14 in Milford, AMC Danbury and Regal Stonington. Admission varies by theater. www.fathomevents.com.
Dark Manor: Haunted House has three attractions, “The Manor,” “The Graveyard” and “The Catacombs.” Exit 18 (old exit 83) off I-395 in Norwich. Online ticket purchases recommended but walk-up tickets also will be available. Oct. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22,23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31. $23 daily, $25 on the 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th. Tickets are timed. Matinee tickets, which are less scary, are $11. Group tickets are available. http://thedarkmanor.com.
Trail of Terror: Haunted house, themed “Fear is Art.” 60 N Plains Highway in Wallingford. Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22,23, 24 and 30. $40, $150 for a party of six ($25 each). www.trailofterror.com.
Moonlight Mystic Graveyard Ghost Stroll: Two-hour walking tour of Mystic Graveyard, rumored to be haunted. Oct. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, starting at 7 p.m. $20. www.seasideshadows.com
Legends of Fear: Haunted trail in the woods at 2 Saw Mill City Road in Shelton. Walking trail only on Oct. 4, 18, 22, 25 and 29. $30. Hayride and walking trail on Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31. $55.. Lights-on events on Oct. 8 and 15. www.legendsoffear.com
Legends of Fear, celebrating 20 years, is open Sept. 30 to Oct. 29. (Courtesy Legends of Fear)
Monsters: Beware!: Annual Nightmare on Main haunted house. Oct. 3, 9, 10 and 17, with tours leaving every 20 minutes from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Matinee on Oct. 4 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. $15. Windham Textile and History Museum, 411 Main St. in Willimantic. www.millmuseum.org/nightmare-on-main-monsters/.
A Halloween Story – Samhain Psychic Fair and Carnival: Horror Circus is the theme of the event, which features vendors, costumes, drinks, horror makeup demos, bonfires, psychic readings, paranormal investigation consultants, magic show, drag queen, horror film stars including Caroline Williams (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre II”) and others. Film screening of “Ten Minutes to Midnight,” which stars Williams. Oct. 3 from 6 to 11:45 p.m. Tamarack Lodge, 21 Ten Rod Road in Voluntown. $10 ot $28. www.eventbrite.com/e/a-halloween-story-samhain-psychic-fair-carnival-tickets-96160415391
Ghosts and Legends with Jeff Belanger: Virtual event, of horror storytelling. Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., presented by Farmington Library. Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., presented by Wallingford Library. Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m., presented by Trumbull Library. www.jeffbelanger.com/events-list/.
You Are Not Alone: Virtual event with paranormal author Sydney Sherman. Free. Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m., presented by Branford library. www.eventbrite.com.
Elm Grove Cemetery Haunted History Tour: Two-hour walking tour of cemetery in Mystic, rumored to be haunted. Oct. 10 and 25, at 4 p.m. $20. www.seasideshadows.com
Psycho 60th Anniversary: Screening of classic horror film. Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Cinemark Buckland in Manchester, Cinemark Enfield, Regal Brass Mill in Waterbury, Cinemark North Haven, Regal Branford, Connecticut Post 14 in Milford, AMC Danbury and Regal Stonington. Admission varies by theater. www.fathomevents.com.
Things that Go Bump in the Night: Ghost-story tour of the historic home. Oct. 15, 16, 22,23, 30 and 31, at 7 p.m. Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South St. in Coventry. $20. https://bump-in-the-night.eventbrite.com.
Spirits of Milford Ghost Walk: Ninety minute walk through downtown Milford, with grisly stories from the town’s history. Oct. 16, 17 and 1`8 at 7 p.m., meeting at the Hotchkiss Bridge at Helwig Street and Factory Lane. $18. www.eventbrite.com.
The Shining 40th Anniversary: Screening of classic horror film. Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. and Oct. 20 and 22 at 7 p.m. at Regal Brass Mill in Waterbury, Cinemark North Haven, Regal Branford, AMC Danbury and Regal Stonington. Admission varies by theater. www.fathomevents.com.
“The Shining” will be shown in October in theaters statewide. (handout)
Spooky Popcorn: Series of scary movies, shown outdoors in Constitution Plaza in Hartford, all at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 is “Ten Minutes to Midnight.” Oct. 21 is “Beetlejuice,” Oct. 22 is “Night of the Living Dead.” Oct. 23 is “Us.” Oct. 24 is “The Thing.” Admission, at $20, pays for one socially distanced pod fitting up to four people. hartford.com/spooky-popcorn/
RiffTrax: Jack-O: Comedic riffing on classic bad horror film, from 1995. Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at at Cinemark Buckland in Manchester, Regal Brass Mill in Waterbury, Cinemark North Haven, AMC Lisbon, Regal Branford, Connecticut Post 14 in Milford, AMC Danbury and Regal Stonington. Admission varies by theater. www.fathomevents.com.
West Hartford Hauntings: Nighttime tour, with “tales of murder, disease, and asphyxiation.” Old North Cemetery, 80 North Main St. in West Hartford. Oct. 22, 23, 23, 29 and 30. Tours, which are 45 minutes long, starting every 15 minutes from 6 to 8:45 p.m. $15, $10 kids. https://noahwebster.yapsody.com/event/index/592821/west-hartford-hauntings-2020.
Beyond the Visible World: W.B. Yeats and the Occult: Virtual discussion of the 19th-century British writer. Oct. 24 at 3 p.m., presented by Branford library. Free. www.blackstonelibrary.org.
Halloween Weekend Burial Ground Paranormal Investigation: Watch a paranormal investigation in the historic Whitehall Burying Ground in Mystic. Oct. 24 and 31, at 11:30 p.m. $40. www.seasideshadows.com
Hocus Pocus Live: Live: Drag performance adaptation of cult classic Halloween movie. Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. (all ages) and 8 pm. (adults only) at Priam Vineyards, 11 Shailor Hill Road in Colchester. $35 adults, glass of wine included, $15 ages 13 to 18, 12 and younger free. www.priamvineyards.com.
East Rock Halloween: Boitata, a Brazilian folktale, will be told by various artists, creating installations in a series of garages in East Rock. Audience members walk between garages to see the whole story. Oct. 31. Free. eastrockhalloween.com/.
