Halloween in Louisville: The Best 2025 Halloween Events & Spooky Things to Do
Crisp nights. Bourbon-spiked apple cider. Flickering candes in carved pumpkins. And goosebumps for days. Louisville in October is pure magic, y’all! We’ve got the perfect grown-up Halloween in Louisville guide for spooky date nights, late-night scares, and of course, the city’s most iconic Halloween events. Let’s get into it!
Phantoms of Prohibition: Cocktail & Ghost Tour
Length: ~3 hours · Vibe: Hidden speakeasies, Prohibition lore, ghostly encounters
Ghost tour, meet cocktail crawl. Sip your way down Whiskey Row while unraveling Louisville’s shadowy Prohibition era—mobsters, bourbon barons, secret tunnels, and the spirits (both kinds) that never left.
Expect four Prohibition-inspired libations, a few paired bites, and goosebump-worthy stories in atmospheric, historic bars.
This one sells out fast in October, so be sure to book ahead.
- Good to know: Runs Tuesday–Friday evenings; includes four drink stops and small bites. Designate a driver or rideshare and come hungry.
Book the Phantoms of Prohibition Tour →
Whispers on Whiskey Row: Louisville’s True Crime & Ghost Tour
Length: ~1.5 hours · Vibe: True crime, haunted history, and a nightcap with the city’s ghosts
Beneath the polished glow of Whiskey Row lies a far darker story — one whispered through alleyways, haunted hotel halls, and the fog drifting off the Ohio River. On the Whispers on Whiskey Row tour, you’ll uncover Louisville’s grisly past and meet the spirits who never left.
Once called the “Graveyard of the West,” downtown Louisville was a place of scandal, tragedy, and bloodshed. As your guide leads you down historic Main Street and into shadowed side streets, you’ll hear chilling tales of unsolved murders, riots, bootleggers, and plagues — all true and deeply researched, and all absolutely haunting.
This guided 1.5-hour walking tour weaves together ghost stories, true crime, and hidden history, with a stop for a cocktail at one of Whiskey Row’s most haunted bars. Expect goosebumps, laughter, and a few moments of quiet reverence for the souls that still linger here.
- Good to know: Runs Tuesday–Sunday evenings around sunset, with start times between 6 and 9:30 PM. Layers and comfy shoes recommended. 1.5 miles of walking, wheelchair accessible. 1 cocktail included (no food).
Book the Whispers on Whiskey Row Tour →
Waverly Hills Sanatorium: A Haunted House Inside a Haunted Sanatorium
Length: Varies · Vibe: Historic haunt with a side of chills
Waverly Hills is one of Louisville’s most famously haunted landmarks—and during October, it becomes something even wilder: a full-scale haunted house inside a haunted building.
Once a tuberculosis hospital with an infamous body chute, this sprawling gothic structure sets the stage for one of the eeriest Halloween experiences in town.
While there are (sadly) no ghost tours in October, this attraction is plenty spooky on its own.
Visit Waverly Hills Sanatorium →
Louisville’s Best Haunted Houses & Halloween Attractions
Length: ~20–30 minutes per haunt · Vibe: Extreme, actor-driven, adrenaline spiking
Louisville punches way above its weight in haunted houses, thanks in no small part to our phenomenal theater scene. (Ahem: that’s also why our tour guides are so good – most of them are actors, too!)
The Haunted Hotel is the city’s gold standard—intense, immersive, and not shy about close encounters.
Want a classic scare just a few minutes from downtown? Try the Baxter Avenue Morgue, located minutes down the street from NuLu.
Crave themed nightmares that change year-to-year? The Devil’s Attic is your jam. Arrive with nerves of steel and a sense of humor.
Jack O’Lantern Spectacular: Louisville’s Signature Fall Event
Length: ~45–75 minutes · Vibe: Mesmerizing, artsy, outdoorsy
Every October, hundreds of artists create one of the country’s most incredible displays of carved pumpkin art.
At the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular, over 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins glow along a forested path through Iroquois Park, assembled into massive, themed tableaus that flicker and swirl like something out of a Victorian séance.
This is undoubtedly the most popular Halloween event in Louisville, so you’ll want to buy a ticket early and plan to wait in line fora bit (go late, like 9-10 PM, for thinner crowds – more Jack O’Lantern spectacular tips here).
There’s food and drinks to purchase on site, so you can sip bourbon-spiked apple cider while wandering through a candelit forest – the perfect Louisville Halloween night!
Bonus: Ticket proceeds support the Parks Alliance of Louisville.
Get Jack O’Lantern Spectacular Tickets →
Halloween on Hillcrest Avenue: Louisville’s Halloween Street
Length: ~1 hour · Vibe: Casual, fun, a nice evening walk
Some cities have streets that go all out for Christmas decor; here in Louisville, we have a Halloween street. And it’s awesome.
Hillcrest Avenue off Frankfort Avenue in the Clifton neighborhood is Louisville’s famous Halloween street. Each year, Hillcrest Avenue comes alive throughout October as residents transform their historic homes into elaborately spooky masterpieces.
Expect massive yard displays, glowing pumpkins, animatronic ghouls, and plenty of eerie creativity. It’s free, walkable, and perfect for soaking in the Halloween spirit with friends—or just admiring the handiwork of some seriously dedicated neighbors.
- Tip: Go after dusk for the full effect, expect crowds and lots of families until after 8PM. Plan to park a few blocks away and walk in. Pack a hot drink to sip as you stroll.
Danger Run: Haunted House Road Trip Adventure
Length: ~2–3 hours · Vibe: Road trip meets scavenger hunt meets haunted house marathon
Think haunted house hopping—with clues. Danger Run is a uniquely Louisville Halloween tradition: a scavenger hunt that sends you and your friends driving around town solving riddles and discovering haunted attractions along the way. Each clue leads to a new destination, and your admission includes entry to multiple haunted houses.
Bring snacks, a good playlist, and your bravest copilot—it’s half competition, half chaos, and totally a blast.
Haunted Forests Near Louisville: Frights Among the Trees
Length: Varies · Vibe: Rustic, primal, pitch-black thrills
If the idea of a haunted forest gets your pulse racing (same), Louisville offers several outdoor haunts where the trees feel… sentient?
Think like, a haunted house, except you’re that character in a horror move who ran out of the cabin into the woods and is now wandering through the forest, terrified and frantic. That’s you! Here’s where to do it:
- Legend at Pope Lick Haunted Woods celebrates on our local urban legend and favorite cryptid, a half goat man who lures people to their death on a train trellis. Yep, I’m talking about the Pope Lick Monster. Go see if you can find him in the woods at the foot of the train trellis!
- Grim Trails turns fairytales feral on a half-mile path at EP Tom Sawyer State Park.
- Field of Screams (a short drive from the city) layers a corn maze, haunted barn, and shadowy trails for an all-out fright fest.
Spooky Theatre: Live Halloween Shows in Louisville
Length: Varies · Vibe: Dark comedy, gothic classics, and moody performances
If your idea of a good scare involves dramatic lighting and twisted storytelling, Louisville’s stages have you covered this Halloween season. Remember how I was like, we have the best haunted houses because we have such a great theatre scene? Well, it goes both ways: our theatre scene also gets real spooky in October! This year, there are two Halloween-y shows we’re excited about:
- Frankenstein – Kentucky Shakespeare: The classic monster tale, reimagined. Each year, KY Shakes puts on a spooky, scary, interactive Halloween show. In prior years they’ve done immersive walk-throughs of Hamlet and Macbeth, a Victorian ghost story, and this year, they’re doing a twist on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This is THE show of the season and it’s running all month long – don’t miss it!
- Dead as a Dodo – Actors Theatre of Louisville: Take a journey through the underworld, a dark realm filled with glittering light and mystery where the dead are very much alive. In this fantastical adventure infused with astonishing puppetry, humor, music, and magical visual effects, two skeleton friends, a dodo and a boy, are drawn into the epic battle between existence and extinction as they fight to stay together. This kinda spooky, kinda just cool as hell show features enormous, sort creepy but also very cute puppet monster things. Just click the link and you’ll see what I mean! The show runs from October 31 through November 9th so you can extend your Halloween season a bit longer.
Macabre Shopping: Halloween Stores in Louisville
Length: As long as your wallet allows · Vibe: Curated creepiness, the cozy feeling you get from shopping in a local bookstore except the bookstore only sells horror books
Whether you’re hunting for the perfect vintage Halloween costume, looking for a new spine-tingling book, redecorating your own haunted home, or browsing for eerie curiosities, Louisville’s got plenty of local shops to set the mood. Who needs Spirit Halloween when there are so many amazing locally owned Halloween stores in Louisville?!?
Psst: Several of these shops are centered along one cute, walkable stretch of Barrett Ave in the Original Highlands (home of our Victorian Charm food tour). Grab a seasonal coffee from Quills on Baxter Ave, stroll down tree-lined Highland Avenue to Barrett, take a left, and enjoy the perfect afternoon of Halloween shopping.
- Caufield’s Novelty: The ORIGINAL Halloween store in Louisville! This is an absolute Louisville legend, a year-round one stop shop for Halloween costumes, décor, and props. Located just down Museum Row. Look for the giant bat … then keep going until you find a different kind of giant bat.
- The Nitty Gritty: Barret Ave vintage store that’s been around for decades. The shop sells incredible vintage clothing and costumes, both for purchase and for rent. If you’ve got an eclectic, kinda weird, sorta niche costume idea in mind. you can get what you need here. Then, head down the block to continue picking up second hand Halloween costume essentials at Fat Rabbit and Barret Babes.
- Butcher Cabin Books: Teeny, tiny all-horror bookstore! Cozy, itty bitty, and spooky as hell. Plus, it’s only a couple of doors down from Nitty Gritty annnddd…
- Unorthodox: Spooky gift shop, just steps away from the horror bookstore. Perfect! Here you’ll find oddities and dark art. Think taxidermy animals, skulls, cryptid ephemera, gorgeous art pieces, and stuff the cool tattooed barista at your local coffee shop would wear. (Psst: In between the horror bookstore and the spooky gift shop is a cool rock store. Which isn’t spooky so much as mystical, but we just really love it.)
🖤 Local Tip: Order one of our Haunted Louisville Totes to carry your spooky finds—it’s locally designed nd printed, and the perfect Halloween accessory. Chef’s kiss.
Witchy Afternoon: Two Witchy Shops
In case you haven’t yet picked up on the vibes here, Louisville loves Halloween. And it’s the kind of place that celebrates spooky stuff year-round.
Which is why there are not one, but two witch-themed businesses on Frankfort Avenue, just a lovely 10-minute stroll from one another! Don your favorite witch hat and combine them both for the perfect witchy afternoon in Clifton.
- Witches Brew Coffee: A witch-themed café and occult boutique. Grab a seasonal brew here to sip as you stroll down tree-lined Frankfort Avenue.
- The Bluegrass Witch: A witch-themed shop on Frankfort Avenue offering metaphysical goods, tarot, and witchy wares.
It’s not particularly witchy, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that you’ll be passing right by Retta’s, the best dessert restaurant in town (literally, they only do dessert) so be sure to stop in for a scoop of ice cream or an absolutely incredible dessert. Our favorite is the deconstructed bourbon dish! (We ARE a food tour company, after all – we’d never miss an opportunity to make a foodie suggestion.)
FAQ: Halloween Events & Spooky Fun in Louisville
When does Louisville celebrate Halloween?
Louisville goes all-in from late September through early November, with haunted houses, ghost tours, and special events all week long and every weekend. You could truly do a Halloween activity every single day through the month of October if you wanted to. The last two weeks of October are the busiest—book tours and tickets in advance.
What are the best Halloween events in Louisville?
Our top picks include Phantoms of Prohibition, Whispers on Whiskey Row, and the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular.
What should I wear for a ghost tour or Halloween event in Louisville?
Dress for the weather – it doesn’t get cold until mid or late October, but when it does, it can get really cold really fast! Wear comfy, closed-toe shoes for walking on uneven sidewalks and forested paths. And to best fit the vibe, pick up a haunted Louisville shirt to rep your favorite spooky Louisville icons.
Is Halloween in Louisville family-friendly?
Totally—but this guide focuses on grown-up thrills. For family fun, check out Boo at the Zoo or Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom.
What’s the scariest thing to do in Louisville?
It depends on your nerves. The Haunted Hotel is legendary for its intensity, while Waverly Hills Sanatorium delivers eerie, atmospheric chills rooted in real history.
Louisville in October is a mood, y’all—lean in. We’ll see you after dark.
About Louisville Food Tours: We are a locally-owned small business running award-winning walking tours in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hope to see you on a tour soon,
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