Photo Credit: Witch’s Wood at Nashoba Valley
The lanterns flicker. Darkness falls on a cool, crisp Massachusetts night. The curtains dance. There’s a click on the cobblestones. You look over your shoulder…
Halloween season in Massachusetts is notoriously spellbinding. From eerie haunted houses to family-friendly trick-or-treat trails, there are dozens of ways to celebrate spooky season. Pick your poison – endure spine-tingling scares or just some ghost stories around a fire. You’ll find all ages (and fright levels) fall fun in Massachusetts.
Greater Boston: Halloween by Land and Sea
Boston has a storied past—and October brings it to life with a supernatural twist. Step aboard the Northern Lights for the Boston City Lights Ghost Tour. Here, the legends of haunted harbors and ghostly sailors echo across the waves. You can take yourself to these five notoriously haunted locations around town or let a guide tell you some of Boston’s more ghastly tales with the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tour. Don’t miss the annual Pru Boo – a family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween in Boston with tricks, treats, magic, and more. Even in the heart of the city, Halloween magic is alive and well.
North of Boston: Haunted Happenings
The Halloween capital of the world, Salem, Massachusetts, is located just 15 miles north of Boston. Here, you’ll find the monthlong Salem Haunted Happenings festival with something for everyone – from seances to historic houses. Be sure to check out these ten tips to make your peak season visit a little less scary. Outside of the seaside communities, you’ll find farms and fields brimming with Halloween spirits. At Marini Farm in Ipswich wander the sprawling corn maze by moonlight during their Flashlight Night events. If chilling frights are more your speed, the Witch’s Woods Haunted Hayride and Halloween Screampark at Nashoba Valley Ski Area might do the trick – or treat.
South of Boston: Terrifying Delights
Southeastern Massachusetts has two of most terrifying Halloween attractions in the state. Start your evening with a ghost hunt at the famed Lizzie Borden House in Fall River then head over to the Factory of Terror. For over 30 years, the experience has been serving up frights so good that you are required to sign a waiver. While neither of these experiences are perfect for your young goblins, Boo at the Zoo at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park Zoo is the perfect way to get into the spirit. If you find yourself closer to Plymouth, there are haunted historic houses and harbors to explore.
Central Massachusetts: Fired Up Phantoms
In the heart of the state, the past comes alive with firelight and lore. The past and present fade together at Phantoms by Firelight at Old Sturbridge Village. Step inside of the candlelit buildings, watch fire performances, and hear the whispered secrets of the past. The legendary Haunted Hillando Halloween Maze at the Hebert Candy Mansion is a family-friendly October event that supports a local charitable cause. If the dark-of-night is not for you, Douglas Orchard and Farm hosts an annual (and dog-friendly!) Halloween event.
Western Massachusetts: Haunted Hilltowns
The rolling hills and valleys of Western Mass become a stage for both fright and delight. Jiminy Peak Resort has been waiting for you to unearth the terror of 13 Nights. Unexpected scares lurk around every corner. At Six Flags New England in Springfield, don’t miss Fright Fest – included with theme park admission. Around every foggy corner is a fresh, new haunt, live shows and entertainment, and seasonal food and drinks. If you don’t have a fear of scarecrows, you will after one trip to McCray’s Fear on the Farm in Hadley. And, if you need something a little more innocent, the Spooky Safari at Springfield’s Forest Park Zoo might be for you and your boos.
Cape Cod & the Islands: Coastal Chills
The Cape and Islands prove that Halloween magic thrives as much by the coast as it does inland. Hallowizz is a haunted festival like no other. By day, this legendary Wareham destination is a family-friendly festival. As night creeps over the horizon, the park shifts to more sinister, haunted attractions for adults. In Provincetown, you’ll find a shoreside ghost tour that will leave you with the chills – and not from the October winds. If the frights aren’t for you, don’t miss the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History’s Creature of the Night Celebration. This after-hours event is a rare chance to see the nocturnal creatures awake from their slumber! On Nantucket, mark Halloween with the annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest along with early evening trick-or-treating at downtown businesses.
Massachusetts is known for its classic fall experiences and Halloween is no exception to that rule. Farms, historical societies, theme parks, museums, zoos, and more offer goosebumps, glows, ghosts, goblins and more. Dare to explore… if you’re brave enough.
