Best Halloween Events in New England

New England sure knows Halloween, and each year events and festivals throughout the region draw crowds in search of all things spooky, ranging from tricks and treats to horror and gore. While Salem, Massachusetts takes top honors each year with its packed calendar of Haunted Happenings, below are a few additional top picks for Biggest and Best Halloween Events in New England. We’ve gone with chills and thrills over terror, so if your taste runs towards the macabre (think Spooky World in Litchfield, NH or Field of Screams in West Greenwich, RI), consider this a starting point! Know of another spook-tacular event? Be sure to share it with us in the comments! Happy Haunting!

Best Halloween Events in New England | Updated for 2023

Roger Williams Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular | Providence, RI
September 28 – October 31, 2023

Wander among nearly 10,000 carved and lighted pumpkins (some with spectacular designs) displayed on the quarter-mile Wetlands Trail at the Roger Williams Zoo. On Thursday through Saturday nights, performers add to the festive environment and entertain the kids. Costumes encouraged!

Terror at Quassy | Middlebury, CT
Weekends, October 6 – 29, 2023

Dare to visit spooky dungeons, misty walkways, zombie hospital, haunted cemetery, and more at this popular amusement park. Don’t miss the nightly themed live performances at the Carousel Theatre stage.

Fright Fest at Six Flags New England | Agawam, MA
Select Days, September 23 -November 5, 2023

Enjoy thrills by day, and fright by night as the park offers over 20 shows, attractions, and haunted areas along with their world-class rides. Special events include concerts, a trick-or-treat trail for kids, and an interactive comedy show.

ScrEEEmfest at Canobie Lake Park | Salem, NH
Weekends, September 29 – November 5, 2023

As night falls, the attractions turn spooky. Enjoy Canobie’s most popular rides plus live entertainment and five walk-through haunted attractions. Kid-friendly attractions include a Pumpkin Palace, petting zoo, and nightly Monster Parade.

Haunted Boston Ghost Tours | Boston, MA
Ongoing

Enjoy a lantern-lit 90-minute walking tour of Boston’s most historically haunted places led by a costumed professional. Hear chilling tales of Boston’s most famous ghosts and spooky sites, while learning more about the city’s rich past. This family-friendly tour is both entertaining and just the right amount of spine-chilling.

The Portsmouth Halloween Parade | Portsmouth, NH
October 31, 2023

This annual community-funded event, taking place on Halloween night in the seacoast city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, calls itself “a grassroots, all-inclusive celebration of community, creativity and free expression that walks, stalks, dances, trumpets and drums its way through downtown Portsmouth.”

What are your picks for the best Halloween events, ghost tours, or the best haunted houses in New England?

This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated.

SEE MORE:

5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England

Most Haunted Hotels in New England

Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts