Tricks and treats aren’t just for Lawrence kids. There are plenty of spine-tingling events around town geared toward adults, including haunted houses, “Rocky Horror Show” performances, spooky burlesque and more.
Although some of these events are kid- and family-friendly, they’re not exclusive to tots. No tickets or registration are required unless otherwise noted.
Please note that event plans may change, so always double-check with the venues before heading out the door.
Recurring events
• Nightmare on Mass Street at Lucia: Lucia’s annual Halloween pop-up bar is back until Nov. 1 with themed food and drinks. They have a month chock-full of Halloween events, including A Night of Hocus Pocus with local drag performers, weekly horror trivias with Hevi Devi and 1313 Mockingbird Lane, a spooky vendor fair and a Halloween Party with Ras Neville and The Kingstonians.
Open bar seating is available with table reservations required. Book a table and see the full event roster here.
→ At Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence
• The Gel Blaster Haunted Trail at Garrett’s Haunted Farm: Garrett’s Haunted Farm is fun for the whole family, but the after-dark zombie extravaganza might be too scary for some tots. The haunted trail is dark and full of things that go bump in the night. Guests are given blasters loaded with soft gel balls to take them down. Safety gear is provided.
The trail is open for the season now until Nov. 1 and costs $15 per person.
→ At Garrett’s Haunted Farm & Pumpkin Patch, 1387 East 1650 (Franklin) Road in Lawrence
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• Haunted Forest Night Walk at Vinland Valley Nursery: Though the nursery has a kid-friendly haunted day walk, the haunted forest night adventure will offer some extra creepy creatures that could be scary for little ones. Hot chocolate and cider is available for purchase, and attendees can BYOB. The night walks occur from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Saturday in October.
→ At Vinland Valley Nursery, 1606 North 600 Road in Baldwin City
• Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch’s 50th Anniversary: To celebrate the big five-oh, Schaake’s is bringing out seven local food trucks including Shelly’s Lunchbox, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee and JB’s Cali Fusion over the course of two weekends. Check out their Facebook event page for the detailed schedule, including Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19.
→ At Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch, 1791 North 1500 Road in Lawrence
• Baldwin City’s Maple Leaf Fall Festival: The festival has been a tradition since 1958 and returns again on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18 and 19, this year. The fest will include craft exhibits, quilt shows, performing arts, live music and food. The weekend is free to attend but non-service animals are not permitted. Learn about vendors and the event schedule here.
→ In multiple locations around Baldwin; full festival map here
• “The Rocky Horror Show” at Theatre Lawrence: The local theater is putting on a stage production of the cult classic from Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 23-25. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased here.
→ At Theatre Lawrence, 4660 Bauer Farm Drive in Lawrence
• Theatrical tours of downtown haunts through the Lawrence Arts Center: “Ghosting Lawrence” is a bus tour of Lawrence with live reenactments of “the city’s most iconic spirits,” per the event page. Folks can expect to meet embodiments of Mathilda Erikson, George ‘Nash’ Walker and and Larkin Skaggs. Buses run at multiple times Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 23 through 25, with tickets priced at $25 for adults and $20 for students or seniors.
• 1313 Mockingbird Lane’s annual costume contest: From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursady, Oct. 30 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, swing by 1313 in costume to have your picture taken and be entered into the contest. The next week, the public will get to vote on a winner who will get a personalized mystery bag of Mockingbird goodies catered to their interests.
→ At 1313 Mockingbird Lane, 1027 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence
• McFinnigan Manor, the neighborhood haunted house: Running multiple weekend nights throughout October and on Halloween, this free fright fest is likely too intense for kids. Folks can join ghost tours through the spine-tingling countryside mansion. Donations are welcome, with all proceeds going to United Way of Kaw Valley. Find all times here.
→ At 4520 Grove Drive in Lawrence
• A month of seasonal film screenings and live events at Liberty Hall: The historic downtown cinema has curated a seasonal repertoire of screenings, including “Corpse Bride,” “Bride of Frankenstein,” 1999’s “The Mummy,” both live action “Scooby Doo” films, “Young Frankenstein,” “Practical Magic” and even 1925’s “Phantom of the Opera” with live piano accompaniment. See the full lineup with dates and ticket prices at this link.
→ At Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St.
• Booktoberfest with the Lawrence Public Library: Geared toward adult readers, the fifth Booktoberfest has an after-hours scavenger hunt, film discussions and more. Get additional information about programming here.
→ Locations vary between events
Events throughout the month
Wednesday, Oct. 8:
• 7:30 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. event: Nerd Nite of the Living Dead is $1 at the door for three presentations, drinks and raffle entries. This month’s ghostly theme will take attendees through the history of Lawrence looking at a haunted hotel, Black history and media representation of lawyers.
→ At Maceli’s Banquet Hall & Catering, 1031 New Hampshire St.
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Thursday, Oct. 9:
• 6 p.m.: Jungle House is hosting a Boo’ze and Brushes Halloween pot-painting workshop replete with Halloween music and a craft, boozey cocktail from John Brown’s Underground. The workshop costs $25; sign up here.
→ At Jungle House, 6 E. Seventh St.
Friday, Oct. 10:
• 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show: Foxy By Proxy Revue is a local Lawrence burlesque and theater troupe. They’re hosting their 16th annual Hextravaganza. The show is 18+ and costumes are encouraged.
“Come out to see Lawrence’s scary, spoopy, sexy burlesque troupe give all sass at Liberty Hall,” the venue wrote on Facebook. “Wear your favorite costume and get ready to scream and shout while all your favorite Foxy cult members give ya the old razzle dazzle.”
All seats are general admission and can be purchased here. Standard tickets cost $13.50 and VIP front table seating costs $19.50.
→ At Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St.
• 7 to 11:45 p.m.: Kick off the new “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans” season with Cynthia Doll, a season 2 star, alongside regional drag artists. The free viewing party starts at 7 p.m. with a $5 drag show beginning at 10 p.m.
→ At Grounded Coffee, 11 E. Eighth St. in Lawrence
Sunday, Oct. 12:
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Lawrence PRIDE’s monthly queer bowling event is donning a Halloween theme this month. This event is all ages and kid-friendly. “Come dress in your spookiest Halloween style, or come as yourself,” the event page says. All are welcome!”
The event costs $12 per person and includes shoe rental.
→ At Royal Crest Lanes, 933 Iowa St. in Lawrence
Wednesday, Oct. 15:
• 7 p.m.: Eighth Street Taproom will play host to a Halloween-themed quiz and costume contest run by the Born-Again Quiztians. At $5 a person, the quiz night can be found in Taproom’s basement.
→ At Eighth Street Taproom, 801 New Hampshire St. in Lawrence
Thursday, Oct. 16:
• 3 p.m.: The dead will rise again at the 18th annual Lawrence Zombie Walk. Naturally, there will be makeup and blood bath stations with costume contests and other festivities. The undead will gather at the gazebo before starting embarking on their deathly journey at sundown.
→ Meet at the South Park Gazebo in Lawrence
Saturday, Oct. 18:
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Pine’s Garden & Market is hosting their Second Annual Fall Festival with food from Chef Michael Beard, live music, pumpkin painting and free apple cider.
“All of this in addition to our hassle free pumpkin patch, with locally grown pumpkins from Juniper Hill Farms,” the garden center wrote.
This event is free.
→ At Pine’s Garden & Market, 1320 N. Third St. in Lawrence
Sunday, Oct. 19:
• 2:30 to 5 p.m.: Lawrence Community Orchestra’s Halloween Carnival will feature a costume contest and story time, before a concert with appropriately haunting and seasonal music for all ages. Tickets, which can be purchased online or at the door, cost $5 for students and $20 for adults.
→ At Lawrence High School, 1901 Louisiana St. in Lawrence
Saturday, Oct. 25:
• 3 to 9 p.m.: Ottawa’s Halloween Block Party is free for all ages and has a host of fall festival classics including music, games, food trucks and more.
→ At Forest Park in Ottawa
Sunday, Oct. 26:
• 3 p.m.: Northside Social is hosting a Paws and Pumpkins: A Howl-o-ween Patio Party benefiting the Lawrence Humane Society. Dogs can strut their fluff in Halloween gear as part of a pooch costume contest. Winners will be announced before PlayDead, a Grateful Dead cover band, takes the stage at 7 p.m. Find out more here.
→ At Northside Social, 444 Locust St. in Lawrence
Wednesday, Oct. 22:
• 9 to 11 p.m.: Local comedy group Pure Chaos and Liberty Hall are hosting a horror-themed bingo night with spooky, public-domain films. Entry is $5 at the door, and guests should enter through the stairs below Jungle House.
→ At Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence
Wednesday, Oct. 29:
• 5:30 p.m.: KU’s annual Haunting Humanities returns with a cascade of spooky presentations, activities, games and performances. “Join us for a haunting take on history, literature, and more with the return of the Hall Center’s all-ages humanities festival with a spooky twist,” the Hall Center wrote on their event page. Admission is free.
→ At Abe & Jake’s Landing, 800 E. Sixth St. in Lawrence
Thursday, Oct. 30:
• 8 p.m.: The 1992 silent film classic “Nosferatu” is coming to Northside Social with a an original, atmospheric score performed live by Constellation Vibrations. “Costumes encouraged,” the bar wrote on its event page. “Fear and fascination guaranteed.”
Entry to the show is free.
→ At Northside Social, 444 Locust St. in Lawrence
Friday, Oct. 31:
• 9 p.m.: Northside Social is hosting a Halloween Celebration with live music and no cover. Alternative, gothic folk band Blood & Velvet goes on at 9 p.m., with “swamp spaghetti western” performer Broke String Burnett taking the stage at 10:30 p.m.
→ At Northside Social, 444 Locust St. in Lawrence
• 9 p.m. doors, 10 p.m. show: At the Granada is Emo Nite’s Halloween Party, an 18+ DJ’d dance party. Advance tickets cost between $15 and $20, with day-of entry costing $25. Purchase tickets here.
→ At the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence
Saturday, Nov. 1:
• 7 to 10 p.m.: Museum After Dark at the Watkins Museum is a 21+ event with a Prohibition-era “Spookeasy” featuring drinks, card games, live jazz, dancing and clues hidden throughout the exhibits. Tickets cost $20 for museum members and $25 for general admission. Buy them here.
→ At the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence
• 9 p.m.: The Granada is hosting a 2000s party with a Halloween theme for those 18 and older. Advance tickets cost between $15 and $25, with day-of entry tickets costing $30. Purchase yours here.
→ At the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence
Check our events calendar for more, and submit your event (free!) through this form.
A roundup of kid- and family-focused events is coming; check back soon.
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