Halloween Week Picks
Still looking for Halloween plans in Hartford County? You can still catch Phantom Fall Fest, spooky history at the Mark Twain House or Old New-Gate, and one last ride on Rails to the Darkside. For family fun, try the Windsor drive-thru, Newington's free Halloween walk-through, Nightmare on Broad Street, or the Collinsville parade.
Hayride note: Nightmare on Broad Street (Oct 29) and Halloween on the Hill (Oct 31) offer festive rides, not full-scale haunted hayrides.
Updated October 27, 2026. Only activities with dates on or after October 27 are included. Always verify availability, weather plans and ticket information.
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Big scares · Family fun · Adults · FAQ
Big Scares & Haunted History
Phantom Fall Fest at Lake Compounce
BRISTOL · OCT 30–NOV 1 · SCARES BEGIN 6 PM · HIGH
Five haunted houses, two scare zones and nighttime rides make this a major scream destination. Arrive earlier for the family-friendly activities and check ticket availability.
Rails to the Darkside
EAST WINDSOR · FRI, OCT 30 ONLY · 7–9:30 PM · HIGH
Last chance this season! Ride a historic trolley into the dark woods for live scares, creepy surprises and a frightfully fun journey. Advance tickets are recommended.
Light Into the Dungeon
EAST GRANBY · THROUGH OCT 31 · ADVANCE TICKETS · LOW–MEDIUM
Head underground at Old New-Gate Prison, where approximately 400 professionally carved jack-o'-lanterns light up the old copper mine. Special tickets are required for mine access.
Ghost Tours of the Mark Twain House
HARTFORD · OCT 30–31 · 6, 7, 8 & 9 PM · MEDIUM
Step inside one of Hartford's most famous homes for tales of paranormal investigations, Victorian séances and Mark Twain's own fascination with the supernatural.
West Hartford Hauntings
WEST HARTFORD · OCT 29–30 · EVENINGS · MEDIUM
Lantern-lit theatrical tours of Old North Cemetery bring historic residents back to life through local stories. A great choice for anyone who likes a little history with their Halloween scares.
Hallowed History Lantern Tour
HARTFORD · OCT 30 · 6–9 PM · $20 · MEDIUM
History comes alive at Cedar Hill Cemetery as costumed actors tell true stories of some of Hartford's former residents. The lantern-guided walk covers roughly a mile, and reservations are required.
Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum
PLAINVILLE · CHECK REMAINING OCTOBER HOURS · LOW
Love classic horror movies? This cult-favorite museum is packed with life-size movie monsters, memorabilia and carefully recreated sets. Check its booking calendar before visiting, as remaining October hours could not be confirmed.
Family Halloween & Festive Rides
The Great Halloween Drive-Thru
WINDSOR · OCT 29–30 · 6:30–9:30 PM · $35/CAR CASH · LOW
Stay in your vehicle for a 30–45 minute journey through spooky holograms, projections and special effects near Brown's Harvest. Last tickets are sold at 9 PM. Closed on Halloween night.
Stew Leonard's Halloween Walk-Through
NEWINGTON · THROUGH OCT 31 · FREE · LOW
More than a dozen Halloween scenes fill the pumpkin-patch tent during store hours. Plus, registered kids ages 8 and under can trick-or-treat October 27 from 4–5:30 PM, and there's a paid cupcake decorating workshop October 30.
Pumpkin Patch Trolley
EAST WINDSOR · OCT 30–NOV 1 · DAYTIME · LOW
Hop aboard a vintage trolley and ride out to the pumpkin patch at the Connecticut Trolley Museum. A fun daytime option for families with younger kids. Check remaining departures before visiting.
Scarecrows Along Main
WETHERSFIELD · THROUGH OCT 31 · FREE · LOW
More than 170 handmade scarecrows line Main Street, tucked among shops, restaurants and historic buildings. Take a stroll, grab lunch and see how creative the locals got this year.
Nightmare on Broad Street
WINDSOR · OCT 29 · 5:30–7:30 PM · FAMILY
Downtown Windsor turns into one giant Halloween block party with trick-or-treating, an outdoor movie, haunted displays, costumes and a tractor-drawn hayride. No candy stops before 5:30 PM!
Halloween on the Hill
FARMINGTON · OCT 31 · NOON–4 PM · $5 PERSON / $20 CARLOAD · LOW
Follow Hill-Stead Museum's Pond Loop for Halloween treats and surprises, hop on a hayride, and try your hand at a pumpkin slingshot. An easy family-friendly Halloween outing.
Collinsville Halloween Parade
CANTON · OCT 31 · GATHER 6 PM, PARADE 7 PM · FREE · LOW
One of Hartford County's wonderfully weird traditions, complete with costumes, candy, music, the famous screaming contest and a parade through downtown Collinsville. Rain or shine!
After Dark & Adults-Only
Witches & Tombstones
WETHERSFIELD · OCT 31 · DAYTIME & EVENING TOURS SOLD OUT
The Webb Deane Stevens Museum brings colonial medicine, witch trials and cemetery history to life. Both the daytime historical tours and the evening 18+ Spooktacular are sold out, but keep this one in mind for future years.
Hartford Official Halloween Bar Crawl
HARTFORD · OCT 31 · STARTS 4 PM · FROM $15 · 21+
Costumes, food and drink specials, a costume contest, event swag and an afterparty make this an adults-only Halloween night out. Check-in starts at Brownstone on Asylum Street.
Hartford County Halloween FAQ
What are the biggest Halloween scares still running?
Phantom Fall Fest continues October 30–November 1, and Rails to the Darkside has its final ride October 30. Old New-Gate, the Mark Twain House and West Hartford Hauntings are great for spooky history without the intense scares.
What can younger kids enjoy?
Try Stew Leonard's free Halloween walk-through, the Windsor drive-thru, Pumpkin Patch Trolley, Scarecrows Along Main, Halloween on the Hill or the Collinsville parade. Phantom Fall Fest also has family programming before 6 PM.
Where can we find a hayride?
Nightmare on Broad Street on October 29 and Halloween on the Hill on October 31 both feature festive hayrides. Neither is a full-scale haunted hayride. For something scarier, try Rails to the Darkside on October 30.
Which experiences need reservations?
Check availability for Phantom Fall Fest, Rails to the Darkside, Old New-Gate, the Mark Twain House, West Hartford Hauntings and Cedar Hill Cemetery. Witches & Tombstones is sold out, and the Windsor drive-thru accepts cash only.
Know One We Missed?
Send HartCo Buzz the official event link. We'll keep this field guide updated through Halloween!
