2021 Philly Halloween Guide

It’s spooky season here in the city of Philadelphia. Local festivities include ghost tours, haunted houses, and just about everything else that screams October. Gather your friends and family and hold them close because these occasions are bound to send goosebumps up your spine. This guide will help you navigate the spookiest events and activities to participate in this Halloween season.

Click the buttons below to find more information about each category.

Fall at Dilworth Park

When: September – October
Where: 1 S 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA

Center City District welcomes the fall season, starting in September with programs and amenities in Dilworth Park. All programs are free to guests of all ages. From September 8th to October 14th, Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon – 1 pm, relax outside on the terrace with free concerts by local artists. There will be a market place with local small businesses through October 2nd on Fridays and Saturdays from noon – 6 pm. From October 1 – 10, enjoy the hay maze on the greenfield lawn. It’s a limited time pop-up that the whole family can enjoy. It’s a farm experience without leaving the city. Harvest weekend is October 8 – 10, Friday and Saturday from noon – 8 pm and Sunday, noon – 6 pm. There will be hay bales, cornstalks, pumpkins and live entertainment all weekend long. Make your own apple cider, try new foods, take photos and have a fun fall weekend in Dilworth Park.

Fall Weekends at Snipes Farm

When: October Saturdays 9 am – 6 pm, Sundays 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 890 W Bridge Street, Morrisville, PA

Fall weekends at Snipes Farm begins this October and there’s a lot of fun activities to experience. Admission is $8 for age 3 and above, 2 and under are free. Visit the Big Red Barn with Halloween items, pumpkins, gourds, fresh cider, cider donuts and pie. There’s also a hay pyramid, straw bale maze, wooden maze, two playgrounds, farm animals, Cluckingham Palace, a pumpkin patch, nature trail, land of scarecrows and pick-your-own flowers. All proceeds from fall weekends support Snipes Farm and Education Center’s mission to model and teach sustainable farming while building community and connecting people to the land. Learn more here. To learn more about Halloween movies on Snipes Farm, read here.

Shady Brook Farm Fall Fest 2021

When: September 11 – October 31, specific dates and times available on the website
Where: Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd. Yardley, PA 19067

It’s the best time of the year at Shady Brook Farm. Fall Fest at Shady Brook Farm includes wagon rides, a 5 acre corn maze, sunflowers, apple and pumpkin picking, live music on the weekends, bonfires and more festival activities. This year, experience the all new Eerie Illuminations light show, staring on September 24th. Visit the barn yard animals, indulge in spooky snacks, jump on the jumping pillow, crawl around on the spider web and race around the all new re-designed track on pedal go carts.

Fright Factory

When: September – October
Where: 2200 S. Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA

Fright Factory is a high scare, high startle, adult themed haunted house featured on the Travel Channel as one of the scariest haunted attractions in America. Located at 2200 S. Swanson St in Philadelphia, PA inside a 120+ year old factory in the basement. The Basement is 25,000 Sq Ft split into 3 themes. Once you’re in, there’s no time to rest until you make it out. Click here to get tickets.

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia

When: Sunday – Thursday 7:30 pm; Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm
Where: Tours depart from Signers’ Garden, 5th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA

Discover the secrets hidden in the shadows of America’s most historic and most haunted city. Embark on the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia for a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence National Park, Old City and Society Hill, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses and eerie graveyards lurk in the night. This tour is named one of the top 15 “must see” attractions in the United States. Learn more on the website.

Eastern State Penitentiary

When: September – November (See website for dates)
Where: 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

The Eastern State Penitentiary, also known as ESP, is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at 2027 Fairmount Avenue between Corinthian Avenue and North 22nd Street in the Fairmount section of the city, and was operational from 1829 until 1971. Embark on a frightening adventure at Halloween Nights, which consists of 15 attractions, including 2 haunted houses, 3 immersive walk-through experiences, 3 live, interactive performances, 4 themed bars and lounges and 3 opportunities to explore the penitentiary’s cellblocks, history, and relevance today.

Pennhurst Asylum

When: Weekends, September 25 – November 6
Where: Bridge St & Church St, Spring City, PA

One of Pennsylvania’s most terrifying haunted attractions, the Pennhurst Asylum is located outside of Philadelphia in Spring City, PA. There are three different attractions to explore, The Asylum, The Tunnels and The Morgue. Read more about this adventure on the website.

Photo courtesy Pennhurst Asylum

Boo at the Zoo

When: October 16 – 17, 23 – 24, 29 -31
Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

There are three spooky weekends happening at the annual fall extravaganza at the Philadelphia Zoo. Guests are encouraged to come in costume, explore the zoo during the beautiful autumn season and enjoy fall offerings for purchase. Note: Halloween costumes with toy guns and weapons are prohibited. Learn more on the website.

Trick or Treat Halloween Parade

When: October 30, 2021, 12 pm
Where: Starting Bartrum High School, ending James Finnegan Playground

Candlelight Halloween: Haunted Classical Music at Laurel Hill Cemetery

When: October 8, 6:30 pm – 7:35 pm
Where: Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA

Watch a talented string quartet perform classical renditions of iconic Halloween songs in an intimate ambience bathed in candlelight. The show is 65 minutes and admission is $35. Read more information here.

Boo-tiful Paint Party

When: October 17, 1 pm
Where: Love City Brewing, 1023 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, PA

Join Forman Design Co. for a spook-tacular paint party at Love City Brewing!Craft beers for the grown ups and painting for the whole family. Spend the day as a family, making memories and masterpieces all while supporting two local businesses! This event’s theme is “BOO-tiful Art” where each artist will have the opportunity to choose a Halloween-themed canvas to paint and bring home.Children of ALL ages and abilities are invited to participate in this fun, family event. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Howl-O-Ween

When: October 16, 1 pm – 3 pm
Where: The Bourse, 111 S Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, PA

Come out to the 5th street patio at The Bourse in Philadelphia for a fun, family friendly, fall event for you and your pet! This outdoor event will feature drinks, yard games, treats for your pet, and a dog costume contest to benefit The Morris Animal Refuge. Philadelphia Brewing Company will be onsite selling their fabulous brews and ciders! Piggyback Treats will be popping up with there delicious pup treats! There will be a special appearance by the Ghostbuster Car! Enjoy interactive Pup Paintings and fun, pet-themed raffle items.

The $10 “costume contest entry” ticket enters your pet into the costume contest and snags you an adorable fall themed photo of your pet in their Howl-o-ween best on the day of the event. After all of the pets have shown off their costumes, a panel of esteemed judges will decide the winning pets for each category: Best Overall, Best Philly “Jawn”, and Best Team Costume (can be two pets or owner/pet,etc.) *All proceeds from costume contest ticket sales will benefit The Morris Animal Refuge. The refuge will be on site to answer any questions and sell refuge merchandise for an additional donation

Steam Pub

606 2nd Street Pike, Southampton, PA
(215) 942-6468

Steam Pub in Southampton is a pub-style restaurant that was a former train station connecting the Bucks County suburb to the rest of the country and allowing Southampton to thrive economically. Steam Pub just released their fall drink menu. A few of the drinks include the Pumpkin Pie Martini, Apple Pie Martini, Spiced Cranberry Mule, Spiked Apple Cider, Maple Cinnamon Latte and more. Steam Pub’s Halloween Party is Saturday, October 30th from 10 pm – 2 am. There will be a costume contest, drink specials and no cover.

For more great local resources, visit our #LoveLocal Guide here.

We Are Supported By:

Join Our Community. Click here to learn more