It’s October, so you know what that means? Spooky Season has descended upon Indianapolis.
Whether you’re looking for some family-friendly festivities, a spooky show, festival or storytime hour, Indianapolis will not disappoint. The Recorder has compiled a list of a few Halloween-themed events, activities and trick-or-treat destinations hosted by various organizations throughout Indianapolis’ arts and culture scene.
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Friday, Oct. 3
Headless Horseman Festival — $26; free for members
Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers
Conner Prairie’s annual Headless Horseman Festival is back with even more immersive activities, games and haunts for the whole family. Kids and families can enjoy carnival thrills, venture through the Trail of Terror Corn Maze, try their hand at axe throwing, or engage with live performances of music and magic.
connerprairie.org/headless-horseman
“Shadow Play: Where Bodies and Cities Meet in Light and Dark” — FREE
Mass Ave Knit Shop, 862 Virginia Avenue
Bringing together two queer artists using shadow as material and metaphor, “Shadow Play” aims to blur the lines between public and intimate, concrete and flesh, transforming into a space of queer joy, resistance and play.
Woodruff Place Neighborhood Walking Tour — $15-$20 (Recurring every Friday through Oct. 24)
735 Woodruff Place E. Dr.
Lantern-carrying guides will lead guests on a spooky twilight stroll through Woodruff Place, retelling the haunting historic tales each Friday in October.
Saturday, Oct. 4
Monument Circle Art Fair — FREE
Monument Circle, Downtown Indianapolis
Regional and local artists will showcase their work during the family-friendly one day fair, featuring art, musical entertainment and food trucks at the historic Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
facebook.com/Monumentcircleart
Woven of Iron — $15-$50
Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center, 705 N. Illinois St.
Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company presents “Woven of Iron,” a fusion of dance genres and expressions depicting political, social and cultural narratives alongside lived experiences of those in the African Diaspora.
Sunday, Oct. 5
Art & Soul Sundays: Jeremy Larnel Thomson — FREE
Indianapolis Artsgarden, 110 W. Washington St.
Indy native Jeremy Thomspon takes the stage for October’s event. The vocalist is known for performances across the city as well as leading worship in various congregations.
Monday, Oct. 6
“ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence” — FREE
Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center, 705 N. Illinois St.
Join American Lives Theatre as they take part of the national program using theatre and community engagement to confront the issue of gun violence. The event will feature staged readings of six 10-minute plays written by teenagers addressing various aspects of gun violence.
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Translocal Afrofuturism Conference — FREE
Kheprw Institute, 3802 N. Illinois St.
Back for a second year, the Translocal Afrofuturism Conference brings together authors, artists, activists and visionaries to create, celebrate and imagine a future “on our own terms.”
Thursday, Oct. 9
34th Annual Heartland International Film Festival — Prices vary (Recurring through Oct. 19)
Various locations, Indianapolis
More than 100 independent films are screening across various locations in Indianapolis, including the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Indy Art Center, Kan-Kan Cinema, Living Room Theaters, Newfields and online.
Friday, Oct. 10
Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest — FREE (Recurring through Oct. 11)
The Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Returning for its second year in a row, Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest is back with local poets and hosts Mitchell L. H. Douglass and Chantel Massey, celebrating the power of writing grown right here in the midwest.
indianahumanities.org/program/proof
Night at the Boo Bash — $8-$15
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, 650 W. Washington St.
The Indiana State Museum comes alive this October, featuring a cast of quirky characters and haunted holiday-themed activities on all three floors. Children and families are encouraged to try their hand at spooky-sounding instruments, creepy science demonstrations and play games to win haunted prizes.
indianamuseum.org/event/night-at-the-boo-bash
Saturday, Oct.11
Big Gay Halloween Market — FREE
The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd.
Hosted by Indy Gay Market, celebrate the spooky season with more than 100 vendors selling art and goods, live music and a costume contest.
Spooky Stories — $10-$25
Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center, 705 N. Illinois St.
Storytelling Arts of Indiana Returns to the Phoenix Theatre for a haunted night of storytelling meant to enrich, connect and entertain audiences through the arts.
Monday, Oct. 12
Art-Fi: Color. Groove. Vibe. — $17.85
Midwest Leak Studio, 5860 Michigan Road
Curated by Tony Styxx, Art-Fi returns this October for a night of coloring and vibing with friends and community. Custom prints and utensils will be provided for creating coloring expressions.
Wednesday, Oct. 15
Uncharted Series: Beethoven X. Beyoncé — $15-$64
Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle
Composer Steve Hackman returns to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in a performance celebrating and elevating R&B and pop queen Beyonce with classical music king Beethoven.
Friday, Oct. 18
Indy’s Global Village Diwali Celebration — FREE
Global Village Welcome Center, 4233 Lafayette Road
Hoosiers are invited to celebrate the Hindu New Year as the Global Village is transformed with the lighting of diyas and rangoli. Guests can enjoy music and dance performances, activities and Indiana food.
Locally Made: Indy’s Fall Fest and Autumntidings — FREE
Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.
The Indy Art Center’s annual Fall Fest returns with art activities, food and live entertainment for the whole family. Guests can shop artwares from more than 50 vendors, sample food, beer and wine from local artisans and enjoy free pumpkin painting.
2025 Halloween Ball — $48.70-$54
Irvington Lodge, 5515 E. Washington St.
The 78th Historic Irvington Halloween Festival’s ball is celebrating a very wicked Halloween. The Ozian-themed event hopes to bring the community together for an evening inspired by the land of OZ, complete with costumes of emerald elegance, bewitching live music, and refreshments.
irvingtonhalloween.com/halloween-ball
Sunday, Oct. 19
Harvest Nights — $21-$34 (non-peak night) (Recurring through Nov. 2)
Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
Newfields’ annual “spooky not scary” outdoor exhibition is back this fall. After dark, the museum transforms its gardens into a foggy, pumpkin-filled forest. New this year, are 50 larger-than-life handmade mushrooms from Kara Kent and Expo Design.
discovernewfields.org/events-exhibitions/harvest-nights
Monday, Oct. 20
Starve a Vampire Halloween Blood Drive— FREE
Irvington Library, 5625 E. Washington St.
Hosted as part of the Historic Irvington Halloween festival, guests are invited to roll up a sleeve for their biggest blood drive of the year through Versiti Mobile Drive. Whole blood and double red appointments are available.
irvingtonhalloween.com/blood-drive
Friday, Oct. 24
ZooBoo — $31.75-$34.75; free with membership
Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington St.
ZooBoo welcomes back guests of all ages to enjoy magic and potions, trick-or-treating, rides on the Roller Ghoster and Round-Go-Merry and more. Costumes are encouraged.
indianapoliszoo.com/zoo-events/zooboo
Saturday, Oct. 25
Dia de Muertos community Celebration — FREE
Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St.
The Eiteljorg is once again teaming up with Arte Mexicano en Indiana and Nopal Cultural to celebrate Día de los Muertos with a community celebration. Guests will experience live music, dancing, vibrant altars and art displays honoring the rich traditions of the Mexican Holiday.
Trunk or Treat — FREE
Brightwood Forest Manor Community Center, 4062 E. 34th St.
The Brightwood Forest Manor Community Center is hosting a spooktacular neighborhood engagement event this month through Trunk or Treat. Guests are encouraged to show up with festive costumes to collect candy, engage in activities and fuel community spirit.
Sunday, Oct. 26
Reading with a Witch — FREE
Indy Reads, 1066 Virginia Ave.
Join the Black Hat Society of Historic Irvington for a kids and family-friendly spooky, fun story hour. Costumes are encouraged!
Friday, Oct. 31
Trick-or-Treat at Indy Reads — FREE
Indy Reads, 1066 Virginia Ave.
Trick-or-treaters of all ages are welcome to join Indy Reads for a Halloween celebration. Guests will receive cany, get to pick out a free book from the Halloween totes and work on “spooky” coloring pages.
indyreads.org/event/trick-or-treat-at-indy-reads
Healthy Soul Culinary Art Foundation’s 4th Annual Halloween Boo Bash — FREE
The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd.
Healthy Soul’s 4th annual Halloween Boo Bash promises to be safe, fun and free, featuring trick-or-treating, games and crafts, a live DJ, candy and more.
“Nosferatu” — $21.60
Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra invites you to celebrate Halloween with the presentation of the gothic horror classic “Nosferatu,” featuring organist Donnie Rankin playing the soundtrack live on the Hilbert Circle Theatre’s Wurlitzer organ alongside the 1922 film.
Please note: Admission and ticket prices listed are general and before taxes/fees.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
