Halloween Haunts + Happenings in Louisville

Events

Haunted Hotel | Weekends, September & October
Come see why the Haunted Hotel is Louisville’s longest-standing and scariest Halloween attraction when the hotel takes you into your worst nightmare.

The American Horrorplex | Fridays & Saturdays, September 13-November 2
Walk through the rusted and ramshackle gates to enter the Louisville area’s award-winning haunted attraction: The American Horrorplex! Screams fill the air as you wait your turn to explore the haunted halls, wander through a maze of maniacs, and try to escape with your mind and soul intact. Terror waits around every corner at The American Horrorplex where the cure is the disease.

Escape Goatman at the Legend of Pope Lick | Fridays & Saturdays, September 23-November 4
You and your team are trying to find the truth about the Pope Lick Monster. Armed with only a flashlight, your team will venture into the dark woods in search of the beast. Time is ticking... can you solve the mystery before you are hunted down by the Goatman?

Danger Run | September 28-October 31
Solve clues and puzzles to solve a murder mystery and find your way to haunts. Danger Run® is a scavenger hunt-style escape game played in your car. It is an adventure like no other and is sure to be The Most Fun You’ve EVER Had In Your Car!®

Norton Sports Health 4-Miler at Jack O'Lantern Spectacular | September 30
This family-friendly course begins at Iroquois Park's amphitheater before winding through a section of the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular trail towards the finish line. Enjoy an evening running or walking past the illuminated pumpkins before the event opens to the public.

Halloween on Hillcrest | Nightly in October
Stroll along Hillcrest Avenue, in Louisville’s quaint Crescent Hill neighborhood, to see the best display of Halloween decorations in town – you’ll have a chance to chat with the locals as they sit on their front porches to enjoy the parade of onlookers. On October 31 from 5 to 9 pm, the houses along the street will be handing goodies to trick-or-treaters.

Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular | October 1-November 2
Stroll along a 1/3-mile path to enjoy over 5,000 carved pumpkins illuminated every evening through the depths of Louisville’s Iroquois Park.

Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy | Thursdays-Sundays, October 2-20
In this thrilling new adaptation that bounces between humor and horror, playwright Kate Hamill reimagines Bram Stoker’s vampire classic as a full-throated battle cry against toxic masculinity. No damsels in distress, no romanticized villains—just a gleeful stake through the heart of the patriarchy.

Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom | Thursdays-Sundays, October 3-27
Watch the park transform after dark into a whimsical wonderland filled with towering expertly carved pumpkin sculptures that light up the night with special effects and pops of color, in addition to family-friendly entertainment, photo opportunities, trick-or-treating, and much more.

18th Annual Haunted Hike | October 6
The Haunted Hike is the most popular Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve event and should not be missed! This is a great day to debut your family’s Halloween costumes, collect A LOT of candy, and have a blast of a time in a beautiful setting.

Boos & Brews Ghost Tour | October 11-13
This special, spooky tour takes you through the historic Conrad-Caldwell House Museum in the heart of “America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood” – Old Louisville. You’ll learn the history of the house and maybe meet a spectral spirit along the way, all while enjoying a pint of craft beer.

Witch Perfect | October 13
Become part of the magic that is Witch Perfect. This award-winning Spooktacular is a live-singing parody of the cult-classic Disney film, Hocus Pocus. It features Emmy-Award winning cast members from RuPaul’s Drag Race: Tina Burner as Winifred, Scarlet Envy as Sarah, and Alexis Michelle as Mary. The show features an eclectic mix of music such as pop hits from icons like Kylie Minogue and Madonna, to Broadway Standards from Gypsy and Wicked. And of course the crowd will be treated to the showstopper “I Put a Spell on You.” Check the website for a pre-show Meet & Greet opportunity, plus an After Show Show with Dusty Ray Bottoms & May O'Nays.

Jack O'Lantern Stroll | October 18
The Jack O’Lantern Stroll has become one of the premier Halloween events in Kentuckiana, attracting hundreds of people for this one night of fun! In addition to the 1,000 beautifully carved pumpkins lighting the night, the Stroll offers trick-or-treating, games, crafts, members of the Louisville League of Mascots, live music and more!

Headless Horseman Hayride & Spooky Stories | October 19
Experience Homestead Hauntings in the spookiest of seasons at Blackacre Nature Preserve! Stroll around the different historic buildings to hear spooky legends and tall tales, followed by the headless horseman hayride.

Haunting: A Lamplit Tour | October 25-27
The shadows grow longer as the sun sets as you are guided by the glow of lamps through the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum for a special tour exploring the Victorian mourning traditions of Louisville’s Gilded Age, those who have passed in the home throughout its history, and lingering spirits that still be around today.

Halloween Bar Crawl | October 26
Get ready for a spooktacular night with Crawl With US at The Official 7th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl! This isn't just any bar crawl—it's the ultimate Halloween party where you and your friends can dress up in your most creative costumes and hit the town for a night you won't forget

Pumpkin Spice 5k Run/Walk | October 26
Don your Halloween costume for a leisurely foliage-filled 5k run/walk in Cherokee Park. Participants are encouraged to bring their pets in costume for the pet parade and costume contest. Coffee and treats (for humans and dogs) await at the finish line.

Sugar Skull! A Dia de Muertos Musical | October 26
Discover the story of twelve-year-old Vita Flores and her plans to celebrate her loved ones who have passed. Vita meets Sugar Skull, a charismatic skeleton, who joins her for a musical journey to unravel the true meaning of Dia de Muertos with traditional regional music and dance from Mexico.

Trick Or Treat at The Track | October 27
Little ghouls and goblins are invited to trick-or-treat under the Twin Spires for a fun family evening with live racing and more than 15 kid-friendly activities to enjoy, like face painting and bounce houses.

Tours

Victorian Ghost Walk | October 18-20
For three days only, meet a cast of real-life characters who return from the grave annually to tell their stories that have helped make Old Louisville America's Most Haunted Neighborhood.

Louisville Ghost Tours | Nightly through November
Once named one of the most haunted neighborhoods in America, Old Louisville is home to the most extensive collection of Victorian-era mansions in the United States. Take a stroll through this historic neighborhood past paranormal hotspots like The Pink Palace, First Church Christ Scientist, or Witches Tree.

Louisville Ghost Walking Tours | Every Friday Night
Join Mr. Ghost Walker on a spirited, 100-minute walk among the famous addresses around downtown Louisville. Explore famous buildings, landmarks and haunted alleyways.

Louisville Haunted Tour | Nightly in October
This 90-minute walking tour will take you down the shadow-filled streets of downtown Louisville where you will learn the dark mysteries and supernatural experiences of some of the most haunted landmarks in the city.

Phantoms of the Prohibition: Ghosts, Cocktails & Bites Tour | Weekly, Tuesdays-Fridays
Uncover the hidden stories of Louisville’s haunted past. Meet resident ghosts throughout downtown as you eat and sip your way down Whiskey Row. Trace the footsteps of the bourbon barons and mobsters, find hidden speakeasies, see where Al Capone’s played poke and his secret escape door, and the truth about Prohibition.

Unveiling The Mysteries: Louisville Ghost Tours | Multiple Tour Options & Tour Dates
Founded in 1778, Louisville is famous for the Kentucky Derby, and the Louisville Slugger Bat. Plus, the home of many legendary Americans such as Muhammad Ali, Hunter S. Thompson, and Tom Cruise. This rich history also includes a supernatural element to explore and thrilling ghost tours to experience.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium | Daily Tour Options
Named one of the Most Haunted Destinations in the U.S. by USA Today 10Best in 2020 & 2021, take a tour of this defunct Tuberculosis hospital is said to have seen nearly 50,000 deaths. You can spend a few hours or stay overnight with multiple tour options to choose from.

Whispers on Whiskey Row: Murder, Crime & The Haunted History of Derby City | Weekly, Tuesdays-Sundays
Step into the shadows of the past on a haunting history tour through the heart of downtown Louisville. As the sun sets and the city’s vibrant façade fades, you’ll uncover the sinister secrets and chilling tales that lurk behind the historic architecture & storied streets.

Other Spectral Spots

Cave Hill Cemetery
Established in 1848, Cave Hill is a Victorian-era graveyard that is the final resting place for many famous Louisvillians and Bourbon industry barons, as well as Civil War soldiers from both the Union and Confederate Armies. The most common spectral sightings have been disembodied whispers and glowing green orbs. Please note: If planning to visit, please be respectful as Cave Hill is an active cemetery and arboretum. Gates close at 4:45 pm.

Louisville Palace
Since opening in 1928, several spirits have been spotted roaming the theatre including a gentleman in 1930s clothing in the lobby, a woman in 1940s attire on the grand staircase, and a young child giggling in one of the restrooms.

Eat + Drink

End your ghost adventures with dinner or a drink at these spots around town that have reported seeing spectral images.

• Bristol Bar & Grill- Downtown
• The English Grill at the Brown Hotel
• The Old Spaghetti Factory
• Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille
  
• 3rd Turn Brewery, Jeffersontown
• Pizza Lupo
• Bae's Baekery, Frankfort Avenue
• Hilltop Tavern
• Meta
• Joe's Older Than Dirt
• Spring Street Bar & Grill
• The Silver Dollar

Shopping

Caufield's Novelties has provided novelties of all kinds to locals for over 100 years. Originally opened as a photography studio in 1915, customers could buy practical joke items to keep themselves occupied while they waited. Eventually the novelties outpaced the photography business, and in 1920 Caufield's Novelty was founded and is the number 1 Halloween shopping spot in Louisville with a cadillac hearse and the World's Largest Bat outside welcoming guests and a small haunted house inside to explore.

Butcher Cabin Books is a horror-themed book and gift store from a local mother and daughter duo. The shop will carry both well-known writers like Stephen King and works by independent writers, and ghoulishly-themed gifts. The store is easy to spot along Barret Avenue with the vibrant red paint dripping down from the roof.

Halloween Life offers great things beyond Halloween by offering curiosities, oddities, horror and a touch of the dark side.

Reads

By Local Author David Domine

• A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville
• Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America's Largest Victorian Neighborhood
• Phantoms of Old Louisville: Ghostly Tales from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood
• Haunts of Old Louisville: Gilded Age Ghosts and Haunted Mansions in America's Spookiest Neighborhood
• True Ghost Stories & Eerie Legends from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood
• Voodoo Days at La Casa Fabulosa: An Unconventional Memoir

By Local Author Robert W. Parker

• Haunted Louisville
• Haunted Louisville 2: Beyond Downtown
• Haunted Louisville 3

By Local Author Steve Wiser

• Haunted Houses of Louisville

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Ready to explore other haunts around the State? Discover 20+ spooky sites on the Kentucky After Dark Trail.