Throughout October, Delaware is home to a number of haunted attractions and fun events to celebrate the Halloween season. Between horror attractions, costume parties and authentic paranormal experiences, the First State has plenty of Halloween happenings to offer locals looking for a good scare and seasonal fun.
If you’re in the mood for weekend of fear and fun while waiting for Halloween to finally arrive, check out these spooktacular attractions that will make your blood run cold.
New Castle County
Frightland
This beloved Delaware horror attraction has a special place in Smyrna and Middletown residents’ hearts. Located at 309 Port Penn Road in Middletown, Frightland features haunted horror attractions such as the two-mile Haunted Hayride, multiple indoor haunted houses and more. The haunted scream park has been scaring Delaware residents and visitors for over 25 years.
309 Port Penn Road, MiddletownÂ
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Fort Delaware Paranormal Adventures
This former harbor defense facility during the American Civil War is home to a three-hour paranormal investigation tour alongside Diamond State Ghost Investigators. The fort is interesting all year round, but the Halloween happenings tend to be some of the most popular. Fort Delaware holds tours on Fridays and Saturdays from October 4-26 starting at 6:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Guests will be brought to the fort on a ferry, and tickets are $50 for ages 13 and up. These tours sell out early, so get your tickets now!
45 Clinton Street, Delaware City | 834-7941
New Castle Historical Society’s Hauntings in History Tours
If you’re brave enough to explore the darker side of New Castle County, Hauntings in History is the event for you. Held by the New Castle Historical Society on Fridays and Saturdays from October 11 to November 12, Hauntings in History will indulge your ghost-hunting fantasies. Guests will get a tour of the Amstel House—which is notorious for being one of the most haunted houses in New Castle—and may get to meet the “Woman in Blue.” Tours last for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, and tickets are $25.
30 Market Street, New Castle | 322-2794
Paranormal Rockwood Tours and Experiences
The Rockwood Mansion was featured on the popular TV show Ghost Hunters and is still considered one of the most haunted places in the state of Delaware. With paranormal experiences throughout the year, it’s no surprise that this haunted hotspot kicks it up a notch for October. On weekends throughout the month, enjoy attractions like The Revisionists: A Haunted Victorian Walk at Rockwood, a moonlight walking tour complete with ghost stories. Plus, on the last two Saturdays of the month, guests can participate in the classic Rockwood Paranormal Experience. Learn how to use sophisticated paranormal investigative equipment and investigate the home from the unfinished attic to the decaying basement. Join a professional paranormal investigator, who can help explain how instrument results may relate to the spirits thought to dwell in the house.
4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington | 761-4340
Halloween Cocktail Class & Drag Show at Liquid Alchemy
Liquid Alchemy Beverages brings a few fun Halloween happenings to Wilmington this year. On October 3, enjoy a Halloween-themed cocktail class featuring Liquid Alchemy mead and ciders. Savor light fare and drinks, and learn how to make three show-stopping Halloween cocktails that are sure to be a hit at your next Halloween gathering. Then, on Thursday, October 24, enjoy the annual Hocus-Pocus Halloween Drag Show. Complete with bingo, trivia and Hocus Pocus-themed performances between rounds, this show is sure to be a great kickoff to your Halloween week. Ticket information is coming soon and will be available on Liquid Alchemy’s Facebook page.
28 Brookside Drive, Wilmington | 438-0252
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The Boo! Bar at LIT
Located inside Delaware Park Casino, this Halloween pop-up bar promises spooky fun on Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. Enjoy specialty themed cocktails and DJ-led entertainment from 6 p.m. to midnight.
777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Wilmington
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Spirits at the Zoo
The Brandywine Zoo brings back this hit 21-plus event for a second year. Put on your best costume and enjoy spooky cocktails and libations from local breweries and vendors. Plus, enjoy bewitching entertainment, Halloween photo ops and animal encounters while supporting the Delaware Zoological Society of the Brandywine Zoo. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for non-members with food and drink tickets available for purchase on-site throughout the evening.
1001 North Park Drive, Wilmington
Kent County
Harvest Ridge Winery’s Wine & Halloween Candy Pairing
Costumes are highly encouraged for this fun walking wine tour. As you walk through the beautiful Harvest Ridge Winery, you will experience five different candy and wine pairings. Then, sit and have a glass or two with friends and make a whole spooky afternoon of it! For those in Northern Delaware, Harvest Ridge’s PA location is hosting its own pairing event, just a short drive over the line.
447 Westville Road, Marydel | 343-9437
1140 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, PA
John Dickinson Plantation
The John Dickinson Plantation is said to be haunted by the former founding father himself. Individuals have reported hearing the sound of a quill pen writing on parchment and witnessing rumpled bed sheets looking as if they had been slept on. While the plantation doesn’t offer paranormal tours, you can always try to witness this paranormal activity for yourself by checking out the website to schedule a tour.
340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover | 739-3277
Dover Official Halloween Bar Crawl
Put on your spookiest costume and venture out into Dover for this fun pub crawl the weekend before Halloween. Enjoy several of Dover’s bars and venues, then end the night with a free after-party experience. Plus, participate in the social media costume contest for a chance to win a prize with a $2,000 value. Just follow @pubcrawlers, show up in your costume and tag the account in your photos for a chance to win.
Dover
Sussex County
The Cemetery House
Running for 30 years, The Cemetery House is one of the longest operating haunted houses on the Eastern Shore. This scary attraction opens on Friday the 13th this year and features ghouls, zombies, creatures and more in order to give visitors a genuine scare. Visit the event’s Facebook page for details and accurate information about weather delays and closings.
205 W. 10th Street, LaurelÂ
Nightmare’s Haunted House
Back for another year of scaring, Nightmare’s Haunted House operates as a nonprofit and raises funds for local organizations. This year’s event promises new thrills and frightening monsters. The scares begin on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. For more information and to see a weekly roundup of “victim” reaction photos, visit the attraction’s Facebook page.
10912 County Seat Highway, Laurel
Pre-Halloween Metal Show & Costume Contest at the Brimming Horn
Drink some great mead, participate in a costume contest, listen to live metal music and shop horror-themed art vendors. The costume contest is 21-plus, and all you need to do to enter is bring a toy donation for Toys for Tots. The mead-centric Halloween happenings start at noon on October 21, and the final metal band plays until 10 p.m.
28615 Lewes Georgetown Highway, Milton | 664-1188
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2024 Sea Witch Festival
Nothing says “spooky season” at the Delaware beaches quite like the annual Sea Witch Festival in downtown Rehoboth Beach. The last weekend in October, this award-winning festival draws mostly Delaware locals looking for Halloween happenings and fall beach fun. Festival goers can expect a costume parade, the scarecrow trail and show, beach games, vendors, a 5k, live entertainment and more.
Downtown Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach | 227-6446
Know of a cool event that didn’t make our list? Reach out to Sydney Livingston, Delaware Today‘s digital editor, at slivingston@delawaretoday.com.Â