7 Spooky Events to Enjoy In Philly This Fall

September 30, 2021

Fall has arrived in Philly and the options on how to celebrate seem endless. From harvests festivals to pumpkin patches, the city is full of fun seasonal events and spooky events are no exception. 

Venues and businesses are fully embracing the spooky season with festivities ranging from minor scares to big thrills. To slim down your options, we put together this list of our seven favorite spooky events in Philly this October:

1. Fright Factory

South Philly is home to one of the scariest haunted houses in America: Fright Factory. Enter the basement of a 120+-year-old, factory and prepare for jump scares and characters as you explore the haunted grounds. The ticketed attraction has been featured on the Travel Channel and will be running through the 31st of the month.

2. Spooky Mini Golf

On October 1st, Philly Mini Golf in Franklin Square is transformed into Spooky Mini Golf. From 6-10 PM, people of all ages can tee up on a course decked out with fog lights, themed music, and decor featuring haunted replicas of Philly landmarks. Tickets are required and available to purchase online.

3. Mischief at the Mütter

For a more upscale Halloween celebration, we recommend the Mischief at the Mütter party on October 29th. The 6th annual installment of this Mütter Museum event includes cemetery garden access, two beverages from the witches brew bar, circus performances, tarot card readings, and much more in the ticket price. The costume contest is pretty intense so be sure to dress to impress.

4. Hocus Pocus Drive-In Movie

Spend Halloween Eve with everyone’s favorite witches at the Hocus Pocus Drive-In Movie Night event. The South Philly IKEA will be holding a screening of the beloved 90’s movie with all proceeds with the proceeds benefiting the Pennsylvania SPCA. Call your friend with a car and purchase tickets online for a night of toil and trouble.

5. Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest & Fall Fest

With so many pets living at Spruce Street Commons properties, we had to include a Halloween event for them to shine. At the Bourse Food Hall’s Howl-O-Ween event, both you and your pup can show off your outfits while enjoying a variety of activities and treats for pets and humans alike. Additionally, tickets for the October 16th event benefit the Morris Animal Refuge.


6. Science After Hours, Fright at Night

The Franklin Institute’s Science After Hours Event gets a spooky twist for their October 21st Fright Night celebration. The 21+ party will feature a performance that combines drag and science, shocking experiments and demonstrations, an eerie piano performance, and more. Tickets for this one-of-a-kind Halloween party are available online. 

7. Blood Moon Exhibit

Although the Fabric Workshop and Museum’s Blood Moon exhibit runs until February 20th of next year, we highly recommend adding it to your October itinerary. The exhibition features spooky and unusual video works from Mary Reid and Patrick Kelley with dark humor perfect for this spooky time of year.  

Whether you prefer art installments, pet parades, or haunted houses, we hope you found a spooky event to take part in this October. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on Philly events, arts, and more as we make our way to the holiday season. Have fun and happy haunting!