Halloween in Dayton

The Miami Valley's biggest haunted attraction, running every fall weekend in October. Multiple haunted experiences under one ticket. If you want a real scare in Dayton, this is the one locals recommend first. Not for young kids. Lines get long on Friday and Saturday nights so go early or buy tickets online in advance.

Legendary local institution. Foy's has been the go-to Halloween store and haunted attraction in the Dayton area for decades. Costume supplies, props, decorations, and the actual haunted walkthrough when October rolls around. If you grew up in Dayton you already know about this place. If you just moved here, this is a right of passage.

Eight acres of corn maze out in Germantown, just southwest of Dayton. One of the best corn mazes in the region. Runs through early November so you have most of October and Halloween weekend to get out there. Pumpkins for sale, outdoor activities, and a legit maze that actually takes a while to get through. Great for families and friend groups.

Young's is a working dairy farm that goes full fall mode in October. Pumpkin picking, corn maze, wagon rides, and the goat farm. Plus their ice cream, waffles, and market are open year round so you can make it a full afternoon. This is one of those places that locals have been going to since they were kids. Worth the drive out to Yellow Springs.

The Oregon District throws a massive Halloween street festival every year on the Saturday before Halloween. Live music, DJ sets, food trucks, beer trucks, and street performers. Costumes are basically required. The whole district shuts down and it turns into one of the best Halloween parties in the city. 21 and older typically for the late-night stuff but the early hours are more mixed.

Nearly 1,000 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns fill the space behind the church in the Grafton Hill neighborhood. Community volunteers carve them ranging from beginner to expert level. Free event, open two nights. It is genuinely magical walking through hundreds of lit pumpkins in the dark. One of those Dayton hidden gems that feels like it should be more famous than it is.

A string quartet performs Halloween classics by candlelight. Think Thriller, Danse Macabre, the Stranger Things theme, This Is Halloween. 60 minute concert in the ornate Dayton Masonic Center surrounded by hundreds of candles. Two show times available. Tickets required. Great date night or something different from the usual bar scene.

The 40th annual Ghost n Goblin 5K runs on the Tuesday before Halloween. Part of the Ohio River Road Runners Club tradition. Run in costume, support local school running programs. When you register you pick a school district that gets a donation from the proceeds. Low-key, community focused, good people.

Local horror film festival held at Englewood Cinema every October. Two days of independent and short horror films. Good vibe, local filmmakers mixed in with regional submissions. If you are into horror as a genre this is the kind of event worth putting on the calendar early. Tickets go fast once the lineup drops.

The Historic Plaza Theatre runs a month of Halloween movie screenings throughout October, ending on Halloween night with a classic. Single screen, old-school movie house experience. They screen everything from Clue to Psycho to cult favorites you won't see at the multiplex. Check their website for the full October 2026 calendar.

The DAI offers special interest tours in October focused on the darker side of art history. Mysterious legends, haunting symbols, and depictions of death woven through the permanent collection. Ends with a creative project. A different way to experience the museum and surprisingly entertaining for adults and older kids alike. Admission applies.