Festival of the Dead
Exploration of death's mysteries through diverse rituals and events
26 unique & unusual Halloween events in Lowell and nearby.
With 19 Halloween events happening in and around Lowell, you can find plenty to celebrate. Consider the Trick-or-Treat Yo'Self event right here in Lowell for some local sweetness.
For those willing to venture a bit further, consider the Hocus Pocus Recreation at Historic Ropes Mansion in Salem for a themed experience.
New England's family amusement park with five haunted houses for Screeemfest.
Costumed pub crawl through bars around Kenmore Square and Lansdowne Street.
Live haunted magic, mind reading, and ghost stories in Salem.
Join Sam and Molly to reverse a spooky Halloween transformation.
See all the unique and unusual Halloween events in one place.
The standard is 90 minutes covering about a mile at a stop-and-story pace; extended versions run two-plus hours and add interior visits. The pace is slower than a normal walk but heavy on standing, which tires people more than distance does. Plan the parking meter and babysitter around a hard two hours, and take the pre-tour restroom stop seriously, since routes rarely include one.
Family-friendly early tours, usually the 7 pm slot, keep stories spooky but not graphic and welcome ages 8-plus; late-night tours lean into murder and macabre detail and often set 13+ or 18+ minimums. Check the tour's stated age guidance and pick the early slot for first-timers. Ninety minutes of night walking is the real limit for younger kids, so check the route length.
October is the swing month: afternoon events can be warm while anything after sunset drops fast, so the answer is always layers, base, zip layer, packable shell, plus closed shoes for grass and gravel venues. Toss gloves and a beanie in the bag after mid-October for night tours and outdoor screenings. Check the hourly forecast at event time, not the daily high.