Halloween Fun to Lift Your Spirits

Halloween pumpkin Display at Boardman Park.

October means more than just shorter days and raking leaves – it’s time for ghosts and goodies!

We’ve got Halloween events of all kinds and for all ages, from special trick or treat activities for kids to scary fun for teens and adults. Check out our list of the best Halloween-related events taking place in Youngstown and throughout Mahoning County!

Trick or Treat Events

Kids having fun trick or treating.

Looking for fall fun options geared toward kids? Here’s your short list of family-friendly Halloween trick or treat events – the scare level is low but the fun level is high!

Southern Park Mall Candy Crawl

Come to the Southern Park Mall in your best Halloween costume and participate in a family-friendly, mall-wide trick or treat event!

It all starts at DeBartolo Commons (outside), where princesses and superheroes will be handing out candy to the kids! Then, trick-or-treaters can head inside the mall to visit participating stores and food vendors for some sweet treats.

Candy Crawl is on Friday, October 14 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (while supplies last)!

Youngstown Phantoms Safe Trick or Treat

Head to the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown to see the Youngstown Phantoms face off against the Madison Capitols and bring the kids for a safe Trick or Treat!

Youngstown Phantoms Safe Trick or Treat is on Friday, October 14 at 6 p.m. The game begins at 7.05 p.m.

Trunk or Treat at the Youngstown Playhouse

Visit the special Trunk or Treat Halloween party at the Youngstown Playhouse for goodies and community resources. It’s free, open to the public and a fun, safe, centralized option for a great trick-or-treating experience! The Youngstown Playhouse is located at 600 Playhouse Lane.

Truck or Treat is Sunday, October 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bake Me Treats Halloween Fest

Bake Me Treats is hosting a Halloween Fest at their store, located at 16 S. Main Street in Poland. There will be vendors, food trucks, and a pumpkin bounce house, as well as all sorts of amazing sweet treats! Remember to wear your Halloween costume to receive a FREE cupcake!

This fun, one-day event is scheduled for Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

5th Annual Plaza Wide Trick or Treat

The 5th Annual Plaza Wide Trick or Treat is sponsored by local businesses in the 1300 block of Boardman-Canfield Road, from Blue Wolf Tavern down to Hot Head Burritos. (There will even be a doggie costume contest at One Hot Cookie!) For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Trick or Treat takes place Saturday, October 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (and the dog costume content is at 3 p.m.).

Spooky Family Fun

The Youngstown area is packed with special Halloween events the whole family can enjoy! Here are some of our favorites:

Pumpkin Carving at Fellows Riverside Gardens

Carved pumpkin at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Come out and carve up a storm! At Fellows Riverside Gardens (located at 123 McKinley Avenue on the west side of Youngstown), you and the family can have a blast carving pumpkins for the

pumpkin display at the annual Pumpkin Walk. Carving tools will be provided, or you can bring your own! No registration is required and families can meet in the parking lot next to the new Cushwa Outdoor Education Pavilion.

Don’t forget that the Pumpkin Walk at Twilight will also be held at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Carving is on Friday, October 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pumpkin Walk at Twilight is on Sunday, October 16 from 4 – 8 p.m.

Shows at Ward Beecher Planetarium

The Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University is cooking up some extra special Halloween-themed shows this fall! Shows are free and open to the public, but donations are definitely appreciated.

Wizarding Weekend

This one’s for the Harry Potter fans!

Visitors to the planetarium can learn all about the night sky and how it relates to the magical world of the Harry Potter Universe. At the end of the presentation, you can test your knowledge to win points for your house! Check the Ward Beecher Planetarium website for more information.

Shows are Friday, October 7 at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 8 at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. 

Nightlights

Nightlights has been running since 1974 and is appropriate for all ages, but keep in mind that very young visitors might be afraid of the dark and loud music. Otherwise, everything is presented in a fun, non-scary style for everyone to enjoy – plus, guests are encouraged to come in costume!

Five shows are scheduled: October 14, 15, 21, 22, and 28. All shows start at 8 p.m. 

Night-LITE

This a fun, light-hearted version of the Nightlights show appropriate for all ages! As with Nightlights, everyone is encouraged to wear their costume!

Two shows are scheduled: October 15 and 22 at 2 p.m.

The Great Pumpkin Carve-Out Contest

Bring your carving tools and your creativity to the Masters Pavilion at Boardman Park and carve some pumpkins! Participants pay five dollars per pumpkin, and prizes will be awarded for winners in four different age categories!

Contest dates are Friday, October 14 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, October 15 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, October 16 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Spooktacular Halloween Drive-Thru Light Display at Boardman Park

Take a drive though Boardman Park and enjoy the spooky (but not too scary) Halloween light displays, all from the safety of your car! Tune in to 88.9 FM to enjoy some Halloween themed music during your drive, too.

The light display runs from October 17 – October 31 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Family Fall Fest at Boardman Park

Be sure to visit Boardman Park for some family-oriented fall fun! This free event takes place at the Masters Outdoor Pavilion and will include Halloween-themed carnival games, live music, face painting, straw mazes and much more! Concessions will be available at the fall festival, too.

Family Fall Fest is slated for Saturday, October 22, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

**In case of inclement weather, the Fall Fest will take place on October 29.

Nightmare at the Canfield Scaregrounds

Every year in October, the Canfield Fairgrounds becomes the Canfield Scaregrounds! So, you don’t have to drive to Akron, Columbus, or Cleveland for the scariest time around. It’s a haunted house like you’ve never seen before – get ready for the scare of your life at terrifying attractions like the Barn of Evil, The Slaughterhouse, and the Haunted Circus. On the less frightening side, Monster Mania offers “not so scary” scenes for the little ones featuring the Sanderson Sisters.

The Scaregrounds are open September 30-October 31: Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight; Sundays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and Monday, October 31 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

**Check the Canfield Scaregrounds website for the latest updates and information.

Stately Shivers

Exterior of Stambaugh Auditoirum.

Add a touch of elegance to your Halloween season by attending a live show!

Pops in Powers: Ghostbusters in Concert

Halloween’s the perfect time to catch some ghosts! Join the Ghostbusters, as well as guest conductor Erik Ochsner and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, as they play Elmer Bernstein’s Grammy-nominated score.

The performances will be held at Powers Auditorium at the DeYor Performing Arts Center. Visit the Youngstown Symphony website for tickets and more information.

Concerts will take place Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 9 at 2:30 p.m.

The Death of Dr. Frankenstein

Gather at the Best Western Dutch Haus Inn in Columbiana to answer: who killed Dr. Frankenstein? Join a cast of characters including Vampira, Dr. Jekyll, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein’s monster himself!

For tickets, call 866-482-5050 or go to dasdutchvillage.com/theater. Then, be sure to ask about the “That’s Entertainment” Overnight Dinner Theater Package, and you’ll have a beautiful room waiting for you after the show, with a hot breakfast bar ready in the morning!

Two performances are scheduled for Friday, October 28: A matinee at 12 p.m., and an evening show at 7 p.m.

The Monster: Silent Film with Organ Accompaniment

The Monster, from 1925, is considered to be the first horror film to reach the top of the U.S. box office. The movie stars the legendary Lon Cheney as a doctor committing horrible experiments in a sanitarium, and is a classic of the horror genre.

Come see The Monster with live organ accompaniment by Jay Spencer, who has been the house organist for the Canton Palace Theatre since the 1990s. Tickets are $7 with a $3 service fee – just call 330-259-0555 or visit the Stambaugh Auditorium website.

The Monster with organist Jay Spencer will be shown on Sunday, October 30 at 4 p.m.

Just for the Grown-Ups

Looking for some Halloween-themed options for the grown ups? Here are some activities in and around Youngstown that are just for the BIG kids!

Lanterman’s Mill – In the Dark of The Night

A haunted evening at Lanterman’s Mill.

Find out for yourself if Lanterman’s Mill is actually haunted! You’ll spend an hour in the mill with an opportunity to investigate every floor in the dark of the night.

Ticket prices are $10 for residents and $12 for non-residents. Space is very limited, so call 330-740-7116 or register online at the Mill Creek MetroParks website by searching under the “Programs and Events” section.

Tours are Saturday, October 29 at 9 p.m. or 11 p.m. and Saturday, November 5 at 9 p.m. or 11 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Penguin City Brewery

You’ll have a blast at Penguin City Brewery watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Penguin City’s 300 inch TV! Audience participation prop bags will be on sale for $5 each, with proceeds going to Rebel Rescue Ranch, a nonprofit animal rescue that specializes in rehoming exotic pets. There will be drink specials, giveaways, and a costume contest, too!

The show is scheduled for Saturday, October 29. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a $5 cover. The movie starts promptly at 9 p.m.

Fill Your Fall with Fun

The Mahoning Valley has more than just wagon rides, pumpkin patches and apple cider when it comes to Halloween! All throughout the month of October, you can find great Halloween activities for everyone in the family.

If you’re looking for something a little less ghostly, check out our fall events blog for more options throughout the entire fall season – Boardman Oktoberfest, Harvest Weekends at White House Fruit Farm (don’t forget to grab a donut…or 12!), the New Springfield Maze Craze Corn Maze (a massive 21-acre corn maze with tons of other activities), live entertainment, and much more!

Always check back to Youngstown Live for everything going on in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley!