It’s time to grab your best zombie costume and head downtown for Fort Wayne’s 15th annual Fright Night on Saturday, Oct. 19. 

The day many enthusiasts wait for will be filled with activities for spooksters of all ages, be it trunk or treating for the kids or stage productions for the adults.

I’ll break down where to find the candy, the scares, and the fun. 

Crafts and Activities

Ease into Fright Night activities by swinging by Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., for Mad Science Day and try out different experiments made for all ages. This runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with $12 admission.

Over at Stoner’s Funstore, 712 S. Harrison St., there will be free face-painting from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., so you can get the zombie look you had in mind. 

Enjoy running? How about running from werewolves? Well, if you are, UAW Local 2209 is hosting a free Werewolf Chase Fun Run starting at Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Depot, 1004 Cass St., at 11 a.m. 

If you’re looking for something a little more relaxing, Artlink representatives will be at the downtown Allen County Public Library Plaza, 900 Library Plaza, from 1-3 p.m. for Draw or Be Drawn. You can either model or draw, whichever you’d like.

Along with the drawing event, the library will be home for the Zombie Central Fun Zone from 1-5 p.m. There, you can enjoy tractor rides, games, a 360-degree photo booth, food trucks, live performances, vendors, and more. While you take part in all the activities at the library’s plaza, as well as fun inside the facility, you can also meet here for the main event — the Zombie Walk. Ghoulish creatures of all ages and costumes will begin the walk through downtown at 3 p.m., in what has become a city favorite.

Creative Women of the World, 125 W. Wayne St., will be handing out free slime as well as coloring activities for the kids from 2-4 p.m. 

All the humans get to dress up, but what about the animals? Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control will be at Promenade Park, 202 W. Superior St., for Howl-O-Walkoween from 2-4 p.m. with food trucks, activities, live music, a parade through the park, and of course a pet costume contest. 

Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Community Center will have family games and activities during their Halloween Haunt from 3-6 p.m. The older attendees may also have some fun during a car show outside from 3-8 p.m.

While you’re at it, take a stroll to The History Center, 302 E. Berry St., for A Visit to the Old City Jail for a spooky look into the past and take your very own mugshot as well. 

Grand Wayne Convention Center will be the home for all the Dragons and Dungeon Masters to meet, play games, and party from 4-6 p.m. 

Candy, Drinks, and Eats

Legendary Lounge & Co., 118 W. Washington Blvd., will be offering not only hair cuts but will also have candy giveaways during their 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Legendary Cuts event. 

At Insomnia Cookies, 840 S. Calhoun St., get a free scoop of ice cream if you come in with a costume.

A trunk-or-treat will be held from noon-4 p.m. at The Bell Mansion, 420 W. Wayne St., with more than 40 cars to visit. Nearby, Fort Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., will also hosting a trunk or treat from 12:30-2 p.m. Imagine the amount of candy you can bring home from just stopping at those two locations! 

The Arbor at The Bradley, 204 W. Main St., will host an The Arbor Apparition Bar with themed cocktails, spiced cider, and hot chocolate served by their “skeleton crew.”

The Bradley rooftop will also be your stop to end the night for Attack of The “Birdie’s” from 8-11 p.m. This will be for a safe zone away from the zombies on the ground as the roof top bar will have live music, craft cocktails, and more for a $10 admission. 

Shows and Performances

Come one, come all, to the scariest time of the year. Take your seats and enjoy the shows that will be hosted all over Fort Wayne. 

As we told you in last week’s issue of Whatzup, Fort Wayne Youtheatre will be at First Presbyterian Theater, 300 W. Wayne St., performingShuddersome: Tales of Poe at 2 p.m., as well as a sensory-friendly show at 4 p.m.

At Cinema Center, 437 E. Berry St., stop by from some improv comedy, as Murderhouse Rock: A Frightful Show kicks off for $5 at 6:30 p.m.

Following the improv comedy, Cinema Center will host popular horror movie host Lord Blood-Rah makes the trip from California to host Tiki Terror: A Halloween Party, where he will entertain and present the 1954 classic film Creature from the Black Lagoon, as well as Halloween shorts he hand-picked, for $15. This starts at 8:30 p.m.

At Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., catch a double-feature of The Addams Family on the big screen with the 2019 animated movie showing at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 1991 film. Cost is $5 for those 12 and under, and $10 for adults.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween without an interactive showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a Night Market and costume contest, followed by the film, with Shigs in Pit supplying food and Mad Anthony providing drinks … warm and cold. Admission is $10.

Wanting to dress up even extra? The Bell Mansion is hosting an enchanting evening with a Halloween Masquerade Ball for those 21 and older from 7 p.m.-midnight for $60.

Looking for something more realistic and scary? Take a bus or walking tour with ARCH Inc., 818 Lafayette St. The have three options: The Haunted Bus Tours, The Walk With The Spirits of the Past, and The Murder! Mystery! Mayhem! Walking Tour. These tours take you through different parts of our downtown to learn of the dark history of Fort Wayne. Tickets range from $15-$30

Still want to learn about the history, but have it not as spooky? Historic Fort Wayne will be hosting $5 Lantern Tours at The Old Fort, 1201 Spy Run Ave. Led by a historic interpreter, you’ll definitely take a peek into our town’s past. 

As you can see, there are tons of events for you to choose from. Head over to the Fright Night page at downtownfortwayne.com and grab your survival guide and activity list to plan out for night of scares.