With Halloween coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 31, there are plenty of activities to help celebrate the macabre.

Trick-or-Treat

Halloween is creeping up on us very quickly. Some towns are opting for trick-or-treating to be on the weekend prior to Halloween, while others are staying traditional and having it on Tuesday, Oct. 31. 

Here is your comprehensive list of surrounding towns and their designated times for your little ones to get their candy. 

Saturday, Oct. 28

  • Hicksville — 4-6 p.m.
  • Kendallville — 5-7 p.m. 
  • Pokagon State Park — 5-6:30 p.m. 
  • Roanoke — 5-8 p.m.
  • South Whitley — 6-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 31

  • Albion — 5-7 p.m. 
  • Andrews — 5-7 p.m.
  • Angola — 5-7 p.m.
  • Ashley-Hudson — 5-7 p.m.
  • Auburn — 6-8 p.m.
  • Berne — 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Bluffton — 5:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Columbia City — 4-6 p.m. 
  • Decatur — 5:30-7:30 p.m. 
  • Fort Wayne — 5:30-7:30 p.m. 
  • Garrett — 5-7 p.m. (4-5 p.m. downtown)
  • Huntington — 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Leesburg — 6-7:30 p.m. 
  • Leo-Cedarville — 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Markle — 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Milford — 6-8 p.m.
  • New Haven — 5:30-7:30 p.m. (4-6 p.m. downtown)
  • North Manchester — 5:30-8 p.m.
  • North Webster — 6-8 p.m.
  • Ossian — 6-8 p.m.
  • Pierceton — 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Syracuse — 6-8 p.m.
  • Wabash — 5-8 p.m.
  • Warren — 6-8 p.m.
  • Warsaw — 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Winona Lake — 5:30-8 p.m.

Here are some safety tips for your night out on the town. 

If you have younger kiddos, make sure to stick with them as much as possible. When everyone is wearing costumes, it is much harder to keep track of them running from door to door. Stay vigilant and aware of the areas you are going to. 

Maybe you have older children who are “too cool for adults.” Well, make sure you have their location and a plan for where they are going. Being informed is the most important form of communication to keep up to date with where they plan to haunt. 

For everyone involved, make sure to look both ways before crossing the street. Although cars should stop, don’t assume drivers can see you well. 

Stay on streets that are well lit. Underlit streets can have hazards or confuse the way you are going. 

Never enter a stranger’s house. Trick-or-treating is all about the door-to-door interactions. If a stranger invites you in, kindly decline and tell a parent. 

Something for the kids

Maybe trick-or-treating isn’t your style anymore. That does not mean there isn’t something for you to do on Halloween! 

For the adults, there are tons of bars and shows hosting events on the weekend prior to Halloween as well as during the week. 

Here is that comprehensive list of Fort Wayne spooky events.

Halloween at the Park: 6-8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27; 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Huntertown Family Park

Formed amid COVID-19 as a way to have a safe, outdoor, community event, Halloween at the Park has a treat trail, Forest of Fear, Soarin Hawk representatives on hand, and a pumpkin-carving contest.

Wild Zoo Halloween: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 28-29, at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

General admission cost of $14-$18 gets you access to view animals, as well as collect some candy for your costumed young ones. This will be the final weekend for the zoo. Its theme will be Witch & Wizard.

Wicked Witches of Eckhart Park: 7-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-29, Eckhart Park, Auburn

Walk through park, take pictures, and enjoy games and a story at this free event that is friendly for the entire family.

Something for the adults

Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press Present A Taylor Swift Eras Halloween: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at The Clyde Theatre

Rod Tuffcurls returns to The Clyde for a night of Taylor Swift covers and outfits galore. This general admission show is just $15.

Cereal Killer Release & Pop-Up Brunch: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2Toms Brewing Company 

This year’s annual beer release will include seven cereal-inspired beverages on tap, as well as mixed six-packs. Along with drinks, brunch will be served up by Brew Two Sixty through 5 p.m. or until items are sold out. And you’re gonna wanna stick around as popular jazz-fusion band Los Galaxy will perform at 6 p.m.

Lord Blood-Rah’s Halloween Party!: 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Cinema Center

Join the High Lord of Geekdom for food, drinks, and hand-selected short films to celebrate the spooky spirit of Halloween. The host of the long-running series Lord Blood-Rah’s Nerve Wrackin’ Theatre will also present the 1944 film House of Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff.

Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show: 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Courtyard by Marriott

Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room.

Spooky Drag Brunch: Noon, Sunday, Oct. 29, at Birdie’s in The Bradley

Get ready for incredible performances, beautiful outfits, and delicious food.

The Nightmare Before Miracle: 5 p.m.-midnight, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28, at Sidecar Patio

Visit Fort Wayne’s only Halloween pop-up bar for some delicious drinks, plenty of photo opportunities, and great times in the outdoor space next to Copper Spoon.

Nightmare on Berry Street: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, East Ende Eclectic

For those 18 years and older, there will be macabre delights, local artists, vendors, photo opportunities, and actors in character. Cost is $20 or $10 if you bring a pet food item in that will be donated to the Fort Wayne Food Pantry.

Haunted houses

They’ve been running for a few weeks now, and the lines will only get longer as Halloween draws near.

For those looking to get the heart pounding with scares around every corner, there’s no shortage of haunted houses — or even canals.

  • Fort Wayne Haunted Castle & Black Forest: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26; 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28; 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29; 7-11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, $12-$40.
  • Hysterium — 7-10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26; 7 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28; 7-10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, Fort Wayne, $5-$40.
  • The Lost Canal & Haunted Trail — 8-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28, Historic Forks of the Wabash, Huntington, $10.
  • Soul Takers Acres — 8-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28, Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, Warsaw, $15.

As you can see, there is plenty to do in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas for Halloween weekend. No matter your age, there’s a spooky event waiting for you to attend. 

Remember to stay safe and have fun.