It’s heeeere. We know you’re busy carving pumpkins and putting together costumes, so we did the RIP research. There are a ton of fantastically spooky things happening this month that you need to know about, so you keep carving, and we’ll run through it all at headless horseman speed.
(And yes, we’ll be adding to the list all spooky season long, so check back often.)
Let’s get haunting!
First things first: Here’s your guide to local pumpkin patches.
Credit: The Rock Orchestra
FRIGHTFUL FUN
Family-Friendly Classics & Throwback Scary Movies
When: Throughout October
Where: Ron Robinson Theater
Why: Jack Skellington, Igor and Lydia Deetz are waiting for you. More here.
“Young Frankenstein”
When: Oct. 8 – Nov. 8
Where: Murry’s Dinner Playhouse
Why: Is it really Halloween without this Mel Brooks classic? Check it off your list with this side-splitting spooky spoof. More here.
The Rock Orchestra
When: Oct. 9, 8 p.m.
Where: Robinson Center
Why: Classical music gets the undead treatment in this touring show bringing new life to your favorite rock and metal hits. More here.
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
When: Oct. 9-12
Where: Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Why: An ageless (and headless) horror descends on a quiet village in this season opener that has Ballet Arkansas slipping into its paranormal pointe shoes. More here.
“Playing With Fire: After Frankenstein”
When: Through Oct. 19
Where: The Weekend Theater
Why: Things get dark with when the doctor reckons with what he’s done in this retelling of Mary Shelley’s monster tale. More here.
Month-long Mayhem
When: Throughout October
Where: Birdie’s Cabaret Theater & Lounge
Why: ICYMI, Argenta’s new venue has already made a name for itself with mysterious magic shows. Now it’s going all in with seances, scary movie screenings, themed trivia nights and more, concluding with a wicked bash on All Hallow’s Eve. More here.
Carnival Bizarre
When: Oct. 10, 8 p.m.
Where: Arkansas Repertory Theatre
Why: Back for another year, this Arkansas Circus Arts event combines circus, sideshow and burlesque theatrics for a night of spine-tingling fun. More here.
Ghoulish Bingo
When: Oct. 15, 6 p.m.
Where: Lost Forty Brewing
Why: Who hates bingo? No one, that’s who — especially when it’s spooky and benefits Women & Children First. More here.
“The Rocky Horror Show” Live
When: Oct. 15-31
Where: Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church
Why: Come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab for the Actors Theatre’s latest production. More here.
The Haunted Tavern
When: Oct. 16-18
Where: Ron Robinson Theater
Why: Raise a grim glass to a night of creepy cocktails, chilling tales and “one of the most haunted venues in Little Rock.” More here.
Nightmare at the Museum
When: Oct. 17, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Museum of Discovery
Why: Eerie experiments, beer brewing, costume tinkering — it’s all in a day’s work for a mad scientist’s 21+ party. More here.
Ghouls & Games Masquerade Gala
When: Oct. 17, 6 p.m.
Where: Old State House Museum
Why: Masks encouraged, fun guaranteed at this ARPG Council fundraiser. More here.
Candlelight Concert: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
When: Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Albert Pike Masonic Center
Why: Your favorite spooky songs only sound better when performed by a string quartet surrounded by candles. More here.
Howl-o-Ween Parties in the Plaza
When: Oct. 18 & 25
Where: Little Rock Zoo
Why: Right this way, tiny creatures. Head to the zoo to get in on fun like train rides, bubble displays, themed activities and showing off your costume to your favorite animals. More here.
Tales of the Crypt
When: Oct. 19, 2-4p.m.
Where: Mount Holly Cemetery
Why: Forget the creepy, this annual event is all about the crypt’s history. Stroll the cemetery grounds and hear the tales of locals past from the Parkview Theatre department. More here.
Credit: Jess Ardrey
Haunted Arkansas Ghost Tours
When: Throughout October
Where: Argenta
Why: Lace up the comfy shoes and get ready to meet the spooky side of Dogtown. More here.
Witches Ride The Heights
When: Oct. 19, 5 p.m.
Where: Kavanaugh Boulevard
Why: Now in its fourth year, this not-so-petrifying parade invites locals to don their witchiest attire and make their way down Kavanaugh, ending in an after(life) party in the Boulevard Bread Company parking lot. More here.
Rooftop Cinema: “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”
When: Oct. 20, dusk
Where: Roof of the building at 100 Center St.
Why: Drinks, popcorn and one specter-tacular view await as the next gen busters take over the big screen under the stars. More here.
Monster Bash
When: Oct. 24, 7-11 p.m.
Where: The Venue at Westwind
Why: Groove to live music, auctions, food, signature spooky cocktails and a costume contest all to benefit Home for Healing. More here.
Market at Chenal Halloween Carnival
When: Oct. 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: Rahling Circle
Why: Get the trick-or-treating started early at this free community event (and don’t skimp on the vendors, games and food trucks). More here.
Monster Mash
When: Oct. 25, 10 a.m. – noon
Where: CALS Children’s Library
Why: Yes, October is full of creeptastic activities across all 14 of its branches, but this midtown branch is taking it to another (family-friendly) level. More here.
Arkansas Paranormal Expo
When: Oct. 25-26, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History
Why: Bigfoot requests the honor of your presence. More here.
Howl-o-Weenie Drag Brunch
When: Oct. 26, noon
Where: Bark Bark
Why: This spooktacular event is back with themed menus and performances, plus extra treats if you match your canine’s costume. More here.
East Village Halloween Art Market
When: Oct. 26, 6-10 p.m.
Where: The Rail Yard
Why: Costumes, music, food, drinks and vendors battling the real nightmares: fast fashion and boring art. More here.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Annual Screenings
When: Oct. 29-31, 7 p.m.
Where: Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
Why: Who’s bringing the newspapers? More here.
Big Boo!seum Bash
When: Oct. 30, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Clinton Presidential Center, Firehouse Museum, Historic Arkansas Museum, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Museum of Discovery, Old State House Museum, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center
Why: Check out the sights at some of your fave museums in costume with free family-friendly games, prizes and trick-or-treating. More here.
Trick or Treat Argenta Fall Carnival
When: Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.
Where: Argenta Public Library
Why: Kick off your candy hunt with the North Little Rock Public Library System, and don’t skip the games and spooky surprises. More here.
Trick or Treat (and shop)
When: Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Outlets of Little Rock
Why: Load up the kiddos and get your candy gathering on while getting some shopping in while you’re at it. More here.
Halloween Dance Party
When: Oct. 31, time TBA
Where: Club 27
Why: Bachata has never been so spooky. More here.
The Rocky Horror Pickin’ Show
When: Oct. 31, 9:30 p.m.
Where: Four Quarter Bar
Why: Bluegrass meets Transylvania. More here.
EERIE EATS
Boo-zy Cocktails
When: Throughout October
Where: Sauce(d) Bar & Oven
Why: The only witch’s brew we’re interested in sipping. More here.
Festival of Darkness: Nighty Night Release Party
When: Oct. 25, 5-9 p.m.
Where: Lost Forty Brewing
Why: Zombie lumberjacks wanted for this post-apocalyptic block party complete with music, food trucks and, of course, loads of dark beer. More here.
The Mad Hatter’s Halloween Feast
When: Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Petit & Keet
Why: This Wonderland-themed, multi-course meal with wine pairings is enough to make you lose your head. More here.
Spooky Scoops + Shakes
When: Throughout October
Where: Loblolly Creamery
Why: Slimy lime sorbet, murderously-good macarons, apple cider doughnut flavors… We’ll take one of everything. More here.
Spooky Cocktail Classes
When: Throughout October
Where: Rock Town Distillery
Why: This SoMa haunt’s recurring class lineup comes with extra spirits this month. More here.
Halloween Bar Crawl
When: Oct. 31 – Nov. 1
Where: Downtown Little Rock
Why: Why choose just one place to do your spooky sipping? More here.
SPINE-CHILLING SWEATS
Spooky Sprint Half Marathon/10K/5K/Kids Dash
When: Oct. 12, 8 a.m.
Where: Burns Park
Creep ‘N’ Crawl Half Marathon/5K/Lil’ Monsters Dash
When: Oct. 18, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Two Rivers Park + virtual
Spooky Sessions
When: Throughout October
Where: ZenStudio
HAUNTED HOUSES
Creepy Trail of Willow Creek
When: Weekends through Oct. 31
Where: 2811 Willow Springs Road
Fear Factory 501
When: Weekends through Oct. 26, every day Oct. 29 – Nov. 1
Where: 25120 Hwy. 107, Jacksonville
The Haunted Hotel
When: Weekends through Oct. 26, every day Oct. 29 – Nov. 1
Where: 10800 Arch St.
The Reaper Haunted House
When: Weekends through Nov. 1
Where: 15310 MacArthur Drive, North Little Rock
Village of Screams
When: Weekends through Nov. 2
Where: 347 S. James St., Jacksonville
Have some spooky fun to add? Send details to [email protected].