If you’re looking for things to do for Halloween, you’ve come to the right city. From horror movie marathons to spooky parties, Boston has no shortage of haunted happenings going on. Here’s your ultimate guide to the best things to do for Halloween weekend in Boston.
Things to do for Halloween weekend 2018 in Boston: Food & drinks
1. Boorunch
Scare up a good time with the whole family and head to Glass House on Sunday. The Cambridge restaurant will have Halloween-themed specials, plus activities for all ages. Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Glass House, 450 Kendall St., Cambridge, glasshousecambridge.com
2. City Tap House
The Fort Point hotspot is going all out for Halloween this weekend. Swing by on Saturday for a “Hocus Pocus”-themed ’90s brunch, followed by a “House of Horror” party at night. Sunday will feature a zombie-themed brunch, while Monday will be an extra special evening, as guests can enjoy a Halloween-themed tailgate while cheering on the Patriots during Monday Night Football. Oct. 27-29, City Tap House, 10 Boston Wharf Rd., Boston, boston.citytap.com
3. The Ghost Walks
The Theater District’s ghostly-themed cocktail lounge will honor their favorite, famous spirits on Halloween night. Stop by on Wednesday to celebrate Dia de los Muertos with festive cocktails and more. Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m., The Ghost Walks, 57 Stuart St., Boston, 21+, tgwboston.com
4. Great Pumpkin Festival
If you love pumpkin beer, then you definitely need to stop by Cambridge Brewing Co. on Saturday. The brewery is once again hosting the Great Pumpkin Festival, featuring pumpkin brews from all across the country. Oct. 27, three sessions between noon and midnight, Cambridge Brewing Co., 1 Kendall Sq., Cambridge, $30-$35, 21+, cambridgebrewingcompany.com
5. Haunted Garden Brunch
Get in the Halloween spirit with Publico this weekend. The South Boston eatery is hosting a special, family-friendly brunch featuring Halloween movie screenings, trick or treating around the restaurant for the little ones, a costume contest, plus pumpkin “bottle service.” Oct. 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Publico Street Bistro, 11 Dorchester St., Boston, publicoboston.com
6. Magnolia Bakery
Enjoy special Halloween treats by at the fan-favorite bakery throughout the Halloween season. Stop by to feast on cobwebbed red velvet cakes, zombie green cupcakes and more by chef Bobbie Llyod. Magnolia Bakery, 200 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, magnoliabakery.com
7. ‘Stranger Things’-themed pop-up
Travel to the Upside Down with Precinct Kitchen + Bar this fall. Enjoy “Stranger Things”-themed food and cocktail specials, classic arcade games and more. Oct. 26-Nov. 16, Precinct Kitchen + Bar, 154 Berkeley St., Boston, precinctkitchenandbar.com
8. Summer Shack
Chef Jasper Whites’ acclaimed Cambridge restaurant is hosting a special Paint Nite in honor of Halloween. Swing by to enjoy cocktails and light bites while painting a ceramic sugar skull. Oct. 27, 6 p.m., Summer Shack, 149 Alewife Brook Pkwy., Cambridge, $55, paintnite.com
9. Wizard and Witches Halloween Feast
City Winery is hosting a Harry Potter-themed bash on Friday night. Sip on a mug of PolyJuice, feast on pumpkin bread and other delicious menu items, and more. Oct. 26, 6 p.m., City Winery, 80 Beverly St., Boston, $75, citywinery.com
Things to do for Halloween weekend 2018 in Boston: Misc.
10. Boston Costume Dash 5K
Break a sweat while wearing your best Halloween costume. Join other festive runners as they trek from Copley Square to the Common on Saturday before partying at Barracuda Tavern, Beantown Pub and Sidebar. Oct. 27, 9 a.m., Copley Square, Boston, $45+, costumedash.com
11. Mindtrek VR
Live out your “Walking Dead” fantasies and battle zombies at these area VR arenas. Book a birthday party at either the Woburn and Marlborough locations by Oct. 31, and receive nearly $100 in credit. Mindtrek VR, various locations, mindtrekvr.com
Things to do for Halloween weekend 2018 in Boston: Movies
12. A Symphonic Night at the Movies
Spend Halloween with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops as they perform the original score to the classic Alfred Hitchcock film, “Psycho.” Plus, guests who wear their best red, white and black costume inspired by the movie will win a special prize. Oct. 29 and 31, 8 p.m., Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, $47+, bso.org
13. Halloween Horror Movie Marathon
The Brookline theater will once again host a horror movie marathon in honor of Halloween. This year’s lineup includes screenings of “Alien” and “War of the Worlds,” as well as five other yet to be named extraterrestrial flicks. Oct. 27, 11:59 p.m., Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, $25-$30, coolidge.org
14. ‘Hellraiser’ at the MFA
Spend Halloween night at the Museum of Fine Arts as they screen the 1987 horror classic “Hellraiser.” The film will be shown in 35mm print. Oct. 31, 8 p.m., Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, $10+, mfa.org
15. ‘Hocus Pocus’ Movie Night
Just in time for the film’s 25th annivesary, Trident Booksellers & Cafe will host a special screening of the Disney classic on Halloween night. Stop by in costume (or PJs), and enjoy candy and drink specials all evening long. Oct. 31, 7 p.m., Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 338 Newbury St., Boston, tridentbookscafe.com
16. ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’
It isn’t Halloween unless you do the time warp again. Join other “Rocky Horror” fans for a screening of the cult classic film during a “shadowcast” presentation at the Somerville Theatre on Halloween. Oct. 31, 8 p.m., Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville, $17, somervilletheatre.com
Things to do for Halloween weekend 2018 in Boston: Parties
17. Boston Grown-Ups Museum
The Children’s Museum will be for adults only on Thursday night for this special Halloween bash. The festivities will include a cash bar, a costume contest, and more. Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston, $30, bostonchildrensmuseum.org
18. BSSC Halloween
The Boston Ski and Sports Club will once again take over The Living Room for a Halloween-themed party on Friday. Enjoy drink specials, a costume contest and plenty of dancing during the event. Oct. 26, 9:30 p.m., The Living Room, 101 Atlantic Ave., Boston, $15+, bssc.com
19. Cask N’ Flagon Halloween Bash
If you’re looking for things to do for Halloween weekend after celebrating the Red Sox World Series action, try partying at this fan-favorite Fenway bar on Thursday night. The Halloween fun will include cocktail specials, a DJ, a photo booth and more. Oct. 25, 10 p.m., Cask N’ Flagon, 62 Brookline Ave., Boston, $5+, eventbrite.com
20. Green Monstah Party
Celebrate Boston’s favorite monster at Game On. This Monday night, the Fenway hotspot will host a special party in honor of the local landmark with live music, food and drink specials, as well as a costume contest. Oct. 29, 9 p.m., 82 Lansdowne St., Boston, gameonboston.com
21. Harpoon Halloween Party
The Boston brewery is getting in on the Halloween action with a special bash on Wednesday night. Stop by on Halloween to party in the beer hall with trivia, costume contests, a caramel apple bar and more. Oct. 31, 8 p.m., Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Ave., Boston, $25, harpoonhalloweenparty2018.splashthat.com
22. Haunted CRNVL
The Seaport’s Scorpion Bar will host a haunted carnival on Saturday to celebrate Halloween featuring groovy tunes, themed cocktails, specials and more. Take your night up a notch and splurge for a VIP experience. Oct. 27, 9 p.m., Scorpion Bar, 58 Seaport Blvd., Boston, scorpionboston.com
23. Lamplighter Halloween Party
The Cambridge brewery is celebrating Halloween with a big bash on Saturday. Expect beer, treats, games, candy and scary movies shown via a projector. Oct. 27, 8 p.m., Lamplighter Brewing Co., 284 Broadway, Cambridge, lamplighterbrewing.com
24. Lolita Cocina & Tequila
Both Lolita locations are getting in on the Halloween fun with a pair of ticketed parties featuring live music, food and more on Saturday. Stop by the Fort Point location for a “Dusk Til Dawn” celebration, or head to the Back Bay spot for a “Day of the Dead” bash. Oct. 27, 8 p.m., various locations, $30-$50, lolitamexican.com
25. Ned Devine’s
Get your party on at this fan-favorite Faneuil Hall pub on Saturday night. Ned Devine’s is hosting a Halloween celebration featuring live music and a costume contest, with the winner taking home a cool $300 prize. Oct. 27, 9 p.m., Ned Devine’s, 1 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, $10, neddevinesboston.com
26. Rebel’s Guild
In addition offering Halloween-themed cocktails Oct. 26-31, the Revere Hotel’s new bar and restaurant is hosting a big party on Halloween night. The festivities will include music by DJ Cake, a costume contest and, best of all, no cover. Oct. 31, 9 p.m., Rebel’s Guild, 200 Stuart St., Boston, reverehotel.com/eat-drink/rebels-guild
27. SoWa Spooktacular
The final SoWa Open Market of the season will be a fun-filled Halloween bash. Sunday’s event will include human and pet constume contests, free pumpkin and face painting, live music, plus special Halloween brews will take over the Beer Barn featuring pours from 10 of the region’s top breweries. Oct. 28, 10 a.m., SoWa Boston, 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, sowaboston.com
Things to do for Halloween weekend 2018 in Boston: Shows
28. Cirque of the Dead
Billed as a “naughty nightmare of circus spectacle,” this adult-only show features a “choose your own adventure,” with zombies, vampires and other ghoulish creatures performing aerial acts and other acrobatics, but with a horror twist. Through Oct. 31, Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, $30, 18+, americanrepertorytheater.org
29. ‘Frankenstein’
The Central Square Theater is celebrating 200 years of the Mary Shelley classic with a special production of “Frankenstein” this Halloween season. Through Nov. 4, Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, $16+, centralsquaretheater.org
30. The Grand
There’s no shortage of fun things to do for Halloween weekend at The Grand, as Boston’s hippest nightclub is dedicating four nights to holiday this year. Some of the top DJs will take over the Seaport hotspot for epic shows beginning on Friday with DJ Chuckie and culminating in a Halloween night bash with Illenium set to perform. Oct. 26-31, The Grand, 58 Seaport Blvd., Suite 300, Boston, thegrandboston.com
31. Old School Game Show’s Halloween Special
Stop by The Wilbur on Friday for a Halloween edition of Old School Game Show, the hit music and sketch comedy variety show. Expect horror-themed trivia, a costume contest and more. Oct. 26, 10 p.m., The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $26+, thewilbur.com
