Halloween in Boston 2026: 14 Events, From Salem's Big Night to Costume Crawls

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Updated Oct 20, 2026 · By Michael Gonzales · Dates and prices checked Oct 19, 2026 on each organizer's own site

The biggest Halloween night near Boston in 2026 is Salem on Saturday, October 31, which ends with a free 400-drone show at 10 p.m. In Boston itself, the main draws are the Halloween bar crawls on October 29–31, the Witches & Zombies harbor cruise, Ghosts & Gravestones and family events like PruBoo on October 25.

Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, so most of the big parties land on October 29–31. Below are 14 events from October 23 to October 31, each with its date, time, place, price and the organizer's own link.

What's the biggest Halloween event near Boston in 2026?

Salem's Halloween Night is the biggest Halloween event near Boston, a day trip north of the city. Destination Salem says Salem Haunted Happenings draws more than 1 million visitors over October, and Halloween night is when it ends.

When: Saturday, October 31, 2026. Live music on stages around downtown from noon, then the Halloween Night Finale drone show from 10 to 10:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Salem. The drones fly over the North River.
Price: Free.
Worth knowing: the 400 drones mark Salem's 400th anniversary, according to the Salem Haunted Happenings 2026 press release. The party ends after the drone show and Salem clears its streets, so plan to head out at 10:30 p.m.

Salem on Halloween is crowded, so plan your ride back before you go. Our guides to getting from Boston to Salem and the Boston to Salem ferry cover the train, ferry and driving.

Halloween 2026 in Boston at a glance

When	Event (price)
Oct 23–24	Salem Night Faire (tickets)
Oct 23	Boo-quarium (Aquarium members)
Oct 24	Children's Museum Spooktacular ($30)
Oct 24	Haunted Speakeasy, Salem (tickets)
Oct 24–25	Aquarium Sunken Pumpkins (with admission)
Oct 25	PruBoo (free)
Thu–Sun to Oct 31	Stone Zoo Jack-O'-Lantern Nights (tickets)
Nightly to Oct 31	Ghosts & Gravestones (tickets)
Oct 29–31	FrightCrawl (from $10)
Oct 30–31	Bar Crawl LIVE ($30)
Oct 31	Crawl With US ($25)
Oct 31	Witches & Zombies Cruise (from $39)
Oct 31	Coolidge Horror Marathon (tickets)
Oct 31	Salem Halloween Night (free)

What are the best Halloween bar crawls in Boston?

Boston has three big Halloween bar crawls in 2026. FrightCrawl and Bar Crawl LIVE are 21+, so bring photo ID. Book ahead: each crawl has a set check-in window, and missing it can cost you the night.

FrightCrawl Boston:Thursday October 29, Friday October 30 and Saturday October 31, 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., plus a Saturday day party from 1 to 8 p.m. It starts around Faneuil Hall and moves to the Theatre District.Check-in is at Tiki Cove on Thursday and Friday, Servia on Saturday night and CARA for the day party. Tickets start at $10 to $20 a night, or $75 for the weekend pass. There's a costume contest every night, and the organizer says costumes are "non-negotiable". Props that look like weapons aren't allowed.
Bar Crawl LIVE Boston Halloween Bar Crawl:Friday October 30, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Saturday October 31, 3 to 11 p.m. (Eventbrite listing). Check-in is at Legacy, 79 Warrenton St. The organizer lists tickets at $30, with contests and no cover at the bars on the crawl.
Crawl With US Boston Halloween Bar Crawl:Saturday October 31, 4 to 10 p.m. in the Fenway area. Check in at Hojoko between 4 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $25, or $20 each for groups of four or more, and $40 at the door.

Need an outfit for the crawls? Abracadabra NYC, the Manhattan costume shop, sells full costumes online. It ships from New York, so check the order dates further down.

Is there a Halloween party cruise in Boston?

Yes. The Witches & Zombies Halloween Party Cruise sails on Saturday, October 31, 2026 aboard the Provincetown II from Commonwealth Pier, 200 Seaport Blvd. Boarding starts at 6:30 p.m. and the cruise runs from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

It's 21+, with DJ Artie V & Friends, three decks, cash bars (bring cash) and costume contests. Ticket sales are final.

The theme is in the name, so zombie makeup fits. Abracadabra has a special-effects makeup section if you want to go further than face paint.

Is there a ghost tour in Boston on Halloween?

Yes. Ghosts & Gravestones runs nightly through October 31 and is open on Halloween night. Tours start from 6 p.m. and take 90 minutes, partly by trolley and partly on foot through two of Boston's old burying grounds. The guides play costumed "gravediggers", and the company invites guests to wear a costume on Halloween.

Boarding: beside the Boston Marriott Long Wharf, 200 Atlantic Ave at State Street. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Age: the tour is rated PG-13, and children under 6 aren't allowed.
Booking: reservations are required. The company says Halloween is its busiest time, so book ahead. You can book with the operator or on Viator.

The tour passes the Omni Parker House, which the operator calls Boston's most haunted hotel.

Where can you watch horror movies in costume on Halloween?

The 25th Halloween Horror Marathon at the Coolidge Corner Theatre starts at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026 and runs for about 12 hours. The theater is at 290 Harvard St in Brookline.

This year's theme is mummies: Boris Karloff's The Mummy (1932), then Hammer's The Mummy's Shroud from a rare 35mm print, then five more films that aren't announced in advance. There's a costume contest too. Buy tickets through the Coolidge.

A mask is the easiest costume for a 12-hour movie night. Abracadabra has a Halloween masks section.

What are the best family Halloween events in Boston?

The best family Halloween events in Boston in 2026 are the Boston Children's Museum Spooktacular, the New England Aquarium's Sunken Pumpkins weekend, PruBoo at the Prudential Center and Jack-O'-Lantern Nights at Stone Zoo.

Boston Children's Museum Halloween Spooktacular:Saturday October 24, 5 to 8 p.m., at 308 Congress St. Tickets are $30 a person and must be bought in advance.It has trick-or-treating through the museum, Pumpkin Putt-Putt, the Sanderson Sisters and a Spiderweb Maze Costume Contest (most imaginative, spookiest, cutest and group costume).
New England Aquarium Sunken Pumpkins:Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, during regular hours at 1 Central Wharf (listing). It's included with regular admission. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes and hunt for jack-o'-lanterns hidden in the exhibits.For the animals' sake, costumes can't be inflatable or have balloons, lights, mirrors, metal, sharp points or anything that looks like a weapon.Members also get Boo-quarium on Friday October 23, 6 to 9 p.m., with costumed divers in the Giant Ocean Tank and a costume contest.
PruBoo:Sunday October 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St. It's free, with trick-or-treating at more than 30 stores and restaurants, face painting, crafts, magic shows and music. This year is the 32nd PruBoo.
Stone Zoo Jack-O'-Lantern Nights:Thursday to Sunday through October 31, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. (last entry 8:30 p.m.), at 149 Pond St, Stoneham. Everyone needs a ticket except children under two, and buying online is cheaper than at the gate.It's an hour-long walk past hundreds of carved pumpkins. The animals aren't on view at night.

What else is on in Salem before Halloween?

Salem has two big nights out the weekend before Halloween.

Haunted Speakeasy:Saturday October 24, 6 to 10 p.m., in Salem's 221-year-old Hamilton Hall. It's a Roaring '20s Halloween party with live jazz from Tricky Niki & The Grave Diggers, burlesque, cocktails and dancing.The organizers say "dress to impress" and suggest mobsters and flappers. A period hat goes a long way, and Abracadabra has a hats section.
Salem Night Faire:Friday and Saturday, October 23–24, 5 to 10 p.m., at Pioneer Village. It has artisans, performers and oddities along lantern-lit paths. There are online tickets, and tickets at the door while space lasts.

When should you order a costume to arrive by Halloween?

Order early. Abracadabra NYC's shipping policy says orders ship by 2 p.m. Eastern on weekdays only. It offers ground, 2-day and next-day delivery, and delivery times don't count weekends. For the October 29–31 events, aim to order by about Monday, October 26 if you want ground shipping.

After that you'll need a faster option at checkout. The weekend of October 24–25 is already tight for shipped orders. Delivery depends on the carrier, so check the dates shown at checkout before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boston do anything for Halloween?

Yes. Boston's 2026 Halloween events include three bar crawls on October 29–31, a party cruise on October 31, Ghosts & Gravestones every night through Halloween, a horror movie marathon at the Coolidge, and family events at the Children's Museum, the Aquarium and the Prudential Center.

Is it worth going to Salem on Halloween?

Yes, if you like crowds and a big street party. Salem has live music from noon on October 31, 2026 and a free drone show at 10 p.m. Expect it to be very busy, and plan your trip back to Boston before you go.

What is the most famous Halloween town in Massachusetts?

Salem. Destination Salem says its Haunted Happenings season draws more than 1 million visitors from around the world each October.

Are there free Halloween events in Boston?

Yes. PruBoo at the Prudential Center (October 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Salem's Halloween Night Finale drone show (October 31, 10 p.m.) are both free.

What are the best Halloween events in Boston for kids?

The Boston Children's Museum Spooktacular on October 24, the New England Aquarium's Sunken Pumpkins weekend on October 24–25 and PruBoo on October 25 are the most kid-friendly. Ghosts & Gravestones is PG-13 and doesn't allow children under 6.

Do Boston Halloween events have costume contests?

Several do: FrightCrawl, Bar Crawl LIVE, the Witches & Zombies cruise, the Coolidge Halloween Horror Marathon, the Children's Museum Spooktacular and the Aquarium's members-only Boo-quarium.

For more dates, see the BostonVacay events calendar.

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