Compiled by Staff
Fright Nights at the Naro Expanded Cinema
The Naro is presented a series of horror flicks for the month of October, including “The Shining” (Oct. 18), “Killer Klowns From Outer Space (Oct. 19), “Elvira” (Oct. 25), “Halloween III” (Oct. 26). “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” plays October 25 at 11 PM and on Halloween Night at 9 PM.
Friday Night Frights at Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts
$3 gets you in for the horror films “The Conjuring” (Oct. 11), “Dandyman” (Oct. 18, and “Paranormal Activity” (Oct. 25). Showtimes are 8 PM.
Hermitage Hallows Eve
October 11
Hermitage Museum & Gardens
This nostalgic, costumed Halloween Museum experience appeals to all your spine-tingling senses, with spooky tunes, gruesome games, paranormal tours, and to-die-for libations. Includes a flashlight garden tour, magic show, and palm readings.
Ghoul Times Aboard Spooky Soiree
October 12 & 19
Battleship Wisconsin
Let the ghoul times roll with a special Spooky Edition of our family overnight experience on the Battleship Wisconsin filled with fun, light-hearted, family-friendly spooky experiences
Pumpkin Painting
October 13
Eggleston Garden Center/Norfolk
From 1-3 PM, come on over, select a pumpkin, and paint a scary face or theme on your take-home pumpkin.
“Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really”
October 16 through November 3
Virginia Stage Company/Wells Theatre
A feast for the eyes and the mind, take a bite out of this Victorian horror story reimagined through the sharp, contemporary humor of Kate Hamill. This story of Dracula is unlike any you’ve ever seen — follow these reinvigorated characters through the dark in this disquieting, yet comedic drama that explores the nature of predators, monsters, and the terrors of everyday life. This re-imagined tale of Bram Stoker’s classic reveals new monsters beneath the skin and drives a stake right through the patriarchy.
Ghosts of Throughgood Past
October 18-20, 25-27
Thoroughgood House
Take a paranormal tour of the historic Thoroughgood House and Garden by candlelight.
Haunted Temple
October 12-31
Norfolk Masonic Lodge
On Thursdays through Saturdays, the Mason Lodge on Granby Street hosts the region’s scariest indoor haunted house experience.
Zoo Boo
October 19-20
Virginia Zoo
Families with kids of all ages are encouraged to wear their costumes and receive treats along your stroll at the Zoo. Timed ticket reservations are required for this popular event. 9 AM to 5 PM.
“Uncle Wiggily and the Haunted Woods”
October 19 & 26
Zeiders American Dream Theater
Presented by Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads, this local theater group presents a fun, kids play and storytelling. Children are encouraged to dress up. 11 AM and 2 PM performance.
Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch
October 20
New Realm Brewing Company
Get ready for a wickedly fun morning packed with spellbinding performances by Sanderson Sisters, delicious food, and enchanting company. 10 AM to noon.
Femme Fatales Wine Tasting
October 24
Wells Theatre
Prior to the performance of “Dracula,” enjoy four unique wines and a snack sampling for the table at $30/flight and discover the perfect pairing of sweet, supple, and suspenseful to accompany your theatre night out. Each wine selection has been specially curated by up-and-coming and long-time female proprietors in the winemaking industry. 6 PM.
42nd Annual Ghost Walk
October 25
Olde Towne Portsmouth
Walk the haunted streets of Olde Towne on a guided tour spotlighting the neighborhood’s history, ghosts, and graves. 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Don’t miss the Ghost Walk Bazaar along the way featuring fortune tellers, fire twirlers, and more.
Adult Night Zoo Boo Edition
October 25
Virginia Zoo
For adults 21 and over, a Halloween party with beverages, food, and music. Dress in your wildest costume. 5-8 PM.
Masquerade In Ghent
October 25
Colley Avenue/Norfolk
This annual street party celebrating Halloween includes costume contests, food/drinks, and live music from Wonderland. 6-10 PM. Free.
Halloween Spooktacular: Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lodger”
October 25
Christ & St Luke’s Church
Silent movie on the big screen with organ improvisation by Dorothy Papadakos.
Hampton Horror Tours
October 26, 29, 30, 31
Starts at Hampton History Museum
New twists and turns await you on this supernatural saunter through the past! Leaving from the museum, these 60-minute tours include eerie tales of old Hampton and the Coastal Virginia area. Each tour will include the grisly side of Hampton history, surprises, a spooky visit to the St. John’s Church graveyard, and other points of fright along Queen Street and around Downtown Hampton.
This tour will be unlike any tour you have ever been on before. You have been selected to not just walk on the tour, but to be the jurors that will decide the fate of the spirits you will encounter. Advance bookings recommended.
Adult Halloween Party
October 26
Big Ugly Brewing
A spooky costume contest begins at 8:30 PM. From 6-10 PM, live music and beer specials.
LAVA Halloween Extravaganza
October 26
Toast/Perro Blanco
Local indie musicians portray and perform music from Madonna, Hall & Oates, Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr, and others.
Pumpkins & Pirates
October 26
17th Street Park/Oceanfront
Embrace the festive spirit of fall at Pumpkins & Pirates, a unique celebration that combines two beloved themes – pumpkins and pirates – for an unforgettable, family-friendly experience.
Young scallywags are in for a treat with this creative blend, featuring face painters, carnival games, stilt walkers, family relay races, roving jugglers, bandana-making, story-tellers, and our very own pirate DJs. 11 AM to 3 PM. Free.
Skull-O-Ween Party
October 26
St. George Brewing Company
Costume contest, games, karaoke, and dark brews.
Pumpkins & Pirates Family Fest
October 26
17th Street Park @ Oceanfront
Embrace the festive spirit of fall at Pumpkins & Pirates, a unique celebration that combines two beloved themes – pumpkins and pirates – for an unforgettable, family-friendly experience. 11 AM to 3 PM. Free admission.
Town and Treat
October 26
Virginia Beach Town Center
Town Center invites the community to come dressed in your best costume! Enjoy free family-friendly activities at our annual Halloween event, Town and Treat. Stop by for trick-or-treating at Town Center businesses, activity stations, roaming characters, games, music, cotton candy, costume contests, and more. Dress in your finest Halloween costume to win a special prize. There will be a special appearance by Janice of Midnight Rain as Taylor Swift. There’s also a Best Dog costume contest.
Haunted Harbor Halloween
October 26
The Waterside District
Waterside transforms into a realm of shadows, legends of the deep, and spooky mermaid tales and get ready to immerse yourself in Live entertainment including multiple DJs, karaoke, silent disco, giveaways plus show off your most creative or downright terrifying ensemble for a chance to win up to $10,000 in cash and prizes in the most epic costume contest Norfolk has to offer. 7 PM.
Hocus Pocus Movie & Costume Competition
October 26
The American Theatre
Watch the film “Hocus Pocus,” and then stick around for the bedazzling Best Costume Awards. 2 PM.
Boo Realm Halloween Festival
October 26
New Realm Brewing Company
In the outdoor Beer Garden, Halloween costume fun, spellbinding drink specials, and a trick or treat vendor market. Noon to 4 PM.
“Psycho in Concert: Film with Orchestra”
Presented by Virginia Symphony Orchestra
October 26, Ferguson Center for the Arts
October 27, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Enjoy Hitchcock’s timeless thriller projected on the big screen as the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performs Bernard Herrmann’s spine-tingling score live. Take in every twist and turn as Marion is plunged into a world of crime, suspense, and murder all set to one of the most iconic film scores of all time.
Halloween Disco Party
October 27
The Artists Gallery @ Virginia Beach Arts Center
Join in for the closing of the 2024 annual Aware exhibit “With an Open Heart.” Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. 5-7 PM. Free.
“Halloween Spooktacular”
Presented by Virginia Symphony Orchestra & The Governor’s School for the Arts
October 27
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
A side-by-side Governor’s School and VA Symphony performance of “scary” music for kids. Children of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes.
Family Halloween Trunk or Treat Party
October 27
Big Ugly Brewing
A fun day (1-5 PM) of pumpkin carving, costume photo booth, a trunk or treat for the kids.
Halloween Harvest Festival
October 27
Chrysler Museum of Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art’s Halloween Harvest Festival is a thrilling event for all ages. This year, it will feature a magic show, a multimedia performance inspired by Le Voyage Dans La Lune–a 1902 French science-fiction film–artmaking in 3-D, interactive art tours, games, and surprising “spooky fun.” Costumed kiddies and their “grown-ups” are invited to show off amusing and inventive costumes and watch artworks come alive in ways that defy imagination. And, to top it all, everyone is invited to join the grand finale costume parade. 12:30 PM to 4 PM. Free.
Deadlands
October 31
Scandals VB
A Halloween metal-core concert featuring Deadlands, Renesans, Magg Dylan, and Embrace The Oblivion. Dress for the occasion.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Film & Live Shadow Cast
October 31
The American Theatre
Let’s get insane and do the “Time Warp” Again! Grab your fishnets, and pelvic thrust your way to The American Theatre’s annual creature feature presentation of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” featuring a live shadow cast performance by Fishnet Inc.
“40 Whacks: The Nightmare of Lizzie Borden”
Presented by CORE Theatre Ensemble
October 30 & November 1
Zeiders American Dream Theater
CORE Theatre Ensemble presents an original performance based on the infamous trial of Lizzie Borden and the brutal ax murders of her parents. Love lives in dreams; guilt thrives in nightmares.
The Lizzie Borden murder case captivated the nation over one hundred years ago and is still considered “one of the most dastardly and diabolical crimes that was ever committed.” Andrew and Abby Borden’s bodies were found axed to death in their home in August 1892; their daughter Lizzie was arrested and charged days later. The case was surrounded by a passionately divided public. The opinion of women and the extent of their capabilities fueled an intense debate concerning her guilt or innocence. Lizzie was ultimately acquitted of all charges due to circumstantial evidence, incompetent prosecution, and the pervading delusion that a “woman is incapable of doing so foul a deed.”
Trunk or Treat: Pranks on the Plaza
October 31
Scope Arena
Get ready for a spooktacular Halloween celebration at the Scope Arena. On Thursday, October 31 from 6pm to 8pm, families are invited to join in the fun at the Norfolk Police Department’s annual Trunk or Treat event. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, featuring an impressive display of public safety vehicles and big trucks.
Ken Russell Film Fest At Home
Let’s say its a rainy night and you don’t want to get off the couch, the timing is perfect for some scary movies in the comfort of home. While the usual horror films might be easy and predictable to digest since you’ve likely seen them all before, we’d suggest making a fright night of it with the truly bizarre films from director Ken Russell. Seek out “The Devils,” “The Lair of the White Worm,” “Gothic,” and “Altered States.”
Halloween Playlist/Mix Tape
The first thing you’ll want to consider is making a Spotify playlist as your Halloween soundtrack for driving around town, your home thematic party, or to take to a friend’s.
Consider adding these suggestions:
Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
The Stranglers, “Meninblack”
Rammstein, “Engel”
The Damned, “Grimly Fiendish”
Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath”
Michael Jackson, “Thriller”
Siouxie and the Banshees, “Spellbound”
Warren Zevon, “Werewolves of London”
David Bowie, “We Are the Dead”
Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters Theme Song”
Bobby Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers, “Monster Mash”
Olivia Rodrigo, “Vampire”
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “I Put a Spell on You”
The Cramps, “Goo Goo Muck”
Bloodrock, “DOA”
The Sisters of Mercy, “This Corrosion”
Talking Heads, “Psycho Killer”
Blue Oyster Cult, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
AC/DC, “Highway to Hell”
The Cranberries, “Zombie”
Rob Zombie, “Dragula”
Diamanda Galas, “25 Minutes to Go”
Throbbing Gristle, “Hamburger Lady”
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Red Right Hand”
The Who, “Boris the Spider”
The Electric Hellfire Club, “Satan’s Little Helpers”
Marilyn Manson, “This Is Halloween”
