20 Halloween activities and events in Utah

Halloween season is underway and there are various ways to celebrate the holiday, from pumpkin carving to haunted houses to festivals and parties.
There are also some more unique Halloween events and activities taking place around Utah this season. These events and activities include train and boat rides, music festivals and decorated gardens.
Here is a list of 20 events and activities for you to check out around Utah this Halloween season.
Thanksgiving Point’s Scarecrow Festival at Ashton Gardens in Lehi features dozens of scarecrows, built by members of the community, spread around the 50-acre gardens.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the festival also has additional activities, vendors and food.
Dates: Oct. 14 through 19
Cost: Included with admission to Ashton Gardens
CLAS Ropes Course in Provo offers a Halloween Riverboat Ride which lasts 20-25 minutes. The ride includes an interactive pirate experience and over 100 jack-o’-lanterns to be viewed on the ride.
There are also concessions available for purchase and a family-friendly Halloween movie visitors can watch either before or after their ride.
Dates: Sept. 27 through Oct. 31
Cost: Monday-Thursday $10, Friday-Saturday $12
Sundance Mountain Resort up Provo Canyon offers a Halloween themed evening lift ride on its Outlaw Ski Lift. The lift ride features Halloween decorations and displays.
There are also treats and hot chocolate that can be purchased at the resort.
Dates: Oct. 17-19, 21, 24, 26, 28 and 31
Cost: $35
Buzzards and Bees is Provo’s annual Halloween music festival in downtown Provo, with over 80 bands in 11 venues. Some of the bands included in this year’s lineup are Sky Olson and the Valley, 19 Miles Per Hour and Cinders.
The first day of the festival features a “Goth Prom” dance party and the bulk of the festival takes place on the second day.
Dates: Oct. 18 and 19
Cost: $35 when purchased in advance and $40 when purchased day of
The Haunted Halloween Haven in Spanish Fork is a family-friendly Halloween display and haunted house. The attraction includes a 25-minute long projection mapping show.
Dates: Every night in October
Cost: Free admission
Located in American Fork, according to the Haunted Forest it is “one of the largest and most successful Haunted Attractions in the U.S. Spanning over 1,000,000 sq. ft., this spine-chilling Scream Park has captivated thrill-seekers from around the world.”
This year, the Haunted Forest features new attractions, giving visitors a new unique experience.
Dates: Open Monday through Saturday until Oct. 31
Cost: Weekend general admission: $35; weekday general admission: $30
“Gather ‘round for a night of spine-tingling tales told through haunting melodies at our Halloween Spooktacular! With eerie and thrilling orchestral favorites, this concert promises to be a frightfully fun experience for the whole family, filled with spooky surprises and hair-raising harmonies,” per Utah Symphony.
The event at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City includes a costume contest.
Dates: Oct. 29
Cost: Varies based on seat
The Giant Pumpkin Palooza and Zombie Walk will take place at The Gateway in Salt Lake City.
This event includes a giant pumpkin weigh-off presented by Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers. The Zombie Walk will take place in the afternoon before the weigh-off.
There will also be other activities, including a pumpkin drop, a pie-eating contest and kids activities.
Dates: Oct. 5
Cost: Free admission
Bootanical at Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City encourages its visitors to wear costumes. This year’s Bootanical is Alice in Wonderland themed, allowing visitors to take journey to Wonderland.
The attraction also includes a scavenger hunt visitors can take part in as they make their way around the decorated gardens.
Dates: Oct. 17-30
Cost: Members: $13; public: $16
Gardner Village in West Jordan puts on an annual WitchFest, which includes witch displays spread around the area with a scavenger hunt encouraging visitors to find the witches.
There are other witchy activities, including Breakfast with a Witch, Witchapalooza Dinner Theater and Manifestations Magic Show.
Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 31
Cost: Parking is $10 Thursday through Saturday and free Monday through Wednesday
Little Haunts at This is the Place in Salt Lake City encourages visitors to wear costumes for this Halloween activity.
Little Haunts includes a story-telling witch, trick-or-treating and creature encounters. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own trick-or-treating bag.
Dates: Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26
Cost: $18.95 for adults and $14.95 for children
After taking a break for a year, Odyssey Dance Theatre is once again putting on their “Thriller” show.
The performance features pieces they’ve done before such as “The Curse of the Mummy,” “Frankenstein” and “Children of the Corn,” as well as a few new things.
The company has already done performances in Ogden, Logan and Park City but still has performances coming up in Salt Lake City and at the Tuacahn Ampitheatre.
Dates: Grand Theatre, Salt Lake City: Oct. 14-26; Tuacahn Ampitheatre: Oct. 29-Nov. 2
Cost: Prices vary based on location and seat
BooLights at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City is a family-friendly, after-hours experience around the zoo.
“As the animals go to bed, the zoo will transform into a spooktacular destination of Halloween lights, entertainment, and attractions for ghouls of all ages,” per the Hogle Zoo.
Halloween costumes are encouraged for those attending BooLights. This year, there are new experiences, including Nighttime Train Rides.
Dates: Every day until Oct. 30
Cost: Child ticket: $15.95; adult ticket: $18.95
This October, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper has put together a Halloween experience called Halloween on the High Seas.
The activities included in this pirate-themed experience include a scavenger hunt and “Spooky STEM experiences.”
On Oct. 28, the aquarium is also holding a Trick or Treasure event, where visitors can trick-or-treat throughout the aquarium.
Dates: Friday through Monday until Oct. 28
Cost: Included with admission to the aquarium
Cherry Hill water park and family fun center in Kaysville turns into Scary Hill for the Halloween season. The park is decorated with hundreds of skeletons for a Bone Yard tractor ride and the miniature golf also gets a haunted makeover.
There are “spooky” treats for sale and other attractions are decked out for Halloween.
Dates: Oct. 4-30
Cost: $13.99
Ogden Musical Theater is doing a production of “Dracula” at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden.
“This spine-chilling play will take audiences on a journey into the dark and eerie world of Count Dracula, featuring an atmospheric set inspired by the silent film era with monochrome visuals, deep disturbing music, and a Gothic ambiance that heightens the horror,” per Peery’s Egyptian Theater.
Dates: Oct. 17-20
Cost: $20-$28
This year, Snowbasin Resort introduced a new Halloween experience, Haunted Basin. This experience includes scary movie screenings, a haunted forest trail and black light mini golf.
There is a family-friendly hour each night of Haunted Basin from 6 to 7 p.m. and then “haunting festivities” begin at 7 p.m.
Haunted Basin also features Halloween themed food and drinks from The Mountain Morgue at the Cinnabar, which is a Haunted Mansion-style bar.
Dates: Everyday until Oct. 21
Cost: Price varies based on activity
The Heber Valley Railroad Pumpkin Train ride is 40 minutes long, with on-board entertainment from the hosts and a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie included.
Those who come on this ride also get to select a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. The Railroad also has other food and snacks available to purchase at the depot in Heber City.
Dates: Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26
Cost: $15
Haunted Wood Cove in Santa Clara, Washington County, is a full-size pirate ship that visitors can do a full walk-through of.
Each night, there is a show at the attraction which features singing skeletons and shooting cannons.
Dates: Oct. 1 through Nov. 1
Cost: Free admission
The Scarecrow Walk and Haunted Canyon features a garden decorated with dozens of scarecrows created by local residents and businesses, along with a slot canyon decorated with skeletons and spiders.
The event is put on by the Washington County Water Conservancy District and takes place at Red Hills Desert Garden in St. George.
Dates: Oct. 8-31
Cost: Free admission