The 7 Best Things to Do in Boston for Halloween

Halloween celebration in Salem, Mass.
Halloween celebration in Salem Photo credit ANNA REED / Statesman Journal / Getty Images
By , Audacy

Halloween comes but once a year to Boston. Don’t miss it by sitting around on your couch waiting around for trick-or-treaters. Get out into the city and embrace the spookiest, weirdest, most fun holiday of the year with Halloween parties, events, movies, and bar crawls. Here are the best things to do around the Hub on Halloween.

Honor Houdini on Screen and Stage

In honor of the great illusionist, Arlington’s Regent Theatre will put on a multi-part show about all things Houdini. The extravaganza includes a screening of the magician’s own silent film Terror Island, accompanied by live music. Then real magicians will perform for the audience. And finally the theatre will host a spiritual demonstration.

Regent Theatre

7 Medford St, Arlington, MA 02474

Bar Crawl Through Fenway

If the end of October already has you missing the Sox and the drinking establishments around Fenway, this holiday bar crawl on October 26 is just the right celebration to embrace fall and all the fall beverages that come with it. The Fright Night Halloween Pub Crawl through the neighborhood is an opportunity for like-minded Beantown drinkers to dress up and wander through a night of scares and thrills, aka a regular night out in Fenway. Loretta’s Last Call, Lucky Strike and Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. are among participating venues, but you’ll have to sign up for the full list.

Fright Night Halloween Pub Crawl

Visit Salem

Boston basically has a year-round spook factory less than an hour’s drive from downtown, but October brings a special sense of dread to the witchy historied town. The town puts on a series of activities and events all month long, from horror film screenings to magic rituals guests can take part in. If you’ve never made the quick trip, fall is the perfect time.

Party on the Titanic

Ok, so it’s not the actual Titanic, but Boston Nightlife’s fifth annual Halloween cruise party is worth risking an iceberg. Four DJs on two decks fill the luxury yacht with bumping holiday tunes, while attendees dance and party the night away in costume. The shindig rages for four hours and the boat sails the harbor for three, making sure every costumed partygoer gets their money’s worth of seafaring debauchery.

Titanic Masquerade - Pier Pressure Boston Halloween Party

Celebrate Like a Grown-Up Kid

Halloween brings out the (devilish) kid in lots of adults, so take advantage of that reckless, youthful feeling by attending a party at the Children’s Museum, renamed the Grown-Ups Museum for the night. The annual 21+ event includes dancing, a costume contest, and interactive exhibits like big-kid fort building.

Grown-Ups Museum

308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210

Float Your Pumpkin

The Annual Fall Pumpkin Float calls all jack-o-lantern carvers amateur and professional to the Boston Common Frog Pond on October 18. The gathering sees hundreds of lit pumpkins floating on the lake. It’s entirely free so stop by if you just feel like looking on.

Fall Pumpkin Float

Boston Common Frog Pond, 38 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108

Run, Don’t Walk, in Costume

People often find themselves walking about town on Halloween, either shepherding their kids as they trick-or-treat or on a festive bar crawl. This year put those steps to good use in a charitable 5k. The annual Costumes for Cancer 5k Fun Run (and 2.5k walk) benefits the John Estrella Foundation, but it’s also an excuse to put on your favorite costume and take to the streets of Boston.

Costumes for Cancer Run/Walk