Find a scary wide variety of things to do to ring in the final week of Albany's inaugural All-Hallow E'en Festival. Find plenty of safe and fun trick-or-treating opportunities, tours and spine-chilling sites to squeeze in some final scares, All-Hallow E'en themed arts & entertainment and outdoor adventures, Halloween parties, and general events to soak in the season! Scroll on for ways to spend your Halloweek, Halloweekend, and of course, the day of Halloween. 

**Due to inclement weather the final Eerie Albany Historic Ghost Tour has been moved to Sunday, November 5 at 11 AM. Tickets still available.

Family Friendly Events 

All Hallow E’en Art Path
On view 24/7, all October long! | Downtown Albany

Inspired by the original 1904 & 1905 All-Hallow E’en Festival in which local businesses helped support the event with window displays, Albany Center Gallery worked with local artists and businesses to create a range of fall-inspired window art. Explore this colorful art path featuring everything from cats on a trick-or-treat promenade displayed near Albany Center Gallery to cookies celebrating the season in the windows of Nocturnal Cookies

Spooky Lantern Walk at the Pine Hollow Arboretum
Friday, October 27 | 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Pine Hollow Arboretum
Explore the Pine Hollow Arboretum on a slightly spooky, lantern-lit walk. Learn about some of the nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, that represent the Halloween season. 

Halloween Youth Baking Class
Friday, October 27 | 7 PM | Nelly's Treats

Open to ages 4 to 10, come in costume and decorate a magical, glow-in-the-dark cupcake! Each young baker will take home three to share.

Hounds of Halloween
**Rescheduled from October 21
Saturday, October 28 | 11 AM to 3 PM | Start at Olde English Pub or Olde English Downtown Dog Park
This dog trick-or-treat event is fun for the whole family! Litters of dressed-up dogs will roam the streets of downtown Albany sniffing out treats at a multitude of participating businesses. Dog costumes are a must, but human pals are encouraged to dress up too! 

Family Day | Happenin’ Halloween
Saturday, October 28 | 12 PM to 3 PM | Albany Institute of History & Art 
Celebrate the season at the Albany Institute of History & Art with Halloween themed art projects and activities for the whole family.

Family Festival at the Irish American Heritage Museum
Sunday, October 29 | 11 AM to 4 PM | Irish American Heritage Museum
Celebrate the holiday's Celtic roots at the Irish American Heritage Musuem. Learn how the ancient festival of Samhain inspired modern-day Halloween, enjoy some crafts, and come in costume for trick-or-treating. Wander down New York's history of witchcraft with author of Witches and Warlocks of New York: Legends, Victims, & Sinister Spellcasters, Lisa La Monica.

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Trick-or-Treats/Trunk-or-Treats 

Halloween Dunk-or-Treat
Saturday, October 28 | 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM | UAlbany Downtown Campus

This Halloween event is sure to be slam-dunk fun! Join UAlbany's Men's Basketball Team, Liberty Partnerships Program, and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity for a fun-filled afternoon of trick-or-treating, a costume party, games, arts & crafts, basketball, bounce houses and more. 

Trunk or Treat at the Albany Rural Cemetery
Saturday, October 28 | 4 PM to 5:30 PM | Albany Rural Cemetery
This annual sweet and safe trunk or treat experience is full of family fun. While collecting candy, children will be able to explore firetrucks and parents will have the opportunity to join in on a 50/50 raffle. Spoiler: There will also be a chance to win a 5-pound Hershey's chocolate bar!

Community Trunk or Treat
Sunday, October 29 | 4 PM to 6 PM | Shaker Heritage Society
Come in costume for this exciting family trunk or treat! Kids of all ages are invited to collect sweet treats and find Halloween-themed games and activities. Make sure to dress in your Halloween best for a costume contest.

Crossgates Malloween
Tuesday, October 31 | 3 PM to 6 PM | Crossgates Mall
Each year Crossgates Mall transforms into a Halloween dreamland complete with a mysterious costume contest and candy cauldrons at the doors of various stores. Stop by the Capital photo booth early to capture your Malloween memory. Photos are free and open for the first 100 families that drop by.

Trick or Treating at Honest Weight
Tuesday, October 31 | 3:30 PM to 6 PM | Honest Weight Food Co-op
There's no tricks just treats at Honest Weight's annual trick-or-treating event. Children of all ages are invited to come in costume and visit each department of the co-op for a special treat! 

Mall-O-Ween at Colonie Center
Tuesday, October 31 | 4 PM to 6 PM | Colonie Center Mall
All the young scarers are invited to participate in this fangtastic event. As you trick-or-treat throughout the mall, make sure to grab a goodie bag filled with Halloween treats, capture your Mall-O-Ween memories at the phot booth and participate in Halloween themed arts and crafts! 

Trick or Treat Street at Albany Law School
Tuesday, October 31 | 5 PM to 7 PM | Albany Law School
Stop by Trick or Treat Street at Albany Law School for a safe, trick-or-treating experience filled with candy, Halloween treats, and fun activities.

Trick or Treat at the Palace
Tuesday, October 31 5 PM to 8 PM | The Palace
While trick-or-treating this Tuesday, make sure to stop by The Palace for treats, tricks, music, a children's costume contest and more! 

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Haunted & Eerie Events 

New York State Capitol Hauntings Tours
Weekdays Monday October 23 through Tuesday, October 31 | Tours at 5 PM & 6 PM | New York State Capitol
The historic New York State Capitol is known for strange or supernatural occurrences, what spirits still roam this state landmark? Find out during a free, Capitol Hauntings tour!

City Seance Ghost Tour 
Tuesday, October 24, Wednesday, October 25 and final tour Friday, October 27 | 7 PM to 9 PM | Meet at Discover Albany Visitors Center

Who are the famous spirits who linger around in the capital city? Will you be able to conjure these spirits as you journey through downtown Albany? Find out during this theatrical tour!

Stories and Spirits at the Shaker Cemetery
Final tour Tuesday, October 24 | 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM | Shaker Heritage Society
The Shakers never saw the spirit world as threatening, instead they embraced visions, dreams, and communication with them. Learn the stories of some of the revolutionary figures who are laid to rest at the Shaker Cemetery.

Dark Side of Downtown
Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26 | 5:30 PM, 6 PM, 6:30 PM & 7 PM | Meet outside McGeary's Irish Pub
Unearth the dark side of Albany during this true crime tour and find out what mysteries, conspiracies, and local lore lay within the unassuming buildings on the streets of downtown.

Murder at Cherry Hill
Wednesday, October 25, Thursday, October 26, Friday, October 27 and final tour Saturday, October 28 | Tours at 5:30 PM & 7:00 PM | Historic Cherry Hill

Follow the footsteps of an infamous murderer who's harrowing story took place at Cherry Hill in 1827. This murder resulted in two sensational trials and Albany's final public hanging. Relive that night during one of Cherry Hill's popular October tours.

***Eerie Albany Historic Ghost Tour
Final tour postponed to Sunday, November 5 | 11 AM | Meet at Discover Albany Visitors Center
Uncover the haunted buildings and shadowy past of the capital city during this ghost tour. Your guide will regale you with spine-chilling stories at locations like the 200-year-old Quackenbush House where the Olde English Pub now resides and mysteries surrounding the homes of Ten Broeck Triangle.

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All-Hallow E'en Arts & Entertainment 

Cider and a Pumpkin
Monday, October 23 | Tickets redeemable 11 AM to 8 PM | Nine Pin Cider
Carve out some time in your Monday for Nine Pin's 9th annual cider and a pumpkin event. Nine Pin will have tools onsite to create your jack-o-lantern masterpiece while enjoying a complimentary cider.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Monday, October 23 | 7 PM | The Palace

It's time to Time Warp again; join The Kids of Albany for their 13th annual Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Palace theatre. 

Craft Night: Halloween Cupcakes
Tuesday, October 24 | 6 PM | Nine Pin Cider
Craft your own cupcake creatures! Learn how to decorate alien, bat, and werewolf cupcakes that taste as scarily good as they look. Tickets include a complimentary cider.

Mystic Fair
Wednesday, October 25 and Thursday, October 26 | 10 AM to 3 PM | Empire State Plaza

The future seems to contain a trip to the Empire State Plaza sometime in the middle of this week — stop by for the free, Mystic Fair featuring intuitive readings, spirit guides, craft vendors and more.

Classic Halloween Movie Series
Wednesday, October 25 | 7 PM to 10 PM | Cornerstone Restaurant at Empire State Plaza
Get ready for a scarily good time at Empire State Plaza! For the Plaza's final feature this October enjoy a double feature starring some of the season's classic characters Dracula and The Invisible Man.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula w/ Professor Jarlath Killeen (Online Talk)
Thursday, October 26 | 5:30 PM | Virtual event presented by Irish American Heritage Museum

Cozy up with your computer for this online talk overlooking Bram Stoker's Dracula. Dublin-based professor of Victorian Literature, Jarlath Killeen will review the author's Irish background and its influence on his works, many of which are shrouded in darkness. Jarlath Killeen will speak on the influences behind Dracula and how the Count has influenced popular culture and the literary world.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Friday, October 27 | 6 PM and 8:30 PM | The Kenmore Ballroom
Experience your favorite Halloween classics performed by a string quartet under the glow of candlelight at this historic venue. Tentative selections include music from The Nightmare Before ChristmasHalloweenThe Addams Family, Stranger Things, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and classical pieces.

Baked Shrimp Halloween Extravaganza w/s/g Timbre Coup
Friday, October 27 | 8 PM to 1 AM | The Hollow Bar + Kitchen 
Jam out with the young, rising band Baked Shrimp for their annual Halloween Extravaganza.

Halloween House Ball
Saturday, October 28 | 9 PM | Hilton Albany | Presented by In Our Own Voices

The category is... Unity House Ball and Pageant. Join In Our Own Voices for Albany's first ever Halloween House Ball inspired by 1980's ballroom culture. The house ball features competitive dance, lip-syncing and runway walks. The pageant includes a modern twist to the 1904 & 1905 All-Hallow E'en Festival. Instead of crowning a Halloween Queen, In Our Own Voices will award an ambassadorship to one pageant participant. The ambassador will advocate for the health and wellness of BIPOC LGBTQ+ communities around the Capital Region.

Spooky Zumba
Sunday, October 29 | 1 PM to 2:30 PM | Honest Weight Food Co-op
Join the Honest Weight Food Co-op for a fun and festive, family-friendly Zumba class! Costumes that you can easily move around in are encouraged. Gift cards will be given out to winners of three different categories: Most Creative Costume, Silliest Costume, and Best Overall.

The Hollow Concert and Debut Film featuring Gabriella Pizzolo of Stranger Things
Sunday, October 29 | 4 PM to 5:30 PM | Page Hall, UAlbany | Presented by Musicians of Ma'alwyck
Best known for her role as Suzie in Stranger Things watch Capital Region-born actress Gabriella Pizzolo in a guest performance with the Musicians of Ma'alywyck. The Musicians of Ma'alwyck will debut their short film The Hollow based on Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The short film will debut in concert format with seasonal pieces played by Pizzolo and members of the Musicians of Ma'alywyck.

Hallowe’en Film Club: You Are Not My Mother
Monday, October 30 | 6 PM | Irish American Heritage Museum
As the birthplace of Samhain, a festival that laid the roots for modern-day Halloween, Ireland is known for its dark folklore surrounding the holiday. Katie Dolan's horror film You Are Not My Mother taps into Irish folk history specifically of faery doppelgangers. In this film a young girl encounters her mother who had inexplicably disappeared a week before Halloween, but this figure is not the mother she remembers. Join the Irish American Heritage Museum for a showing of You Are Not My Mother on the night before Halloween! 

Séance: Photographs by Shannon Taggart
Tuesday, October 31 | 12 PM to 5 PM | Exhibit on view through December 9 | Opalka Gallery, Russel Sage College
American artist Shannon Taggart's deep research into Spritualistic practices has been documented for 20 years. Her findings traverse the globe with focuses on communities in the US, England and Europe. Her collection of photographs reveals haunting images of the emotional, psychological and physical dimensions of Spiritualism in the 21st century

The Haunted Hall presented by The Cohoes Paranormal Society
Tuesday, October 31 | 7 PM | Cohoes Music Hall

This Halloween learn what spirits and paranormal creatures have been detected within the walls of this historic building famously known to be haunted by Eva Tanguay. For the past year, the Cohoes Paranormal Society have investigated this location; on the 31st they will share their findings followed by a screening of the iconic Paranormal Activity.

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All-Hallow E'en Outdoor Adventures 

Cider Maze
Friday, October 27 | 5 PM to 10 PM | Samascott Orchards | Presented by Nine Pin Cider
This a-maze-ingly fun event invites you to navigate a 7-acre corn maze under the stars. Sip on a Nine Pin cider at the orchards in which they are sourced. Try to find 8 hidden punch stations throughout the maze for discounts at the pop-up cider bar awaiting you once you find your way through.

Halloween Ride!
Saturday, October 28 | 11:15 AM | Albany Rural Cemetery | Presented by Albany Bicycle Coalition

Enjoy a Halloween bicycling adventure through the gorgeous Albany Rural Cemtery. Stops will be made along the way to learn some of the stories of those laid to rest there.

Full Moon Hike
Saturday, October 28 | 4:15 PM to 6:30 PM | Bender Melon Farm Preserve | Presented by Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy

The weekend before Halloween beckons a full moon. Under the guide of moonlight, the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, and hike guide Christian Johnson explore the trails of the popular Bender Melon Farm Preserve. This adventure will have a Halloween twist. 

2023 Albany’s Trick or Trot Pumpkin Run 5k
Saturday, October 28 | 4:30 PM | Jennings Landing
Run along a beautiful Halloween inspired course at Albany's annual Trick or Trot 5k. This popular all-ages event encourages goblins, ghouls and all mysterious creatures to join in the fun — costumes are encouraged! Age-based divisional awards and prizes will be presented. Stop by Quackenbush Square after the run for an afterparty with drink specials at the Olde English Pub, free 360 photos, best costume prizes, a 5k race award ceremony and more! 

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Halloween Parties 

Van Schaick Mansion Annual Halloween Party
Friday, October 27 | 6 PM to 8 PM | Van Schaick Mansion

During this family-friendly Halloween party, you may encounter some of the spirits of the Revolutionary War Soldiers that once used the mansion as a military headquarters. Hear about some spine-chilling stories and explore a haunted path lit by floating candles. But this party isn't all tricks, seasonal treats from Stewart's will be available along with trick-or-treating for the smallest of scarers. 

Music for the Masses - 80s New Wave Halloween Party
Friday, October 27 | 10 PM to 1 AM | City Beer Hall

Dance til you drop to 80s New Wave favorites from Duran Duran to David Bowie all night long at City Beer Hall's Halloween party.

Haunted Barn Bash
Saturday, October 28 | 6 PM | Lakota's Farm

Venture out to Cambridge, NY for a thrilling costume party at Lakota Farm's 200-year-old barn. Enjoy seasonal cocktails, appetizers and treats, music to dance the night away, a full cash bar and tarot readings. 

Rockin Halloween Cruise
Saturday, October 28 | 6:30 PM to 10 PM | Dutch Apple Cruises 

Set sail on a Rockin' Halloween Party Cruise with live 80's rock music to jam the night away. There will be a full bar and food available as you celebrate Halloween on the Hudson.

The Lark Street BID's Annual Halloween Party
Saturday, October 28 | 8 PM to 11 PM | Washington Park Lakehouse | Presented by the Lark Street BID

Party at the Washington Park Lakehouse! Enjoy complimentary craft beer and cider, a photo booth, and prizes for the best costume.

City Fear Hall
Saturday, October 28 | 10 PM | City Beer Hall

At this thrilling party, be sure to dress in your Halloween best, winners of City Beer Hall's costume contest win free beer for a year. Dance the night away and create lasting memories at the photo booth. Enjoy a free personal pizza with every drink! 

9th Annual HOLLOWeen Bash
Saturday, October 28 | 10 PM | The Hollow Bar + Kitchen

Bash the night away at The Hollow's 9th annual Halloween party. Make sure to dress your best for a costume contest and win a thrilling grand prize.

War Room Tavern Halloween Party hosted by Butch Patrick of the Munsters
Tuesday, October 31 | 5 PM to 12 AM | Albany War Room Tavern 

On Halloween night, meet Butch Patrick who played the iconic Eddie Munster at Albany War Room Tavern's inaugural Halloween Party. In War Room spirit, come dressed as presidents, governors, senators, and politicians dead or alive.

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General Fall Events 

Almost Full Moon Hike
Friday, October 27 | 6:30 PM | Pine Bush Preserve

On the eve of October's full moon, join the Pine Bush Preserve for a hike under the stars. As you traverse the unique ecosystem of the Pine Bush, stops will be made along the way to help your eyes adjust to the night and to listen to the sounds of the creatures who live there. 

A Walk Through the Paleozoic
Saturday, October 28 | 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM | Thacher Park
Explore the Indian Ladder Trail and learn about the rock layers that can be found along the way. Discover what fossils can be found within them. Finish your hike at the top of the escarpment which reveals breath-taking views of the Hudson-Mohawk valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. 

Full Moon Cemetery Tour
Saturday, October 28 | 10 AM | Old Stone Fort Museum
The morning before October's full moon rises in the sky, join historian Pete Lindemann for a tour of the Old Stone Fort Cemetery. Multiple notable figures are laid to rest at the cemetery including Civil War nurse Catherine Lawerence, the first nurse to give anesthesia. 

Discover the Pine Bush
Sunday, October 29 | 1 PM | Pine Bush Preserve
Take an immersive journey through the globally rare, fire-dependent inland pine barrens. Discover the natural history of the Pine Bush and find seasonal transformations in the ecosystem.

DIY Cold Brew & Coffee Syrup for Scorpio Season
Sunday, October 29 | 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Honest Weight Food Co-op

Celebrate the Scorpios in your life and learn how to make a Scorpio inspired cold brew with an accompanying syrup. Hopefully this coffee will help fuel the ambitious and determined spirit of all Scorpios in attendance. There will also be a discussion on astrology and how Scorpio's qualities present themselves based on its place in your chart. Event host Jackie of Virgo Rising will also offer tarot readings as an added seasonal bonus.

Owl Walk
Sunday, October 29 | 6:30 PM to 8 PM | Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center

Learn about these fascinating and mysterious nocturnal creatures and embark on a guided hike to see if you can spot some.

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*This project is made possible in part by the City of Albany’s Albany for All funding program and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
 
*This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1752 awarded to the City of Albany, New York, by the U.S. Department of Treasury.