Candy and creepy nights. The Halloween season brings jam-packed days, from pumpkin and apple picking to parties, costume contests and trick-or-treating.
To help you make the most of the season, Signal Akron has compiled a list of events happening in and around Summit County.
There’s something for everyone, and many of the events below are free. As always, check the individual event’s website for more information, as details can change.
2025 Downtown Akron Fall Fest
Oct. 18 | 4 to 7 p.m.
Main Street in downtown Akron will be open to trick-or-treaters for the fourth annual Fall Fest. This kid-friendly event will have trick-or-treat stations, train rides, live music from Wishgarden and much more. Free, downtownakron.com
Akron Boo at the Zoo
Oct. 18-19, 25-26 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Akron Zoo (500 Edgewood Ave. The zoo’s annual Halloween event. Twelve stations will be set up throughout the zoo — treaters can visit each and collect candy. Allergen-friendly options will be available at each station. Treaters: $16-$20; observers: $13-$17 (no treats); youth 2 and younger and zoo members: free. akronzoo.org
The Nightlight’s “Return of The Living Dead”
Oct. 18, 20 and 22 | 6:30 and 8 p.m.
The Nightlight (30 N. High St., Akron)
Ease into the Halloween spirit with a gory 1980s zombie film. With three nights to choose from, follow foreman Frank and a new employee, Freddy, as they ward off zombies and save the town from the brainless creatures and an epidemic. Browse more R rated movies showing soon like “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Shelby Oaks” and “Doctor X.” Tickets are $8 for students and seniors 60 or older, and general tickets are $10, nightlightcinema.com
Spook-tacular Twinsburg Fall Family Festival
Oct. 18 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Glen Chamberlin Park (10260 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg)
This event hosted by Twinsburg Parks and Recreation will feature face painting, food trucks, games and contests, a pumpkin giveaway and trunk-or-treat. Free, mytwinsburg.com
Green’s Trick-or-Treat Trail and Costume Contest
Oct. 18 | 2:15 p.m.
Central Park (1795 Steese Road, Green)
Local businesses and organizations will hand out candy to costumed treaters at Central Park in Green. Kids as old as 12 can also participate in a costume contest that begins at 2:15 p.m. Hear a discussion about the movie “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” at 5:30 p.m. Admission: Nonperishable food item or personal care item, cityofgreen.org
Silver Creek Metro Park’s Truck-or-Treat
Oct. 18 | 5 to 7 p.m.
Silver Creek Metro Park Lake House area (5000 Hametown Road, Norton)
Kids of all ages will enjoy getting an up-close look at the vehicles that make Summit Metro Parks run. The trucks will be decked out in their Halloween best. Along the way, visitors can collect treats from SMP staffers and enjoy games and refreshments. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes. (Summit Metro Parks will host a second Truck-or-Treat Oct. 25.) Free, summitmetroparks.org
Cuyahoga Falls’ Nightmare on Front Street
Oct. 18 | 3 to 8 p.m.
2085 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
One of downtown Cuyahoga Falls’ signature events moves to Saturday as it features breweries, vendors, food trucks and costume contests. This indoor and outdoor event takes place at the plaza, amphitheater and pavilion in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Free, downtowncf.com
Akron Civic Theatre Spooky Shows
Oct. 19, 24 and 25 | Multiple times
Akron Civic Theatre (182 S. Main St.)
Scare your socks off this spooky season. Akron Civic Theatre will have thriller screenings and rock performances through the month of October. Neil Zaza’s “One Dark Night: Welcome To Your Nightmare Tour,” “The Vampire Circus,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Young Frankenstein” are all in the lineup. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. Prices vary per show from $20-$79, akroncivic.com
Kenmore’s Thriller on the BLVD
Oct. 25 | Noon to 3 p.m.
Better Kenmore CDC (1015 Kenmore Blvd., Akron)
Meet the zombies to dance to “Thriller” in Kenmore. Learn the moves at the final rehearsal or watch the performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” This event will be during the Boo on the BLVD. Free, facebook.com
Kenmore’s Boo on the BLVD
Oct. 25 | 1 to 3 p.m.
Better Kenmore CDC (1015 Kenmore Blvd., Akron)
The BLVD is loaded with Halloween events this season. The day of events will start with a “Thriller” flash mob, move into a costume contest at the Kenmore Library and end on a sweet note with trick-or-treating. Free, betterkenmore.org
Akron Children’s Museum’s Hands-On Halloween
Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Akron Children’s Museum (216 S. Main St., Akron)
This annual event features live music, face painting, photo ops, trick-or-treating and hands-on experiments including pumpkin volcanoes and 3D-printed bones. Costumes are encouraged. Guests can also bring new, fuzzy socks that will be donated to children in foster and kinship homes through Summit County Children Services. Tickets: $8-$12, akronkids.org
Goodyear Heights Metro Park’s Truck-or-Treat
Oct. 25 | 5 to 7 p.m.
Goodyear Heights Metro Park Lodge (2077 Newton St., Akron)
Kids of all ages will enjoy getting an up-close look at the vehicles that make Summit Metro Parks run. The trucks will be decked out in their Halloween best. Along the way, visitors can collect treats from SMP staffers and enjoy games and refreshments. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes. Free, summitmetroparks.org
Richfield’s Trick-or-treat on the Trail and Spooky Tales
Oct. 26 | 1 to 4 p.m.
Richfield Heritage Preserve (4374 Broadview Road, Richfield)
Spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful nature preserve and gather treats along the way. Games, crafts and refreshments will be available. Costumes are encouraged. Free, richfieldheritagepreserve.com
Akron Art Museum’s Circa Thriller!
Oct. 31 | 7:30 to 11 p.m.
Akron Art Museum (1 S. High St., Akron)
Dance Halloween night away at the museum. This night at the museum includes trick-or-treating in the galleries, learning (and performing) Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller,” a costume contest and much more. The galleries will be open to browse art as well. Tickets start at $17.85, eventbrite.com
Akron’s Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory
Oct. 17- Nov. 1 | Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. to midnight; Sundays, 7 to 10 p.m.
(11300 Triplett Blvd., Akron)
Prepare to be scared. In its 52nd season of haunting, Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory will continue the frights through October. Inside of the school and lab, brace for mad scientists and sinister students around every corner. Tickets start at $24.95 — kids under 18 get a discount on Sunday with adult admission purchase. More details at hauntedschoolhouse.com.
Downtown Akron Halloween Bar Crawl
Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. to midnight Nov. 1
Multiple Locations | Check-In is at 69 Taps (370 Paul Williams St., Akron)
This one is for the party people. Enjoy bar hopping, themed drinks and funny (or frightening) costumes. Hosted by Crawl With Us, this weekend bar crawl event will pop in and out of more than seven venues, with check-in at 69 Taps. There will be a mid- and after-party. Group tickets: $18.41, single tickets: $24.05, Attendees must be 21 and older. crawlwith.us
One of a Kind Pet Rescue’s Muttster Mash
Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. to midnight
One of A Kind Pet Rescue (1929 W. Market St., Akron)
Enjoy a night of dancing, alcoholic beverages and food at One of A Kind Pet Rescue this Halloween. Entry fees and donations support the pet rescue in the EmbraceCLE Challenge. $25 per person donation — more information at oneofakindpets.com
Sweetbeats’ The Mask & The Mic: Halloween House Party
Oct. 31 | 8 to 10:30 p.m.
Sweetbeats Sports & Soulfood Karaoke Bar (1954 Buchholzer Blvd., Akron)
Throw on your best costume and head to Sweetbeats this Halloween. Enjoy a variety of music from The Band with No Name while sipping spooky themed cocktails. There will also be an after party hosted by DJ Pac. Free, sbeatsak.com
Summit County Historical Society’s Perkins Paranormal Trick-or-treat
Oct. 31 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Perkins Stone Mansion (550 Copley Road, Akron)
Families can collect treats in each room of the historic mansion at this Halloween event. Along the way, they can hear scary stories and explore the home’s exhibits. Costumes are encouraged, but no masks please. $5 per family, eventbrite.com