The Top Ten Ways to Experience Halloween in Ohio
As the cool weather makes it’s way to the Ohio, so do the ghost and goblins. This Halloween season we invite you to carve a pumpkin, tour a haunted place, take a ghost walk, find your way out of a corn maze, explore North America’s largest candy store, and most importantly, embrace all the fun the season has to offer.
#10 Search area pumpkin patches till you find that perfect pumpkin to carve.
Host a neighborhood pumpkin carving contest. It’s a great way to enjoy time with your neighbors or friends. Light them all up with a string of holiday white lights or candles. Make it a potluck event.
- Patterson Fruit Farm – Chesterland, Ohio
- Dussel Farm – Kent, Ohio
- Mapleside Farm – Brunswick, Ohio
- Nickjack Farms – North Lawrence, Ohio
- Ramseyer Farms – Wooster, Ohio
- White House Fruit Farm – Canfield, Ohio
- Szalay’s Farm & Market – Peninsula, Ohio
- Bergman Orchard’s Farm Market – Port Clinton
For more pumpkin patches click here.
While at the fruit farms, don’t forget to grab a bag of Ohio apples. Perfect for making caramel and candy apples.
#9 Get lost in one of Ohio’s fun corn mazes.
Every fall many of the local farmers turn their fields into unique pieces of art. Each corn maze represents a different theme. This year we salute the following corn mazes.
- “Get Lost in a Sea of Corn” at Dethricks Corn Maze & Farm Experience, Mantua, OH
- Find your way through the corn maze at Ramseyer Farms, Wooster, Ohio. – click here for details.
- The “Secrets of Ohio Corn Maze” can be found at Lynd Fruit Farm, Pataskala, Ohio – click here for details.
- If you love wine, then head to the Haunted Winery and Corn Maze at Regal Vineyards, Madison, OH – click here for details.
- Szalay’s Farm & Market boasts a 3-acre corn maze that is a “bit challenging”. (Sept 16th-Oct. 31st)
For even more Ohio corn mazes CLICK HERE.
#8 Visit the largest candy store in North America.
It wouldn’t be Halloween without a big bowl of candy. And you can find all your favorites at b.a. Sweetie Candy Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Over 4,500 items to choose from, plus a soda shop. Did you know most trick-or-treaters prefer a Reese’s cup?
If you find yourself in Ohio’s Amish Country, Coblentz Chocolate Company, a family-owned and operated business, does an amazing job creating wonderful seasonal chocolate delights. To learn more click here.
#7 Take in a scary movie or enjoy a night of “Rocky Horror Picture Show”.
Throughout the Halloween season many local movie theaters show many of the classic horror movies on their big screens including the always entertaining “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Just “Google” Rocky Horror Picture Show in Ohio and a listing of area theaters will appear. Don’t forget to the bring “the toast”.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
October 26, 2024
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Peoples Bank Theatre
222 Putnam St, Marietta, Ohio, 45750
mariettaohio.org
49th Anniversary Spectacular with Nell Campbell (original cast member)
October 30, 2024 –
Location: E.J. Thomas – University of Akron – Learn more.
#6 Spend a night in a haunted hotel or bed & breakfast, if you dare.
Need ideas? We can’t guarantee you will run into a ghost, but you never know. The following area Inn’s made our list of possible haunted establishments.
- The Buxton Inn – Granville, Ohio
- Spitzer House Bed and Breakfast – Medina, Ohio
- The Golden Lamb – Lebanon, Ohio
- Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn – Hanoverton, Ohio
- Punderson Manor Resort & Conference Center – Newbury, Ohio
- Hotel Lafayette – Marietta, OH
#5 Visit the Ohio State Reformatory.
What better time to visit a haunted prison than during Halloween? During the season, in addition to the regular tours and the paranormal tours, the reformatory serves up it’s own haunted house called “Escape from Blood Prison”.
Did you know the Mansfield, Ohio area is considered the haunted capital of Ohio? Click here to learn more.
#4 Take a tour or enjoy a performance in one of Ohio’s haunted theaters.
It is said that various spirits still walk the halls of many of our Ohio theaters. Some of the theaters even offer their own ghost tours. The following is a list of theaters that have acknowledged tales of “ghostly” events.
- Akron Civic Theater – Akron, Ohio
- Playhouse Square – Cleveland, Ohio
- The Kent State– Kent, Ohio
- Canton Palace Theater – Canton, Ohio
- Renaissance Theater – Mansfield, Ohio
- Twin City Opera House – McConnelsville, Ohio
- Victoria Theatre – Dayton, Ohio
#3 Enjoy Boo at the Zoo.
What a fun way to enjoy the season. Grab your Halloween costume and enjoy a day parading around the zoo. Your admission goes towards funding our zoos. Here is a list of Ohio zoo’s hosting “Boo at the Zoo” events. Please visit website and purchase tickets online.
#2 Look for spirit orbs on a ghost tour or in a cemetery. Grab your friends and go on a ghost busting adventure. Here are a few upcoming area ghost tours.
- Hidden Marietta Ghost Walks
- Reeves Museum Ghost Tours – October 18-19, 2924
- Ghost Tours of the Reeves Museum – October 18-19, 2024
- Paranormal night at the Victorian Home Museum
- Garrison Ghost Walks – October 18-19, 25-26, 2024
- For more upcoming ghost tours and walks CLICK HERE.
#1 Brave a haunted house. Don’t forget to watch out for the clowns!
If you love being scared, then you have come to the right place. Ohio has some of the best haunted house experiences. Here are a few of our top picks.
- Spooky Ranch -at Rockin’-R-Ranch
19066 East River Rd (SR 252), Columbia Station
10 Minutes from Strongsville Mall
440-236-5454 | spookyranch.com
Open: Sept 27 thru November 3
Hours: Fridays & Saturdays 7-11:30 p.m. and Thursdays & Sundays 7-9:30pm starting October 10.Top rated haunted house. Over 30 plus years of scares and fun! 5 Awesome Attractions for 1 Low Price! The Famous Haunted Hayride, The Haunted Barn, Extreme Nightmares, Blood Slingers Saloon, Monster Vision in 3-D. The most technically advanced haunted hayride and haunted attractions in Ohio. Nationally Ranked in top haunts in the Country. 30- foot creatures, larger than life hollywood sets & scenes. Scream park. Fair food, foot tents pumpkins and souvenirs available for purchase. We offer different levels of scares from mild to extreme with different packages to choose from for families and anyone wanting the scariest haunted house ever. Will accept Cash at ticket booth or credit cards.No Reservations necessary. Open to the Public.
- The Haunted Schoolhouse and Haunted Laboratory – Akron, Ohio
- Fear Columbus Haunted House – Columbus, Ohio
- Seven Floors of Hell – Middleburg Heights, Ohio
- The Dent Schoolhouse – Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dayton Scream Park – Dayton, Ohio
Halloween is a great time to enjoy all that Ohio has to offer. Make sure you check out our list of area Ohio fall events and festivals.
Need help with planning your Ohio Halloween fun? Feel free to reach out.
Enjoy ghost tales?
If you want to learn more about area ghosts and haunts, we suggested you check out local author William G. Krejci. He has published a few books on haunted places around Cleveland, Ohio, and Put-in-Bay. He even resides in Franklin Castle during the winter months. For more information click here.
Article and photos, unless noted by: MyOhioFun.com
Diane is the owner and editor of MyOhioFun.com. She is an avid baker, gardener, Little Free Library owner, who loves to read and travel. She spends most of her days sharing her love of things to do in Ohio, as well as creating destinations and itineraries for group tours and individual travelers. Her words and images have been published in AAA Ohio Magazine, NE OH Baby Boomers, Long Weekends, and in local travel brochures.
Editor’s note: Any use of the above article or images without prior permission, will be in violation of copyright laws. This article has been updated for the 2024 season.
***Disclosure: My Ohio Fun receives compensation from advertising banners. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***
