Newport may boast breathtaking ocean views, award-winning eateries, opulent mansions and charming cobblestone byways, but that doesn't mean we don't have some skeletons in our closets. Truth is, you don't get to be a 379-year-old city without a few eerie sights and legends of ghoulish folklore.
As Halloween approaches, our Classic Coast revs up its horror factor. From spine-chilling events like the annual Fortress of Nightmares (think: ghosts and ghouls lurking behind each corner of the country's largest military fort) to light and festive thrills like a speakeasy halloween party and pumpkin carving with a side of s'mores, these halloween delights have everything you need to embrace your spooky side.
FEAR FACTOR: LOW | LIGHT + FESTIVE
"THE BIRDS" HALLOWEEN PARTY WITH THE Z-BOYS
What was once scary is almost a comedy. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) meets Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) in a San Francisco pet store and decides to follow him home. She brings with her the gift of two love birds and they strike up a romance. One day birds start attacking children at Mitch's sisters party. A huge assault starts on the town by attacking birds.
When: Wednesday, October 24, Doors open 6:30 PM, Film begins 7:30 PM
Where: Jane Pickens Theater
Admission: $10
4TH ANNUAL BROADWAY HALLOWEEN STROLL
When: Thursday, October 25, 4:00 - 6:00
Where: 19 Broadway
Wear your best costume and enjoy fun activities and treats.
NewportOUT HALLOWEEN DRAG/COSTUME BALL
The Trailer Park Girls, New England's premier drag theatre troupe, will perform a show during each dinner seatings. The party will continue after dinner with great beats from DJ 4Hundo, and special appearances by the Trailer Park Girls. All guests are encouraged to wear costumes.
When: Friday, October 26, 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Where: Parlor Bar & Kitchen
Admission: $50
HALLOWEEN CARNEVIL
Head to Newport Vineyards for a costume party with an evening full of circus performers, fortune teller machine and more. Ticket includes Creepy Cocktail Hour with nosh food, (1) drink, juggling performances from Circus Dynamics, TEN31 performers and more. Prizes for best costume.
When: Friday, October 26; 7:00 - 11:00 PM
Where: Newport Vineyards
Admission: $45 per person
HALLOWEEN PARTY AT ESCOBAR’S HIGHLAND FARM
Everyone is invited to this old-fashioned Halloween costume party for the entire family! Fun and games. Arrive in costume and receive $1.00 off admission. Rain Date October 28.
When: Saturday October 27; 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Escobar's Highland Farm
THE MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT
The Newport Mystical Society presents a festive fall evening at Newport Elks Lodge. This is a mystical event with some of the area's finest tarot card readers, mediums and energy workers. There will be vendors offering jewelry, crystals and handcrafted items.
When: Saturday, October 27, 12:00 - 6:00 PM
Where: Newport Elks Lodge
Admission: $5 per person, children 12 & under free
HOWL-O-WEEN PARADE & SOCIAL
Dressing up your furry family member is scary cute and this year Hotel Viking wants to see their creativity. Hotel Viking is partnering with Wag Nation and will be hosting a Howl-O-Ween Parade & Social! The parade will start at Wag Nation and will make its ways to the One Bellevue patio. Treats & Cash Bar will be provided. Bring your pets and share a spooky treat before all the Trick- Or- Treaters come knocking.
When: Saturday, October 27, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Where: Wag Nation
Admission: Free
SPOOKY SOIREE
Join Forty 1 North for an intimate evening of storytelling and libations meant to conjure up the Halloween spirits of Newport’s past. Arrive disguised as another in hopes of tricking or tempting others. A guest DJ will curate the night’s soundscape while elixirs flow from the bar and treats emerge from the kitchen.
When: Saturday, October 27, 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Where: Forty 1 North
Admission: Free
THE PERFECT PUMPKIN PARTY
Search for hidden pumpkins throughout the wildlife refuge, try your hand at pumpkin games, then collect stickers for your own “patch.” Visit the silly photo booth for a fall family picture and purchase a pumpkin to decorate.
When: Saturday, October 27, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Audubon Environmental Education Center
Admission: Free with center admission: Members, free; Non-Member Adults $6; Non-Member Senior $5; Non-Member Child (4-12) $4; Children 3 and under free
TRUNK OR TREAT
Don your Halloween costume and trick or treat from the trunks of some of Newport’s coolest cars. Don't forget to bring a canned good to donate to the MLK Center of Newport.
When: Sunday, October 28, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Where: Fort Adams
Admission: Free
SCAVENGER HAUNT
Enjoy free admission at Herreshoff Marine Museum along with a scavenger hunt, fun activities, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a food truck and more. Costumes encouraged.
When: Sunday, October 28, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where: Herreshoff Marine Museum
Admission: Free
HALLOWEEN COOKIE DECORATING
Helping the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center stock their food pantry. Bring a non-perishable food donation and decorate a Halloween cookie.
When: Sunday, October 28, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Where: Newport Sweet Shoppe
Admission: Free
TOUR DE FRIGHT BIKE RIDE
Join Bike Newport for a free costume ride right through downtown Newport. Helmets and lights required, and bike-able spooky costumes if you’d like.
When: Tuesday, October 30, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Where: Bike Newport, 62 Broadway
Admission: Free
HALLOWEEN DINNER PARTY
Head to the Surf Club dungeon for a Halloween dinner party featuring a 4-course meal with cocktails, and prizes for scary and creative Halloween costumes. Costume required.
When: Tuesday, October 30, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Where: Surf Club
Admission: $50 per person
HALLOWEEN HILARITY
This annual Halloween comedy show is full of costume contests, candy, and (of course) comedy. You don't have to arrive in costume, but if you do you may win a gift certificate to a local eatery, a gift card, or more. BYOB, candy offered all night.
When: Wednesday, October 31, 9:00 - 10:00 PM
Where: Firehouse Theater
Admission: $15
SPEAKEASY HALLOWEEN PARTY
Step back in time to the Roaring 20s at the inaugural Halloween Speakeasy at Grace Vanderbilt. Enjoy craft cocktails, cigars, lively music, and canapes. Each guest will be greeted with a particularly spooky welcome toast. Take a walk through the 'pumpkin patch' outside on the terrace under the light of the moon, or enjoy dinner in the conservatory. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be a prize for the best dressed. RSVP for the password and a sneak peek at the grand prize.
When: Wednesday, October 31, Time TBA
Where: Grace Vanderbilt
Admission: TBA
TRINITY CHURCH'S ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH
Trinity Church's Annual Pumpkin Patch offers a wide selection of pumpkins, mums, decorative cabbages, gourds and more. Once you've picked all your favorites, enjoy home-made goods, freshly popped popcorn and cider. Enjoy hot lunch, live music and vendors on the weekends.
Opening Date: Saturday, October 13
Where: Queen Anne Square
Admission: Free
PUMPKIN CARVING
Carve your own spooky Halloween pumpkin while enjoying caramel popcorn and apple cider. Toast your marshmallows by the fire pit on the garden terrace.
When: TBA
Where: Grace Vanderbilt
Admission: TBA
FEAR FACTOR: MEDIUM
GHOST TOUR
Take a lantern-led evening stroll down historic Newport's shadowy lanes and discover the ghosts, ghouls and legends of our haunted city by the sea.
When: Nightly through October, 8:00 PM; Saturdays in November, 5:00 PM
Where: Tour departs from Mainsail Restaurant at Newport Marriott
Admission: $17 adults, $16 seniors, $10 children
FULL MOON WALK
Enjoy a dramatic full moon walk on the Greenway Trail. Bring a flashlight and meet in the lower parking lot of Newport Vineyards to walk a 2.7-mile loop on the Sakonnet Greenway Trail under a full moon.
When: Wednesday, October 24, 6:30 PM
Where: Walk departs from Newport Vineyards
Admission: Free
FULL MOON TOUR
Ride the rails with Rail Explorers under the silvery light of the moon over Aquidneck Island. You'll ride the Southern Circuit as the moon rises. The silvery light from the moon will illuminate your journey on the historical steel tracks. Enjoy a bonfire with cider and s'mores along the bluffs of the Narragansett Bay.
When: Wednesday, October 24 + Thursday, October 25, 8:00 PM
Where: Rail Explorers
HAUNTINGS OF LINDEN PLACE
When: Thursday, October 25, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Where: Linden Place Mansion
Admission: $15
HAUNTED TALES ON ROSE ISLAND
Head to Rose Island for a spooky evening of haunted tales. Registration includes boat ride on the Rum Runner II departing at 3:00 PM from Bannister's Wharf. Refreshments included. Don't forget to dress warm!
When: Sunday, October 28, 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Where: Rose Island
Admission: $50 adults, $30 children under 12
FEAR FACTOR: HIGH | GUARANTEED GOOSEBUMPS
FORTRESS OF NIGHTMARES AT FORT ADAMS
Fortress of Nightmares at Fort Adams includes Tunnels of Terror, Mayhem 3D, Paranormal 360 Virtual Reality, and the Spirits Rising haunted house.
When: Friday and Saturday through October starting October 12
Where: Fort Adams
Admission: $15 general admission
MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION
Do you believe in ghosts? Experience a paranormal investigation for yourself! Newport Elks Lodge is providing access to their often locked and private third floor to discover the dead. Since investigations began at the location in 2015, there have been reports of full-bodied apparition of a woman, a little girl, objects being moved, an investigator was scratched, feelings of being watched, touched, unexplainable footsteps, seeing little orbs of light, countless EVPs, and a flashlight turning on/off on command. 18+ (under 18 with parent/legal guardian's signed permission.)
When: Saturday, October 27, 3:00 - 10:00 PM
Where: Newport Elks Lodge
Admission: $20 at the door
ST. PETER'S HAUNTED HOUSE
Head to St. Peter's for a Haunted House designed as a walk-through haunted maze.
When: Saturday, October 27, 12:00 - 4:30 PM
Where: Saint Peter's Lutheran Church
Admission: $5 for adults , children under 7 free with paying adult
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