2018 Ultimate Halloween Guide: Family-friendly events & activities in Northwest Arkansas

It’s time to start planning your Halloween to-do list, mamas. We’ve got some great events happening here in Northwest Arkansas, so take your pick! FYI, you can CLICK HERE for a list of other fall events, ideas for things to do in NWA this season and pumpkin patches to visit.

Bookmark this page because we’ll keep adding Halloween-related events as we find them!

Here are some fun Halloween events coming up, separated by city. Just click on the name of the event to find out more about each:

Fayetteville:

Oct. 7: Oktoberfest on the Square, 1-7 p.m.  100% Arkansas beer. Kids are free. Food trucks, local art, vendors and music. 21+ $10

Oct. 13: Family Halloween/Fall Party, Owl Creek Elementary, open to the public and hosted by Uniquely Yours Party & Event Planners. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Food, pumpkin decorating, face painting, crafts, games, lots of candy and costume contests! Most “Original” Costume, “Scariest” Costume, “Cutest” Costume, Best Family themed. Each contest winner will receive a basket of goodies. $12 for children 2+, price includes all activities and food. Adults free.

Oct. 19: Spooktacular Halloween Bash at Lokomotion, 6-11 p.m., Banshee Manor and Lokomotion have partnered again for another Spooktacular Halloween Bash. There will be live music from School of Rock Fayetteville, $10 large pizzas, $1 drinks, fun activities for the kids & a free costume contest with prizes.

Oct. 20: Halloween Artsy Craftsy, Fayetteville Public Library, 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 20: Howling Fun Run and Halloween Fest, 8 a.m. to noon, Veterans Memorial Park, Fayetteville. A 3k run for athletes and a mile walk if you prefer strolling with your dog. Pet contests such as best costume, scariest costume, best dog/owner costume pair, fastest sit, biggest smile, etc. Vendors with animal businesses will be set up for information and giveaways. Food included in the entry fee, as well as music and prizes. $20/person, children under 10 are free. Goody bags and T shirts go with the entry fee as well. The race starts at 9am, but onsite registration opens at 8am. You can also save money and time by registering online. Online tickets $17.

Oct. 25: GingerDEAD Houses (K-4th grades), Fayetteville Public Library, 4 p.m., registration required.

Oct. 26-31: Garrett’s Haunted House for Kids, Gymnastics Joe’s at the NWA Mall. Family-friendly event for kids ages 5 to 17.

Oct. 26-27: Modern Mission’s Zombie Event. Zombies have overrun the facility. Let the kids (12 and up) have some laser tag fun while battling zombies and trying to find a cure.

Oct. 27: Halloween Story Time, Fayetteville Public Library, 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 27: Fall Festival, Fayetteville First Church of the Nazarene, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy this free event which includes a chili dinner, games and a petting farm.

Oct. 31: Little Sprouts Costume Parade, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, 9:30 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.

Oct. 31: Rocky Horror Picture Show, Walton Arts Center. 9 p.m. $20. Fasten your garter belt, come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab. The popular Rocky Horror movie night is back… and this year they’ve added live music and specialty drinks prior to the feature. Wear your favorite Rocky Horror themed costume and sing along. BYOP* (Bring Your Own Props)

Oct. 31: Free Trick-or-Treating on the Square, Fayetteville Square, 4-6 p.m.

Oct. 31: Trunk or Treat, Mount Comfort Church of Christ, 5:30-7 p.m. All are welcome for free dinner, lots of candy and fun, a puppet show and praise songs.

Oct. 31: Trunk-or-Treat, Superior Buick GMC. Annual Trunk-Or-Treat event on Wednesday, October 31st at our dealership from 3pm-7pm. Dress up in your favorite costume. There will be trunk loads of candy.

Oct. 31: Animal Science Day/Halloween Party, Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, UA. 5:30-8 p.m. Animal Science Day is a fun event for the whole family (and the doggos too!). Admission is free and open to the public. The evening will feature: safe trick-or-treating; games and education for kids presented by Animal Science clubs and students; a truly impressive haunted house hosted by the Animal Science Graduate Student Association; costume contests for both humans and dogs(!); farm animals in the Arena to interact with and learn about; a concession stand to benefit the U of A Block & Bridle Club. Admission is free and dogs must have current rabies vaccination documentation.

Springdale:

Oct. 25-28: Ozarktoberfest. Times vary. A celebration of fall and the Ozarks, Ozarktober Fest is a four-day event series packed with fun for everyone. Includes a Fall Fling Bonfire Party, Springdale Halloween Fest and Brews & Tunes Beer & Music Festival.

Oct. 25-31: Halloweek at Black Apple Crossing. Various times: A special Halloween themed cider every day. Halloweek kicks off Thursday night with a pumpkin decorating contest.  They provide the pumpkins, Sharpies, and Headless Gourd Cider (family friendly). On Friday night (26th) “Suite 25” brings their danceable groove to the BAX stage at 8 pm (free concert).  There will also be a “hayride shuttle” running between Emma street, where folks can enjoy Hot Cauldron cider and take their little ghouls to “Treats on the Train,” and Parsons stadium for a bonfire and Halloween festivities as part of Springdale’s Ozarktoberfest celebration. Saturday BAX will be participating in Downtown Springdale’s Halloween Fest on Shiloh Square from 4-7.  There will also be Trick or Treating from 4-6 at downtown businesses. Bring the kids by for candy and popcorn, and mom and dad can warm up with a hot Spice of Life Cider, or Drac Attack. (Comedy later for mom and dad.) Monday is Harry Potter trivia (even young knowledgeable wizards and muggles are welcome to participate). Wednesday, Oct. 31, is is the Halloween Party. A costume contest for humans, and one for dogs as well. Springdale Animal Shelter will be there with a special dog in costume who will be looking for a family to love. Final special cider will be Purple People Eater.

Oct. 26: Treats at the Train Family Carnival. 6:30-9:30 p.m., House of Hope. Come Trick-or-Treat on the Train, enjoy carnival games, pony rides, hay ride, food trucks, live music, and more. Proceeds benefit the House of Hope Rescue Mission, helping feed the hungry and help the homeless of Northwest Arkansas. *The train will be stationary; this is not a train ride. Fun for all ages. Admission is $5 (Kids 2yrs and under are free). Get tickets ahead of time at https://amtrainrides.com/buy-tickets/ and go straight to the will call line, or stop by the Springdale Depot to pick up your armbands in advance. Armbands can also be purchased in advance at New Hope Fellowship Church. Price of admission covers all activities.

Oct. 26: Halloween sleepover, Hopes and Dreams Gymnastics The Halloween Sleepover will be from 8pm to 8am. A fun-filled night with lots of games, free play, pizza, snacks, a costume contest, and more. Pre-paid armbands will cost $50. Armbands bought the night of the event will be $60.

Oct. 27: Creepies and Crawlies at the Springdale Public Library, 2 p.m. There will be a costume contest with creepy snacks and crafts. Fun for the whole family.

Oct. 27: Springdale Halloween Fest, 4-7 p.m., downtown Springdale. Candy giveaways from downtown businesses, touch-a-truck, carnival games, a pumpkin drop, a pumpkin carving contest, and a costume parade (dogs too!).

Oct. 27: Family Spooky Skate at the Jones Center. Stop by the Jones Center for a spooktacular afternoon of ice skating, costumes, and candy on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 2-4 pm. Costume contest, Candy, Skate with Northwest Arkansas hockey players. $7 per person (includes skate rental)

Oct. 27: Trunk or Treat, Caudle Avenue Baptist Church, Springdale. 5-7 p.m.

Oct. 28: Fall Fest, Mercy & Grace Cathedral. 5-8 p.m. There will be a Chili Cook Off, with a prize going to best Chili, bounce house for the kids, trunk or treat, and best costume competition. A night of fun, food, and fellowship.

Oct. 29: Spooktacular Halloween Event at Fun City Pizza, 5 p.m. Games, activities, prizes and loads of candy.

Rogers:

Oct. 5: Open Paint Party, ​Farmhouse Pumpkins, 6-8 p.m., $40 Paint Farmhouse Pumpkins at the new Neighbor’s Mill Bakery and Cafe. Choose between two stencils for your custom fall painting. As part of your ticket price, you will receive your canvas, all materials, and a variety of delicious food catered by Neighbor’s Mill Bakery and Cafe.  Painting starts at 6pm. Come early get something to eat and be ready to paint. Seating is limited. People 18 years old and up are welcome to participate.

Oct. 7: Fall Festival, Hobbs State Park, 1-4 p.m. A host of free and fun family-oriented events will take place at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area and Historical Van Winkle Hollow, both located on Hwy. 12 east of Rogers. Bring the entire family to learn how some things were done in the past, like making butter, walking on stilts, etc. There will also be kids’ crafts, music and free ice cream. A free shuttle will run constantly from 1-4 p.m. between the visitor center and Historic Van Winkle Hollow. Park at the visitor center parking lot on Hwy. 12 just east of the Hwy. 12/War Eagle Road intersection.

Oct. 13: Harry Potter Live in Concert at the AMP, 7 p.m. Audiences will be able to relive the magical adventure of Harry Potter’s second year at school like never before. This concert features Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in high-definition while a live orchestra performs John Williams’ otherworldly score. Experience the wonder of talking spiders, scolding letters, and giant snakes all over again.

Oct. 17-19 & Oct. 24-26: Ghost Walks: Tales of Murder, Mysterious Deaths and Tragic Ends, Rogers Historical Museum, Tales of murder, mischief and mayhem on this hair-raising walking tour. Some of the stories are mysterious and some are tragic, but they are all true. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite.com and space is limited. Come along for this educational 45 minute walk around part of downtown Rogers. Registration required and admission is $5. Tours are nightly every 15 minutes from 7 to 8 p.m.

Oct. 26: Trunk or Treat, Ozark Terrace. Event at Ozark Terrace Health & Rehabilitation, S. Dixieland Road, 6-8 p.m. Stop by in  your best costume.

Oct. 26: Fall festival at PlayStrong Pediatric Therapy, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Some of the fun will include games, a bouncy house, food, fall treats, and more. Invite your friends for a day of fall festivities and PLAY. All ages welcome!

Oct. 27. Fall Festival & Bible Walk, Rogers First Church, 6-8 pm. Admission is free, and food will be available for purchase. There will be lots of fun for families with games, candy, face painting, bounce houses and more.

Oct. 27: Hogwarts Halloween: A Harry Potter Event. Rogers Barnes and Noble, 7-9 p.m. Come dressed in your finest witch, wizard, fantastic beast, or frightfully clever costumes for a magical evening. Special storytime for younger goblins, events, giveaways, contests, and more! Stop by the BNCafe and enjoy some HarryPotter themed treats including chocolatefrogs, bertiebotts, and Passion Potion Iced Tea, perfect for any witch, wizard, or muggle.

Oct. 30: Trick or Suite for kids with special needs, Embassy Suites and PlayStrong. PlayStrong is partnering with Embassy Suites of NWA for a fun night of trick or treating for special needs children in Benton County. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trick-or-suite-tickets-50093221173

Oct. 31: Downtown Rogers Candy Crawl, 3-6 p.m.

Oct. 31: Trunk or Treat, Southside Church of Christ, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bentonville:

Oct. 4: Choctoberfest, 5-10 p.m. The Jackson L Graves Foundation’s 3rd Annual Choctoberfest at its new location, Markham & Fitz Chocolate at the 8th Street Market in Bentonville. Choctoberfest blends the best of Chocolate and Beer to benefit the Jackson L Graves Foundation and projects that support local families with a baby in the intensive care unit at local hospitals.

Oct. 6: 2018 Walnut Farm Montessori Fall Festival, 9am-12pm. Family friendly event with lots of activities for children of all ages, as well as a pumpkin patch and decorating station. Admission price includes all activities and a pumpkin for each child. There will be lunch available for purchase during the event.

Oct. 11: Preschool Playdate: Spooky Spiders, Crystal Bridges Museum, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Louise Bourgeois’s “Maman,” the museum’s not so itsy-bitsy spider, invites you to a day of play at the museum! Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by our spooky, eight-legged friends. Playdate starts with a performance on Walker Landing, then continues with activities in the North Forest. In case of inclement weather, the performance will take place in the Lower Lobby, and activities will be in the classrooms and studios.

Oct. 12: Costumes, Candy and Cops Carnival, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Trunk or Treating FREE family fun carnival at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Games, fun activities and trunk or treating. (Free Food, Drinks & Candy whiles supplies last) Don’t forget your costume.

Oct. 21: Fall on the Farm 2018, noon to 2 p.m. Come support the Early Childhood Initiatives Center of NWA with an outdoor BBQ family picnic. Enjoy listening to Farmer & The Markets while eating some tasty BBQ. Then, take pictures for your 2018 family holiday card. The kids will love the balloon twisting art and face painting by Art of Fun. $25 per person/$75 per immediate family of 4+

Oct. 24: Annual Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat, First Landmark Baptist Church, 6-9 p.m.

Oct. 25: {Adults only} Ghouls Night Out, Meteor Guitar Gallery. 7:30-11 p.m. A Halloween/Costume themed event. Attendees dance the night away while enjoying specialty themed drinks/snacks, silent auction, raffle prizes, photobooth and more. Early Bird Tickets Available Through August 1st – $35 General Admission: $50 (Tricks, Treats, & Adult Beverages Included) * Must be 21 + to attend. Proceeds benefit Open Avenues as we work to help people with disabilities in Northwest Arkansas by offering job and life skills training, onsite employment, job placement services and transportation.

Oct. 25: The Children’s Hour Trunk or Treat, 6:30-8 p.m. 4th annual Trunk-or-Treat, free admission. Bring your family and friends to trick-or-treat at candy stations, play kid-friendly games and activities, and vote in a pumpkin decorating contest. Don’t forget to wear a Halloween costume.

Oct. 27: Halloween in the Hollow, Crystal Bridges, Bentonville, 9 p.m. to midnight.

Oct. 27: Halloween Spooktacular, Bentonville Community Center, 5-9 p.m. Pumpkin patch with 1000 pumpkins (free for Community Center members), pumpkin decorating, costume contests, inflatables, and a Touch-A- Truck Truck or Treat with our very own Bentonville police and fire departments. Stick around for a free outdoor movie at 7 p.m. Events take place at the Bentonville Community Center (1101 SW Citizens Circle).

Oct. 27: Farmer’s Market trick-or-treating, Bentonville Square, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Enjoy the last Farmers Market  of the season with festive activities and trick or treating around the Bentonville Farmers Market. Dress up in costume, bring your kids, dogs, and friends.

Oct. 27: Trunk or Treat Escape at Bolt NWA, noon to 3 p.m. The First Annual Trunk OR Treat Escape. Bring your children for a safe and fun trick or treat experience. Prizes and candy for all.

Oct. 28: Trick Art Treat, Crystal Bridges, 4-6:30 p.m. Have a ghoulishly good time during Trick-Art-Treat in the forest. Enjoy pumpkin painting (Crystal Bridges provides the pumpkins), candy, and a special photo-BOO-th! Free, no registration required.

Oct. 28: Bethel Baptist Church Trunk or Treat, 5-7 p.m. 3rd annual Trunk or Treat. Enjoy free hot dogs and drinks and trick or treating in the safety of the church parking lot. ​Plus check out some of the most creative and amazing trunk designs in Northwest Arkansas.

Bella Vista:

Sunday, Oct. 28: Trunk or Treat, Highlands Church of Bella Vista, 4-6 p.m. Come out and join us for a fun-filled night the whole family can enjoy! The front parking lot will be packed with decorated trunks, games, photo booth, and candy. Costumes encouraged. This is a free event.

Prairie Grove:

Oct. 20: Night at the Museum ,5:30-8 p.m., Legend says that the exhibits at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park comes to life after dark. This fall festival highlights the lost stories of the generals, medics, and civilians whose lives were changed forever on December 7th, 1862. This living history event is appropriate for all ages and features old-time crafts, games, ghostly tales and treats. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids, Hindman Hall Museum, 506 East Douglas Street, Prairie Grove.

Oct. 27: Prairie Grove Police Department Trunk or Treat. 4-8 p.m. Meet at Battlefield State Park in front of the Borden House. Food, hot chocolate, face painting, bouncy houses, crafts, games and candy. Wear your costumes.

Cave Springs:

Oct. 17: Smile Shoppe Fall Festival at Ozark Corn Maze. Limited tickets for this event. Reserve your spot for entrance to Ozark Corn Maze and enjoy an evening of: pumpkin sling shot, barrel train rides, corn mazes, hayrides, corn cannon, corn pool, combine slide, s’mores, and hot chocolate.

West Fork:

Oct. 13: 6th Annual Fall Festival at Devil’s Den, celebrate the coming of fall at Devil’s Den. Design a homemade costume and then join in the walk around trick or treating, crafts and fun programs during this weekend for the whole family.

Eureka Springs:

Oct. 18-20: 10th Annual Voices from the Silent City Cemetery Tour Guided, living history tours of the Eureka Springs Municipal Cemetery will be given by actors in period costumes. They will share stories of their characters’ unique, colorful pasts, the founders of Eureka. These are one-hour walking tours through the cemetery. Free parking and free shuttle service is provided to the cemetery. Starts at 5:30 p.m. from the parking lot of the old Victoria Inn. It leaves every 20 minutes until 8:30 p.m. Eureka Springs Municipal Cemetery is on Highway 62 East, 4119 E Van Buren, Eureka Springs

Oct. 27: 2018 Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl, downtown Eureka, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Oct. 27: 23rd Annual Howl-O-Ween Spooktacular at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, 7-9 p.m. Don’t be a scaredy cat during this family-friendly nighttime fundraiser. Join the Refuge as they turn their property into an open-air haunted house with lions, tigers and the occasional princess.

Costume contests, games, giveaways, hayrides, and nocturnal animals await you for the only time of year the Refuge is open during the dark of night. Standard admission applies. Your admission during the day gets you into the Spooktacular that night.

Tulsa:

Oct. 27-31: HallowZOOeen, Tulsa Zoo. Grab your broomsticks and fly to the Tulsa Zoo’s spooky (but not-too scary) Halloween trick-or-treat event for the whole family. Hours are 6-9 p.m. Last ticket will be sold at 8:30 p.m.  Tickets can be used any night of HallowZOOeen. If you purchase tickets on the website, it will ask you to choose a night, to help estimate attendance. You will not be held to the decision.