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Halloween Fun and Frights in October

Spooky season brings out the kid in all of us. Wander Boo in the Zoo with the family, get your heart racing in spine-tingling haunted houses, or join a ghost tour that brings local legends to life. These Halloween happenings promise plenty of treats (and just the right amount of tricks).

Rails, Wizards, & Spells at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

$ | Weekends, Sept. 27 - Oct. 31 | Times Vary 
Step into a world of wizarding fun! Journey through the enchanted forest to Wizards Way where you can purchase fun wizardry items such as hand-crafted wands, special charms to hold spells, and tasty treats of the season. Then board the train at platform 4 1/2 for a ride to remember.

Tennessee Aquarium’s ODDtober: When Nature is Stranger than Fiction 

$ | Oct. 1 - 31 | Times Vary 
Things get wonderfully weird around the Tennessee Aquarium during ODDtober – a month-long celebration of strange creatures from around the world and in our own backyard. Learn odd animal facts, see pumpkins flicker with an eerie glow, and find out why some species are not-so-scary after all.

Ruby Falls’s Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition | Ruby Falls 

$ | Select Dates Sept. 7 - Oct. 31 | Times Vary 
On this special edition Lantern Tour, hear ghostly tales from Ruby Falls’ 94-year history and eerie Chattanooga legends, and visit the sites of peculiar encounters, as you journey through the cavern lit only by hand-held lanterns.  

Dread Hollow 

$ | Selected Dates Oct. 2 - Nov. 2 | Times Vary 
This fright season unleashes three all-new terrifying haunted houses and three horror-themed escape rooms at Chattanooga’s only nationally ranked haunted attraction. Enter the realm where dark deeds in the shadows and gruesome horrors feed an unquenchable yearning for blood at Dread Hollow. 

Chattanooga Zoo’s Boo in the Zoo 

$ | Fridays & Saturdays Oct. 10 - 31 | 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The most spooktacular event of the year with some of Chattanooga’s most lovable animals! This family-friendly event will occur almost every weekend in October at the Zoo. Join us for merry-not-scary Halloween decorations, a costume contest, trick-or-treat stations, and more! 

Creative Discovery Museum’s Monster Bash 

$ | Oct. 10 & 11 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for an exclusive members-only Halloween Bash! Explore Creative Discovery Museum in your kid-friendly costumes and enjoy Halloween-themed activities and games. This family-friendly event will be so much fun, it’s scary!  

Chattanooga Ghost Tours Inc. 

$ | Daily | Times Vary

Step into Chattanooga’s haunted past with Chattanooga Ghost Tours, Inc., where every cobblestone alley, historic theater, and shadowed corner has a story—and maybe more than just echoes of the living. Led by knowledgeable guides with a flair for the eerie and the authentic, their tours blend local legends, chilling history, and shadowy intrigue. Perfect for thrill-seekers and history lovers alike, it’s the ideal way to explore the ghostly side of the Scenic City under moonlight.

Ghouls, Goblins, and Witches Haunted Grounds at McDonald Farm

FREE | Oct. 24 - 26 | Times Vary
A day filled with spooky festivities throughout the farm including inflatables, vendors, and food trucks. Explore two large, eerie silos featuring Hansel and Gretel and The Mummy, where delightful Halloween treats will be served. The Sanderson sisters will also make an appearance in their iconic costumes, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Ghost City Tours

$ | Daily | 8:00 PM
Join Ghost City Tours and dig deep into Chattanooga’s history some of the most haunted locations in Chattanooga including the Read House Hotel and underground Chattanooga, centuries of curses, hidden supernatural history, and share horror stories that will make your skin crawl!  

Hell’s Bar Dam: Haunted House  

$ | Every weekend Sept. 26 - Nov. 1 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Our haunted house is not like any other. Set inside a historically registered building known for real paranormal activity, and featured twice on the Travel Channel, this is where history and horror collide. 

We spare no expense in crafting a chilling, immersive atmosphere. From fog-filled corridors and flickering lights to scare actors lurking in the shadows, every detail is designed to keep you on edge. Just when you think you’ve caught your breath, we’ll hit you with a surprise that will haunt you long after you leave. 

Cave Fest by The Caverns  

$ | Oct. 11 - 12 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 AM CT

CaveFest returns to The Caverns, for two days of music under the open sky and deep underground in the world-famous cave venue. Enjoy performances from Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Dan Tyminski Band, Lindsay Lou, and more, plus camping, cave tours, yoga, food trucks, and late-night jams. Tickets start at just $99 with camping included — visit CaveFest.com for details. 

OttertoberFest by The Aquarium  

$ | Sept. 19 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM 

Raise a stein and celebrate OttertoberFest on Friday, September 19, a 21+ after-hours event at the Tennessee Aquarium’s River Journey building. Enjoy Oktoberfest-style brews, a fresh German pretzel, and otter-themed activities while exploring the exhibits after dark. Tickets include a custom beer stein, two complimentary drink tickets, snacks, and exclusive access to river otter enrichment throughout the evening. 

Beast Feast at Wanderlinger  

Free+ | Sept 27 | 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM  

Wanderlinger’s Oktoberfest brings a Tennessee twist with smoked wild boar, hearty rabbit dishes, and a variety of bratwurst paired with freshly brewed beers. From 6–9 PM, enjoy live music from the Owen Saunders Band as you feast and raise your steins. It’s the ultimate fall celebration of cold beer, smoked meats, and good-time tunes. 

International Observe the Moon Night at Greenway Farms

Free | Oct 4 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Enjoy an evening of stargazing at Greenway Farm with telescopes pointed at the Moon, Saturn, and other celestial wonders. Bring a picnic, a blanket or chair, and explore the night sky with local astronomy enthusiasts. Perfect for anyone who’s never seen the Moon up close through a telescope—prepare to be amazed! 

Chattanooga Oktoberfest by Chattanooga Market 

Free | Oct 11 & 12 | Times Vary 

The region’s best family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration! Come join our city celebration where the sights, smells, and sounds of German traditions take on a Chattanooga flair. There’s something for everyone at this two day festival featuring live entertainment on two stages, shopping with local artists, and a chicken dance or two! 

Nooga Underground Film Fest by Barking Legs Theatre

$ | Oct 11 & 12 | 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM  

Dive into the NOOGA Underground Film Festival (NUFF), a two-day celebration of cult cinema, craft beer, live music, and Q&As. From arthouse oddities to festival outcasts, NUFF showcases films you won’t find anywhere else. Get your tickets now and embrace Chattanooga’s bold, bohemian film scene. 

Jurassic Encounters: A Prehistoric Adventure

$ | Oct 16 - 19 | Times Vary  

Jurassic Encounters – A Prehistoric Adventure stomps into Chattanooga October 16–19, 2025! Explore 24,000 square feet of life-size, moving dinosaurs plus dino rides, fossil digs, inflatables, puzzles, live shows, and even an erupting volcano. With baby dino encounters, photo ops, games, and activities for all ages, it’s a can’t-miss family adventure. 

Secrets Beneath the Soil By Chattanooga Audubon Society 

$ | Oct. 17 | 12:00 PM - 4:30 PM  

Step back in time with a guided hike to Little Owl Village (12–2 PM), where dramatic storytelling and archaeological insight bring history to life along South Chickamauga Creek. In the afternoon (3–4:30 PM), kids ages 3–12 can dig into hands-on activities, from artifact discovery to a Ceramic Reconstruction Challenge. Together, these programs offer an adventurous, family-friendly way to explore the past. 

Halloween Pup Crawl 

$ | Oct. 18 | 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM  

Grab your PAWsport at check-in and enjoy $3 pints at Chattanooga’s best breweries and tap houses while supporting a great cause. The event includes a raffle, costume contest, Halloween scavenger hunt, and the chance to meet adoptable animals from HES along the crawl. With pet-friendly stops and prize packages up for grabs, it’s a festive way to sip, explore, and give back. 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show LIVE at Barrelhouse Ballroom

$ | Oct. 30 | Starting at 8:00 PM 

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Kaleidoscope Entertainment’s live performance. Expect outrageous costumes, sing-alongs, audience participation, and over-the-top production that brings this cult classic to life like never before. Come dressed in your wildest Rocky Horror attire and get ready to do the Time Warp… again! 

Haunted Market by Chattanooga Market

Free | Oct 26 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM  

Bring your little ghosts and goblins for our annual Trick or Treat and COSTUME PARADE! There are no tricks here, we love seeing your fun and clever costumes, kids and adults! Costume parade at the Lodge Cast Iron Sizzle stage at 12:30 pm! 

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