Halloween Is Creeping Into Pittsburgh: Scares, Hayrides, Pumpkins & Fall Fun to Enjoy This October

October has officially arrived, and Pittsburgh is ready to get spooky.

From haunted attractions and immersive Halloween parties to pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes and family-friendly fall festivals, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

Whether you're looking for a night that will have you screaming or a Saturday afternoon picking pumpkins with the family, Pittsburgh has something for just about every kind of Halloween fan.

Here are some of the happenings to put on your October calendar.

For Those Who Like Their Halloween SCARY

Halloween Hangout Returns to the North Shore

The creative team behind ScareHouse is bringing its Halloween magic back to Pittsburgh with Halloween Hangout at The Plaza at North Shore, running throughout October.

The monthlong pop-up features haunted experiences, Halloween movies, themed food and drinks, family-friendly trick-or-treating, special Haunted Happy Hours and other spooky programming.

And while the legendary ScareHouse haunted house itself remains on hiatus in 2026, the ScareHouse creative team is behind this year's North Shore Halloween experience.

Devil's Night at The Plaza

If you're looking for an adults-only-style Halloween atmosphere, Devil's Night takes over The Plaza on Friday, October 30, from 6–10 p.m.

The one-night experience includes creepy characters, a mysterious mermaid, fire and freak-show performers, tarot readings, themed photo opportunities and plenty of surprises from the creative minds behind ScareHouse. Tickets are required.

The Final Hangout

Halloween night gets even wilder with The Final Hangout on Saturday, October 31.

This year's theme takes guests aboard a haunted pirate ship, complete with mermaids, pirates, ghostly sailors, immersive photo moments, live entertainment, themed food and drinks and a costume contest.

Phantom Fall Fest at Kennywood

For a Halloween experience that can work for both families and thrill seekers, Phantom Fall Fest returns to Kennywood on select dates from September through November. During the day, families can enjoy fall festivities and rides. After 6 p.m., the park shifts into Halloween mode with haunted houses and scare zones.

More Ways to Get Your Scare On

Pittsburgh's Halloween season also includes several other haunted attractions and experiences, including:

• Hundred Acres Manor — multiple haunted experiences, an escape room, maze and a buried-alive simulator.
• Portals of Fear in West Mifflin — Fridays through Sundays through October 31.
• Zombies of the Corn — a zombie-themed experience running on select dates through October 31.
• Halloween Cruises aboard the Gateway Clipper — spooky river cruises featuring ghost stories, themed entertainment and tarot readings.

Pumpkin Patches, Hayrides & Fall Fun

Not everything has to be terrifying. Sometimes Halloween season means piling into a hay wagon, grabbing a cup of cider, walking through a corn maze and finding that perfect pumpkin.

Soergel Orchards

The Wexford favorite is going all-in on fall with pumpkin and apple picking, tractor rides, seasonal activities and plenty of food. The Fall Festival runs weekends through November 1, with Saturdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

And don't miss the Friday Night Hayrides, running from 5–7 p.m. throughout October. Families can ride out to the pumpkin patch, pick pumpkins and apples and enjoy food and entertainment.

Harvest Valley Farms

Head north to Valencia for a classic farm-fall experience. The farm's October weekends feature fall festival activities including hayrides, a corn maze and kid-friendly attractions. It's the kind of place where the little ones can burn off some energy while the grown folks soak up the fall scenery.

Shenot Farm & Market

Another Wexford-area favorite, Shenot offers the quintessential autumn experience: tractor hayrides to the pumpkin patch, corn mazes and plenty of opportunities for those all-important fall photos.

Trax Farm Fall Festival

The South Hills gets into the season with Trax Farm's annual Fall Festival, running weekends through October 25. The festival includes a scenic hayride to the pumpkin patch and a 3-acre corn maze, along with other fall activities. Festival hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. weekends.

Something Spooky — But Family Friendly

Campfire Ghost Stories

For a Halloween experience that doesn't involve anyone chasing you with a chainsaw, head to North Park for Campfire Ghost Stories. Storytellers Josh and Gab will share family-friendly ghost stories and songs around the campfire. Costumes are encouraged, and the events are free and weather permitting.

Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza & ZooBoo

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is lighting up the season with its Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza, running October 2 through November 1. Thousands of carved pumpkins will create a glowing Halloween experience, while ZooBoo brings daytime trick-or-treating to the zoo during the final two weekends of October.

Halloween at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is offering several different ways to celebrate Halloween throughout October, including:

• Magic Pumpkin Trolley
• Trolley Tales of Terror
• Trick or Trolley

Events run Fridays through Sundays from October 9–25.

More October Halloween Fun

Looking for something beyond the traditional haunted house? Put these on your radar:

• Monster Pumpkin Festival — October 17–18 at The Stacks at 3 Crossings in the Strip District. Expect pumpkins, performances and a costume parade.
• Millvale Fright Night Market — Saturday, October 24, 4–9 p.m. This free, family-friendly event features more than 40 local makers and bakers, music, zombies and a street dance party.
• Bloomfield Halloween Parade — Thursday, October 29 — a Pittsburgh Halloween tradition that brings costumed characters of all ages into the streets.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Oaks Theater — Friday, October 30. Costumes and audience participation are encouraged.

Make October Your Own

Whether your ideal Halloween involves a haunted house and a scream, a hayride and pumpkin patch, a campfire and ghost stories, or dressing up and hitting the town, October gives Pittsburgh plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the season.

So grab your crew, your kids, your boo — or just yourself — and make a little room on the calendar for some fall fun, spooky adventures and Halloween memories.

Have a Pittsburgh-area Halloween event we should know about? Drop it in the comments and let PUM know!

Event dates, times and admission details can change. Check with organizers before heading out.