It's finally Halloween and CityBeat gave you some spooky inspiration for how to get into the haunted holiday spirit for the last 12 days. We hope you enjoyed it.
Here is your guide to all things Halloween tonight, from trick-or-treating for the kids to partying the night away for the adults.
Trick-or-Treat Times
Here are the trick-or-treat times for areas around the city proper:
- City of Cincinnati — 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31
- City of Covington — 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31
- Boone County — 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31
- Campbell County — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31 (except Highland Heights, 6-7:30 p.m., and 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Southgate)
- Kenton County — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Anderson Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Blue Ash — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Cheviot — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Colerain Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Columbia Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Deer Park — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Delhi Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Deerfield Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Evendale — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Fairfax — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Fairfield — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Green Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Hamilton — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Hamilton County — Neighborhoods are 6-8 p.m Oct. 31 except Lincoln Heights is hosting a special truck-or-treat event at Serenity Park from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 31.
- Lebanon — 5:30-7:30 Oct. 31
- Liberty Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Loveland — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Madeira — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Madison Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Mariemont — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Mason — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Middletown — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Milford — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Monroe — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Montgomery — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Newtown — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Oxford — 5:30-7:30 Oct. 31
- Sycamore Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Symmes Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Trenton — 5:30-7:30 Oct. 31
- Union Township — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- West Chester — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
- Wyoming — 6-8 p.m Oct. 31
Howl-O-Ween: Dog Costume Contests
Howl-O-Ween Pups & Pints at Braxton
Head to Braxton's Pendleton taproom on Sunday for a costume contest. Best-dressed dogs could win a $25 Braxton gift card and swag. Prizes will be given out for the Best Doggie Costume and the Best Doggie and Owner Costume. To register, head to the photo station between 2 and 6 p.m. Photos will be uploaded to the Braxton Facebook page, with the public picking the best costume via like, comments and shares between 6-11:59 p.m. Oct. 31. Halloween treats will be on hand for dogs, and $1 from every Garage Beer sold to humans between 2 and 6 p.m. will go to For the Love of Dog Rescue. 2-6 p.m. Oct. 31. 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton, facebook.com.
Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest at Findlay Market
Pet Wants at Findlay Market is helping host this annual costume contest. You can pre-register online or on the day of (if there are still spots available). Thirty dogs will be competing for a grand prize of free Pet Wants dog food for a year. Dog costumes will be judged by a panel of three people based on cleverness, creativity, ability to keep the costume on and overall cuteness. Contest begins 2 p.m. Oct. 31. $5 per entry. Jane's at Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, eventbrite.com.
Party Like It's Still Saturday
Since Halloween is on a Sunday this year, most of the parties are on Saturday, but is it really Halloween without going out in an unnecessarily sexy costume?
Hallo-Weekend at Roebling Point
The area around Roebling Point gets in the spooky spirit this weekend with a special Flying Pig watch party, DJs, drink specials, an outdoor dance, dancing, a costume contest (the winner will be announced at 9 p.m. Saturday) and a Bengals vs. Jets outdoor screening on Sunday — all on Roebling Square. Keystone Bar & Grill, Smoke Justis, Frosthaus, Eishaus, Covington Yard and Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant will be offering specials and giveaways all weekend. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 30 and 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 31. Roebling Point, Covington, keystonebar.com.
Harlem Nights Halloween Day Party at Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge
Dress in Harlem Nights-themed attire to win a costume contest. The party includes drink specials and live music. 4-9 p.m. Oct. 31. 1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, eventbrite.com.
Trick-or-Treat at Findlay Market
Kids will enjoy this sweet treat at the market. There will be trick-or-treating at select vendors, mask decorating, a free costume station, Halloween music and Halloween storytime. 2-4 p.m. Oct. 31. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/FindlayMarket.
One Last Haunted House
While many of the Cincinnati area haunted houses end their reign of terror on Halloween night, there are some that keep spooking through Oct. 31 — and some continue on after.
Dent Schoolhouse
According to legend, the bodies of several missing Dent Schoolhouse students were discovered in barrels in the building’s basement — and the janitor did it. Housed in an actual public school, Dent offers real ghost tours and lights-out experiences for those looking for a true fright, plus lights-on tours for kids and wimps. The open-air Queen City Slaughter Yard behind the school is back this year and included with admission. Saturday and Sunday tickets are sold in time slots: 7:30-9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m.-midnight. Box office 7:30-10 p.m. Thursdays; 7:30 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Sept. 17-Nov. 6. $20-$25 general admission; +$20 fast pass; +$30 front of the line. 5963 Harrison Ave., Dent, frightsite.com.
Halloween Haunt at Kings Island
USA Today readers just voted the attraction the "Best Theme Park Halloween Event" in America. People who enjoy being freaked out on purpose can hit the park for what USA Today describes as an event packed with "evil creatures, frightening mazes, haunted attractions, and night rides on The Beast, Banshee, Diamondback, Mystic Timbers, and other thrill-inducing attractions." And while Halloween Haunt is aimed at those 13 years and older, Tricks and Treats Fall Fest is back during the day for some family-friendly fun. There will be crafts, trick-or-treating, kids rides, pumpkin carving and decorating, and monster-makeup airbrushing. There is also a special themed holiday menu featuring dishes including pumpkin bread pudding, roasted butternut squash mac-and-cheese and candy corn cupcakes, as well as cocktails like the red wine Blood Bag, Hocus Pocus vodka punch with a gummy worm garnish and Zombie Juice with lemonade and vodka. For those who are too big for the fall fest and too young for the full-on Haunt, there's also Hallowtween, which offers some age-appropriate scares. Halloween Haunt runs 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Tricks and Treats Fall Fest and Hallowtween take place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays. Sept. 24-Oct. 31. $39.99; Halloween Haunt Fright Lane fast pass starts at $55. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.
Land of Illusion
Why only have one haunted house when you could have six...and a haunted trail? Land of Illusion has multiple themed frights to choose from: Killer Klowns, Temple of Terror, Phobia, Dr. Psycho’s Haunted Estate, Big Mama’s Revenge, the Historical Mystery Mansion and the Middletown Haunted Trail — the “longest and scariest trail in the Midwest.” They also have a full bar — the VooDoo Lounge — plus the Killer Food Court, and live music/DJs or comedy acts on weekends. Gates 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Sept. 10-Oct. 31. $50; $75 fast pass; season passes available. 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, landofillusion.com.
USS Nightmare
After taking last year off due to COVID, the USS Nightmare is reopening its cursed doors to the public. "The USS Nightmare, greater Cincinnati’s annual Halloween favorite, has returned for the 2021 haunting season. And Captain Mitchell and his crew are ready to rage on the river," says a release. All your favorite freaky characters are back, including the aforementioned evil Captain Mitchell, as well as his daughter, Anna, and her demented clowns; the "lady in red;" and the ruthless galley cook. The USS Nightmare says this year's experience "delves deeper" into the history of the haunted boat and explores its sadistic lore, including mysterious accidents and deaths that occurred on board, and possible crew exposure to radioactive chemicals. There are multiple ways to experience the USS Nightmare, including a lights-on events for kids and people who hate haunted houses, as well as the Captain's Extreme tour — an "adult-rated show featuring adult language and content, more horror, group separation and more special content." Regular ticketholders can also up the action with an RIP Experience, "a more interactive and extended tour of the ship designed for death with access to additional areas and the potential for complete separation from the civilized world." Check the schedule online for upcoming days and hours.Sept. 17-Nov. 6. General admission tickets start at $18; fast pass starts at $28; front-of-the-line tickets start at $48; the RIP Experience starts at $32. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, ussnightmare.com.
All Hallows Eve Terror Town
The former grounds of the Old West Fest have been transformed into a Dodge City ghost town, literally. Well, almost literally. A prop fabrication and haunted attraction team has transformed the space into an immersive 19th-century Terror Town with a museum of the occult, restaurants, saloons, games, a movie theater screening classic horror films and wandering costumed characters. The 30-minute haunted trail — inhabited by the remnants of an evil cult — leaves from a desecrated church. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Sept. 3-Nov. 6. $25; $35 for a gold or red bracelet, which offers an "enhanced" horror experience and allows physical contact (for ages 18 and up). 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg, allhallowsevellc.com.
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