From haunted libraries and ghost stories to pumpkin parades, puppet shows, trick-or-treating and classic horror movies, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween across Fall River and the South Coast without draining your wallet.
Who says Halloween has to be expensive? Scroll through and find some budget friendly fun….
You don’t need a monster-sized budget to have a memorable October. From Fall River to New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport and Fairhaven, communities throughout the South Coast are getting into the spooky spirit with family festivals, library programs, costume events, outdoor adventures and plenty of Halloween entertainment.
Some events are completely free, while others have modest admission fees. Either way, there are plenty of opportunities to pack the calendar with October fun. So grab the costumes, sharpen those pumpkin-carving skills and get ready for a Halloween season that has something for everyone.
👻 FUN FOR FAMILIES & KIDS
Halloween Family Fun Day & Boo-Tique Bash
Saturday, Oct. 17 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
The New Liberal Club Restaurant, 20 Star St., Fall River
Get the kids into costume and get ready for an afternoon of Halloween fun — without an admission charge.
The Halloween Family Fun Day & Boo-Tique Bash features vendor trick-or-treating, local shopping, live music and costume contests at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
And there’s an especially sweet bonus for little ghosts and goblins: the first 100 children receive a free trick-or-treat bag.
Admission is free, making this an easy choice for families looking for an affordable October outing.
Boo at the Zoo
Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford
Why should humans have all the Halloween fun?
At Boo at the Zoo, families can enjoy daylight trick-or-treating, festive animal enrichment activities and family photo opportunities at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park Zoo.
It’s a particularly good fit for younger children who may not be ready for nighttime haunted attractions. Instead of things jumping out of dark corners, families can enjoy a daytime Halloween atmosphere with the zoo’s animals providing some of the entertainment.
Great Pumpkin Parade
Rotch-Jones-Duff House, New Bedford
Pumpkins take center stage at the Great Pumpkin Parade, featuring a jack-o’-lantern display, lawn games, a scavenger hunt and entertainment from the Toe Jam Puppet Band.
For families with younger children, it’s a chance to enjoy Halloween without the intensity of a haunted house.
Bring the kids, admire the pumpkins and let them burn off some energy with the games and activities.
Footprints & Folklore & Tom Knight Puppets
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St.
Halloween doesn’t always have to mean jump scares.
At the Fall River Public Library, children can spend the morning exploring animal tracking, folklore and creature art from 10 a.m. to noon before settling in for a family-friendly Halloween puppet show with Tom Knight from 1–2 p.m.
It’s an especially good choice for younger children who love monsters, animals and Halloween but aren’t quite ready for a genuinely scary haunted house.
Pumpkin Party & Costume Swap
Millicent Library, Fairhaven
Looking for a Halloween activity that’s easy on the wallet — and maybe your closet?
The Pumpkin Party & Costume Swap combines two seasonal favorites: free pumpkin carving on the lawn and a costume swap for kids.
It’s a great way to give a gently used costume a second life while getting the little ones ready for trick-or-treating.
Spooky Survival Open House
WRWA River Center, Westport
Halloween is full of imaginary monsters, but the real world has some fascinating creatures of its own.
At the Spooky Survival Open House, children can learn about how local wildlife navigates the autumn season through interactive activities.
It’s a nice choice for nature-loving kids who would rather explore the outdoors than walk through a haunted house.
🐴 MORE FALL FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Gremlin’s Ghoul-a-Palooza
Friday, Oct. 23 | 6–9 p.m.
Battleship Cove, 5 Water St., Fall River
Rain date: Oct. 24
Ready for a Halloween party with a little more action?
Head to Battleship Cove for Gremlin’s Ghoul-a-Palooza, where costumes are encouraged and the evening includes trick-or-treating, games, crafts, dancing and live performers throughout the Cove.
Tickets are $15 per person, so while it’s not free, it remains an affordable option for families looking for a full evening of Halloween entertainment.
7-Acre Corn Maze
Buzzards Bay Brewing, Westport
If your family’s preferred Halloween fright is getting hopelessly lost rather than having a ghost pop out at you, a 7-acre corn maze might be just the ticket.
The themed maze at Buzzards Bay Brewing offers a fall navigation challenge for families and teens.
It’s a classic autumn activity with a Halloween-season twist — and a good excuse to see whether your family actually knows how to follow directions.
Bernardo’s Boxing Halloween Family Event:
After our fight night be sure to come out Sunday afternoon for a free community event featuring some of our pro fighters and coaching staff , live music , dancing for kids , candy , craft tables with our vendors , Halloween themed rooms and mitt displays with our youth program. It’s always a fun day , great vibes
🎃 PUMPKINS, MOVIES & SPOOKY LIBRARIES
Screen, Scene & Snack: Hocus Pocus
Saturday, Oct. 3 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Greater Fall River RE-CREATION, 45 Rock St.
It’s hard to imagine Halloween without Hocus Pocus.
Fans can enjoy the Halloween favorite during Screen, Scene & Snack, complete with themed treats.
Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, and space is limited, so advance registration is recommended.
It’s a low-key way to start the Halloween season — preferably with a snack in hand and the Sanderson sisters on screen.
A Journey Through the Haunted Library!
Thursday, Oct. 22 | 6–7 p.m.
Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St.
Think your local library is quiet and peaceful?
Think again.
For one evening, the Fall River Public Library becomes the setting for A Journey Through the Haunted Library!
The spooky walkthrough is recommended for children ages 6 and older. Kids who would rather admire Halloween than encounter anything too frightening can head to the Halloween craft area instead.
Hauntings at the Fort
Fort Phoenix, Fairhaven
For a Halloween experience with a little local history mixed into the spooky stories, check out Hauntings at the Fort.
This free dusk program features ghost stories, local folklore and tales connected to Revolutionary War history.
It’s the sort of event where you may leave wondering whether you heard a good story — or something moving around in the darkness.
Either way, it’s free.
Ghosts and Legends with Jeff Belanger
Dartmouth North Branch Library, Dartmouth
Ghost-story fans can get another dose of the supernatural with author and storyteller Jeff Belanger.
His free multimedia storytelling program explores ghost tales from the region and beyond, making it a fun choice for families, mystery lovers and anyone who enjoys a good unexplained story.
🎶 HALLOWEEN WITH A SIDE OF MUSIC
Dr. Gasp Live Performance
Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 6–7:45 p.m.
Fall River Public Library Lobby, 104 North Main St.
Looking for Halloween entertainment that won’t cost a dime?
Dr. Gasp brings original Halloween songs to the Fall River Public Library for a live evening performance.
The event is free, open to all ages and requires no pre-registration.
Bring the kids, enjoy some spooky tunes and let somebody else do the entertaining for a change.
🧛 FOR ADULTS & THRILL SEEKERS
Once the little ones are tucked in — or if you’re simply a Halloween fan who prefers your October with a darker edge — there are plenty of grown-up options.
Deathtrap Mystery Play
Oct. 15–17 & 22–24 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 & 25 at 2 p.m.
Little Theatre of Fall River, Firebarn, 340 Prospect St.
For those who prefer their Halloween thrills on stage, the Little Theatre of Fall River presents Deathtrap, a dark comedy and suspenseful mystery about a playwright whose plot takes a dangerous turn.
With twists, intrigue and plenty of theatrical tension, it’s an entertaining alternative to the traditional haunted-house experience.
General admission is $25.
Nosferatu Live!
Friday, Oct. 16 | 8 p.m.
Doors open at 7 p.m.
Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River
Here’s one for serious horror fans.
The legendary 1922 silent horror film Nosferatu gets a modern makeover when it’s presented with a live rock score performed onstage, accompanied by surrounding visual effects.
It’s part classic cinema, part concert and part Halloween spectacle.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $33 on the day of the show.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford
For adults and older teens looking for a Halloween-season tradition with plenty of cult-movie energy, The Rocky Horror Picture Show comes to the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center.
The classic movie screening features a live shadowcast performance by RKO Army, bringing the movie’s famously interactive spirit to the stage.
It’s definitely a different kind of Halloween night — and one best suited to an older crowd.
History of Spirit Communication
Wednesday, Oct. 21 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main St.
Ever wondered how people went from Victorian-era séances to Ouija boards and eventually to electronic attempts at communicating with the dead?
Author Jeff Belanger explores the fascinating history of spirit communication, covering everything from the early Spiritualist movement to Ouija boards and electronic devices.
It’s designed for adult history enthusiasts and offers a Halloween-season experience that’s more intriguing than terrifying.
Halloween Throw & Glow
Friday, Oct. 30–Sunday, Nov. 1
Stumpy’s Hatchet House, 75 Ferry St., Fall River
For something decidedly more unconventional, head to Stumpy’s for Halloween Throw & Glow.
The Halloween-weekend event features glowing zombie targets, axe throwing and costume contests. Junior sessions for ages 10–17 are also available on Sunday.
It’s an unusual way to close out Halloween weekend — and perhaps the only event on this list where dressing like a zombie while throwing an axe at a zombie target seems completely appropriate.
🕸️ From Fall River to New Bedford, Halloween Is Everywhere
The great thing about Halloween on the South Coast is that you don’t have to put all your spooky eggs in one basket.
You can spend one weekend exploring pumpkins in New Bedford, another learning about local wildlife in Westport, then head to Fall River for a haunted library, a puppet show or live Halloween music.
History buffs can listen to ghost stories at Fort Phoenix. Movie lovers can settle in for Hocus Pocus or Rocky Horror. Families can hunt for pumpkins, swap costumes, collect treats and explore a corn maze.
And perhaps best of all, many of these activities are free, meaning you can enjoy plenty of Halloween spirit without making your wallet scream.
🎃 Your South Coast Halloween Checklist
For little kids: Boo at the Zoo, Great Pumpkin Parade, Tom Knight Puppets and the Pumpkin Party & Costume Swap.
For families: Halloween Family Fun Day, Gremlin’s Ghoul-a-Palooza, Spooky Survival Open House and the 7-Acre Corn Maze.
For history and mystery fans: Hauntings at the Fort and Ghosts and Legends with Jeff Belanger.
For movie lovers: Hocus Pocus, Nosferatu Live! and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
For adults: Deathtrap, History of Spirit Communication and Halloween Throw & Glow.
For the budget-conscious: Start with the many free library, community and outdoor programs, then add a paid event or two if the Halloween spirit — and the budget — allows.
Whether you’re looking for pumpkins, puppets, ghosts, ghouls, music, movies or simply an excuse to wear a ridiculous costume in public, the South Coast has plenty on tap this October.
So don’t wait until Halloween night.
The spooky season is already knocking. Open the door. 🎃👻
