Haunted HoCo
Halloween is coming to Howard County! The leaves have changed color and a crisp chill fills the air, making it the perfect season to enjoy haunted happenings and trick-or-treating adventures. Find Halloween events for all ages throughout Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Laurel, and beyond!
More events available on the Visit Howard County online events calendar.
Howard County Halloween Events
Trick-or-Treating in Historic Ellicott City
From unraveling the haunted mysteries of Savage Mill and Ellicott City to the quest for the perfect pumpkin on a picturesque farm, Halloween in Howard County promises spine-tingling excitement for all who dare to embrace it.
Don't forget to pick up your perfect pumpkin at a pumpkin patch in Howard County!
In this blog post, we'll unveil a thrilling array of suggestions to make your Halloween festivities unforgettable. So, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a hair-raising journey through the heart of Halloween in Howard County!
Not-So-Scary Halloween Events
Photo Credit: Howard County Recreation & Parks
October 3rd & 4th 2026: Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main (Historic Ellicott City, Maryland): Journey into a world of magic and mystery this October with the return of Wizarding Weekend in Historic Ellicott City. On October 3rd & 4th wizards and witches are invited to Main Street Ellicott City for exclusive discounts, specialty treats, and magical events.
October 10th, 2026, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Truck or Treat at Gary J. Arthur Community Center (Cooksville, Maryland): Meet our hometown heroes and celebrate Halloween with a fun truck themed day outdoors! Come dressed in your favorite costume to trick-or-treat with trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, and more!
October 10th, 2026: Haunts & Hounds presented by Maryland History Tours (Historic Ellicott City, Maryland): Take a Ghost Walk at 1PM through Ellicott City that will benefits CHARM Rescue.
October 18th & 25th, 2026, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Happy Haunted Hayride (Elkridge, Maryland): Looking for a haunted hayride that isn’t too spooky? Visit Rockburn Branch Park, West for a fun fall hayride for children ages 2 - 7 years old for Halloween in Howard County!
October 24th, 2026, 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Floating Pumpkin Patch (Ellicott City, Maryland): Children ages 3 - 11 can enjoy unique Halloween themed activities, games, and more at the floating pumpkin patch at the Roger Carter Community Center.
October 24th, 2026: Hocus Pocus Day at Decadent Dessert Bar (Maple Lawn, MD): Enjoy themed treats such as Spell Book Brownies, Butterbeer, and Mumkin bars (mummy pumpkin bars). Earn a Decadent Dollar to everyone who comes in costume!
Merriweather District Spooktacular in Color Burst Park - Photo Credit to Howard Hughes Co.
October 24th & 25th, 2026: Halloween Tricks, Treats and Trees at Robinson Nature Center (Columbia, Maryland): Adventure through nature and delight in nature's "tricks" at stations among the trees. Make a potion with a witch, watch Halloween-inspired puppet shows, and enjoy themed sensory play. Morning trail activities are designed for ages 0-4 years; afternoon trail activities are designed for ages 5 years +.
October 24th & 25th, 2026: Halloween Costume Parade at Clark's Elioak Farm (Ellicott City, Maryland): At 11AM & 2PM both days, enjoy the annual Halloween Costume Parade Celebrations! Strut your costumes through the farm as you join in these special Halloween parades and enjoy the fall activities on the farm.
October 30th, 2026: Spook-tacular at Color Burst Park (Columbia, Maryland): Meet in the Merriweather District for spooky fun for all ages! Don't miss the costume contest, trick-or-treat trail at merchants, group costume competition, live music, pumpkin decorating, costume catwalk, and more!
October 30th, 2026: Haunted Hallways at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center (Columbia, Maryland):
Teenagers 14 - 17 will love this fun filled night at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center. Grab your costume and join in a night of games, music, snacks, and more! Pizza and drinks will be provided.
October 31st & November 1st, 2026: Spooktacular Halloween Brunch at Alexandra's American Fusion (Ellicott City, Maryland): Get into the spooky spirit with a festive Halloween Brunch at Alexandra's on Sunday, October 31st & November 1st. Try fun and spooky seasonal menu highlights like Halloween Cookies and an Ominous Omelet Station!
October 31st, 2026, 10AM - 10:45AM: Boo Bash Parade - Howard County Library System Glenwood Branch (Cooksville, MD): Stop by the Boo Bash Parade for Halloween stories, songs, and a fun costume parade around the library! Wear your favorite costume and celebrate the spooky season in style.
October 31st, 2026: Trick-or-Treat on Main Street (Historic Ellicott City, Maryland):
Experience trick-or-treating in one of Howard County's historic towns with your besties and your kids! Shops and boutiques will give out lots of free candy and chocolates and the streets will be filled with incredible costumes for the full trick-or-treating experience!
Thrilling Halloween Experiences
Photo Credit: Howard County Recreation & Parks
October 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 2026: The Haunted Experience with Howard County Recreation & Parks (Elkridge, Maryland): Find spine tingling excitement at Rockburn Branch Park on a spooky hayride through eerie trails to the ghostly stories that await you deep in the woods. Best for ages 7+.
October 22nd, 2026: History of Maryland Witches with Maryland History Tours (Historic Ellicott City, Maryland): Park your broomstick on Mt. Misery and join the Museum of Howard County History for the chilling historic tales of Maryland's witches.
October 24th & 31st, 2026, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Museum After Dark at the Ellicott City Station Museum (Old Ellicott City, Maryland): Celebrate the Halloween season at the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum with exclusive Museum After Dark tours. These tours focus on the darker aspects of railroad history, telling the deadly stories and ghostly tales of the B&O railroad.
October 26th, 2026, 6PM - 7:30PM: Cryptid Crawl & Halloween-ish hike at the Howard County Conservancy (Woodstock, Maryland): Learn about the spooky stories of what could be lurking in Maryland with a night hike through the trails of the Howard County Conservancy. Learn about spooky and spectacular legends like the Goatman of P.G. County, our watery friend Chessie and the Snallygaster.
October 31st, 2026, 11AM - 3PM: Ghoulish Gaming Gathering at the Capitoline Center (Ellicott City, MD): Come join fellow tabletop gamers and enjoy Halloween-themed games including Cadaver, Cursed Words, Dead of Winter, Monster Fluxx, Skull, Disney's Haunted Mansion, and more! If you have a scary game at home, bring it to share. Costumes encouraged but not required.
Halloween Night Out with Your Ghouls
October 1st - November 1st, 2026: Step into the Spook-Easy at The Fairway Lounge at Turf Valley Resort (Ellicott City, Maryland): Enjoy spooky bites and eerie libations to get you into a wickedly wonderful Halloween mood!
October 22nd, 2026, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Girls Night Out at Savage Mill (Savage, Maryland): Spend the evening exploring the Mill with wine, shopping specials, bingo, tarot readings, exclusive ghost tours, and more happening throughout the night.
October 24th, 2026, 8PM - 11PM: Monster Mash and Glow Party featuring The Reagan Years at Turf Valley Resort (Ellicott City): Sing along to the greatest hits of the 80s with The Reagan Years Monster Mash and Glow Party at Turf Valley Resort! Dress up in your best costume for a chance to win prizes in their Costume Contest – the top 5 costumes will get an award.
October 25th, 2026: Literary Dinner: A Haunted Evening at 18th & 21st (Columbia, MD): Featuring the works of Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King. A four course dinner inspired by the masters of horror literature to celebrate the season. One standing course, one seated appetizer, one main course, and one dessert. Includes a welcome cocktail.
October 31st, 2026, 6PM - 10PM: Halloween Party at Kelsey's Irish Pub (Ellicott City, Maryland): Come out to Kelsey's Haunted Pub for a "spooky" good time with DJ Alfie spinning your favorite Monster Mash!
October 31st, 2026, 9:30PM - 1:30AM: The Slaughter House 2 feat. Figure and Wood at The Reckless Shepherd (Ellicott City, MD): Have a hauntingly rocking good time with a household name in bass music, known for their signature horror themes, intense sound, and contributions towards Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights theme parks!
October 31st, 2026, 7:30PM: Halloween EDM Party at Oversea Distillery (Columbia, MD): Grab your tickets to spend an electric night at the distillery! Dress in your craziest costume, partake in the dance competition, and get ready for 4 DJs spinning Halloween-themed EDM music.
October 31st, 2026, 6PM - 8:30PM: Halloween – Platters, Plates & Poltergeists at The ClayGround Studio & Gallery (Ellicott City, MD): Grab your closest ghouls for a hands-on Halloween craft night! Glaze a handcrafted plate or platter while a spooky movie sets the mood. Bring a snack, a drink, and your Halloween spirit.
October 31st, 2026: Halloween Bash at The White Oak Tavern (Ellicott City, Maryland): Gather your ghouls and ghosts and make this Halloween unforgettable at White Oak Tavern! Come dressed in your best costume, and stay for all night live music starting at 8PM.
October 31st, 2026: Annual Halloween Bash at Woodstock Inn (Woodstock, Maryland): Dancing, music, games, and prizes await you this Halloween at the Woodstock Inn. Dance the night away with the DJ beginning at 10PM, wear your costume to the costume contest at 11:30PM, and enjoy late-night food until 1AM!
October 31st, 2026, 6PM - 9PM: Halloween Paint and Sip at Pinot’s Palette (Ellicott City, MD): Have an unforgettable Halloween evening with a guided pant and sip! Enjoy specialty cocktails & mocktails, and dress up for the costume contest for the chance to win a free painting class!
Wondering which ghosts still linger around to spook visitors and residents? One must-visit activity during the Halloween season is Howard County Ghost Tours.
Mt. Misery Ghost Walk
MT. MISERY GHOST WALK
The hills north of town harbor some very eerie legends of spirits and unexplained happenings from decades ago and even days ago!
The tour meets at the Museum of Howard County History 8328 Court Ave. Ellicott City, Md. Recommended for guests age 16 and up.
HAUNTED MAIN STREET
Old Ellicott City today is a resilient town almost 250 years old with great shops and a history lurking in every corner…so is it any wonder that the many ghosts who still call this town home remain to see if they can still raise the hairs on the back of your neck? Explore the hauntings of Historic Ellicott City on a ghost tour along Main Street.
GHOST TOURS AT HISTORIC SAVAGE MILL
An hour-and-a-half ghost tour led by Savage Mill’s Historian exploring the history and ghostly tales of Savage Mill. Are you a paranormal thrill-seeker? Do you binge Ghost Hunters until 3 a.m.? Discover the Mill’s haunted history, where restless spirits continue to roam these halls to this very day. Learn about the working conditions during 19th century Savage Mill and how they tie to the ghostly encounters today and the cheeky little girl who loves tripping the living.
Reservations are required - no walk-ups allowed
See a full listing of upcoming events in Howard County here
Check back often for updated Halloween events, and make sure to Submit Your Events here. Event details are subject to change. Make sure to check dates, times, and locations with the organization before attending.
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