Itâs the most wonderful time of the year for Cleveland Halloween events! The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice everything is available, and the weather is perfect for sweaters and boots. Whatâs not to love about fall?
I think Halloween time is especially excellent here in the midwest, and if Iâm going to be totally biased, Halloween in Cleveland is absolutely the best. Something about the dreariness of the fog that rolls off Lake Erie, how perfect and warming a is on your walk through the spectacularly changing colors of the Metroparks. Iâm so pumped just thinking about it.
Ohio is the heart-stopper of it all when it comes to spooky things to do. Ranked the third most haunted state in the country, although ranked first in the number of haunted houses, you are definitely not starved for choices of things to do in the Buckeye State as far as Halloween is concerned.
Consider me your creepy concierge. Here are my 13 favorite haunts to hit this Halloween season:
The first and only museum in the United States to celebrate witchcraft and the occult, Buckland is the best way to kick off your spooky season.
The museum features not only the collected works and artifacts from Raymond Buckland, but also Gerald Gardner, Aiden Breac, Lady Rowan, Aleister Crowley, Sybil Leek, Anton LaVey, and many others. On your visit, see if you can spy a piece by yours truly!
With knowledgeable tour guides and much to see, spend a spell! Buckland is open year-round but is particularly busy in the fall months. Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time.
After learning your witch history, time to brush up on your tool kit. Cleveland is home to many fantastical metaphysical shops. Whether you’re into contemporary witchery or old-world favorites, each shop has a distinctly different vibe and the effects you need to brew up whatever brouhaha fits your fancy.
My personal favorites are , an old-school apothecary with so many different herbs and an attached tea shop, and , a gem shop packed to the gills with familiar favorites and constant new veins of stones being added all the time.
Is dark academia more your style? Check out Cloak & Dagger. A relatively new haunt to the Ohio City neighborhood, this cocktail lounge focuses on hospitality and craft, making it a local fave.
Their menu boasts some of the best vegan bites in the city, and the mixology, chefâs kiss. As a former bartender myself, the craft is highly respected at Cloak & Dagger.
Drink and food menus change with the season. Fatal Potions, A Short Story Vol. 1 drops October 18th and is only among the land of the living for two short weeks. A resurrected favorite from Book 1: Tales of Life & Death is King of the Dead, a dark and mysterious bourbon cocktail with Fernet, vanilla cherry bark bitters, and cold brew. If you only hit one place on this list, make sure itâs Cloak & Dagger. Youâll thank me later.
If a witchcraft shop isnât your vibe, there are still plenty of creepy vibes to imbibe. Stop by Cleveland Curiosities, a fine purveyor of obscure antiques and oddities. If itâs weird, wonderful, and wacky, youâll find it at Cleveland Curiosities. Taxidermy, vintage poison rings, teeth, you never know what each drawer holds.
For a ghoul time, you have to check out Lakeview Cemetery. Nestled just outside of Little Italy and Coventry, this sprawling cemetery is the perfect spot for a walk, a picnic, or just even a drive-through. 285 acres of land dating back to 1869, this cemetery is not only molded after the Victorian Era garden-style cemeteries but also coined âClevelandâs Outdoor Museumâ for its stunning landscaping and collection of memorials.
Lakeview is the final resting place for John D. Rockefeller, Alan Freed (coiner of the term rock ânâ roll), Elliot Ness, and Harvey Pekar, as well as many other memorials to note. The most infamous monument to see is the Haserot Angel. This massive angel has patina-ed over the years, turning to a ghoulish green. Creepier still, itâs rumored to cry black tears. Are you brave enough to see for yourself?
As mentioned before, Ohio is home to the highest number of haunted houses. We have a whopping total of 127 haunted houses to choose from. Take your pick from total immersion like Bloodview or outdoor hayrides and zombie paintball at Spooky Ranch.
For me personally, I donât have a recommendation for you as I am on a list due to my flight or fight response being fightâ¦
Whatâs spooky season without the perfect fall beverage? While we are bombarded by pumpkin spice everything, try a devilish alternative. The Diablo Latte from 27 Club is as dark as its namesake, rife with activated charcoal with your choice of milk. Hot or iced, it comes with MGKâs signature pink sugared rim.
Nothing says Halloween more than a scary movie marathon. Make it an old-fashioned movie marathon by hitting up the drive in.
The closest theatre to Cleveland is the Autorama and they do it big for Halloween every year. Trunk-or-Treat and a family screen for the kids or those who donât like big scare and a triple feature of frights to keep you up all night.
If you havenât ever been to a drive in, youâre in for an absolute treat. Theyâre a rare and dying breed, so go support small biz!
Itâs a jump to your left, a step to the right, and a hippity-hop all the way down to the Cedar Lee Theatre to join your fellow hellions in Rocky Horror Picture Show shenanigans.
This long-running Rocky Party has been a staple in CLE for a long time featuring the live floorshow talents of âSimply His Servantsâ.
Dress up and donât forget your sense of humor! At this current time, Cedar Lee does not allow items to be brought in for show participation (toast, squirt gun, newspaper, etc.). Please be courteous!
Right around the corner from the Cedar Lee Theatre is the infamous Haunted House Restaurant. Paying homage to horror and thriller classics, this eatery is packed with frightfully both fine cuisine, and devilish delights like the 51oz bubbling cauldron beverages complete with dry ice for effect.
Have a ghoulishly good time with friends or family. Many celebrate birthdays at The Haunted House Restaurant, so youâll want to nab a reservation for brunch or dinner! Itâs a popular haunt!
For more friendly family fun, head to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. For kids of all ages, come in costume and trick-or-treat through the zoo. Enjoy unlimited 4-D Theatre movies, carousel and train rides, costumed characters, and a monster mash dance party.
Boo at the Zoo runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, October 11th-27th, from 5pm to 9pm.
If the spirits move you outside the city, there are plenty of frights and delights to enjoy just outside of Cleveland:
Americaâs Rockinâ Roller Coast dials up the fright factor for October. Ghouls and goblins of all kinds roam around Cedar Point, family-friendly delights by day, and blood-curdling frights by night.
Mazes, scare zones, haunted houses, shows, experiences, and top thrills, are all treats to have at HalloWeekends.
Mansfield Reformatory may look extremely familiar to you if youâre a fan of The Shawshank Redemption. With the cornerstone laid in 1886, this castle-like prison was designed as a reformatory for young offenders. Abandoned in 1990, the original cell blocks and administration areas remain intact and continued restoration is ongoing.
No matter what youâre into, thereâs a tour for you at Mansfield Reformatory. For movie buffs, the Hollywood Meets History Tour covers the ins and outs of The Shawshank Redemption. The Beyond the Bars Tour accesses the areas of the Reformatory that arenât open to the general public. Thereâs even a tour detailing the history of the electric chair and Ohio executions. Really something for everyone.
A favorite of visitors to the reformatory are the public ghost hunts. No matter your experience level, there are hunts for first-timers through veterans complete with guidance to help you start. They even offer classes to familiarize yourself with the gear and procedures.
For the Halloween season, Mansfield Reformatory transforms into Blood Prison, a screamfest of unparalleled proportions as the Reformatory is actually one of the most paranormally active structures in the state!
With frights and delights of all kinds, thereâs so much to sink your teeth into during the fall in Cleveland. You’ll be celebrating every waking moment with interactive scares, family fun, and plenty of offbeat attractions. Stay Creepy, Cleveland!