Spooky Season: Halloween events happening across the region this month

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) – Communities in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee are gearing up for a spooky season full of family fun, festivals, and frightful favorites.

From trunk-or-treats and haunted houses to pumpkin patches and flash mobs, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this Halloween. Families can plan their trick-or-treat routes, visit historic sites, or celebrate fall at local festivals across the region.

Here’s a look at some of the Halloween happenings lighting up the area this October — from Cape Girardeau and Perryville to Carbondale, Union City, and beyond.

MISSOURI

Cape Girardeau Area

Notre Dame Regional High School Trick-or-Treat
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Notre Dame Regional High School will host a trick-or-treat event for children in pre-kindergarten through third grade from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Students and faculty will hand out candy throughout the halls.
Grade schools are invited to participate, and parents are welcome to bring children who are not in school that day.
RSVPs are requested by Oct. 24 here – Halloween.
For more information, contact Meg Garner at 573-335-6772 ext. 310.

Heartland Care and Rehab Trunk or Treat
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Heartland Care and Rehab Center will host a community Trunk or Treat event from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at 2525 Boutin Drive.
The event will feature decorated trunks, candy, and family activities in partnership with Southeast Missouri Pets.

Veterans Home Trick-or-Treat
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Missouri Veterans Home will host a Trick-or-Treat Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive.
Families are invited to bring their children to meet veterans and enjoy a safe, family-friendly Halloween event.

Cape Girardeau Haunted Hall of Horror
Auditions will be held Sept. 22–26 for the annual Haunted Hall of Horror. Performances will take place Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31.
For details, contact Robert Shanahan at 573-339-6612 or rshanahan@cityofcapegirardeau.org.

VintageNOW Thriller Flash Mob
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The VintageNOW Productions “Thriller” Flash Mob returns Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6:02 p.m. in downtown Cape Girardeau.
The zombie-themed dance performance, inspired by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” is free and open to the public. Spectators are encouraged to line Themis Street to view the show.

Perry County

Perryville Pumpkin Farm
PERRYVILLE, Mo. — The Perryville Pumpkin Farm is open daily through Oct. 31, featuring a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and fall treats.

Saxon Fall Festival
FROHNA, Mo. — The annual Saxon Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 11, celebrating 1800s heritage with live music, crafts, and food.

Cruise-In & Rocktoberfest
PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Downtown Perryville will host Cruise-In & Rocktoberfest on Oct. 11, featuring classic cars, live music, and local food vendors.

Biehle Picnic
BIEHLE, Mo. — St. Maurus Parish Grounds will host the annual Biehle Picnic on Oct. 19 with homemade dinners, raffles, and live entertainment.

Moonlight Madness – Trunk or Treat
PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Downtown Perryville Square will host Moonlight Madness on Oct. 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., featuring a family-friendly trunk-or-treat event.

Fall Hayride
PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Perryville Parks & Recreation will host its first Fall Hayride on Oct. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Perryville Parks & Recreation Center.
The free event includes hayrides, hotdogs, and s’mores. Registration is required by Oct. 13 at Perryville Parks Registration.

Burfordville, Mo.

Trick-or-Treat at Bollinger Mill
BURFORDVILLE, Mo. — Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, 113 Bollinger Mill Road, will host trick-or-treating and free tours Oct. 31 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear a costume.

ILLINOIS

Franklin County

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park – Trick or Treat the Campground
WHITTINGTON, Ill. — The 9th annual “Trick or Treat the Campground” event will take place Saturday, Oct. 11 at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office urges attendees to use caution and wear reflective gear as thousands are expected to attend.

Rend Lake Visitor Center Trick-or-Treat
BENTON, Ill. — The Rend Lake Visitor Center, 11981 Rend City Road, will host a trick-or-treat event on Oct. 31 for children ages 5 and under.
The event includes storytime, crafts, and free activities. Large groups must pre-register by calling 618-724-2493.

Jackson County

Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Street Music Festival
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Street Music Festival will be held Friday, Oct. 24, in downtown Carbondale.
Vendor applications are open through Oct. 10 at Carbondale Main Street.

Jefferson County

Mount Vernon Downtown Trick-or-Treat
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. — Downtown Mount Vernon will host a trick-or-treat event at 301 N. 10th Street.
Families can stop by Central to visit the Kid Depot team for candy and fun. The date and time will be announced soon.

Union County

Jonesboro Trick-or-Treat Event
JONESBORO, Ill. — A special trick-or-treat event will be held at 202 W. Broad Street featuring a “guy from New York who lives in a sewer.”
The first 24 children will receive themed party bags.

T.O.T.S. – Trick-or-Treat So Kids Can Eat
DE SOTO, Ill. — Students will collect canned goods from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, as part of the annual “Trick-or-Treat So Kids Can Eat” event benefiting the De Soto Food Pantry.

Community Trick-or-Treat Map
Residents can register their homes for the 2nd Annual Community Trick-or-Treat Map by visiting this link. The map will be published before Halloween to help families plan safe routes.

KENTUCKY

Paducah

“Night of the Crawling Dead” Halloween Cocktail Trail
PADUCAH, Ky. — Downtown Paducah’s most popular fall event is back. “The Night of the Crawling Dead: Halloween Cocktail and Candy Crawl,” presented by Beautiful Paducah and Paducah Main Street, invites adults to sip, shop, and trick-or-treat their way through downtown restaurants, bars, and retail shops.

The event will feature Halloween-themed cocktails and mocktails, candy and sweet treats, exclusive shopping discounts, and costume contests with cash prizes.
Pre-sale passes for the Halloween Cocktail and Candy Crawl are available online at OCTOBER COCKTAIL TRAIL: NIGHT OF THE CRAWLING DEAD.

River City Ghost Tours
PADUCAH, Ky. — The River City Ghost Tours return Friday, Oct. 3, offering guided walks through downtown Paducah filled with eerie tales and haunted history tied to local landmarks.
Tours depart at 6:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:45 p.m. from downtown, covering roughly three-quarters of a mile in about an hour. The event is open to the public and ideal for history enthusiasts and thrill-seekers.

DV8 Halloween Party at The 1857 Event Center
PADUCAH, Ky. — The annual DV8 Halloween Party will take place Friday, Oct. 31, at the 1857 Event Center, 210 Kentucky Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m., with shows at 10 and 11:30 p.m. Admission is $15 online or $20 at the door for ages 18 and older.
The night will include DJ performances, tarot readings, and a costume contest offering $300 for Best Overall and $200 for Best Group. Guests staying at The 1857 Hotel receive free entry to the party.

Pumpkin Walk at Noble Park
PADUCAH, Ky. — Paducah Parks and Recreation and Paducah Bank will host the 2025 Pumpkin Walk along the Peck Education Trail in Noble Park from Oct. 10 through Oct. 31.
Local businesses and organizations have decorated pumpkins and painted displays along the trail, which is open daily until dusk. An opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. Parking is available near the Nature Trail and Noble Park Pool.

TENNESSEE

The Waters of Union City Halloween Event
UNION CITY, Tenn. — The Waters of Union City will host a Halloween celebration Oct. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 1105 Sunswept Drive.
The event will include candy, spooky bingo, a costume contest, and activities with residents. Candy donations are being accepted.