27 scary and not-so-scary Halloween events in the Baton Rouge area

Whether you like The 13th Gate-scary or Boo at the Zoo-not-so-scary, there’s plenty to do this Halloween season.

How about the fun challenge of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens’ corn maze? Or maybe you want to learn more about Halloween’s unofficial mascot at “Bats and Brews” at LSU Hilltop Arboretum. And the big one — the Fifolet Halloween Parade presented by 1031 Consortium.

Here are 27 events happening now through Nov. 2. Have a good time, but be safe out there. Boo!

NOW THROUGH NOV. 2

THE 13TH GATE HAUNTED HOUSE: 6:30 p.m.-till, Thursdays-Sundays, plus Flashlight Fright Night Nov. 1-2, 832 St. Philip St. $35, general admission; VIP, $75. https://13thgate.com/.

SATURDAY

BR EAST FALL FEST: 10 a.m.-noon, 710 Colonial Drive. Presented by Children’s International Pediatrics BR East. Community resource booths, games, crafts and vendors. https://www.facebook.com/events/393555226747110/.

SATURDAYS, OCT. 12, 19 AND 26

CORN MAZE: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (also 6:30 p.m. Night Maze on Oct. 26), LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane. Each two-hour session includes a hayride to the sunflower field and satsuma grove, a dip of your toe in the corn crib, a visit to the Goula Paradise petting farm, picking a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch and much more. Festival foods for purchase. $15 plus fee; Night Maze, $20. https://lsuagcenterbg.ticketspice.com/corn-maze-at-burden-2024.

SUNDAY

POINTE-MARIE FALL FEST: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 14200 River Road. Family event featuring activities for all ages, including face painting, a KidStrong obstacle course, dedicated toddler play area, fall-themed crafts, DJ, cuisine from local food trucks. https://www.facebook.com/events/884829933704122/.

SUNDAY-NOV. 2

PUMPKIN PATCH: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays- Fridays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, and noon-6 p.m. Sundays, St. Francis Episcopal Church, 726 Maple St., Denham Springs. Pumpkins, $1-$40. Also, pumpkin bread for sale. Photo ops. Free. https://www.stfrands.org/pumpkin-patch.

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

FALL FEST AND BLOOD DRIVE: 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Birth Center of Baton Rouge, 277 Rue de la Vie. Trunk-or-treat, games, food trunk, Birth Center tours and blood drive. https://www.facebook.com/events/1242359383434039/.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

MARCHÉ IN THE PARK: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., North Park, 30372 Eden Church Road, Denham Springs. Trick-or-treating, shopping with 50-plus vendors, food trucks, face painting, balloon artists and bounce house. https://www.facebook.com/events/922192833103745/.

FALL FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lanier Baptist Church, 4851 Lanier Drive. Food, fun, games and more. https://www.facebook.com/events/883136136583985/.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, OCT. 19-20 AND 26-27

BOO AT THE ZOO: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.), BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, 13350 La. 19, Baker. Family-friendly Halloween event featuring festive photo ops, princess character meet and greets, entertainment, animal enrichments, pumpkin patch and treats, costume extravaganza. Regular zoo admission applies. https://brzoo.org/. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 20

HALLOWEEN COSTUME GIVEAWAY DAY: 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Hosted by 1031 Consortium. Any child in need of a costume can receive one free while supplies last. Costumes are new and gently used but all are in great shape. 1031consortium.com.

TUESDAY, OCT. 22

BATS AND BREWS: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., LSU Hilltop Arboretum Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium, 11855 Highland Road. Learn what to do to celebrate and support the important species from Conni Pope, zoo educator at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo. Wild Birds Unlimited will be selling bat wares. Also, fall-inspired brews (for adults) from Rally Cap Brewing Co. and seasonal nonalcoholic beverages, jambalaya and Frito pies. All ages welcome. https://www.lsu.edu/hilltop/.

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

KNOCK KNOCK, BOO’S THERE?: 5 p.m.- 7 p.m., Knock Knock Children’s Museum, 1900 Dalrymple Drive. Spooktacular activities and entertainment for kids, plus trick-or-treating. $18, nonmembers; $9, members. https://knockknockmuseum.org/.

SPIRITS OF LOUISIANA: ROYALTY ON THE RIVER: 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. The museum’s signature fundraising event, taking the theme “Royalty on the River.” Costumes, local spirits, catered food, music, photo ops and art auction. https://louisianaoldstatecapitol.org/.

FIFOLET PUB CRAWL: 7 p.m., Third Street bars, downtown. Dress as a zombie and join the horde for stops at bars, discounted specialty drinks, goodie bags, souvenir cups, awards and prizes. Free zombie makeup provided on a first-come, first-served basis one hour prior to crawl start. $48. 1031consortium.com.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

SPOOF NIGHT! WITH “THE CRAFT”: 7:30 p.m., Hartley/Vey Theatre, Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. The Family Dinner Comedy Troupe adds live commentary and drinking games to a screening of the cult classic. $11 plus fees. manshiptheatre.org.

FIFOLET HALLOWEEN BALL: 8 p.m., Lod Cook LSU Alumni Center, 3838 W. Lakeshore Drive. Dancing, performance by Petty Betty, contests, food and drink. Must be 21 or older. Seated, $60; standing, $48; Table of 10, $600. 1031consortium.com.

“THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW”: 10:30 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Screening of the 1975 cult classic and Halloween tradition. $11. manshiptheatre.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

FIFOLET 5K: 8 a.m., Riverfront Plaza, 300 S. River Road, downtown. Free jambalaya and beer for runners. 1-mile fun run, $22; Fifolet 5K, $35; Pumpkin 5K, $45. 1031consortium.com.

FIFOLET ARTS MARKET: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Riverfront Plaza, 300 S. River Road, downtown. One-stop shop for any and all things Halloween, food and drink vendors, music, kids’ activities. Free. 1031consortium.com. 

TRUNK-OR-TREAT FEST: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., St. George Fire Department, 14100 Airline Highway. Carnival games, activities, entertainment and sweet treats. https://www.facebook.com/events/1998240330622957/.

HALLOWEEN DAY AT THE MUSEUM: Noon-4 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Halloween fun with Egyptian-themed activities, wand-making and spooky planetarium shows. lasm.org.

FIFOLET HALLOWEEN PARADE: 4 p.m., downtown Baton Rouge. Paradegoers are asked to dress in costume and bring nonperishable food donations for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, which will lead the parade. Free. 1031consortium.com.

HARVEST FESTIVAL: 5 p.m.-8 p.m., The Edge Church, 13353 La. 44, Gonzales. Food, games and hayrides for the whole family. https://www.facebook.com/events/564141542844918/.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM TOUR: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Curatorial-led spooky when the people are gone and the lights are dimmed. More details and tickets TBA. lasm.org.

CAT TALES AND COCKTAILS: 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Crowne Plaza, 4728 Constitution Ave. Annual fundraiser with Halloween costumes, live music, live and silent auctions, a costume contest, and more. Tickets start at $40. https://www.cathaven.org/.

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

HAINTS, HAUNTS AND HALLOWEEN: 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m., LSU Rural Life Museum, 4560 Essen Lane. An old-fashioned country fair designed for a family Halloween with storytelling, cake walks, games and trick-or-treating on the grounds. $12, ages 12 and older; $6, ages 4 and older; free, ages 0-3. https://bit.ly/RLMHHH2024.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: “FRANKENSTEIN”: 7:30 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Filmed performance from London’s West End. $12.50. manshiptheatre.org.