The best ways to celebrate Halloween weekend in Dayton

So many Halloween events, so little time.

Dayton loves a good Halloween party, and we have the rundown on the best ways to celebrate Halloween this weekend:

>> 7 ways to have the BEST Halloween in Dayton

>> The best haunted houses, hayrides and trails

>> EVENTS GUIDES: Halloween events for grown-upsHalloween events for kids

>> King’s Island’s Halloween Haunt voted best theme part haunted event in nation

>> RELATED: Where to go to pick your own pumpkins — and have a little fall fun

Here are some awesome events for grown folks, families (and some are pet friendly, too): 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  = Family Friendly

👯= Grown-ups only

🐶= Pets allowed

ALL WEEKEND LONG

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  HallZOOween 2018 

Trick-or-treat with the animals! Kids are encouraged to wear a costume at the zoo this month to celebrate Halloween with all the animals. Since this year’s HallZOOween is sponsored by Frisch’s Big Boy, two mini Big Boy statues will be hidden somewhere at the zoo and the people who find them will receive prizes.

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays in October: Oct. 27-28

WHERE: Cincinnati ZOO & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St. Cincinnati, Ohio

COST: Free with zoo admission. General admission is $17 for adults online ($19 at gate) and $12 for children/seniors ($13 at the gate). Parking is $10.

MORE INFO: Website | (513) 281-4700

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Kings Island Haunt

If you’re looking for thrills and chills this Halloween weekend, here’s the place. King’s Island’s Halloween Haunt was voted the top theme park Halloween attraction in the country.

The 12th annual Halloween Haunt will feature nine haunted mazes, four outdoor scare zones and three live stage shows.

In between, you can get your screams on the Beast, Banshee, Diamondback, Mystic Timbers and other thrill-inducing attractions will be open for business. More than 20 rides will be open.

WHEN: Every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 28. Hours are 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night.

WHERE: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason

COST: Tickets for Halloween Haunt are as low as $31.99 when purchased in advance online. Admission is free with a Gold Pass. When guests purchase a 2019 Gold Pass, it also includes unlimited visits to 2018's Halloween Haunt and WinterFest.

RIDES: More than 20 rides also are open, including Banshee, Diamondback, The Beast and Mystic Timbers.

MORE INFO: (513) 754-5700 or visitkingsisland.com/haunt

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Ohio Renaissance Festival Tricks or Treats Weekend

It’s Tricks or Treats Weekend, and kids 12 and under get free admission this weekend and can enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the village. There will be costume contests for adults and kids and pumpkin decorating. While there, guests can step back in time in a 30-acre recreated 16th Century English village. The festival features nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink fit for kings, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.

WHEN: Sept. 1-Oct.29, Saturdays & Sundays plus Labor Day

WHERE: Ohio Renaissance Festival, 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville

COST: Adults (13 and up), $23; Children (5-12), $9.50; Seniors (65 and up), $21 (ticket booth only); military/police/fire/EMS, $21 (ticket booth only); season pass, $60. Buy tickets online here.

MORE INFO: 513-897-7000 | Website | Facebook

>> It’s time to sink your teeth into this grub at the Ohio Renaissance Festival

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  🐶Slash Moraine: Zombie Fest

Slash Moraine weekend at Wax Park this year includes the popular Zombie Run, where you will have to outrun zombies, a teen dance, pet costume contest, a bake off, flashlight zombie search, hayrides, food trucks, music and much more. You can even volunteer to be an actor during the festivities by calling 937-535-1060.

WHEN: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27

WHERE: Wax Park, 3800 Main St., Moraine

COST: Some activities are free while others cost as much as $5.

INFO: slashmoraine.com

FRIDAY, OCT. 26

Credit: MediaMoments.com

Credit: MediaMoments.com

👯Masquerage 2018

We are guessing the outfits worn to Masquerage 2018 are going to be particularly skimpy. Based on the past, that’s saying a lot. Rio Nights — inspired by the week-long Carnival festival held annually in Rio de Janeiro — was just revealed as the basis of the theme of the annual bash dubbed “Party of Parties.”

Dayton’s Masquerage is an annual event which raises money for the life-saving work of Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio). Since Masquerage’s inception in 2002, this “Party of Parties for a Cause” has has helped raise awareness and now more than $1,250,000.

When: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26

Where: Dayton Transportation Center, 111 E. 5th St., Dayton

Info: masquerage.org | Facebook

Cost: Tickets will no longer be available online after Thursday, Oct. 25.  Day of ticket prices, if available, can be purchased at the door starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26. General Admission at the door will be $75. Red Ribbon Lounge will be $175

>> The theme of Masquerage 2018 will put you in feathers

👯Hallow’s Eve Ball

The Yellow Cab Tavern invites you to stare in to the mystical Hallow's Eve Ball and then enter in for an evening of spine-chilling and logic-defying variety entertainment. In addition to variety acts, the evening will feature musical performances from Dayton's Cherry Lee & The Hot Rod Hounds and West Virginia's Qiet. The Hallow's Eve Ball will also serve as a video shoot for Cherry Lee, so come dressed spooky or rockabilly cool.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 26, doors open at 8 p.m., music starts at 9 p.m.

WHERE: Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. 4th St., Dayton

COST: Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.

MORE INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Beavercreek Pumpkin Glow

The Russ Nature Reserve will be aglow with hundreds of carved pumpkins lit for the annual Pumpkin Glow. Enjoy the woods at night and search for funny faces, cute animals, scary creatures and more at this family-friendly event. Kids, come in your favorite Halloween costume as you will be able to trick-or-treat your way through the pumpkin glow. This event runs both Friday and Saturday evening.

• First 100 kids each night will receive a free pumpkin sling bag.

• Live owl presentation from Glen Helen Raptor Center on Friday, Oct. 26.

• Pumpkin Slingshot

• Rock On Ice pumpkin carving demonstration on Saturday, Oct. 27th

• Food vendor with tasty treats (fee)

• Halloween music to fill the air

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Russ Nature Reserve, 2380 Kemp Road, Beavercreek

COST: This event is FREE to the public, donations appreciated.

MORE INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Haunted Tour

The tour is a two-hour walking tour through historic Miamisburg, rain or shine. Tour guides will recount stories that defy explanation, some linked to historically based legends from the area’s unique and fascinating past. Representatives from Innovatheatre will be positioned along the tour dressed to tell the haunting tales.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 26. Tours start at 5:30 p.m. and run every half hour until 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Baum Opera House, 15 S. First St., Miamisburg

COST: Tickets are $12 per person ages 12 and over, children under 12 are free with an adult. Reserve your spot at The Baum Opera House or by email at thebaumoperahouse@gmail.com.

MORE INFO: Facebook

👯Haunted Schoolhouse Party

Party on a haunted patio, with a costume contest at 9:30 p.m. and food by S&C Catering, 50/50 raffle. Costume contest prizes for best male, female, couple, funniest, scariest.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 26, 7-11 p.m.

WHERE: Old Schoolhouse Winery, 152 State Route 726 N, Eaton

COST: Free admission

MORE INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Costume Contest and Trick-or-Treat at Cincinnati Outlets

Children ages 12 and under are invited to participate in a ghostly candy collection wearing their best costumes at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets. The center’s shops will hand out candy from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. “To complement the crave for candy, children are welcome and encouraged to enter the center’s annual costume contest held in Cincinnati Premium Outlets’ newly renovated outdoor Green Space, weather permitting, directly outside of the Food Court. The competition will be judged by members of the Monroe Police and Fire Department, and prizes will be awarded in three age groups: 0-3, 4-7 and 8-12.”

WHEN: 4 p.m.- 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26

WHERE: Cincinnati Premium Outlets, 400 Premium Outlets Drive, Monroe

COST: Free

MORE INFO: Website

SATURDAY, OCT. 27

👯HAUNTFEST ON FIFTH

Hard to believe, but Hauntfest on 5th is now on its 33rd year. This year’s wacky and spooky festivities will be kicked off at 7 p.m. by Channel 99.9’s Josh Martinez. Stop by the Channel 99.9 for a chance to win prizes and some of the most popular on-air celebrities in the area.

When: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27

Where: Oregon District, E. Fifth St., Dayton

Cost: $10

Info: theoregondistrict.ticketspice.com

>>PHOTOS: HauntFest on Fifth 2017

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Halloween Happening at Lost Creek Reserve

Guests of all ages are invited to drop by and experience a crisp, fall night hike around the historic Knoop homestead aglow with jack-o’-lanterns. Be sure to stop by the barn at the end of the hike to enjoy a fall treat compliments of the VIPs. Don’t forget there will be trunk-or-treat too and the corn maze will also be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Make sure to bring a flashlight. Drop-ins are welcome.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 8-10 p.m.

WHERE: Lost Creek Reserve, 2645 E. State Route 41, Troy

COST: General admission free. Small fee for corn maze

MORE INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Halloween Candy Run

This Halloween, run around town in your costume collecting candy, facing down scary monsters, and competing with friends and family in the most fun race of the year. Celebrate your accomplishment with pizza, beer, music, decorations, swag and more. Racers get an event tee, finisher medal, pint glass, Halloween candy, drink ticket and personal pizza.

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

WHERE: Old Scratch Pizza, 812 S. Patterson Road, Dayton

MORE INFO: WebsiteFacebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  KidX Boo Bash

Get your ghoul on with KidX at Dayton Mall’s Boo Bash in Center Court from 2-4 p.m. There will be frightfully fun games, activities, treats from Great American Cookies and more. Plus, BOOgie on down as DJ Jason spins the hottest Halloween hits. So grab your witch’s broom and zoom on down to Dayton Mall.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, from 2 p.m. -4 p.m.

WHERE: Dayton Mall, 2700 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Dayton

INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Boo Bash 2018

This annual favorite is a free family event including:

• superhero games

• crafts

• refreshments

• superhero training camp

• obstacle course

• fun photo opportunity

• Superhero School with the Boo Bash Players

Superheroes who complete their training will earn a prize and certificate.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Hayner Cultural Center, 301 W. Main St., Troy, OH 45373

INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Family Frights at Mike’s Indoor Bike Park

Parents bring your kids, and kids bring your parents. Mike’s Indoor Bike Park and Market at the Park are hosting a day of Family Frights on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Bike Park is offering $5 off day passes to riders that come in costume. Then at 5:30 p.m., there will be a costume contest with prizes, from 6-8 p.m. the Market at the Park will be open for shopping, and there will be free trick-or-treating throughout the building, and finishing the day off at 8 p.m. will be live music from Lady Handsome and Lord Kimbo over at the Market at the Park for just $5.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Mike's Indoor Bike Park, 1300 E. First St., Dayton

COST: $5 off for Costumes with Riding Day Passes, $5 Live Music at 8 p.m.

MORE INFO: Facebook

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Trick-or-treating in downtown Troy

Troy Main Street and the Troy Noon Optimists invite all children to downtown Troy on for a frighteningly good time at their annual hometown Halloween event. The event will begin with a costume contest at 9 a.m. in the Hobart Government Center parking lot (510 W. Water St). The competitors will then parade down West Main Street to Prouty Plaza, where awards will be distributed. From 10 a.m. to noon, all are welcome to visit participating downtown businesses to trick-or-treat for goodies of all kinds. Halloween music from The Wayne Alumni Band and a visit from the Sanderson Sisters of “Hocus Pocus.”

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon

WHERE: Downtown Troy, starting at 510 W. Water St. for costume judging

INFO: Website

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