Double, double toil and trouble. We’re on the search for all things spooky in Southwest Michigan! It’s been a fun-packed fall with even more to come through the end of the month. With everything from trick-or-treating and spooky-themed classes to Halloween parties, activities for the whole family and more! Keep reading for festive events leading up to Halloween. 

TRICK-OR-TREATING

OCTOBER 25

The City of St. Joseph hosts Truck or Treat from 4p-6p on Lake Boulevard. 

OCTOBER 31

Downtown St. Joseph and the Benton Harbor Arts District host Halloween Trick-Or-Treat, sponsored by Holt Bosse, from 4:30p-6p.

Slackers Family Fun Center Trunk-or-Treat from 4:30p-7:30p.

St. Joseph City-wide trick-or-treating is scheduled from 6p-7:30p.

Bridgman City-wide trick-or-treating is scheduled from 5:30p-7p.

Berrien County Historical Association Trick or Treating at the Museum from 5:30p-7:30p.

FRIGHTFUL FAMILY FUN

Throughout the month of October, find the witch hidden in thirteen participating locations in downtown St. Joseph! Pick up your Where’s the Witch passport from the St. Joe Today Welcome Center and start the search. Visit stjoetoday.com/wheresthewitch for a full list of participating businesses!

Join St. Joe Today for a NEW Halloween-themed event, Downtown Spooktacular, in downtown St. Joe on Saturday, October 18, from 11a-4p. ⁠Attendees will enjoy a variety of events, including a hayride through downtown, a Spooktacular Market, a pumpkin patch, magic shows, a Spooktacular Costume Parade, a pumpkin carving display and demo, Spooky Lighthouse Tours, downtown decorations and more! Visit stjoetoday.com/downtownspooktacular for a complete schedule. 

SWMI businesses and restaurants will display their decorated pumpkins during Pumpkins on Parade, October 20-31! Visit participating locations to view their decorated pumpkins and vote online for your favorite. Voting will be available at stjoetoday.com/vote from 10:00a October 20 to 11:59p October 30. Winners will be announced on October 31! 

The St. Joseph/Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library hosts a few Halloween-themed programs this October! Join them for a Teens Mini Pumpkin Painting Contest on October 8 from 6p-7p; Fall Storytime, Wednesdays at 10:30a through December 17.

Enjoy a Halloween Event hosted by Slackers Family Fun Center on October 10 from 6p-10p. Attendees will enjoy Unlimited Arcade (no tickets or prizes), Unlimited Bounce House, Unlimited Laser Tag, Game Rooms, Candy and more! Head back on October 18 for Haunted Laser Tag from 7p-11p! Cost $20/Non-Members, $15/Members.

Head to Eden Springs Park for Halloween miniature train rides on select dates throughout October! Catch these spooky train rides on October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 from 5p-8p. Cash only. These original House of David engines and passenger cars have been lovingly restored by the Eden Springs team of volunteers and train experts. 

Trinity Lutheran Church hosts The Great Pumpkin Caper on October 17 from 5p-7p! Families are invited to a fun fall evening filled with a variety of activities, including a pumpkin carving contest, petting zoo, kiddie hay bale maze, flag football and more! 

Something wicked is coming at Sarett Nature Center! On October 25, families are invited to Sarett’s Spooky Halloween from 3p-8p. Attendees will enjoy a stroll through the trails, spooky crafts, game stations and more. If you’re looking for a fright, visit the scary trail! Tickets are $6/person (ages 2 and older) and book fast, so reserve your spot today.

River Saint Joe Brewery hosts their 6th Annual Dog Halloween Costume Contest on October 26 from 1:00p-3:00p. $5 donation to enter the costume contest! All proceeds go towards the Humane Society.

Head to Caretel Inns St. Joseph for their Fall Festival on October 30 from 5p-7p! Join in for a night of family fun - pumpkin painting, hayrides, live animals, fall games, local cider & donuts, a costume contest and more! 

WIZARDING WORKSHOPS

JLN Studio hosts a variety of workshops throughout October! Join them for two of their fall-themed classes,  a Gouache Fall Tree Painting Class on October 9 from 6p-8:30p and an Acrylic Fall Tree Painting Class on October 16 from 6p-9p.

Decorate pumpkins at Filkins Vineyards during their Pumpkin & Pinot held on October 18 from 11:30a-1:30p. Pick out your favorite pumpkin, grab a paintbrush and start creating! Ages 8 and up are welcome. 

Lazy Ballerina Winery hosts a few October workshops! Check out their Pumpkin Quilling Class on October 19 from 12p-2p. Head back on October 22 for a Halloween Wine Glass Painting Class 5:30p-7p. Space is limited, reservations required. Wrap up the month with Wine & Tarot 101 on October 23 from 6:30p-7:45p.

Get crafty with Berrien County Historical Association and Dablon Winery during a special Halloween-themed Happy Little Museums: A Wine and Paint Night on October 23 at 6p. This event is 21+.

Create spooky season crafts with Fernwood Botanical Gardens at their Creature Craft Party on October 26 from 12p-3p. Attendees will get to choose a craft inspired by seasonal creatures - bats, spiders, toads and more + enjoy hot cider, popcorn and sweets! Check out the gardens, trails and the pumpkin house. Costumes encouraged! 

ENCHANTING EVENTS

The Berrien County Historical Association hosts the second event in their A Drink with History! Series. Spook-tacular History: Berrien County Haunted Locations! Join them on October 9 at Iron Shoe Distillery at 6p with speaker Dan Holroyd of Southwest Michigan Paranormal. Additional October events include Fireside Tales: Fright Night on October 25 at 7:30p and Soups and Spirits on October 30 at 7p.

Join the Morton House Museum for a Halloween Event and Chili Dinner on October 18 from 6:p-8p! Attendees will enjoy a variety of chili, spooky treats and desserts while they test their Halloween trivia skills. 

Shop & sip the 5th Annual Halloween Makers Market at Peat’s Cider Social on October 18 from 1p-7p! Head back on October 24 from 4p-9p for a Bowl-A-Ween Party, a spook-tacular night of Halloween fun for all ages. 

Join Fernwood Botanical Gardens for Herbal Fortune Telling with the Michiana Herb Society on October 18, 19, 25, 26 from 12p-3p.

Support The Acorn during their fundraiser, the Boo Ball, on October 24 from 8p-11p. Attendees will enjoy a costume contest, delicious food from Classic Catering, spook-tacular music from Expo ‘76, a silent auction, live auction and more! 

Catch the latest GhostLight Theatre production, The Rocky Horror Show - The Musical, October 29-November 2. Tickets are going fast, so reserve your spot today!

Watermark Brewing hosts two Halloween events this October! Try your luck at White Elephant Bingo - Halloween Edition on October 15 from 7p-9p (must be 21+). Then head back on October 31 for their annual Halloween Party at the Solarium at 7p! $10/person (must be 21+). This event features DJ Danger Cave and a costume contest! 

Head to Round Barn Winery & Estate for their Hallowine event on November 1-2. Attendees will enjoy the last Jammin’ in the Viewyard weekend with a Halloween twist. Costumes are encouraged!