By Suzanne Corbett
There’s plenty to love about October in St. Louis, especially if you love Halloween. This year has brought even more creepy-cool places to enjoy—from friendly, not-too-scary, haunted attractions to frightful destinations guaranteed to scare your socks off.
To help create a season filled with spooktacular events I have a few suggestions. A mix of funky, fun and eerie events you’ll want to consider adding to your October calendar. And, of course, don’t forget to sample the season’s spooky-themed eats and sips along the way. All designed to make this year’s annual haunt something extra special. Here’s my Halloween list of October haunts to visit, indulge and savor.
Eckert’s Farms (Multiple Locations): Eckert’s Farm in Belleville and Millstadt, Il are two locations where visitors can experience two completely different Halloween events. The Millstadt farm offers an assortment of great fall activities including Haunted hayrides with live haunts, a corn maze and an apple cannon to bonfires with s’mores. At Eckert’s Bellville location, besides apple and pumpkin picking, at night you can take a wagon ride to Jack’s Lighted Trail perched on a hilltop cornfield. An after-dark, walkable attraction featuring a half mile illuminated trail features giant carved pumpkins, seasonal displays and plenty of sweet apple cider.
“We’ve been doing haunted hayrides and bonfires at our Millstadt location for years. Last year we decided to something in Belleville but wanted it to be different,” said Anggie Eckert. “It’s now in its second year and we’ve added a few new things – a large bar space and hidden windmill speakeasy with an exclusive cocktail and N/A beverage option.”
Guests can also enjoy seasonal bites, sweets, and craft hard ciders at Eckert’s Cider Shed, with select nights featuring live music. The attraction will be open from 7–10 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays in October.
Looking for family fun events that aren’t so scary? Check out Boo in the Zoo , Grant’s Farm Halloween Nights and Boo in the Zoo is a great time to see the zoo’s nocturnal animals and decorations along with this year’s expanded “boo’ areas, the Primate House, Dinoroarus, the Bayer Insectarium, and the 4D theater showing, “Spookey’s 4D Jamboree. Grant’s Farm after-dark experience Halloween Nights provides a ticket to hop on the haunted tram ride through Sleepy Hollow and the deer park before disembarking to stroll along glowing trails to the Bauernhof for more trick or treat fun.
Legends & Lanterns, held along historic St. Charles, Missouri’s Main Street, is celebrating its 11th year. The ultimate free Halloween street fest, dubbed a “spirited” journey through Halloween history, promises fun experiences where costumed characters portraying infamous villains, scallywags and spooks from literature and folklore visitors. Expect appearances from witches and ghouls while strolling the streets. Enjoy the fall decorations and displays of craved pumpkins, which will be illuminated the weekend before Halloween to catch the Pumpkin Glow.
Antebellum era houses naturally attract ghostly spirits, especially the living ones – members of the St. Louis Mourning Society – who will present mourning traditions as they recreated Robert Campbell’s 1879 wake at the Campbell House Museum’s Twilight Tour on October 30. Discover mourning traditions, burial practices, spiritual beliefs, and the folklore of Hallows’ Eve, including the beloved Victorian celebration of Snap Apple Night in the carriage house. The night also includes Spirits in the Garden featuring a curated tasting of wines and whiskeys, along with a signature cocktail crafted especially for the occasion. Savor traditional Hallows’ Eve treats, including mourning cookies. Guests may also choose to purchase a personal reading from Kendela Fae and glimpse what messages may await beyond the veil.
Fans of Edgar Allen Poe looking for a night of Gothic entertainments need only take a trip to the historic Oakland House for its Party with Poe, October 23. The night begins when night falls and the moonlight grounds serve as the backdrop for Anne Williams, a historic interpreter who will perform a selection of Poe’s terrifying tales in the parlor. Snacks are included with the performance.
After partying with Poe chill out with a cup or cone of Clementine’s Ice Cream new limited-edition flavors inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe: Midnight Dreary, NevermOrange, Thing of Evil, The Raven and Midnight Dreary (a rich dark chocolate laced with ribbons of blood red raspberry jam.
Clementine’s Ice Cream’s CEO and Founder, Tamara Keefe, shared the inspiration behind the flavors: “Poe created worlds that feel vivid, atmospheric and a little unsettling, which gave our team so much to play with. We translated that mood into flavors that are unexpected but still genuinely delicious.”
Creepy cocktails, coffees and wicked wine
When Death Becomes Her (running October 13-25) opens at the Fabulous Fox), the new underground cocktail lounge, None of the Above (NOTA), from James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft’s Niche Food Group, will open with its first showstopping cocktail, the Siempre Viva. Described as a theatrical purple ube gin fizz inspired by the potion of everlasting life that is the centerpiece the show. A drink creation and collaboration inspired by the theatre’s 2026-2027 Broadway lineup, offer theatergoers a way to extend their night out with a post-show stop. NOTA is located less than a mile from The Fabulous Fox beneath City Foundry STL in Midtown. Following Death Becomes Her, the next round of cocktails include BOOP! Musical (October 27-November 8, 2026): Something to Shout About, a red, cherry-garnished variation on the classic Pink Lady, inspired by the iconic Betty Boop, and The Great Gatsby (December 22, 2026–January 3, 2027): The Green Light, a green gimlet inspired by one of the most recognizable symbols from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic story.
“This has been such a fun opportunity for our team to get creative and pull inspiration from each of these shows,” said Dan LaFollette, Bar Manager at None of the Above. “Whether you’re a season ticket holder or heading to The Fabulous Fox for one special night, we’re excited to give guests something new to try with each show, and hopefully a reason to make NOTA a part of your post-show ritual.”
Purple has become the new orange for Halloween, which has inspired Mellow Mushroom to create its Wicked Wizard cocktail made with Don Q Cristal Rum, fresh sour, lime juice, Mellow’s Moondust syrup (made with blue spirulina & Monin Dragon Fruit Syrup), cream of coconut, coconut milk & blueberry flavored popping pearls. Giving the cocktail a playful, bubbling-cauldron effect It’s garnished with a thick sugar rim.
“The Wicked Wizard is pure Halloween magic,” says Elizabeth Brasch, EVP of People & Brand at Mellow Mushroom. “We wanted to create something visually unexpected and trend-forward, without losing sight of making a cocktail that tastes every bit as good as it looks.”
DD Mau is putting a Vietnamese-inspired spin on fall flavors with a lineup of seasonal drinks that go beyond the traditional pumpkin spice latte. Now until the end of November guests can sip on a Japanese Sweet Potato Mousse Vietnamese Coffee, Iced Chai with Caramel Pumpkin Foam, and Iced Matcha with Pumpkin Caramel Syrup. All familiar seasonal flavors with ingredients and drinks rooted in DD Mau’s Vietnamese-inspired menu.
Augusta, America’s first registered wine appellation located in the heart of Missouri’s wine county is beckoning all to gather your ‘Boo Crew” for its Wicked Wine Hop, October 24. A great way to kick-off Halloween with a curated hop between Augusta Winery, Montelle Winery, Balducci Vineyards, and Mount Pleasant Estates. Tickets are $15, and includes a winery swag bag, tasting voucher and Pumpkin Passport. Complete the passport and enter to win a private wining tasting for 10. Dress up for the costume contests that are planned at each winery.
Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton reintroduces “Scotchtober,” at Café la Vie Bistro + Bar. Their seasonal program brings together sought-after Scotch selections, access to industry experts, and a chef-led prix fixe dinner, offering guests an approachable way to discover new Scotch varieties and beverage creations. Available in October from Tuesday through Thursday, 4–10 p.m., the Scotchtober happy hour spotlights a new collection of labels each week. A Glenfiddich dinner slated for Monday, October 12 will present four courses created by Executive Chef Phil Winchester.
