Celebrate Spooky Season the Montpelier Way!

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1st. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31st they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

Montpelier's celebration has something for everyone
check out the list of events to celebrate this year!

October 19th

Fermentation Festival at Barr Hill: A fall delight with more than 15 food & beverage vendors including the Pearl Street Pizza oven, live music, and mini tours of the distillery! Tickets are required for sampling and distillery tours. Purchase in advance here.

October 25th

Halloween Story Time at Bear Pond Books: Bring your little pumpkins, goblins, and ghosts to a fun, festive read-along! On Saturday from 11am-12pm, Grace will be reading some of her favorite seasonal stories in the children’s room. Costumes are encouraged, so dress up in your Halloween best and join Bear Pond Books for a morning of spooky storytelling!
Library After Dark Masquerade: Celebrate Halloween at Kellogg-Hubbard Library from 7–10 pm. Enjoy live music, face painting, tarot readings, a costume contest, kid-friendly activities, snacks, and a scary movie. Costumes encouraged! This is a ticketed event, RSVP required. Tickets are free but donations are appreciated!
Family Dance & Pumpkin Carving: Enjoy all things autum with an evening of family fun at the Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio. Featuring pumpkin carving and painting, a costume contest, bake sale, festive photo booth, and dance party! Suggested donation $15 per family; free pumpkins for the first 12 students.

October 26th

The Autumn Onion: Get ready for Vermont’s spookiest race! Dash through downtown Montpelier in your best Halloween costume the Sunday before Halloween, October 26th at 9am, starting and finishing at 89 Main Street. Prizes include ORO gift cards for fastest runners in each age and gender category, plus awards for funniest, most creative, most Vermont-y, best group, and best kid’s costumes. More info and link to register here!

October 30th

Jack o'Lantern Contest at Barr Hill: This Halloween, enjoy jack o'lanterns on Gin Lane! You can enter a jack o'lantern in the contest, or just come to vote on your favorite. Voting begins on Thursday and runs all weekend until Sunday 11/2. The jack o'lanterns will be lit each night for a spooky atmosphere. Contest entries can be dropped off anytime from Wednesday at 12pm on. Need a pumpkin? A small amount are available for complimentary pickup the weekend before, first come, first served.

October 31st

2-8pm: The Basement Teen Center at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library is a safe and free space for teens (12-17 y/o) to drop-in and enjoy games, art and craft supplies, computers, and food! Come participate, or just hang out with friends, meet new friends, and grab a snack.
3-6pm: Taylor Street Transit Center: Click your heels three times and say, “There’s no place like Montpelier Transit Center!” Meet the Cowardly Lion (he’s only afraid of running out of chocolate), the Wicked Witch (surprisingly chill when she’s got something to snack on), and of course Toto, who’s just here for the treats. So grab your costumes, bring your courage, and follow the Yellow Brick Road straight to a sugar high!
4-5:30pm: Trick or Treat throughout downtown: State, Main, Langdon, Elm, and Barre Streets!
- Stop by City Center to meet the costumed crew from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT). They’ll be outside Skinny Pancake handing out candy, bookmarks, and stickers, and sharing their work supporting Vermont’s municipalities.
5-6pm: Thriller Flash Mob haunts Montpelier once again ~ this time bringing a showcase of local Dance Artists who will perform Halloween themed numbers leading up to an epic zombie takeover. State Street never had such a fright night!
5:30-8pm: ORCA Media live stream from College Street. Hosted by Montpelier Alive this year! Our marketing manager, Morgan, and her ghoulish co-hosts will interview trick or treaters. Expect killer costumes, spooky tea, and all the haunted hype. Stream here!

Halloween After Dark: Downtown Parties & Live Music

8:00pm: Halloween Party at Bent Nails Bistro Featuring live music by Select Sound System and the Nailers.
8:30pm: Halloween Party at Charlie O's Featuring synth punk music by Magic User.
8:30pm: Halloween Party at Langdon Street Tavern Featuring music by Cobalt.

November 1st

10am-5pm: Customer Appreciation Day at Morse Farm. So delicious it's scary! Enjoy free creemees all day, tasty samples, and a storewide sale. Don’t let a gloomy November day haunt you, come get your sugar fix!
5:45pm: Glow Ride. Light up the night with Montpelier’s annual family-friendly bike ride! Meet at City Hall at 5:45pm and roll out at 6:00pm for a ~4-mile loop led by the City’s Complete Streets Committee. Deck out your bike and yourself in lights, reflective gear, or even your Halloween costume for one more spin! After the ride, enjoy snacks and stickers in the City Hall courtyard and kick off the Be Bright at Night safety series.
7-9:30pm: Murder at the Museum-A Mystery Fundraiser. Join TW Wood Museum on the day after Halloween for a thrilling Murder Mystery Costume Party! Tickets are $40 and include a character assignment, delicious food, a cash bar, and clues to help you solve the crime. Dress in costume, put your sleuthing skills to the test, mingle with fellow detectives, and support the TW Wood Museum. Grab your tickets via the link!

November 7th

7pm & 9:30pm: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Keep the spooky celebrations going at The Savoy Theater with this cult classic screening. Hosted by local promoter Kell Arbor, the night features prop bags for purchase, costumes encouraged, and plenty of audience participation. Don’t hang up your fishnets just yet, it’s time to do the Time Warp… again!