10 Halloween Activities in Boise and Beyond (Spooky and Family Friendly)
Spooktober is here — time to bust out your Halloween decor, go trick-or-treating, and binge-watch your fave October specials while munching on some yummy Halloween treats!
Halloween traditions are fun and all, but if you’re looking to spice things up this spooky season, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we listed the best Halloween activities in Boise and around Treasure Valley to help you celebrate Halloween with your friends or family.
Ready? Here we go!
Allie Mann | Editor
The Haunted World
If you’re looking for a good fright with some family or friends, head over to The Haunted World. As the state’s largest indoor and outdoor haunted house, this 35-acre horror attraction has been scaring Idaho residents for more than 23 years.
Often described as the Disneyland of horror, The Haunted World features attractions like a giant corn maze, various horror displays, and of course, the haunted house. There’s also no age limit, so the entire family can go.
Ticket prices start at $29. Attractions are open every day in October except Sundays.
Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Boise
For a less scary and more family-friendly Halloween activity, bring the whole family to The Boo at the Zoo located in Zoo Boise. There, you and the kids can enjoy a variety of Halloween activities, such as face painting, costume contests, trick-or-treat candy stations, and lots more.
This event will be held from October 29th (Saturday) to 30th (Sunday). Tickets go for $9-12, while zoo members and children under 2 are free.
Haunted Halloween Trolley Tours
Fancy a spooky tour of Boise? The Haunted Halloween Trolley Tour takes you on a 90-minute ride through the various sights and sounds of downtown Boise! This is perfect if you’re new to Boise or showing someone around the town.
Note that participants must be 12+. Catch this tour from Oct 14 to 31. Regular tickets go for $20 or more, depending on the day.
Idaho Horror Film Festival
Horror film fans, unite! And come on down to the Idaho Horror Film Festival, the first and longest-running horror film festival in Idaho. This event has everything a true horror film fan won’t want to miss — the best and latest genre films, guests, panels, and special programs like Horror Trivia Night, Horror Poetry Slam, Flash Fiction Competition, and more.
Visit the official website of the Idaho Horror Film Festival for the latest announcements.
Villains in the Village – The Village at Meridian
Another family and kid-friendly Halloween event for kids, Villains in the Village is a live stage show where your kids can come and watch their favorite villains come to life. They’ll also get a live show from Corbin Maxey, a world-renowned animal expert, and his gang of exotic animals. You can also expect other fun activities such as face painting, balloon twisting, pumpkin carving, and more.
This event is free to join. If you’re interested, drop by the Fountain Square at The Village at Meridian on October 19, 6 to 8 p.m. Don’t forget to wear your spookiest costumes!
Vintage Movie Night – The Sapphire Room
Bottomless movie snacks, a full-service bar, and the best classic horror movies — everything you need for the perfect horror movie night. Luckily, you can get all those and more at the Vintage Movie Night, held in the Sapphire Room at The Riverside Hotel on 10/23. There are no age restrictions, so you can definitely bring along your friends or your entire family.
Tickets go for $13-20, depending on your preferred seats. You can also reserve your seat online if you’re going with friends. For their movie line-up, check the event page linked above.
Trunk or Treat and Dance to the Beat
Trunk or Treat is a fun, family-friendly Halloween event where 100+ businesses come together to create a long trick-or-treat line that starts from Idaho Avenue to Second Street. And if you get hungry, there are also on-site food vendors in addition to all of the downtown Boise restaurants near the vicinity. Once you’ve had your fill of treats, hop down to the main stage on Idaho Avenue for an outdoor dance party.
To join, drop by downtown Meridian on Oct. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. Participation is free, but all goers are encouraged to bring food or cash donations for the Meridian Food Bank.
Frightened Felons – Old Idaho Penitentiary
If being scared out of your wits is more your cup of tea, you should definitely join Old Idaho Penitentiary’s annual Frightened Felons. Here, you’ll have to survive a trek through the haunted prison cell house, where you’ll come across plenty of prison-themed mini-games and tons of scares from ghostly prisoners.
Aside from that, you can also watch live performances, grab a bite and drink from on-site food trucks and stalls, join the costume contest, and lots more!
For the latest schedule and announcements, stay tuned to Old Idaho Penitentiary’s events page, which is linked above.
YMCA Halloween Monster Mile & Freaky 5k – Micron Campus
Work up a sweat this Halloween with the YMCA’s annual Halloween Run. This year, you can choose between the Monster Mile or Freaky 5k — through the Micron Campus in Boise. Make sure to get creative for your costume and light it up with neon or glow gear!
The YMCA Halloween Run will be held on Oct. 28 and starts at 3 p.m. Tickets for the Youth Run (4-14 years old) go for $25-30, while Adult tickets range from $30-40. All participants will receive a special glow-in-the-dark shirt and a medal for finishing the run.
Requiem Haunted House
Scaredy cats, be warned! — The Requiem Haunted House is not for the faint-hearted. Located in a century-old building in downtown Caldwell, the Requiem Haunted House is 13,000 square feet of pure horror and terror. Inside, you’ll see a variety of horrific scenes, from dark, anxiety-inducing mazes to ghastly ghouls just waiting to scare you.
The Requiem Haunted House is open for ages 7 and up. Tickets go for $14 for 12 and under and $19 for 13 years and up. The max number in one group is 6. Please note that you need to sign a waiver before entering the premises.