Halloween in the ‘Burgh: My Favorite Festive Activities
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
The fall/halloween season has always been my favorite time of the year. I love everything about this time of the year. From pumpkin spice lattes, to cozy sweaters, to beautiful leaf peeping hikes, to special seasonal events and foods, there is just so much to look forward to. The temps have finally cooled down and the sticky humidity is beginning to thankfully go away. I love picking out my perfect pumpkin at a local patch, with a cider in hand, and attending all sorts of spooky Halloween events.
While living in Pittsburgh, I enjoyed a mix of leaf peeping (there are many wonderful fall color hikes in the metro), as well as a full lineup of fall and Halloween activities. There is plenty to do here to please autumn lovers as well as Halloween buffs. Enjoy my guide and have a spooky time!
Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza
- Where: The Pittsburgh Zoo
- When: Oct 2nd – Nov. 2nd. Closed Oct 6th, 7th, 14th, 20th, and 21st. Hours: 6:30-10:30pm
- Pricing: Ranges from $20-26 per adult and $15-20 per child
- Trail distance: About 2 miles (the trail covers only the first half of the zoo)
2025 marks the 2nd year of the spirited Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza festival at the zoo. This is the city’s best seasonal event in my opinion as it is so over-the-top and just screams Halloween is here. I attended last year and have already booked my tickets for this year’s festival. It’s so festive that I am driving 2 hours from Cleveland!
This seasonal event is really fun with a lot to do and see – it’s a feast for the senses. Yes, it’s really overcrowded, but worth the hassle as it is obvious that the staff put a lot of effort into making this a exciting and colorful Halloween event for the whole family. You will get to see over 3000 of Jack O’lanterns along a festive Pumpkin trail, complete with spooky music. There’s also pumpkin themed treats, festive fall displays, and even some local ‘Burgh flair (I love the sports dedication!). Check out my full guide to learn more about this event and see more pics.
On a side note, I love this zoo – although it’s quite small, the layout is great and there is a great diversity of animals. So definitely plan a separate visit in the afternoon. The fall colors are usually gorgeous this time of year!
Haunted mini golf
- Where: The Windmill Mini Golf course in Aliquippa
- When: Late Sept through October. Hours: 3-9pm (Mon-Fri), 11am-10pm (Sat and Sun)
- Pricing: Before 6: $11 per adult, $10 for kids. After 6: $13 for adults, $11 for kids. Thursdays are BOGO.
This is one of the more fun Halloween events I’ve been to in recent years and something totally unique you won’t find anywhere else. The 18 hole mini golf course at The Windmill in Aliquippa is transformed into a spooky course every October. They go over-the-top in the decor department with the entire course totally decked out with all your favorite horror villains. Everyone from Chucky to Pennywise makes an appearance.
Actors dress up at night to scare you and there are special fog and lighting effects. Best of all, the balls glow in the dark! This is a really fun time for anyone who is a fan of horror and golf (I love both!). There’s also some pretty nice foliage surrounding the course so it doubles as a fun leaf peeping activity. For those with a sweet tooth, there is an ice cream stand on site. Totally recommended!
Monster Pumpkin Festival
- Where: The Strip District
- When: October 18th and 19th (Railroad St between 28th & 29th)
- Check out the full schedule of events
This is the event in downtown Pittsburgh to add to your calendar. Every year, the historic Strip district goes pumpkin crazy in this annual event which draws fall lovers in droves. There is a lot to do here including: a costume 5k, a pumpkin pie eating contest, and a pumpkin drop. There’s tons of fall decor, plus special autumn treats and craft vendors. I attend this festival mostly to see the gigantic 2500 pound pumpkins – they are so big they need a forklift to transport them!
After the event, there are a lot of great coffeehouses and restaurants to check out in The Strip. If you want to keep the fall vibe going, head over to DiAnoia’s for their iconic Pumpkin Gnocchi bowl or Defer for their fall spice latte.
Spooky Cruises
- Where: Gateway Clipper downtown
- When: The month of October
- Cruise options
The Gateway Clipper offers a wonderful sightseeing cruise where you can enjoy fabulous views of the skyline and iconic bridges. I recommend this ride to new tourists – it’s a great way to experience what I think is one of the country’s best cityscapes. I love that they offer special holiday cruises so you can look forward to something new and exciting all year round.
They offer several spooky options including: a fun kid’s theme cruise, a dance and party cruise, and a haunted night cruise where you can hear stories of local hauntings. You can dress in costume for any of the cruises and there is a bar on board, so overall it’s a fun vibe for kids and adults alike.
Soergel Orchards Fall festival
- Where: Soergel Orchards in Wexford
- When: Sept 13/14-end of Oct. Hours: 9am-6pm
There are a number of great pumpkin patches and festivals in the metro. My favorite is Soergel Orchards fall fest which is free to attend. Each attraction is priced separately which is nice so you are not wasting money on activities you are not interested in.
There’s a lot you can do here including; picking out pumpkins, apple picking, tractor rides, and indulging in seasonal treats. Staring Sept 26th, they offer hayrides on Friday night out to their pumpkin patch. I like strolling around with a cider and enjoying the fall foliage, decor, and country setting. This orchard is located in Wexford, so I usually head out to Zuppa’s Deli afterward (they serve the best soup and sandwiches in the metro!).
Ghost tours & haunted destinations
Like many old Northeast cities, Pittsburgh is no stranger to hauntings. If you love hearing stories of ghostly apparitions, definitely consider one of the city’s ghost tours. The Pittsburgh Ghosts Tour meets at Mellon Square and then proceeds to take you to some of the city’s more haunted locales including the Old Allegheny Jail and the Clayton Mansion.
The National Aviary (which is a pretty cool place to visit) was actually built over an old prison which is pretty spooky. Also, if you are looking for a bite to eat, the popular tourist hotspot Church Brew Works (an old church turned brewery) is so haunted that ghost hunters often make a stop here. Ghost Hunters (I prefer Ghost Adventures to be honest) checked it out for their Haunted Brewery episode (Season 14).
