🐦‍⬛ Best Haunted Houses and Paranormal Experiences in the Cincy Region 👻

History and horror collide in the Cincy Region. This spooky season we invite you to dive deep into the dark and eerie corners of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Uncover the creepiest haunted houses, ghost tours and paranormal experiences that will send shivers down your spine.

Haunted Houses and Attractions

The Dent Schoolhouse

Walking through school hallways can be scary enough, but they’re especially frightening at the Dent Schoolhouse. Located in an actual haunted school, this iconic attraction (and ranked one of the top haunted houses in the country!) features surprises lurking behind every corner. The local lore is that over a dozen students went missing from this public school between the years of 1942 to 1955. What happened to them? You’ll have to pay a visit to find out.

Check dates and ticket prices online. You can also buy tickets for special experiences - like the "Lights On" tour, that is perfect for mega fans who want to see the immense level of detail that goes into the decor; or the "Lights Out" tour, where nearly ALL the lights are out, for ultimate thrills!

* Running select days September 11 – November 5

Cincinnati Fear Fest/All Hallows Eve Terror Town

Prepare for spine-tingling scares at Cincinnati Fear Fest/All Hallows Eve Terror Town. Be transported back in time as you walk down Main Street in a haunted western town, then choose your own adventure. Featuring multiple “scare zones”, plus secret specialty bars and dining, plan to spend several hours at this experience. Intended for ages 18+; get your tickets online.

* Running select days September 12 - November 1

Halloween Haunt

Kings Island is more than summer fun in the sun and roller coasters. Head to Halloween Haunt for all of your favorite thrill rides plus multiple haunted houses, and terrifying creatures roaming the park. Check out the Halloween Haunt schedule and buy tickets online. This year, horror movie buffs HAVE to check out the brand new "Jason: Blood Reign", an interactive experience featuring scenes from the iconic movie Friday the 13th.

* Running select days September 25 – October 31

Land of Illusion: Haunted Scream Park

Be prepared to scream, panic, and even run for your life through the six attractions at Land of Illusion: Haunted Scream Park. The frights begin as soon as you arrive and can last for hours as you are chased along the Middletown Haunted Trail, unnerved by Killer Klowns, feel your blood curdle in Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate, terrorized by mummies in Temple of Terror, and get plunged into total darkness in Lights Out! Buy your tickets ahead of time online. 

* Running Fridays and Saturdays, and select dates Halloween weekend from September 11 – October 31

Brimstone Haunt

Try all the terrifying experiences at Brimstone Haunt for a truly memorable night indoors and outdoors. The Haunted Hayride is the scary starting point at Brimstone Haunt, and good for ages 8+. For more intense experiences, hike through The Bog, then face your greatest fears with The Boogeyman . Know before you go and check out the intensity level of these experiences on their website, and purchase tickets ahead of time. 

* Running select days from September 11 – October 31

Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride

For over 20 years now brave visitors have been learning that this is no ordinary hayride. Climb aboard Sandyland Acres Haunted Hayride for a 25-minute bumpy and spooky trip down haunted memory lane, witnessing the best of cinema's horror past and present. Tickets are cash only.

* Running Fridays and Saturdays, September 18 – October 31

The Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall 

For 37 years, the Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall has been a spooky season staple in the Cincy Region. Members of the local community have banded together for nearly four decades to produce a one-of-a-kind haunted house that evolves year-after-year. Fun fact: this attraction is operated entirely as a non-profit by members of the Knights of Columbus Madonna Council and various Scout Troops, making it one of the last remaining non-profit haunted houses in the region. Tickets are $15, with fast passes available and discounts on Sunday if you bring a canned soup donation. 

* Running October 2 - October 31 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

The USS Nightmare

Experience two decks and more than 30 minutes of terror at USS Nightmare, one of Cincy’s longest-running haunted tours. This unique attraction takes place on a haunted dredge boat, docked on the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky.

* Running select days September 18 – November 13; you can buy your tickets online ahead of time. Want to make it even more intense? Try the RIP Experience and the Captain’s Extreme Tour – if you dare.

Haunted tours and bar crawls

Ghost Tours of Music Hall

Cincinnati Music Hall is an icon; but did you know it is one of the most haunted places in Cincinnati? Built upon the grounds of an old potter's field, Travel Channel lists Music Hall as one of the most terrifying places in America. This October, go behind the scenes and experience a spooky tour of Music Hall with the Cincinnati Research & Paranormal Studies team.

Haunted Historic Walking Tours by American Legacy Tours

Shriek and shiver through the streets of Covington or Newport on a haunted walking tour by American Legacy Tours. Expert guides will lead you through the dark city streets and regale you with stories of haunted mansions, ghastly murders, vicious feuds, and more. Take a deep dive into Cincy’s eerie past – featuring neighborhoods like Clifton, Mt. Healthy and Newport. For tickets and availability check out their website. 

Cincinnati Booze and Boos Tour

What’s better than touring some of the most haunted places in the Cincy Region? Doing so with a drink in hand! As you wander past historic buildings, hear spine-tingling ghost stories, and stop at some of the creepiest bars in the city, you’ll experience a mix of thrills, chills, and spirits from behind the bar. This two-and-a-half-hour walking tour promises a night of ghostly encounters and unforgettable tales. Grab your friends, muster up some courage, and dive into Cincinnati's mysterious past! Must be 21+ to participate; buy your tickets online.

Paranormal Experiences

Spirits by Starlight Ghost Tours

Looking for a true paranormal experience in the Cincy Region? Look no further.  An expansive collection of pioneer buildings and artifacts voyaged from across the Ohio Valley to call Heritage Village home. Now they snuggle into the curvature of a neolithic canyon, amidst Native American burial mounds, at the heart of prehistoric Sharon Woods. For half a century, strange stories have swirled around this museum. That has included: furniture moving autonomously, electrical anomalies, cold spots, disembodied voices, spectral smells and sounds, phantom footsteps, full-bodied apparitions, and more. Book your tour of this special experience here. Seeking something even more intense? You can even book a private, overnight investigation with paranormal historian Violet Shindler.

* Tours available September 19 and 26; October 3 and November 21 from 7 - 10 p.m.

Arnold's After Dark

Get the unique experience of touring Cincinnati's oldest bar - after dark! Gather up your paranormal team and get ready to investigate one of the most haunted places in the Cincy Region. 

* Available Sundays and Mondays; $600 per group of up to 10 people. Available through October 31. 

Death at Dinsmore

Head to the Dinsmore Homestead and listen to spooky stories about the Dinsmore family. Docents will share tales about the family's mourning traditions, macabre medical cures, and more. Tour the Homestead's parlor as it's set up for an 1851 funeral.

* October 16 - 17 and 23 - 24 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Bar and Immersive Pop-Ups

Halloween Pop-up at Cobblestone OTR

Cobblestone OTR, known for its impressive transformations for holidays throughout the year, is pulling out the stops this year for Halloween. This year, expect over-the-top decor and a special menu of spooky, seasonal cocktails.

* Running from October 2 - November 1

The Haunting on Madison at Galaxie

Head to Galaxie in Covington for a special Halloween-themed cocktail pop-up, serving up craft drinks, dark aesthetics and spooky season vibes. 

* Running October 1 - November 1

Tipsy Pumpkins & Ghosts Bar at The Pitch

Think adorable, floating ghosts, glowing pumpkins, spooky cocktails and late-night fun. This cute pop-up at The Pitch is perfect for everyone. 

* Running October 14 - November 1

Black Lagoon at Braxton Barrel House

Experience the award-winning Black Lagoon pop-up at Braxton Barrel House in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Sip on themed cocktails in a dark, haunted lagoon - and maybe even win a free glass! This immersive experience will also feature weekly activations and fun events throughout the month of October. 

* Running October 3 - 31

Family-Friendly Festivals, Block Parties and Activities

Mainstrasse Halloween Parade and Pub Crawl

Experience the first ever Mainstrasse Halloween Parade and Pub Crawl! Enjoy locals dressed in their best costumes and floats from Covington businesses, all celebrating spooky season. The parade steps off near Philadelphia and Main, and moves down Main Street towards Fifth Street. 

After the parade, drop into a variety of local bars and pubs for special deals and discounts. Check here for a list of participating businesses; more will be added closer to the event date. 

* Saturday, October 24 with parade kick-off at 7 p.m.

Cryptid Ball and Covington Cryptid Block Party 

First, experience The Cryptid Ball at Esoteric Brewing Company. Enjoy a photobooth, best dressed contest, local vendors and live music. 

*Saturday, October 10; 7 p.m. to close.

Then, mark your calendars for one of the wackiest and most whimsical festivals around: The Covington Cryptid Block Party! This all-ages street festival returns to Pike Street for its fifth year, featuring local vendors, art, music, dancers, clowns, food, and so much more. 

* Saturday, October 24; noon - 6 p.m.

Haunted Mini Golf at Big Bone Lick State Historical Site

Bring your whole family for a round of haunted mini golf. Play during the day, or after dark - if you dare! One round is only $5 per person.

* Available every day through October. Last game starts at 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4:30 p.m. Sunday - Thursday.

Seasonal Art Exhibits

While not spooky or scary, these seasonal exhibits are only here for a limited time - so be sure to catch them while you can. 

Edie McKee Harper: Modernist at Play

Check out the wonderfully distinct and modernist style of local Cincinnati artist, Edie McKee Harper, at the Taft Museum of Art. This exhibit features photographs, paintings, enamels, weavings, illustrations and prints. 

* Running from October 17 - January 24

The Art of Charley Harper: Creatures Wild and Tame

This incredible exhibit, located at the Cincinnati Art Museum, takes an in-depth look at one of Cincinnati's most beloved local artists. Harper's "minimal realism" style is simple and graphic, depicting wildlife as subject matter, in vivid and vibrant ways.

* Running October 16 - March 7

Ready to plan your trip to the Cincy Region this fall? Get ready to plan your trip by checking out these additional fun, fall festivals that are great for the whole family.