Boo! It’s Halloween in the Brandywine Valley

Looking for spine-tingling thrills? Family-friendly spooky fun? Or ghostly tales along with your tea sandwiches? You can find all that plus plenty of Halloween happenings in the Brandywine Valley. Notice our cover image from the 2024 Chadds Ford Pumpkin Carve? That’s just a first glimpse.

Since Americans now spend more than $11 billion annually on Halloween, it’s become our second-largest commercial holiday, trailing only Christmas. We suggest you spend some of that seasonal cash on local haunted fun.

Here are a few ideas, with even more in our Best Local Events section.

Haunted Attractions & Events

The Bates Motel & Haunted Attractions (Sept. 19 – Nov. 2)
1835 N. Middletown Rd., Glen Mills
TheBatesMotel.com
Head to Arasapha Farm for a chilling trio of attractions — haunted hayride, a creepy corn maze and the infamous “Bates Motel.” Rated among the scariest spots in the nation, this local institution is perfect for thrill-seekers of all scare-tolerance, especially classic horror-movie fans.

Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead’s Ghostly Tales (Oct. 18 & 25)
3900 N. Sandy Flash Dr., Newtown Square
ColonialFarmstead.org
Experience chilling fireside tales of daring deeds and deadly dread plus haunted local folklore, including theatrical renditions of the legend of Sandy Flash. Under flickering lantern light, meet the victims, captors and admirers who bring Sandy Flash’s story to life. And be happy you’re in the 21st century!

The Great Pumpkin Carve at Chadds Ford (Oct. 16–18)
1736 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford
ChaddsFordHistory.org
See over 70 giant pumpkins transformed into glowing, intricate carved masterpieces created by local artists. Enjoy live music, food trucks, kid-friendly haunted trail, raffles and more. A great photo-op event. Maybe your photo will grace our cover next year!

Mimi’s Tea Cottage Presents Sleepy Hollow (Oct. 23)
30 S. High St., West Chester
MimisTeaCottage.com
The women of Sleepy Hollow have their own stories to tell. Step into the shadows of history and hear their tales as you fortify yourself with tea, sandwiches and desserts.

Penns Woods Winery’s Halloweekend (Oct. 25 & 26)
124 Beaver Valley Rd., Chadds Ford
PennsWoodsWinery.com
Two ghoulish afternoons filled with Halloween fun and music. Sip themed cocktails while kids enjoy face painting, a hay maze and Portable Picasso Pop Up, plus pumpkin painting on Sunday. Wine tastings, local beer, cider, cheese and fall favorites apple cider donuts and kettle corn, too.

Spooky Parades & Community Trick-or-Treats

West Chester Parade (Oct. 26): A decades-old tradition, this Halloween parade, now on Sunday afternoon, loops around downtown. Visit candy stations along the route and grab a goodie bag. Watch local marching bands and cheer/ dance teams perform.

Media Parade (Oct. 25): The 59th annual Delco Halloween Parade transforms downtown Media into a procession of zombies, witches and skeletons, along with marching bands, floats and more. Come in costume and expect spooky surprises and frighteningly good fun.

Wayne Trick or Treat (Oct. 25): Family-friendly downtown Wayne hosts this afternoon event with merchants handing out treats. Plus Wayne Art Center’s tent has crafts and more treats, with the Radnor Firehouse adding a touch-a-truck event.

Brandywine Zoo (Oct. 17–19): “Boo at the Zoo” includes merry-not-scary trick-or-treating through the zoo in costumes, along with themed activities and a “Spirits at the Zoo” event for adults on select evenings. Plenty of adorable photo ops!

Haunted History in Delaware

New Castle’s Hauntings in History (Oct. weekends)
NewCastleHistory.org
Explore New Castle’s dark past through ghost stories and historical accounts until you shiver with fright. And tour the famous haunted Amstel House, where you just may meet … The Lady in Blue!

Fort Delaware – Paranormal Adventures (Oct. and beyond)
DEStateParks.com
This Civil War-era prison-turned-state-park offers Victorian-style Halloween experiences and three-hour paranormal investigations with Diamond State Ghost Investigators.

Rockwood Park & Museum – Paranormal Exploration
NewCastleDE.gov
Featured in “Ghost Hunters,” this Gothic mansion with reported hauntings by former residents offers paranormal investigation experience with real equipment.

Stage and Scream — Make That Screen

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
It’s the 50th anniversary, and you have a choice of venues.

• The Colonial Theatre (Oct. 14)
  227 Bridge St., Phoenixville
  TheColonialTheatre.com
  Come for the movie and the pre-show flash mob of “The Time Warp,” plus a costume contest, full shadow cast, the Colonial Transylvanians, themed cocktails and so much more.
• Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center (Oct. 31)
  226 N. High St. West Chester
  UptownWestChester.org
  The cult classic returns for a night of outrageous fun, rock ‘n’ roll and over-the-top audience participation. Costumes and callbacks are highly encouraged. Whether you’re a Rocky virgin or a seasoned fan, get ready to shout, dance and sing along.

The Media Theatre’s “Young Frankenstein” (Oct. 2–26)
104 E. State St., Media. MediaTheatre.org
See Theater Spotlight in this issue.

Walking Tours — Chilling or Cultural

Creepy Walking Tours in West Chester (multiple dates)
Chester County History Center, 225 N. High St., West Chester
MyCCHC.org
It wouldn’t be fall in the borough without a series of creepy walking tours. Chester County History Center is bringing back “Plagues and Pestilence,” a look at the impact of disease on the 19th century, as well as “Chilling West Chester: A Dark History,” West Chester’s ghost tour.

Virtual Gallery Talk, Brandywine Museum of Art (Oct. 27 & 28)
1 Hoffman’s Mill Rd., Chadds Ford
Brandywine.org
Join Victoria Wyeth as she shares her personal perspectives on the art of her grandfather Andrew and uncle Jamie Wyeth. She’ll include spooky and seasonal works by both artists, including some not previously on public view, to address Halloween symbolism. Zoom link will be emailed.