Spooktacular Litchfield: Halloween Season Events & Activities
Everything that makes Litchfield a great town to visit and wonderful place to live – wide, tree-lined streets, rich history, notable architecture, charming character, a cohesive town center with a landmark green, nature preserves crisscrossed by trails – also sets it up to be the perfect Halloween season town.
Lots of residents and businesses get serious about Halloween decorating, and when it comes to spooky season events and activities, Litchfield dispenses a bounty of “treats.”
Here are some of the season’s highlights. We’ll be updating this post as more info comes in – including the town’s trick-or-treat event – so make sure to check back.
Scarecrows in the Meadow, Oct. 14 Opening Event, 1 – 3 p.m.
The 4th Annual Scarecrows in the Meadow, a Litchfield Historical Society community event for families to celebrate the end of the harvest season, will be on display in the Tapping Reeve Meadow from Oct. 14 to Oct. 31 and open for visiting every day from dawn to dusk. More than 50 scarecrows created by local businesses, non-profits, and families will be on display.
Join the historical society for the Opening Celebration on Oct. 14 from 1 – 3 p.m., which features a scarecrow-making challenge, storytelling with KidsPlay Children’s Museum, and fall crafts and activities.
This event is free and open to the public. The Tapping Reeve Meadow is located at 82 South Street, Litchfield, CT 06759.
Halloween Hauntings: Two Victorian Tales of Suspense, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Join the Oliver Wolcott Library for an enchanting evening (live or on Zoom) with actress Michèle LaRue in a one-woman show: Halloween Hauntings: Two American Tales of Suspense from the Victorian Age, The Shadows on the Wall and The House That Was Not. LaRue portrays eight characters in the two tales.
In the wake of a sudden mysterious death, The Shadows on the Wall draws four siblings to a familiar but menacing New England parlor. The House That Was Not lures an unsuspecting new bride across the bleak Nebraska prairie. Authored by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1903) and Elia Wilkinson Peattie (1898), respectively, these tales evoke the America of a century ago, enthralling audiences today.
Michèle LaRue has delighted in performing literature from America’s Gilded Age for nearly 30 years. Her 500 presentations have included Washington’s Smithsonian Institution, Chicago’s Newberry Library, and New York’s Mohonk Mountain House.
Register here: https://www.owlibrary.org/adult-events.aspx#anchor_larue
Family Halloween Party, Oct. 20, 5 – 8 p.m.
All ages are welcome to join the Litchfield Community Center for its Spooky Story Halloween Party on Oct. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The party features Spooky Stories with the Moores and guests are encouraged to wear their best Halloween costumes. Snacks, and a fun craft provided by the Litchfield Girl Scouts!
This event is free and pre-registration required is required. Click here to register.
Singles Mingle (Ages 45+): Pumpkin Carving Contest, Oct. 20, 5 p.m.
The Litchfield Community Center is also hosting a pumpkin carving contest Oct. 20. It’s a BYOB event (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) featuring Spooky Icebreakers and light refreshments. Guests are advised to bring any extra tools, props, or accessories to enhance their pumpkins, and costumes are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit. The cost is $10, with pre-registration and pre-payment required.
Stories to Keep You Up at Night: Lantern Tour of Litchfield Historic District,
Oct. 20 and Oct. 26, 5:30
Join the Litchfield Historical Society for a special spooky night of Litchfield’s most frightening and gruesome true stories. The tour starts at the Tapping Reeve Meadow, where guests will enjoy historically inspired cocktails and treats before grabbing lanterns and heading into the darkness to learn about the violent and scandalous side of Litchfield’s history.
The walk, which takes place both Oct. 20 and Oct. 26 at 5:30, lasts approximately an hour. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Register online.
Rob Zombie Fest at Bantam Cinema & Arts Center, beginning Oct. 20
Bantam Cinema & Arts Center is presenting “Rob Zombie Fest“ this Halloween season, featuring five nights of films beginning Oct. 20,
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Rob Zombie‘s feature debut, “House of 1000 Corpses,” so Rob Zombie Fest opens Oct. 20 with a screening of the film, followed by a Q&A with Rob Zombie and Sheri Moon Zombie.
Everyone who attends the special event will receive a limited-edition autographed poster.
Tickets for the screenings and the special event can be purchased via the Bantam Cinema. Click here to join in the gory fun.
Artists Halloween Mixer, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.
The Litchfield Arts Council, an official Town of Litchfield CT entity, is building a database of artists for its website-in-progress and given that these are creative folks, they’re throwing a FREE Halloween party to coax all the local talent out of their studios!
The Halloween Mixer takes place Oct. 28 at Market Place Tavern at The Old Litchfield Jail and promises to be “a spooktacular evening of art and fun.”
Get ready to mingle with fellow artists and unleash your creativity in a festive atmosphere, says the invite on Eventbrite for Organizers. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, or any kind of artist, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in the Litchfield area.
(Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite Halloween costume and get into the spirit of the season. This mixer promises to be a night of spooky inspiration, where you can share ideas, collaborate, and maybe even find your next artistic muse.)
Here’s the Eventbrite link to reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/artists-halloween-mixer…
Trick or Tweet, Oct. 28, 10 a.m., Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
Trunk or Treat, Oct. 30, 5 – 7 p.m.
Join Brandywine Living at Litchfield for a fun day of costumes, games, and treats Oct. 30 in a special Trunk or Treat event. Those who wish to host a trunk, or have questions about the event, are asked to contact Sydney Krewson at [email protected]. Brandywine will supply the candy for the outdoor event.