5 Must-See Halloween Activities in and Around Eureka

In Humboldt, we know how to get spooky! When the leaves start turning and the air begins to chill, Eureka gets to work preparing for weeks of Halloween fun. Our spirited community is deeply passionate about the season and always puts on a slew of activities to celebrate it. Throughout the month of October, there are so many frighteningly fun events that it may be hard to choose which will best suit you, so we’ve hand-picked a range of activities for anyone looking to get into the season.

From thrilling frights to family fun, here are five events that will pump your blood and get you into the Halloween spirit.

1. Boo at the Zoo

Oct 29, 12pm

A perfect stop for the whole family, Sequoia Park Zoo’s annual Boo at Zoo event runs from 12pm to 4pm on October 29, and will provide guests with a wide variety of spooktacular activities.

Come dressed up in your favorite costume and take a stroll down the Candy Trail, meet TV star Mike Craghead as he performs a live pumpkin carving demo in the Spooky Science Lab, and watch Zoo animals get Halloween-themed enrichment items at the annual Pumpkin Stomp & Chomp. All activities are included with admission, so be sure to come on down and spend the day celebrating with your favorite scaly, feathered, finned, and furry friends! More info

2. Haunted Rail Tours

Oct. 27, 28, 31, 6pm

For those looking for some more intense scares, the Haunted Rail Tour will surely scare you stiff. Created in partnership with the North Coast Repertory Theatre, the Timber Heritage Association, and the Clarke Museum, the event includes two unique haunted houses for visitors to experience.

One is a self-guided, PG-13 Round House Tour, and the other is the spine-chilling, R-rated adventure through the haunted rail cars. This journey is not for the faint of heart, so make sure you are prepared!, The event also includes a Haunted Night Market, where you can purchase food, goodies, and non-alcoholic beverages while you take in all the scares. More info

3. Haunted Prom Night at the Historic Eagle House

Oct 31, 9pm

For those looking for some nostalgic fun, brush the cobwebs off your suits and prom dresses and come down to the Historic Eagle House for their sixth annual Haunted Prom Night on Halloween. Guests are encouraged to dress up as ghoulishly and ghastly as possible while celebrating a night of frights in the Historic Eagle House, Eureka’s very own Haunted Mansion.

The night will feature a variety of music to set the mood, like Chocolate Sushi, Marian FLOW, and much more. You must be 21 or older to participate in this event. More info

4. Spooky Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Oct 28, 11am - 2pm

The Spooky Halloween Scavenger Hunt is a fantastic all-ages event to celebrate the season. Hosted by The City of Eureka and Sequoia Park, the event is free and will occur on Saturday, October 28 from 11am to 2 pm. The festivities will include the titular pumpkin scavenger hunt with a prize at the end, games with various prizes and candy, a photo contest, and more! Be sure to mark your calendars and bring your family to join in on the pumpkin hunt. More info

5. Griffin Loch’s Scream-A-Torium

Oct 26, 27, 28 & 31, box office opens at 5:30pm

At the Humboldt County Fairgrounds, you can find blood-curdling excitement and thrills with Griffin Loch’s Scream-A-Torium. The “Scaregrounds” features three unique haunted mazes with terrifying themes that will put your bravery to the test. Try to escape from the murderer Jack Fisher at Camp Grizzly, explore the deadly catacombs in Tales of the Tomb, and survive the labyrinth in the Electro-Terror Thundermaze.

Alongside these heart-pounding mazes, you can get lost in the haunting atmosphere of the Halloween festival, enjoy a variety of food and drinks from the Scaregrounds’s food trucks and bars, enjoy VIP treatment with the exclusive Phantom Tides Haunted Tiki Bar, and jam to electrifying live performances at Frank’s Place. The Scream-A-Torium is a fantastic spot for both seasoned horror-buffs and those new to thrill-seeking. More info