Oct 11th Recap: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Haunted Gallows & Saco Halloween Events

 

 

October is finally here, and Halloween New England has been making the most of it! 

Over the past week, we traveled across New England to experience glowing jack-o’-lantern displays, haunted trails, family-friendly Halloween attractions, and plenty of scares. From Providence, Rhode Island to Saco, Maine, these early October adventures gave us a chance to experience several very different ways to celebrate the Halloween season.
Follow along with us as we take you on a tour of the adventures we've been treated to over the last week!

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo

Last week, the Halloween New England team headed to Providence, RI for a night at The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo.

The 2026 theme is The Great Pun-Kin Trail and it came to life through more than 5,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, with illuminated displays incorporating pop culture, familiar characters, wordplay, and plenty of stunningly intricate pumpkin carvings throughout the Zoo. How they manage to outdo themselves every year, we're not sure, but we were in complete awe.

Walking the trail gave us a chance to take in the individual carvings while also seeing how thousands of glowing pumpkins come together to transform the Zoo after dark. Along the way, we encountered plenty of Halloween vignettes and humorous scenes, with each section of the trail bringing another abundant display of carved pumpkins and illuminated jack-o’-lanterns.

A big thank you to Roger Williams Park Zoo for having Halloween New England out to experience this year’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and The Great Pun-Kin Trail!

Details and tickets for The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Find more events like this in RI on our RI Halloween Events Guide. 

Haunted Gallows

Friday night took the HNE team out to Burrillville, RI for a full evening of scares at Haunted Gallows!

We made our way through both The Dark Fair and the trail within Bathsheba’s Woods, with each attraction bringing its own theme and flavor of nightmare. The Dark Fair delivered the twisted carnival atmosphere we were hoping for, while Bathsheba’s Woods sent us deeper into the dark woodland path with its unsettling atmosphere and surprise encounters with creepy characters.

After the screams, we headed for a calming stroll through The Boo Patch for a much-needed change of pace and a chance to get our adrenaline down. The Boo Patch is a family-friendly, scare-free trail packed with pumpkins, colorful lights, photo opps, and a welcome Halloween-y vibe. With 600 acres to explore, we sure got our fill of nightmare material from Haunted Gallows this season!

Event details and tickets for Haunted Gallows.

Find more haunts in RI on our RI Haunted Houses & Trails Guide. 

Trail of Terror Haunted Walk at Aquaboggan

This past Saturday night, Halloween New England returned to Saco, ME for a visit to Trail of Terror Haunted Walk at Aquaboggan.

We followed the dark outdoor trail through the woods, where creepy surroundings, winding paths, and plenty of unexpected scares kept us progressing right along! After experiencing the trail last year, we knew the woods had a few surprises, but this year managed to feel totally different, expansive, and even more alive.

The outdoor wooded setting becomes a key "character" in the experience, with super tall pines towering high above us and creating an intimidating sense of scale. It's easy to feel out of our depth when we feel so small under the trees, and those scare-actors know it and take full advantage!
A big thank you to the Trail of Terror Haunted Walk team for welcoming Halloween New England back for another October night in your fearful woods!

Details and tickets for Trail of Terror Haunted Walk at Aquaboggan.

Find this Maine Haunt on our Maine Haunted Houses & Trails Guide. 

Ghoulish Golf at Aquaboggan

Our Saturday night in Saco continued with a round of Ghoulish Golf at Aquaboggan!

We kicked off the first part of the evening on the haunted trail situated on the same property, but once our adrenaline calmed, we picked up our clubs and headed to the Halloween-themed mini golf course.

The course is kept mostly family-friendly, with plenty of lights, Halloween décor, animatronics, and a general Halloween-y vibe. Even the golf balls are illuminated as you play through the game!

We adored this different type of Halloween experience that melds the familiar challenge of navigating a mini golf course with a welcome spooky season twist.

We truly appreciate the Ghoulish Golf team for hosting Halloween New England on Saturday to check out their delightfully spooky mini golf!

Find more Maine events like this in on our Maine Halloween Events Guide. 

Keep the Halloween Spirit Going

October may be here, but there are still plenty of ways to experience Halloween throughout New England! One of our favorite parts of covering the season is discovering how many different ways there are to celebrate, from haunted trails and glowing pumpkin displays to family-friendly attractions and unique Halloween experiences.

If you're looking for more Halloween events happening across New England, be sure to check out our Halloween New England Event Guides for haunted attractions, Halloween events, spooky entertainment, and more happening throughout the season.

Discover Halloween events and haunted attractions throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine.

We'll continue sharing our adventures as we explore the best Halloween, horror, paranormal, and spooky experiences happening across New England all season long.

Find the Right Haunt Guide for Your Halloween Plans

And with haunt season underway, there's even more to look forward to!

If you're ready for haunted houses, haunted trails, scream parks, and other frightening attractions, be sure to explore our Halloween New England Haunt Guides. For a terrifying Sunday night out with friends, a scare-free night at a haunt, or to visit as many haunts as you can squeeze in, our guides will help you find your next spooky adventure.

Not sure when to hit the haunts? We’ve got a guide for that! 🎃 Whether you’re looking to kick off the season early, squeeze in a weeknight visit, avoid the crowds, our Halloween New England Haunt Guides make it easier to plan your haunt adventures.

Want to get an early start?
Our Opening Night Haunt Guide tracks the confirmed opening dates for area haunted houses, hayrides, and flashlight mazes, so you can be among the first to experience the scares of the season.

Looking for a quieter night at the haunts?
Check out the Haunts Open Sunday Nights Guide for haunts running on Sunday evenings. It’s a great way to take advantage of lighter crowds, shorter lines, and a more relaxed haunt experience.

Want Halloween atmosphere without the scares?
The No-Scare Haunt Event Guide highlights special scare-free, actor-free events at haunted attractions, giving you a chance to enjoy the sets, atmosphere, and Halloween fun without the jump scares.

Trying to fit more haunts into your schedule?
Our Weeknight Haunt Guide helps you find attractions open Sunday through Thursday, making it easier to maximize your haunt season without waiting for the weekend.

However you like to haunt, there’s a guide to help you find your next scream. Explore all of our Haunt Guides and start planning your next Halloween adventure! 🎃👻