Top Spooky Places to Visit in Kentucky

this Halloween Season

With the birthplace of The Walking Dead in town, it’s hard to deny that our home state is a spooky season lover’s paradise!

The Bluegrass state has loads of Halloween fun behind every corner, meaning you’re never too far from a frightful fest or a historic haunt. And, if the paranormal gives you the heebie jeebies, we’ve got you covered with plenty of family-friendly festivities, too!

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Zombie Town: A Stroll Through The Walking Dead’s Hometown
Cynthiana, KY

Both the author (Robert Kirkman) and original artist (Tony Moore) of The Walking Dead hail from this small town in north central Kentucky! In fact, series protagonist Rick Grimes begins the series in Cynthiana by waking up in Harrison Memorial Hospital after a line of duty injury. After the television adaptation exploded in popularity in 2013, Cynthiana leaned heavily into its newfound identity as a spooky mecca! In the years since, they have painted a large-scale mural that pays homage to four of The Walking Dead’s beloved characters & have turned the Halloween season into a full-scale community soiree that celebrates the season far beyond the town’s zombie roots.

What to Do:

  • Kick-off the season with Witches Day Out featuring live music from The Mingled Oaks, vendors, food, seasonal decor, & more! - September 28th; 12pm; Canceled Due to Inclement Weather

  • Visit the 800+ skeletons downtown, many of which are “adopted” from the Skeleton Adoption Agency (yes, it’s real!) - Skeleton Adoption Agency opens September 13; M-F 8:30-4:30; Saturdays in October 10-2

  • View The Walking Dead mural & take a self-guided zombie tour of sites that appear in the series - Mural located at S. Walnut St.

  • Attend the live-action Clue experience followed by a screening of Clue at Rohs Opera House - October 4; Tickets available at https://www.rohsoperahouse.com

  • Stroll with the ghosts at the Rohs Opera House Ghost Walk or opt for the History & Headstones Tour - Every Friday & Saturday in October; $15 per person, https://www.rohsoperahouse.com

  • View the gigantic gourds at the 2nd Annual Giant Pumpkin Contest - October 25

The Homes of Halloween: Hillcrest Avenue
Louisville, KY

From the first time we laid eyes on Hillcrest Avenue, it became a Halloween staple! Imagine an entire street filled with extravagant Halloween decorations in nearly every yard. Many Hillcrest residents pick a Halloween-centric theme, ranging from Stranger Things to Hogwarts to an odd all-night disco party eerily reminiscent of the “I’ll Put a Spell on You” scene in Hocus Pocus. Many home owners have carefully crafted their decorations year after year, making the sheer amount of Halloween decor a must-see for all! Residents also collect canned goods for United Crescent Hill Ministries, so make sure to bring a can of food!

What to Do: Pack your canned goods, pick up a warm coffee or cocoa & a treat at nearby Blue Dog Bakery and head to Hillcrest Avenue. Park on an adjacent street (while being mindful of homeowners’ driveways/vehicles!) and stroll down one side of the street & up the other. The decor is impressively detailed during the day & takes on a lively, spooky aura at night! - Decorations begin the 1st Saturday of October; http://hillcresthalloween.com/trickortreat.html

Night of the Living Pumpkins: Jack O Lantern Spectacular
Louisville, KY

Imagine a winding trail illuminated by over 5,000 pumpkins carved with an array of Halloween-themed and other artistic carving displays. This magical experience always elicits plenty of “oohs” and “ahhs” from onlookers coming to soak up the incredible jack-o-lantern views. Paired with a spooky soundtrack as you work your way through the 1/3 mile trail, this event is sure to give even the most stubborn attendees a dose of the Halloween spirit.

What to Do: Head to Louisville for dinner then venture over to Iroquois Park to take in the magical display of carved pumpkins. Parking is available for free on-site, though be sure to build in time for parking traffic. Parking is also available for free at Desales High School (5-minute walk from event). Be sure to purchase tickets online in advance online. - October 1st-November 2nd; Sun-Thurs 6:30-10pm; Fri-Sat 6:30-11:30pm https://www.jackolanternlouisville.org/about; $15-20 for adults (senior discount 65+), $12-15 for kids ages 3-12; 2 & under are free

Spirit Strolls: Lantern-Lit Tour of Shaker Village
Harrodsburg, KY

Arguably one of Kentucky’s most picturesque fall sites, a trip to Shaker Village will transport you directly into history. The tour gathers in the center of the centuries-old historic village, ready to traverse the grounds on a one-mile stroll through town. As the group makes its way by lantern-light up the hill to the town cemetery, a guide shares tales of the darker side of the Shaker history, from illness to murder. As the moon hangs over the cemetery, this spine-tingling tour is perfect for those who love the spooky history of days long gone.

What to Do: Arrive early for a meal at the on-site restaurant, the Trustees’ Table. Then, gather in the town center for your lantern-lit tour. Every Friday & Saturday in September & October. Tickets are $15 for non-passholders; https://shakervillageky.org/events/spirit-strolls-death-and-tragedy-at-pleasant-hill/

Troll In the…Forest?: Giant Trolls at Bernheim Forest
Clermont, KY

Okay…I know, I know. This isn’t technically a Halloween event, but it is incredibly magical! If you haven’t made the trek to Bernheim Forest to see the Forest Giants, then October is the perfect time! Created by Danish artist, Thomas Dambo, these three larger than life characters are made entirely of recycled local wood. Walk the 2-mile loop through the beautiful Bernheim Forest and visit with all three of the beloved giants (Mama Loumari, Little Nis, & Little Elina) along the way.

What to Do: Spend the morning with a tour of nearby Jim Beam Distillery, then head to Bernheim to see the Forest Giants. Admission is free, though a donation is suggested of $15 per car; https://bernheim.org/must-sees/forest-giants/

Take a Stroll through the Paranormal: Kentucky After Dark
Various Locations Across Kentucky

This year, Kentucky Tourism has gifted us with Kentucky After Dark: a complete manifesto on the spooky sites that haunt the Bluegrass state. Pick up a passport at local participating Kentucky Tourism offices and head out on your quest to discover all the creepy, crawly things the state has to offer. From the towering Waverly Hills Sanitorium in Louisville, where more than 63,000 people perished during the tuberculosis outbreak, to the eerie Octagon Hall in Franklin, where the ghost of a little girl is said to haunt the halls of the uniquely designed structure, there are plenty of paranormal sites to visit throughout the state.

If ghost stories aren’t your thing, but you still have a penchant for the strange, set out on a cryptid hunt to discover the state’s creature folklore. Visit the aliens of Hopkinsville that inspired Steven Spielberg in the creation of E.T., explore the story of the beast of Kentucky Lake, and or head up to Georgetown to scope out the goblins of Dead Man’s Hollow.

What to Do: Grab a passport from a local tourism office & head out on your own ghost-hunting adventure no matter where you’re located in the state! Kentucky After Dark sites span 23 counties in the state, with sites that feature spooky ghost stories, cryptid tales, and other strange oddities. Check our our guides to Lexington and Cincinnati if your hunt takes you to either city! https://www.kentuckyafterdark.com/

Looking for more Kentucky fun? Check out our Top 10 Places to Visit in Kentucky!