Spending Halloween in Harpers Ferry (2025)
Harpers Ferry is a quaint mountain town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia. Just one hour from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, it’s the perfect spot to escape from city life and enjoy a slower pace of life.
The Harpers Ferry area might be known for its small town hospitality and quaint downtown, but it transforms into the ultimate spooky destination during the Halloween season. Halloween in Harpers Ferry is known for its epic ghost tours, haunted houses, and festive gatherings.
Planning an October trip to Harpers Ferry? Come stay in one of our Mountain Mama cabins and get ready for a thrilling time! We’ve got everything you need to know below for a memorable Halloween season in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
2025 Halloween Events
Harpers Ferry Ghost Tour
- 110 Church St., Harpers Ferry, WV
- (732) 801-0381
- Harpers Ferry Ghost Tour
- Year-round
You can’t visit Harpers Ferry in October without going on one of the town’s famous ghost tours. Touted as the oldest ghost tour in America, the Harpers Ferry ghost tour has been around for a whopping 53 years and counting.
The two-hour walking tour, put on by O’ Be JoyFull Historical Tours, takes visitors around the historic Lower Town of Downtown Harpers Ferry. This section of Harpers Ferry is packed with battlefields from the Civil War, adding to the spooky ambience of the area.
The tour begins promptly at 8 pm at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, one of the famous historic landmarks in Harpers Ferry. A tour guide will take you approximately 14 blocks, exploring sites and buildings where ghostly encounters take place. Along the way, your experienced guide will educate you on the gory history of the area, including tales of both legends and historical events.
These ghostly tours mix history and mystery seamlessly, offering the best of Harpers Ferry with a thrilling twist. What better way to celebrate Halloween with your group?
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made here.
Haunted Nightmares
- 933 Barley Ln, Winchester, VA
- hauntednightmares.net
- September 26th-November 1st
Looking for the ultimate spooky night? Haunted Nightmares is the attraction for you. Hosted by Hill High Farm, just 30 miles from Harpers Ferry, Haunted Nightmares offers everything from escape rooms to a corn maze to a thrilling haunted house.
Open every Friday-Sunday during the Halloween season, visitors of all ages can come and choose their adventure at Haunted Nightmares. For younger kids and family-friendly fun, the farm offers moonlit hayrides to their pumpkin patch where you can bring home a pumpkin of your choice. They also offer a milder version of their haunted house from 1-5 pm during October for younger crowds.
For guests looking for more excitement, enjoy their late night haunted house packed with scary scenes around every corner.
Be sure to also check out their escape room – the perfect family-friendly activity! Tickets can be found here.
Other Halloween Activities
Harpers Ferry and its neighboring towns offer a ton of Halloween-themed activities to do throughout the month of October.
From trick-or-treating to haunted cookie decorating classes to spooky classic film showings, there’s something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Jefferson County events page for all of the fun options around.
Other Fall Things to Do in Harpers Ferry
1. Tour Historic Sites of Harpers Ferry
If you didn’t get enough history on your ghost tour, we recommend taking a daytime walking tour throughout Downtown Harpers Ferry to fully appreciate the historical significance of this town. There’s nothing better than grabbing a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day and walking around the historic streets of Harpers Ferry.
Harpers Ferry is part of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, which offers a roadmap to the many local battlefields in the area. We recommend starting at the Harpers Ferry Visitor Center, then heading to Shenandoah Street. From here, you can explore Abolitionist John Brown’s Fort, where John Brown’s raid took place, as well as St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church.
Be sure to check out Jefferson Rock at the end of your tour, a lookout point within the historical park that offers incredible views of the mountains and rivers nearby.
2. Enjoy Fall Foliage
Shades of orange, brown, and red provide a magical backdrop during the month of October as you enjoy outdoor adventures around Harpers Ferry. Peak fall foliage typically occurs at the end of October in Harpers Ferry, perfect timing for your Halloween trip.
We recommend taking in the colors through one of the many hiking trails nearby. Easy hikes like the Bolivar Heights Trail and the Murphy-Chambers Farm Trail are perfect for pets and children alike.
If you’re looking for a challenge, head to the Loudoun Heights Trail, a 5.7-mile round-trip trail with plenty of viewpoints.
3. Check Out the Food Scene
Harpers Ferry might be known for its outdoor adventures and history lessons, but it also boasts a thriving food scene.
Appalachian Snail Market is a quaint new neighborhood cafe offering quality coffees, teas, sandwiches, and more. Stop by in the morning for a warm seasonal drink or head here for a cozy lunch in the afternoon.
If you’re looking for a place to cozy up with spirits in the evening, head to The Rabbit Hole gastropub. Down-to-earth food menu, cozy indoor and outdoor seating, and a large beer selection make this the perfect spot in town for a delicious meal.
4. Go Pumpkin Picking
Looking to bring home some pumpkin souvenirs from your trip to Harpers Ferry? Head to a local pumpkin patch!
Old McDonald’s is a local farm loaded with fun fall activities just 30 minutes from Harpers Ferry. From U-Pick pumpkin patches to scenic hayrides to a lively petting zoo, it’s the perfect place to bring your whole family for a day filled with adventure. They’re open Friday-Sundays, making it easy to enjoy this local spot during your weekend stay.
Town & Country Nursery is another great spot to pick up some pumpkins if you’re looking for a shorter drive.
Packing for Your Halloween Trip
October Weather
Days are mild and inviting, with highs in the 60s and cool, cozy evenings dipping into the 40s. Mornings call for a light jacket, but by midday, the sun warms the rolling hills just enough to make vineyard walks, pumpkin patches, and outdoor tastings ideal. As the days shorten sunsets slip to around 6:30 p.m.
Packing List
We want to make sure you come fully prepared for your Halloween trip and dress appropriately for the many fun activities in store!
Here’s our recommended packing list:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Plenty of layers and an outer jacket
- Rain jacket and umbrella
- Halloween costume, of course!
- Scarf and gloves
- Hiking gear
Get Ready for A Spooky Harpers Ferry Trip
As you can see, Harpers Ferry is the perfect destination to celebrate Halloween with your whole family. Wanting the ultimate thrill? Harpers Ferry’s ghost tours, haunted houses, and escape rooms will put you right in the action of all things spooky! Hoping for a more low-key adventure? Pumpkin patches, hayrides, and daytime history lessons await you and your group, no matter the age!
Harpers Ferry comes alive in the fall, and we can’t wait to host you at Mountain Mama Cabins and show you why we love this mountain town so much. It will be a Halloween season to remember!
