Enter If You Dare: Your Guide to Haunted Houses, Ghost Tours, and Spooky Trails Around FXBG 👻
Some of us love a good scare, and some of us prefer our ghosts with a side of history. Lucky for us, our region has plenty of both. We rounded up the haunts, ghost tours, and Halloween happenings from Fredericksburg to Bowling Green so you can plan your spooky season, whether you're looking to scream or just stroll.
FOR THE THRILL SEEKERS
Halls of Hysteria
Fredericksburg Convention Center, 2371 Carl D Silver Pkwy
Dates: October 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31
Tickets: $25
This one isn't for the faint of heart. Halls of Hysteria turns the Convention Center into a massive indoor haunted trail, where one minute you're in a foggy graveyard and the next you're lost in a cornfield full of scarecrows. It's recommended for ages 13 and up. Free parking is available, and the concession stand is there when you need a breather between screams. Heads up: the time on your ticket is your recommended arrival time, not your entry time.
Get tickets: https://www.hallsofhysteria.com
The Haunted Hill
Partlow, VA (Spotsylvania County)
Fridays and Saturdays in October, 7:30 to 10:30 PM
Cash: $25 per person | Credit card: $27 per person
Head out to the woods of Partlow for a haunted trail that's worth the drive. Take the clown's advice and bring cash! The trail is way out in the country where the internet can be scarier than the scares, so card payments take longer and cost a little more. Cash gets you a faster line and more money in your pocket.
Learn more: https://thehauntedhill.com
Haunted Pirates of Port Royal: Curse of the Governor's Mansion
Belle Grove Plantation, Port Conway (King George County)
October 17 through November 1
Monday to Thursday, 7 to 10 PM | Friday to Sunday, 7 to 11 PM
Advance tickets: $25 per person
Legend says a cursed fortune is buried deep within the Governor's Mansion, guarded by ghostly pirates and restless spirits. This year, the terror spills out of the mansion and onto the grounds. Expect strobe lights and some intense scenes, so it's not recommended for very young children, and kids under 16 must be with a parent. Tickets are sold by date and time to keep wait times down. Online sales close Wednesday, October 14 at 6 PM, and after that, tickets are sold at the gate only.
Get tickets: https://bellegroveplantation.com/haunted-pirates-of-port-royal-curse-of-the-governors-mansion/
FOR THE HISTORY LOVERS
Our towns have centuries of stories, and some of them never quite left.
History Walks FXBG Ghost Tours
Departs from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, 601 Caroline Street
Explore downtown after dark on a 90-minute walking tour filled with haunted streets, Civil War spirits, and local legends. Advance booking is required, so reserve your spot early because October dates fill fast. For last-minute availability, call or text (540) 624-8280.
Book your tour: https://www.historywalksfxbg.com
Witches, Ghosts, Murder and Mayhem Carriage Tour
Olde Towne Carriages, Fredericksburg
Hear the darker side of Fredericksburg's history from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage. It's a cozy, memorable way to take in the spooky side of downtown.
Make a reservation: https://www.oldetownecarriages.com
Ghost Tour of Historic Bowling Green
Main Street Historic Tours, Bowling Green (Caroline County)
$65 | 55 minutes
From colonial times through the American Revolution and beyond the Civil War, Bowling Green has no shortage of ghost stories. This 45-minute guided pedicab tour shares intriguing and sometimes scary bits of history tied to legends in and around Bowling Green's historic homes. The carriage comfortably holds two adults and two small children, with a 500 lb weight limit. One adult must ride with children under 18, and all riders sign a liability waiver.
Book your tour: https://mainstreethistorictours.com
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
12th Annual Shannon Airport Harvest Festival Fly-In and Haunted Hangar
Shannon Airport, Fredericksburg
Saturday, October 31
Trick-or-treat, aviation style! Bring the kids in costume for an afternoon at the Shannon Air Museum with display aircraft, food trucks, vendors, and kids' activities. Back by popular demand is the Haunted Hangar, a spooky, family-friendly walk through the museum hangar.
Wilderness Halloween Festival
Wilderness Presidential Resort, 9220 Plank Rd., Spotsylvania
Sunday, October 18, 11 AM to 4 PM
A daytime Halloween festival right here in Spotsylvania, with trick-or-treating, hayrides, a moon bounce, laser tag, local vendors, and entertainment for the kids.
Kings Dominion Tricks and Treats
Doswell, just south of Caroline County
Select dates through November 1
Daytime Halloween fun with costumes, candy, and activities built for younger kids, and no separate event ticket is required. Older thrill seekers can check the park's calendar for their nighttime Halloween Haunt dates.
Plan your visit: https://www.kingsdominion.com
A QUICK TIP BEFORE YOU GO
Dates and times can change during the busy Halloween season, so always check with the attraction directly before you head out.
KNOW OF A HAUNT WE MISSED? 🎃
We know there are more frights out there! Church trails, fire department haunted houses, neighborhood haunted garages, and farm hayrides, especially in Stafford, often fly under the radar. Tell us about them, and we'll share them with our readers.