Spooky Season in Downtown Norfolk 

Downtown Norfolk is packed with haunted nightlife, interactive murder mystery events, ghostly walking tours, and seasonal artisan pop-ups that bring maximum fall vibes to the city. 

Haunting Nightlife  

Step into Downtown's top venues and entertainment centers as they transform into spellbinding, late-night Halloween hubs. 

• The Haunted Granby Theater Annual Halloween Party: Join Granby Theater for the 25th Annual Halloween Bash on Saturday, October 24. With music from DJ BE EEZY, a costume contest, dancers, light shows and more. Tickets are required.  

• Nightmare on Granby St: Blackeyed Peas hosts their immersive haunted bar experience on Saturday, October 24 from 6:00-11:00pm. There will be food, spooky cocktails, music, a costume contest, and more! Tickets are required. 

• Halloween Costume Party Featuring Death Harvest w/ The New Mutiny and Gigantoid: Think Manson vs Elvira at Chicho’s Backstage on Saturday October 24 at 8:00pm.  

• Halloween MasqueRAGE with Sickick: Waterside is hosting Sickick for the Halloween MasqueRAGE on October 30 at 8:00pm. Tickets are required, must be 18+.  

• Freak Show Halloween Event: Step into Halloween at The Norva for a night built for the crowd featuring DJ Showtime & DJ Almighty Shawty. Dress to impress for the costume contest! Friday October 30th at 8:00pm. Must be 21+ to attend.  

• Monster Masquerade DJ Night: Grab your friends, throw on your best costume and join Grain for a night of live DJ, dancing, and spooky fun on October 31st.  

• Descent into the Cathedral: This Halloween, join the Descent into the Dark Cathedral at Waterside District, an immersive one-night only Halloween experience at Waterside District. Saturday, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. $10,000 in costume contest cash prizes, 7+ themed bars, live entertainment, immersive themed décor & more. Tickets are required. 

Spooky Experiences & Local Lore 

From mysterious historical walks to hands-on autumn crafting, explore the darker and intriguing side of Norfolk. 

• Norfolk Tour Company: Take a chilling stroll through Downtown’s otherworldly past on the Haunted Norfolk Tour. Guided through historic streets, you'll hear eerie ghost stories, real-life local tragedies, and lingering city mysteries. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm from September 18 – October 31. Tickets are required.  

• Glass Pumpkins at Perry Glass Studio: Visit the Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art during autumn to watch skilled glassblowers create vibrant, handcrafted glass pumpkins or sign up for a workshop to make your very own! Friday, October 3 – Sunday, October 4 the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch Sale will happen at the glass studio.  

• Hells Kitchen Halloween Decor: Check out this local dive bar for great food and spooky decorations!  

• Nauticus After Dark: Books and Boos is coming Thursday, October 22. There will be books, booze, exhibits, and crafts. This event is 21+ and requires tickets. 

Spooky Artisan Hubs 

• Selden Market: Browse curated seasonal markets, pop-up shops, local maker goods, oddities, and Halloween-themed treats. 

• Locals Marketplace: Check out themed markets, vintage markets, and local maker goods!  

It’s never too early to start making your Halloween plans! If you have a spooky event happening in Downtown Norfolk this 2026 season and want to be on our list, please submit your event to our calendar here!  

One thing that's not scary? Parking in Downtown Norfolk. To support local businesses and make your visit stress-free, the City of Norfolk offers the first 2 hours of parking for FREE at 14 select downtown garages and lots. 

Note: After the initial 2-hour free period, standard hourly rates apply. Please keep in mind that special event parking (like major concerts or festivals) is typically excluded and may require a flat collect-on-entry fee.