🎃 The Spooky Charm of the City-by-the-Sea: Your Guide to Halloween in Newport, RI 👻

Newport, Rhode Island, is known for its stunning Gilded Age mansions, picturesque coastline, and deep, often shadowy, history. When October rolls around, this charming city-by-the-sea transforms into a perfect blend of autumnal beauty and chilling tales, making it an incredible destination for Halloween.

Whether you’re hunting for ghosts or just a great pumpkin, here’s your guide to the best ways to celebrate spooky season in Newport!

👻 Walk the Shadowy Lanes: Haunted Tours

With centuries of history packed into its cobblestone streets, it’s no surprise that Newport is considered one of the most haunted cities in America. Ghost tours are a must-do for anyone looking to tap into the city’s spectral past.

• Olde Town Ghost Walks: Join a lantern-led stroll through the historic district. Knowledgeable guides recount tales of the paranormal, focusing on the real history and gruesome events that left their mark on places like colonial burying grounds and America’s oldest tavern, the White Horse Tavern (which is also a great spot for a pre-tour drink, if you dare!).
• Mansion Haunts: For a dose of high-society scares, check out specialty tours at mansions like Belcourt of Newport. These exclusive, sometimes candlelight-led, experiences share the eerie folklore and reputed hauntings of these grand, yet sometimes tragic, Gilded Age homes.
• Paranormal Investigations: For a truly immersive experience, groups like Alias Paranormal often host Paranormal Halloween at Fort Adams, offering hands-on investigations inside the massive, historic stone fort—said to be one of the most haunted military sites in New England.

🧛‍♂️ Gilded Age Glamour & Ghouls: Mansion Events

Newport’s iconic mansions don’t shy away from the holiday. They host some of the city’s most elegant, and sometimes family-friendly, Halloween events.

• Trick or Treat at The Breakers: The grandest of the Newport Mansions, The Breakers, opens its doors for an evening of family-friendly trick-or-treating. Kids and adults can come in costume for a rare, slightly spooky night-time visit inside the magnificent estate.

🍁 Fall Fun for the Whole Family

Halloween is about more than just frights—it’s also about celebrating the harvest and the cozy season! Newport and the surrounding area have plenty of classic autumn activities.

• Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch: Stop by Queen Anne Square to find a huge display of pumpkins, gourds, and mums at the Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch. It’s a quintessential fall photo opportunity and the perfect place to pick your jack-o’-lantern.
• Scenic Cruises with a Story: Take a special themed cruise on the bay! Themed family cruises often run in October, featuring local historians and paranormal researchers telling “Spooky Spells and Tales” about the legends of Narragansett Bay and coastal Rhode Island.
• Autumn Farms: Just a short drive from Newport, you can find classic farm fun like corn mazes and pumpkin patches at places such as Escobar’s Highland Farm Corn Maze in Portsmouth, offering a delightful daytime excursion.

🎬 Classic Chills: Spooky Season Screenings

Don’t forget the classic tradition of watching horror films on a big screen! The historic Jane Pickens Theater is known for curating a “Spooky Season” lineup of classic and cult horror and Halloween-themed movies throughout October, sometimes even featuring live musical accompaniment. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a spooky night out in a beautifully preserved, old-world cinema.

Whether you’re looking for an elegant costume party in a mansion, a bone-chilling walk through haunted history, or a family-friendly pumpkin hunt, Newport, RI, offers a magical and spooky Halloween experience that you won’t soon forget! 🍂🎃