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Halloween week in Lexington: October 23 to 31

Nine days of Halloween around Lexington, from a free festival at Dunbar to trick-or-treat on Saturday night. Each day below has a checked event. Pick what fits and look at the organizer’s page before you head out.

By Around Lex · Facts checked , some rechecked since · About 6 min read

Edition ending . Check the date of each idea below.

A haunted-house night in Lexington

Fright Nights Horror Park lists October 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31 at 1209 East New Circle Road. Friday and Saturday sessions run 8 pm to midnight; Sunday October 25 and Thursday October 29 run 8 to 10 pm. The listed base price is $30 for one haunt, with a $10 upgrade for both; the final checkout total is not confirmed here. Read the attraction warnings and check your date on the ticket site before buying. Hours, selectable dates and listed prices checked October 23, 2026.

View Fright Nights Horror Park 2026

Tuesday to Friday, October 27 to 30: Jack-o-lantern Trail

McConnell Springs lights the trail from 6:30 to 10 pm, and the gates close at 9:30. It is $6 per person at the gate and kids 12 and under are free. Parking at the park is limited; there is offsite parking on Old Frankfort Pike with a shuttle from 6 to 8:30 pm. On Wednesday, October 28 there is also Yappy Hour at Masterson Station Park from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, free to attend, with a Howl-o-ween dog costume contest that takes a donation to enter.

View Jack-o-lantern Trail

Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31: Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup takes over Keeneland both days, with Friday gates at 9:30 am and Saturday gates at 9 am. When rechecked October 23, 2026, the official ticket page showed only Friday trackside general admission available, starting at $85; dining, box seating and reserved seating were sold out for both days. All parking has to be bought in advance. If you are not going to the track, Gatton Park has a free watch party both days. Check ticket availability again before making plans.

View Breeders’ Cup World Championships

Saturday, October 31: Hallowhinny, then trick-or-treat

The Kentucky Horse Park runs Hallowhinny from 9 am to 5 pm with trick-or-treating through the park and costumed horse shows at 11 am and 2 pm, all included with regular admission: $28 for adults, $14 for ages 5 to 17, free for 4 and under, and parking is free. The state high school cross country meet is at the park the same day, so expect company. Lexington’s citywide trick-or-treat hours are 6 to 8 pm.

View Hallowhinny at the Kentucky Horse Park

Thursday to Saturday nights: LexRide is free through October 31

Lextran’s free LexRide circulator runs Thursday to Saturday from 4 pm to midnight between Downtown, the Distillery District and the Warehouse Block/National Avenue area. Lextran lists the frequency as “Buses every 12 to 15 minutes.” Within this guide’s dates, that means Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, and Thursday to Saturday, October 29 to 31. Saturday, October 31 is the last night of the 2026 pilot. LexRide does not run on Sundays, so it will not get you to the variety show or the Thriller parade on October 25. Lextran says no alcohol, food or open drinks are allowed on board.

A food stop before downtown plans

Dudley’s on Short, 259 West Short Street, lists brunch Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 2:30 pm. It can be a separate earlier stop before an afternoon outing; check hours and reservation options directly. Menu prices and table availability are not confirmed here. Hours and address rechecked on the restaurant’s website October 23, 2026.

Explore Dudley's on Short

Keep the extras in mind

Free admission does not cover parking, food or vendor stops, and most of this is outdoors in late October, so check the weather. The Explorium had no Halloween event posted when this guide was checked; call 859-258-3253 if you want to ask. Core event details, including race parking and child admission, were checked against the city, Keeneland, Horse Park, Breeders’ Cup and ScareFest pages on October 20; race-ticket availability and the haunted-attraction, food and bridge-access sections record separate October 23 checks. Read them again before you go.

See this weekend’s events

These dates have passed. They stay below for reference.

Friday, October 23: Dunbar Fall Festival

The city lists a free fall festival at Dunbar Community Center from 6 to 8 pm with food, carnival games, face painting, a bounce house, music and candy. It is also the first day of ScareFest downtown if your crowd wants something scarier.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Dunbar Fall Festival

Friday to Sunday: ScareFest Weekend

ScareFest runs October 23 to 25 at Central Bank Center. General admission opens at 4 pm Friday, 11 am Saturday and 11 am Sunday, and day tickets are $34, $49 and $34, with an $85 weekend pass. Sunday is Kids Day, and kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. The building does not take cash for concessions or parking.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View ScareFest Weekend

Saturday, October 24: Halloween Sunrise Trackside

Keeneland’s Halloween Sunrise Trackside has a Headless Horseman visit, children’s activities from 8 to 10 am under the grandstand and horse petting in the paddock from 8:30 to 9 am. It is free, but everyone has to be out by 10 am. Park in the lower rows of the Green Lot through Gate 1 on Man O’ War and move your car by 10:30 am or it gets towed. That afternoon you can carve a pumpkin at McConnell Springs from 1 to 5 pm if you bring your own, or at Raven Run from 1 to 2:30 pm for $8 with registration.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Halloween Sunrise Trackside at Keeneland

Sunday, October 25: Purple in the Park

Purple in the Park is the free kickoff for the Breeders’ Cup Festival at Gatton Park from 2 to 5 pm: a horse meet and greet, jockey silk photos, face painting, live music and food trucks. It wraps up in time to head downtown for the Halloween festival.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Purple in the Park

Sunday, October 25: the variety show and Thriller

The free Halloween Variety Show runs 4:30 to 6 pm at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza. The parade goes 6:30 to 7 pm on Main Street between Quality and Mill, and the Thriller reenactment follows from 7 to 8:30 pm with several hundred zombies on the same stretch. Vendors are open 4 to 8:30 pm. Street closures were not posted when this guide was checked, so watch the city’s traffic ticker closer to the day.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Halloween & Thriller Parade

Check access before the Sunday parade

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the city’s Bridge Closure Party runs 1 to 6 pm on MLK Boulevard between High and Main streets. The city says the bridge closes to vehicles before the Thriller Parade. This specific access notice was checked October 23; it is not a complete parade closure schedule. Check the traffic ticker before choosing your route.

This event has no remaining upcoming date in our checked list. Read its date or status notice before making a plan.

View Halloween & Thriller Parade

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Guide link: https://aroundlex.com/guides/halloween-week-lexington-2026

Official sources for this guide

Conditions can change after a recorded check. Recheck visitor information before leaving.

A useful starting point, not a reservation.

Check the linked official sources for opening hours, admission, restrictions, and changes. These suggestions do not imply affiliation or a measured walking route.

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