Boo! As autumn arrives, Madison turns to chilling events for Halloween
MADISON – Fictional characters, ghosts, ghouls and gremlins will emerge around town – along with princesses and superheroes – to attend numerous activities in the spirit of Halloween.
Madison Public Library will observe the theme with two scary movies in October for their series, “The MAD Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama.” On Oct. 9 at 6 p.m., a creepy flick from 1977, “The Car,” follows a demonic car terrorizing a small desert community; it’s like combining “The Exorcist” and “Jaws,” according to the library. (events.hmcpl.org/ event/2025-10-09/mad-moviethon- o-rama-car-1977) Then, on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m., “Dark Night of the Scarecrow” (rated TV-14 from 1981) follows smalltown thugs who kill an innocent man. After the men are acquitted, supernatural justice takes command in the form of a scarecrow. For all movies at the library, guests are allowed to bring food and drink into the auditorium.
Blue Apple Books at 14 Main St. will host Halloween-inspired observances. At the “Pumpkin Succulent Arrangement Workshop” on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m., participants will make a fall-themed arrangement with a ‘live’ pumpkin, moss and succulents. Complimentary cocktails/mocktails and charcuterie will be served. Fee charged.
Goldfish Swim School of Madison will host their annual “Bubbles’ Boo Bash” on Oct. 18 at 3:30 p.m. This free, family-friendly community event will feature trunk-or-treating, games, bounce houses, food trucks, raffles and more.
Vendors will offer prizes at Goldfish. The swim school is looking for businesses and organizations to join the fun as trunk hosts. Participation is free, but spots are limited.
Organized by Madison Visionary Partners or MVP, Madison Witches Ride on Oct. 19 will entertain spectators from 3 to 5 p.m. The activities will be staged on downtown streets and in Home Place Park.
Madison Witches Ride involves a lighthearted parade through downtown Madison as the witches ride bicycles, walk or dance in their krewe or individually. The menagerie of witches – funny or wicked – will spread Halloween cheer as they throw candy to hundreds of onlooking children along Garner and Main streets.
Also at Blue Apple, local professional makeup artist Whitney Cardo will conduct the “Witchy Makeup Workshop” on Oct. 19 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. “Just in time for spooky season! The Madison Witches Ride is from 3 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 19, so perfect timing for you to be ready to either participate or watch,” Blue Apple Books owner Robin Dauma said. Fee charged.
Monark Grove, an independent living and memory care community, will host “Trunk-or-Treat” on Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. The activity will be staged in the front parking lot. Don’t forget your costumes! The address is 11260 County Line Road.
Madison Methodist Church, 127 Church St. also will stage “Trunkor- Treat” for the children. Cars with decorated trunks and even more elaborate scenes will be stationed in the church parking lot just east of the church building along Maple Street. Everyone is welcome to attend on Oct. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Rainbow Elementary PTA will present one of the school’s unique traditions – the Pet Parade. Humans and pets alike can dress up in costumes. Proceeds from a bake sale will benefit A New Leash On Life, a local animal rescue. Food trucks, including Slurp Soda Shop, will attend. The event on Oct. 27 will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Dublin Park will host “Trunk-or-Treat” for a safe, fun and inclusive evening of trick-or-treating on Oct. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Park workers will prepare for Trunkor- Treat activities inside a fully enclosed field for safety. A separate adaptive trunk-or-treat area will be reserved in the parking lot for sensory sensitivities and wheel-chair accessibility. Car trunks will be decorated and serve as stations for candy giveaways.
Several food trucks will sell concessions. Park officials encourage children (and adults) to dress in costume. Dublin’s activities are free and open to the community.
On Oct. 31 — Halloween — at Toyota Field, the Trash Pandas Fall Festival will be open for trick-or-treating around the concourse from 5 to 7 p.m. Pumpkin carving and photo shoots will be held. Then, at 7:15 p.m., everyone ‘can take a walk’ on the field under the stars to watch the Halloween favorite, “Hocus Pocus,” on the videoboard. (trashpandasbaseball. com/events)
