Spooky season has arrived in Richmond, here are some ways to celebrate

Rachel Nicholas, Contributing Writer

It is that time of year when the air gets crisp and the chunky knit sweaters come out. There are many things to do and so much to see through the rest of October and the rest of fall in Richmond.

Take a bone-chilling tour of Hollywood Cemetery

With its rolling hills, gothic architecture and ancient trees shedding crimson leaves, Hollywood Cemetery is the perfect spot for a crisp autumn walk or a spooky history lesson. See the decorated graves of Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, or take a haunted tour and stop by the grave of W.W. Pool — the supposed home of the “Richmond Vampire.” The cemetery is located at 412 S Cherry St, Richmond VA. 

Catch a thrilling flick at the Byrd

Grab a snack and a scare at the historic Byrd Theatre, where horror movies take over the screen for the entire month of October at only $9 a seat. Iconic titles such as “Scream,” “IT,” “Get Out,” “Scooby-Doo” and more will be shown every day leading up to the 31st, where “Halloween” itself will be shown as the finale. Upcoming shows can be found on byrdtheatre.org

Meet the pawsome guardians of the Edgar Allen Poe Museum 

The Edgar Allen Poe Museum is home not only to the tragic poet’s history, but to two cats who watch over the grounds. The felines, aptly named Edgar and Tib, named after Poe’s childhood cat. Edgar welcomed guests for over a decade, with his now-deceased companion Pluto, after being found in the museum’s garden. Tib was hired to help Edgar in 2024. Visitors can spot them around the courtyard or lounging in the corners of the gift shop. Tickets for the museum can be purchased on poemuseum.org. 

Stroll through the Gallmeyer Farm pumpkin patch

Head to Gallmeyer Farms’ Pumpkin Patch and pick the perfect pumpkin straight from the acres of land that make up the fields. Snap cozy photos among hay bales and gourds, explore corn mazes and play seasonal games. With a group booking, customers can learn all about the growing process of the pumpkin plant, and their relationship with bees you can book a group excursion at gallmeyerfarms.com. The farm is located at 4506 Millers Lane, Richmond VA. 

Grab a witchy brew at The Purrfect Bean

Take a sip of Vampurr’s Blood and cuddle with kittens at the Purrfect Bean cat cafe. With their new fall menu full of pun-filled sweets, the Purrfect Bean is a cozy way to relax and spend time with adorable cafe residents such as West Side Story, Po Boy and Labubu. All the cats are adoptable, with reservations to see them available from Wednesday to Sunday that can be made on purrfectbean.co.  

Swing into spooky season at Squirrel-o-ween 

The Richmond Flying Squirrels, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency, have invited locals to spend a day filled with family fun on the baseball field at The Diamond. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 and close at 8:30 p.m. The event is completely free for anyone who wants to go complete with trick-or-treating, costume contests, hay rides and plenty more activities, it will be a safe environment for people of all ages to participate in Halloween festivities. Go to 3001 N Arthur Ashe Blvd. to enjoy some wholesome Halloween fun. 

Ride the scares on the Eerie Canal Halloween Cruises

The Eerie Canal Halloween Cruises offer passengers the opportunity to investigate local odd occurrences that have taken place alongside Richmond’s waterfront. For six dollars, passengers can travel downstream on the historic James River and Kanawha Canal as they view the spooky décor. Some lucky riders are even tasked with keeping a sea monster at bay. Canal tours will take place from Oct. 31- Nov. 2 and tickets can be purchased on venturerichmond.com 

Take a frightful walk through Creepy Hollow

Creepy Hollow Scream Park is one of Richmond’s longest-running horror attractions. Dropped deep into the woods, customers navigate on foot through immersive horrors ranging from mad science experiments to deranged clowns and decaying asylums. Starting at 7 p.m., the haunt lasts until the last person is out, with a bonfire and provided refreshments in the middle for a break. Tickets can be bought in person, 14437 Stone Horse Creek Road, Glen Allen, VA or in advance at richmondscreams.com.