Fun Halloween and Fall Activities in Utah (2025)

Autumn in Utah brings crisp air, colorful leaves, and a calendar full of fun Halloween happenings. Whether you’re scaring yourself silly in a haunted house or picking the perfect pumpkin, there’s something for everyone in 2025. Below, we highlight the best fall activities across Salt Lake County, Utah County, Davis County, and beyond. Families, couples, and thrill-seekers alike will find spooktacular ways to celebrate the season – all while exploring Utah’s vibrant communities (a great perk if you’re house-hunting!). Let’s dive into the fall fun with a lighthearted look at haunted attractions, pumpkin patches, festivals, trunk-or-treats, and scenic drives.

Haunted Houses & Spooky Attractions

Get ready for chills and thrills at Utah’s top haunted houses and scary attractions. These venues range from family-friendly frights to full-on scream factories for the brave adults. Here are some bone-chilling highlights for 2025:

• Fear Factory (Salt Lake City) – One of Utah’s largest haunted attractions, built in an actual old factory complex with six towering buildings. It’s impressively creepy even from the freeway and is open most nights through late Octobersltrib.com. Expect multiple haunted zones and the chance to plummet down the famous Fear Fall ride!

• Nightmare on 13th (Salt Lake City) – A nationally acclaimed haunt operating for over 30 years, featuring two terrifying experiences: The Nightmare haunted house and The Institute of Terror. Open almost nightly through Oct. 31 (plus an encore night Nov. 7), it consistently ranks among America’s best haunted housessltrib.com. Enter if you dare – the sets and actors here are top-notch.

• Castle of Chaos (Midvale) – This haunted house lets you choose your fear level, from mild scares to hands-on horror. It offers five levels of fear across multiple themed haunts and even horror-themed escape rooms. Castle of Chaos is open through early November on select nightssltrib.com – a perfect place to test your courage!

• Haunted Forest (American Fork) – Ready to trek through the dark woods? This outdoor haunt is a creepy trail winding through a forest filled with demons, zombies, and monsters. The Haunted Forest runs nightly (closed Sundays) until Nov. 1, with additional frights on Nov. 7–8sltrib.com. The rustling trees and open night sky add an extra layer of scare to this Utah County favorite.

• Lagoon’s Frightmares (Farmington) – Even the amusement park gets a spooky makeover! Lagoon’s annual Frightmares features multiple haunted houses and scare zones alongside the rides. There are some attractions for kids, and others “absolutely too scary for most kids,” so everyone can find their funsltrib.com. Frightmares runs on weekends through Nov. 9, making it a Davis County must-do for both families and thrill-seeking teens.

Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes

Many Utah farms transform into autumn wonderlands with pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and bushels of farm fun for all ages. Fall weekends are perfect for a day at a pumpkin patch – it’s also a great way to see different communities in their festive spirit. Grab a pumpkin spice treat and explore these favorite patch-and-maze destinations:

• Cornbelly’s (Lehi & Spanish Fork) – Utah’s most famous fall festival now has two locations in Utah County. Cornbelly’s boasts one of the top corn mazes in the U.S. (each year with a new design) and has been delighting families for 20+ yearsuniversityplaceorem.com. You’ll find dozens of activities – think giant slides, pumpkin cannons, haunted attractions at night, and endless photo ops – truly a cornucopia of fun.

• Black Island Farms (Syracuse) – Head to Davis County to experience this working farm’s 20th anniversary corn maze and pumpkin patch. Black Island Farms offers an 8-acre maze (with a haunted “Nightmare Acres” on select nights) plus wagon rides, a petting zoo, and pumpkin pickingsltrib.com. It’s open daily through October, with late hours on weekends for those who want a nighttime maze adventure.

• Cross E Ranch (Salt Lake City) – You don’t have to leave Salt Lake County for an authentic farm experience. Cross E Ranch’s Fall Festival includes a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, farm animals, and tasty fall foods (hello, apple cider donuts!)sltrib.com. This family-run ranch on the northwest side of the valley gives you a delightful country feel right near the city.

• Other Utah Valley Farms – Southern Salt Lake County and Utah County are packed with local farms offering fall fun. For example, Glen Ray’s Corn Maze in Spanish Fork is a 6th-generation farm with a 7.5-acre maze (haunted on weekend evenings) plus a pumpkin patchuniversityplaceorem.com. Hee Haw Farms in Lindon provides classic farmyard entertainment – a corn maze, petting zoo, hay rides, and a kiddie corraluniversityplaceorem.com. And don’t forget Jaker’s Jack-O- Lanterns at Harward Farms (Springville), which has an affordable $5 admission that includes a small corn maze, petting zoo and hayridesuniversityplaceorem.com. Even fruit farms join the fun: Rowley’s Red Barn in Santaquin opens its orchards for wagon rides, apple cannons, a corn maze and all the fresh-pressed apple cider you can drinkuniversityplaceorem.com. In short, wherever you go in Utah County, you’re likely to find a charming pumpkin patch nearby!

Fall Festivals & Halloween Events

Not all fall fun is frightening – many community events in Utah celebrate the lighter side of the season with food, music, costumes, and family activities. Mark your calendar for these fang-tastic festivals and events in 2025:

• WitchFest at Gardner Village (West Jordan) – This historic shopping village transforms into a whimsical witch haven each Octobersltrib.com. Stroll among dozens of witch displays and scavenger hunts, shop Halloween décor, and enjoy events like Breakfast with a Witch or Witchapalooza dinner theater. WitchFest runs all month (through Oct. 31)sltrib.com, and it’s free to walk around – a perfect outing for families (kids love spotting the funny witch scenes) or a girls’ night out.

• Salt Lake Giant Pumpkinpalooza & Zombie Walk (Salt Lake City) – Join the downtown party at The Gateway on Saturday, Oct. 11. See giant pumpkins (we’re talking 1,000+ lbs!) on display and cheer on a pumpkin pie-eating contestksl.com. Kids can trick-or-treat at vendor booths (new this year), and everyone can watch or join the Zombie Walk costume parade in the eveningksl.com. With live music and food trucks on site, this festival is a lively kickoff to Halloween season in Salt Lake County.

• Halloween Lights at the Zoo & Aquarium – Utah’s beloved attractions get spooky makeovers after dark. At Utah’s Hogle Zoo, the annual BooLights event fills the grounds with glowing lights, animatronic creatures, and themed entertainment on select nights (Oct. 3–30)sltrib.com. You can visit a Witch’s House, see a creepy-crawly light show, and even ride the haunted train for an extra feesltrib.com. Down in Draper, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is hosting a special Trick-or-Treasure night on Monday, Oct. 27, where kids can collect candy throughout the aquarium exhibitssltrib.com. (They also celebrate on Halloween day with costumed divers and creature encounters on Oct. 31.) These evening events are fun for all ages – a little spooky, but mostly sparkly!

• Provo River Halloween Cruise (Utah County) – For a unique family adventure, try this haunted boat ride in Provo. The Halloween Cruise is like a hayride on water: you’ll float down the Provo River, passing over 100 jack-o’-lanterns reflecting off the water while a storyteller pirate entertains youuniversityplaceorem.com. Keep an eye out – a costumed pirate might even attack the boat with jokes and candy for the kids!universityplaceorem.com The round-trip cruise takes about 20–25 minutes, departing every 15–30 minutes each evening. It runs nightly through Oct. 31 (6:30–9 p.m. weekdays, till 10 p.m. on weekends) and costs around $9 per personuniversityplaceorem.com. This is a Utah County favorite that brings Halloween on the high seas to landlocked Utah.

• Southern Utah Spooktaculars – Fall fun isn’t limited to the Wasatch Front. In St. George, the Scarecrow Walk & Haunted Canyon turns the Red Hills Desert Garden into a family-friendly scare zone Oct. 14–31ksl.com. Stroll along garden paths lined with creative scarecrows made by locals, then dare to enter the mini “haunted” slot canyon filled with skeletons – it’s spooky and stunning among the red rock backdropksl.com. Meanwhile, in Cedar City, you can take the kids to the Aquatic Center’s Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 24–25, where the swimming pools become a haunted pirate coves for a nightksl.com. There’s a spook alley, games, and swimming activities for just a small fee per familyksl.com. These events show that the Halloween spirit thrives statewide, from north to south!

Trick-or-Treats and Trunk-or-Treats

Traditional trick-or-treating door-to-door is always fun, but Utah’s communities also offer organized events to gather treats in a safe, festive atmosphere. Trunk-or-treats (where kids go car-to-car instead of house-to-house) have become especially popular. Here are some ways to fill your candy bags while mingling with neighbors:

• Community Trunk-or-Treats – Many cities and neighborhoods host free trunk-or-treat events in parking lots, often with cleverly decorated car trunks and volunteers handing out candy. For example, Layton in Davis County is holding a community Trunk-or-Treat on Oct. 17 (3–5 p.m.) in a local bank parking lotdiscoverdavis.com – just show up in costume and enjoy the haul. In Utah County, the Provo Towne Centre mall invites families to a parking lot trunk-or-treat on Oct. 29 and again on Halloween afternoon Oct. 31universityplaceorem.com. These events provide a fun, daylight alternative to nighttime trick-or-treating, especially for little kids.

• “Orem Treats & Trucks” – Orem City puts a cool twist on trunk-or-treating with its annual Truck-or-Treat event. On the morning of Oct. 22, Orem will line up city vehicles (think fire truck, snowplow, police car, etc.) for kids to explore, then hand out treats from each truckuniversityplaceorem.com. They even start with a “quiet hour” with no sirens for kids who prefer a calmer experienceuniversityplaceorem.com. After 10:30 a.m., the full noisy fun kicks in until 2 p.m. with candy at each vehicle. It’s a great opportunity for youngsters to climb on big trucks and snag some treats. (Bonus: Orem is also hosting a Night of Fright party on Oct. 28 with games and s’mores, showing this city knows how to celebrate Halloween all day longuniversityplaceorem.com.)

• Mall and Zoo Trick-or-Treats – Local businesses and attractions often join the Halloween fun with their own trick-or-treat events. Besides the Provo mall event mentioned, keep an eye out for things like Boo at the Zoo in Logan. At the small Zootah zoo in Logan, “Boo at the Zoo” runs Oct. 9–11 during the day, where kids can trick-or-treat at stations around the zoo and enjoy animal encountersksl.com. (Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, Hogle Zoo’s evening BooLights event includes trick-or-treat spots too, as noted above.) Likewise, shopping centers such as Station Park in Farmington or City Creek in SLC sometimes host trick-or-treat nights where shops give out candy. These venue-based events are fantastic for young families – they’re typically well-lit, stroller-friendly, and you might get some shopping in while you’re there!

• Church & Community Parties – Don’t forget the many church carnivals, school Halloween fairs, and city recreation center parties that pop up throughout October. From trunk-or-treats in church parking lots to library Halloween story times, Utah’s community spirit shines this time of year. Check your city’s events calendar or community Facebook pages for local Halloween carnivals or “boo-nanzas.” Often these include costume contests, bake sales, and games along with candy galore. It’s a great way to meet your potential future neighbors and see the friendly spirit of each area – literally, in the case of people dressed as friendly spirits!

Scenic Fall Drives for Leaf Peeping

After the excitement of haunted houses and candy hunts, you might crave a peaceful fall outing. Luckily, Utah’s autumn scenery is to die for! (Figuratively, of course.) Pack some hot cider, load up a driving playlist, and enjoy one of these scenic drives bursting with fall colors – a perfect way to spend a crisp afternoon while also scouting out beautiful neighborhoods and landscapes across Utah:

• Alpine Loop (Utah County) – This 20-mile alpine road winds through American Fork Canyon, over the shoulder of Mount Timpanogos, and down into Provo Canyon. Every twist of the narrow road reveals breathtaking fall foliagedeseret.com – fiery maples, golden aspens, and views of towering peaks. Enter from Highland/Alpine (UT-92) or from Provo Canyon; at the summit, you can even glimpse Mount Timp itselfdeseret.com. (Heads up: the Alpine Loop is seasonal and typically closes by mid to late October, so catch it during peak color in early Octoberutahvalley.com!)

• Nebo Loop (Southern Utah County) – Just east of Payson lies the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway, often less crowded but equally spectacular. This drive climbs past 11,000-foot Mt. Nebo with sweeping views of pine forests, red rock outcrops, and of course tons of autumn colordeseret.com. Plan for about a 35-mile drive (roughly 1.5 hours without stops). There are plenty of picnic spots and overlooks – and if you’re feeling adventurous, trailheads to stretch your legs. Mid-October is usually the golden time for Nebo’s aspen grovesutahvalley.com.

• Guardsman Pass (Salt Lake & Summit Counties) – Guardsman Pass is a popular high-elevation route connecting Big Cottonwood Canyon (Salt Lake side) to Park City (Summit side). Reached via UT-190 up Big Cottonwood, this fully paved byway climbs to about 9,700 feet at the summitdeseret.com. Along the way you’ll get panoramic mountain vistas and stunning fall foliage in every directiondeseret.com. Quaking aspens line the road, creating a tunnel of gold. Keep an eye out for wildlife, too – moose and deer love this areadeseret.com. Once over the top, you can drop into Park City or Midway, making it a convenient loop back to the Heber Valley or SLC.

• Ogden Canyon & Ogden Valley (Weber/Davis Counties) – Northern Utah has its own gorgeous drives, and one of the best is the Ogden Canyon Scenic Byway. Starting in Ogden City, Highway 39 snakes along the Ogden River through a narrow canyon of vivid fall colorsdeseret.com. You’ll emerge at Pineview Reservoir in Ogden Valley, where mountain vistas and reflections on the water await. The road continues to Huntsville and Eden – charming communities worth a stop for lunch or a pumpkin stand. This route is about 40 miles one-way, so you can return via the same canyon or loop around through Weber Canyon or Monte Cristo.

• Logan Canyon to Bear Lake (Cache County) – If you’re up for a longer drive north, Logan Canyon (US-89) offers an all-in-one fall adventure. Begin in Logan and ascend through canyon curves decked out in red maples and yellow aspens – Logan Canyon is actually a designated National Scenic Bywayutah.com. About 40 miles later, you’ll be rewarded with a jaw-dropping view of Bear Lake, often called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its turquoise-blue water. In autumn, that blue lake contrasts beautifully with the orange and gold hillsides around itutah.com. It’s a bit of a trek from the Wasatch Front, but the combination of canyon foliage and the dramatic Bear Lake overlook makes it worth the drive. (Plus, you can grab a famous raspberry shake in Garden City as a sweet treat for your journey!)

As you can see, Utah’s fall 2025 lineup is packed with haunted houses, harvest festivals, family activities and scenic splendor. From the ghostly thrills in Salt Lake’s haunted halls to the charming pumpkin patches of Utah Valley and the colorful canyons up north, there’s no shortage of autumn adventures. The best part? Enjoying these events is also a fantastic way to get to know Utah’s neighborhoods and communities – you’ll experience firsthand the friendly, festive spirit that makes each area unique. So grab your costume, your coat, and maybe a camera for those canyon drives, and have a wonderful Halloween season in Utah. Who knows – while you’re out reveling in fall fun, you just might stumble upon a neighborhood that feels like homeuniversityplaceorem.com. Happy Halloween, happy house-hunting, and happy fall!

Sources: Utah fall events and attractions informationksl.comsltrib.comsltrib.comuniversityplaceorem.comuniversityplaceorem.comuniversityplaceorem.comdeseret.comdeseret.com (see inline citations for details)