Hagerstown Gears Up for Spooky and Festive October with a Packed Community Events Calendar

Hagerstown, Maryland residents can look forward to a vibrant and diverse October, filled with everything from fiber arts and community yard sales to paranormal investigations and lively Halloween celebrations. The City of Hagerstown and Downtown Hagerstown Main Street have released a comprehensive schedule of events designed to engage the community and offer entertainment for all ages throughout the month.

The festivities kick off on Saturday, October 4th, with Fiber Fest at University Plaza. This event is tailored for fiber enthusiasts and offers demonstrations, a marketplace for fiber-related goods, and an opportunity for crafters to connect and work on projects together.

As the month progresses, the focus shifts to the more thrilling and autumnal. Beginning Friday, October 10th, Hagerstown Parks & Recreation will present City Park Ghost Tours, featuring the Hager House Ghost Tour and a Beginner Paranormal Investigation. These popular tours, offering indoor and outdoor experiences with varying durations and price points, require early registration due to limited space. Similar ghost tour events will continue on October 17th and October 31st, with the Halloween night tours at Hager House increasing to $20 per person.

The weekend of October 11th promises a variety of activities. A Community Yard Sale will take place at the Stables at Fairgrounds Park, featuring numerous vendors offering bargains on new and used items. Concurrently, Fairgrounds Park will host the Harvest Hoedown, an event geared towards families with activities such as pony rides, scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, and a petting zoo. Children attending the Harvest Hoedown will receive a free pumpkin while supplies last. Adding to the day’s excitement, Voltage Wrestling will bring live entertainment to University Plaza for a free, public event starting at 5:00 PM.

Later in the month, the community will come together for the Hagerstown Out of Darkness Walk on Saturday, October 18th, beginning at the City Park Band Shell. This event is dedicated to fighting suicide, and registration is free.

Hagerstown’s Halloween celebrations will be in full swing in the week leading up to the holiday. A Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat is scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd, at Fairgrounds Park, where attendees can collect treats from vendors. Tickets are required for this event, and participants are advised to arrive within their ticketed time slot.

The following Friday, October 24th, the Downtown Halloween Block Party will transform South Potomac Street from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Children and adults can trick-or-treat at over 20 participating businesses and organizations, and a costume contest with various categories and prizes will be held.

The weekend of October 25th will be packed with pet-friendly and traditional Halloween fun. The 13th Annual Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Parade will take place at the Hagerstown Dog Park, encouraging participants to dress up their canine companions for a parade and judging. Later that afternoon, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, downtown businesses will host a Trick-or-Treat event, providing an opportunity to gather candy before the evening’s main spectacle. The culmination of the day’s festivities will be the 98th Annual Alsatia Mummers Parade, commencing at 6:00 PM in downtown Hagerstown, a long-standing tradition sponsored by the City of Hagerstown.

Residents interested in participating in or learning more about these events can contact Downtown Hagerstown via email at events@downtownhagerstown.org. The City of Hagerstown’s Community Engagement Office can also be reached at 301-766-4258.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from City of Hagerstown and Downtown Hagerstown Main Street.

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