If your kids are ready for some frightful fun, an Indianapolis haunted house might be exactly what you want. The annual Children’s Museum Haunted House is a great place to ease them into the excitement of being spooked. There are also fun, non-frightening lights-on hours for those who aren’t quite ready to be scared.
Class is officially in session at Fright Academy, the 2026 Children’s Museum Haunted House in Indianapolis.
From October 9 through October 31, families can enter a mysterious school where the next generation of monsters and villains studies potions, charms, spellcasting, shadow shifting, and other delightfully creepy subjects.
Fright Academy Information at a Glance
What: Fright Academy, The Children’s Museum Guild’s 62nd annual Haunted House
When: October 9–31, 2026
Where: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis
Friendly Hours: Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Wednesdays, 3:30–6:30 p.m.; Sundays, noon–5 p.m.
Frightening Hours: Thursdays–Saturdays, 4–9 p.m. No Frightening Hours on October 9 or October 31.
Tickets: $9 general admission; $8 museum members; $5 Access Pass holders
Good to Know: Haunted House admission is separate from general museum admission.
But be careful where you wander. The library is haunted, the cafeteria serves some truly ghastly meals, and one wrong turn could leave you tangled in a giant spider’s web. Even landing a spot in the school’s Hall of Fame may not be the honor you expect.
A Haunted House ticket does not include general admission to The Children’s Museum. If your family wants to explore the museum and visit Fright Academy, you will need tickets for both. You may also purchase only a Haunted House ticket if that is the sole purpose of your visit.
Friendly or Frightening? Choose Your Class Schedule
The Children’s Museum Haunted House offers two versions of the experience, allowing families to choose the right level of Halloween fun for their children.
Uranus Fudge Factory Friendly Hours are recommended for younger children, first-time Haunted House visitors, and kids who love Halloween but do not enjoy being scared. The lights are brighter, the music is upbeat, and friendly greeters welcome families along the route. Children also receive goodies and treats as they travel through Fright Academy.
Frightening Hours completely changes the mood. The lights are dimmed, the music becomes scarier, and masked haunters appear throughout the experience. There are also jump scares, making this the better choice for older children and anyone who truly wants a fright.
There will be no Frightening Hours on opening day, Friday, October 9, or on Halloween.
As a parent, I always recommend choosing based on your child rather than age alone. Some younger kids cannot wait to encounter a masked monster. Some older kids would much rather admire the sets with the lights on. Friendly Hours still offer the full Fright Academy theme and plenty of Halloween atmosphere without the more intense surprises.
Friendly or Frightening – What’s Right for Your Kids?
The Children’s Museum Guild’s 60th Annual Haunted House offers Lights-On Friendly Hours (for children who scare easily) and Frightening Hours (with the lights off, for children who dare to be scared). During Friendly Hours, the lights throughout the experience will be turned up, and the music will be fun and upbeat. Rather than actors in scary costumes, kids can trick-or-treat with friendly Haunted House greeters. Keep in mind that the decorations will remain the same, so be prepared for a full range of spooky Halloween theming.
Frightening Hours are still kid-friendly, but kick up the scariness a notch. Friendly greeters are replaced with “Haunters” in scary costumes and masks, and they may jump out to scare you. You can also expect low lights, creepy music, and some screams from fellow visitors. The Children’s Museum Haunted House notes that they focus on “startle” rather than gore.
Special Theme Days and Giveaways
There are even more reasons to visit Fright Academy throughout October. Opening day on October 9 is Gym Day, followed by Art Day on October 13, Library Day on October 20, and Math Day on October 27. Activities and giveaways vary by date and are available while supplies last.
Families can visit during Bike Safety Days on October 14, 21, and 28 for free bike helmet giveaways during Friendly Hours.
Older kids and brave families may want to attend Twice the Fright Nights on October 15 and 22. One Frightening Hours ticket includes two trips through the Haunted House on these special evenings. It is a chance to catch details you missed the first time, assuming you are brave enough to go back through.
More Fright Academy Events
The Haunted House is the centerpiece of the season, but several larger Halloween events make it possible to build an entire evening around your visit.
Museum members can be among the first to enter Fright Academy during the Haunted House Member Preview Party on Saturday, October 3, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. This members-only event includes trips through the Haunted House during both Friendly and Frightening Hours, games, crafts, science activities, special appearances by the Circle City Ghostbusters, sneaker art, and a costume contest. Tickets are $20 per person, and children younger than 2 are free.
Museum My Way on October 13 gives families with disabilities and sensory sensitivities an opportunity to experience the museum and Fright Academy in a more comfortable environment.
The Friendly Feast with the Witches takes place Saturday, October 17. This all-ages event includes a Halloween-themed buffet, a trip through Fright Academy during Friendly Hours, games, activities, a special craft, face painting, a magic show, and a goody bag for each child. Tickets are $25 per adult or child, with a discount available for museum members.
Also on October 17, adults can attend After Dark: Sports and Spells. This Halloween party is exclusively for guests ages 21 and older.
Twilight Fright returns Saturday, October 24, with an energetic evening created for kids ages 7 to 14. The event includes a Frightening Hours visit to Fright Academy, laser tag, a silent disco, glow golf, sports games and challenges, live music from the School of Rock band, pizza, Kona Ice, and soft drinks. Tickets are $30 per adult or youth, with museum member discounts available.
More Than an Indianapolis Halloween Tradition
The Children’s Museum Guild opened its first Haunted House in 1964. More than 26,000 people visited during that original 10-day run.
Since then, the Haunted House has welcomed more than 3.3 million visitors, and the Guild has donated more than $17 million to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Those funds support the museum’s mission and programming that benefits children and families in the surrounding neighborhood.
Being part of the Guild has given me an entirely different view of this Indianapolis Halloween tradition. When you walk through Fright Academy, you are seeing months of planning, problem-solving, painting, decorating, building, and volunteer work. Every hallway and creepy classroom represents countless hours given by people who believe in the museum and the families it serves.
Fright Academy is a wonderfully weird place to celebrate Halloween, whether your family chooses bright and cheerful Friendly Hours or the darker, scarier Frightening Hours.
Plan ahead for next year! Earn free Children’s Museum Haunted House tickets through the Indianapolis Public Library Summer Reading Program.
Looking for something a little scarier? See our full list of Indianapolis haunted houses.
