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 and not frightening lights on hours for those who aren’t quite ready to be scared.
The 2024 Haunted House at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis lets visitors join some spooky Halloween characters on a cross-country road trip to Boneyard Beach. Meet a whole host of villains, including witches, zombies, werewolves, and more, as you explore this family-friendly Children’s Museum Haunted House experience.
Ticket sales begin on September 10! The Children’s Museum Haunted House opens October 10 and runs through the 31.
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 not change, so be prepared for all the 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.
Children’s Museum Haunted House Tickets
Tickets are available online beginning September 10. Members save $1 off each ticket. You do not need to purchase admission to the Children’s Museum in addition to your Haunted House ticket. Alternatively, your Children’s Museum general entry does not include the Haunted House experience.
Children’s Museum Haunted House Special Events
The Welcome to BOOville Haunted House is the main event but there are plenty of other frighteningly fun opportunities to get excited about during October.
Friendly Feast with the Witches
Grab grub with the friendliest of witches! This event includes fab“BOO”lous Halloween entertainment, a tour of Witch Way Road Trip during AES Indiana’s Lights-On Hours (for children who scare easily), activities, a magic show, a tasty “BOO-fet” meal, and LOTS of happy, friendly witches! Recommended for children ages 3-9 and their families. Get your tickets early. They sell out quickly!
- Breakfast BOO-fets: Saturdays, Oct. 19 & 26, 9 am
- Lunch BOO-fets: Saturdays, Oct. 19 & 26, 11:30 am
- Tickets are $25 per person, for youth and adults (Does not include museum admission)
- Museum members SAVE $5
- Children under 2 are free
- Limited capacity
Twilight Fright
This fun, outdoor event is perfect for older kids, ages 7-14, and accompanying adults. You’ll enjoy a Frightening Hours tour of Witch Way Road Trip, but the main event is out in the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience. The big kids will love the live DJ, arcade with prizes, outdoor games, goody bags, athlete appearances, and included Hot Box Pizza, Kona Ice, and soft drinks. Grown-ups can take advantage of the cash bar.
- Saturday, Oct. 12, 6:30-9 pm
- Tickets are $25 per person, for youth and adults (Does not include museum admission)
- Museum members SAVE $5
- Limited capacity
Museum My Way
This event is an opportunity for children with disabilities or sensory sensitivities and their families to enjoy the museum in a calmer, brighter environment. The Witch Way Road Trip Haunted House will have very low music playing, all lights on and no flashing lights, and friendly greeters only. Every child will leave with a goody bag and a sensory toy. Museum My Way also includes a modified experience in Dinosphere.
- Wednesday, Oct. 9, 4-7 pm
- $10 per person. $8 for members and Access Pass holders.
- Limited Capacity
Halloween After Dark (ages 21+)
Ready for a wicked good time? Grab your friends and get ready for a spooktacular time on the Witch Way Road Trip! Enjoy Halloween-themed fun, wear your costumes and see whose is the best of the night, and enjoy bites and brews—all without the kids! After Dark events are exclusively for ages 21 and up. Tickets and further info are available beginning mid-September.
- Saturday, Oct. 19, 7-11 pm
- PRICE TBA
- Limited capacity
Witch Way Road Trip is presented by Old National Bank.
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.