Every fall, I buy tickets to a spooky show to kick off the season with my family. We’ve celebrated with the demon barber of Fleet Street, been haunted by an opera phantom, and cheered for the dancers of BloodyVox. Usually there are two or three solid options, but this year Portland is overflowing with delightfully spooky performances, from ballet and symphony to theater and dance. If you’re looking to swap out one night of pumpkin carving for an evening (or matinee!) at the theater, here are fabulous shows to choose from this season.
Think live performances are out of your price range? Thanks to the Regional Arts & Culture Council, anyone who receives food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card can buy $5 tickets to many performances through the Arts for All program each year. Learn more and see participating venues here. If you don’t qualify, check out your library’s free cultural pass to see what’s on offer.
🎃 Halloween Ball — NW Children’s Theater
Get your costumes ready! NWCT’s annual Halloween Ball is back with dancing, games, and plenty of spooky-but-silly fun for kids. It’s part party, part performance — and 100% festive.
📅 When: Saturdays and Sundays, October 10–25, 2026, at 10 am, 12:30 pm and 3 pm.
📍 Where: The Judy, 1000 SW Broadway, Portland.
🧒 Ages: Most enjoyed by ages 4 and up.
⏱️ Length: Approximately 75 minutes.
👉 See details and get tickets.
🧁 Creepy Cupcakes — BodyVox
BodyVox has given our family some of our favorite spooky nights at the theater, so the second Creepy Cupcakes was announced, I knew this would be my family’s choice for 2026. Six guest choreographers bring their own eerie ideas to the stage for an evening of dance at BodyVox Dance Center. Prefer an afternoon outing? There’s a 2 pm performance on the final Saturday, so book asap if you want that matinee slot.
📅 When: October 8–10 and 15–17, 2026, at 7:30 pm; additional matinee October 17 at 2 pm.
📍 Where: BodyVox Dance Center, 1201 NW 17th Ave., Portland.
🧒 Ages: 10 or 11+, similar in scariness to Nightmare Before Christmas (PG)
💰 Cost: $40-$70. Prices vary by seat, but there’s not a bad seat in the house.
👉 Read about the show and choose a performance.
🦢 Swan Lake — Oregon Ballet Theatre
An evil sorcerer, a princess under a curse, and a tragic romance? Absolutely spooky-season material. Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake brings the beautiful, eerie fairy tale to life, with Tchaikovsky’s haunting score performed by the OBT Orchestra at every show. My daughter and I saw OBT’s Swan Lake a few years ago, and we were absolutely blown away by how emotional it was. I highly recommend splurging on tickets if you haven’t seen it!
📅 When: October 10–11 and 16–17, 2026; afternoon and evening performances.
📍 Where: Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland.
🧒 Best for: Ballet fans comfortable with a longer performance and a tragic story.
⏱️ Length: Two hours and 55 minutes, including three intermissions.
👉 See details and get tickets.
✨ The Golem’s Gift — Northwest Children’s Theater
Prefer magic to jump scares? NWCT’s world-premiere musical follows a man made of clay as he sets out to repair what is broken. Inspired by Jewish folklore, the story explores friendship, kindness and hope. It’s an October option for families who want a fantastical theater outing, but not truly Halloween-y. If you have a child too old to enjoy the Halloween Ball, but too young for real frights, this is a great option.
📅 When: Saturdays and Sundays, October 3–11, 2026, at 2 pm and 7 pm.
📍 Where: The Judy, 1000 SW Broadway, Portland.
🧒 Ages: Most enjoyed by ages 8 and up.
⏱️ Length: Approximately 2½ hours with an intermission.
👉 See details and get tickets.
👻 The Woman in Black — Bag&Baggage Productions
Two actors bring a classic ghost story to life as a young lawyer uncovers disturbing secrets in a remote English village. Bag&Baggage recommends the production for ages 8 and up, but its description promises serious scares, consider your child’s tolerance for suspense before booking.
📅 When: October 15–November 1, 2026. Thursdays–Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2 pm.
📍 Where: The Vault Theater, 350 E. Main St., Hillsboro.
🧒 Ages: Recommended by the company for ages 8 and up; expect a frightening ghost story.
💰 Cost: Listed ticket price is $30; October 15 preview is $15. Check checkout for any additional fees.
⏱️ Length: Approximately two hours, including an intermission.
♿ Access performances: ASL interpretation October 24; audio description October 25.
👉 See details and get tickets.
🎪 Welcome to My Nightmare — VanCrusos Productions
For the teen whose Halloween playlist is already on repeat, this show pairs live rock music with circus performance. A band of Portland musicians pays tribute to Alice Cooper while aerialists and other circus artists perform.
📅 When: October 10, 2026, at 3 pm and 8 pm. Doors open one hour before each show.
📍 Where: Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., Portland.
🧒 Ages: The venue lists the show as PG-13. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
👉 See details and get tickets.
🦇 Fright Night: A Halloween Circus — Night Flight
The Phantom of the Opera gets a very different kind of chandelier moment in Night Flight’s Halloween circus. This year’s production is a queer, gothic spoof of the familiar story, with aerial acrobatics, trapeze, aerial chains and plenty of camp.
📅 When: October 22–25, 2026; choose a date at the ticket link for showtime.
📍 Where: Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., Portland.
🧒 Ages: Night Flight describes the show as PG-13 for scares and sexiness.
👉 See details and get tickets.
🎻 Psycho in Concert — Oregon Symphony
Want to introduce your teen to an iconic classic horror film? Here’s a chance to hear just how much the music adds to the suspense. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho plays on the big screen while the Oregon Symphony’s string section performs Bernard Herrmann’s score live.
📅 When: October 28, 2026, at 7:30 pm.
📍 Where: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland.
🧒 Best for: Teens who enjoy horror, or a grown-ups’ night out.
👉 See details and get tickets.
🌱 Keep the Spooky Season Going: Little Shop of Horrors — Portland Center Stage
If your family isn’t ready to put Halloween away in November, Little Shop of Horrors follows florist Seymour as a mysterious plant changes his fortunes and demands an increasingly terrible price. The musical’s catchy songs and dark comedy make this a tempting pick for teens who wish spooky season lasted longer.
📅 When: November 15–December 24, 2026; evening and matinee performances.
📍 Where: The Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland.
🧒 Best for: Teens and adults who enjoy dark musical comedy
👉 See details and get tickets
Prefer to celebrate the season outdoors? Check out our comprehensive list of pumpkin patches.
