Alton to Host First Great Haunted Alton Halloween Festival Oct. 24, 2026
The free festival will feature a pet parade, live music, a costume contest, vendors and a Pumpkin Glow in downtown Alton.
ALTON - Put on your Halloween best and head to downtown Alton Saturday, Oct. 24 for the first-ever Great Haunted Alton Halloween Festival.
The fun begins at Noon and runs until 6 p.m. on Third and State Streets in Downtown Alton and is free to attend. Both streets will be closed to traffic so everyone can enjoy an afternoon of haunted fun.
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“We can’t wait to celebrate a Halloween festival in One of the Most Haunted Small Towns in America,” festival co-event planner Madeline Eades said. “This is a great way to shop and eat in Downtown Alton at local shops and restaurants while enjoying a fall afternoon of fun.”
Festivities include:
· Howl-a-Week Pet Parade: Dress up your four-legged friend and let them strut down the street during the parade which kicks off the fun at Noon.
· Shop local retailers and visit with more than 40+ curated vendors participating in the festival. Dine at local restaurants and pick up dessert from onsite bakers.
· Enjoy live music by The Steve Ewing Band at 1 p.m. and Psychedelic Symphony at 3 p.m.
· Dress up in your spooky best and take part in the Costume Contest for a chance to win cash prizes. Contestants will be judged by celebrities including Hollywood FX artist and film producer Jeff Lewis and K-SHE 95’s Kshemikki. Register for the contest at Mooneyham Art, 305 State Street, by 5 p.m. to participate.
· There will be a Pumpkin Glow starting at 6 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a carved pumpkin to enter the Pumpkin Glow. Candles are available at Coco+Oak.
Throughout the day, there will be axe throwing by Riverbend Axe and Games. Stop by Jacoby Arts Center for the exhibit Ghost Stories: Art of Oddities and let the kids make a pumpkin to take home.
Start your haunted weekend early with “Ghost Stories: Art of Oddities at Jacoby”, an art exhibit which focuses on local, regional and national ghost stories on Friday, Oct. 23 at Jacoby Arts Center, 208 State St. A closing reception for the exhibit will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. with an awards ceremony and a brief talk by Troy Taylor about the haunted history of the Jacoby Arts Center space. Troy Taylor is a nationally recognized author and owner of the American Oddities Museum.
Following the reception, attendees are invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes for some adult trick-or-treating on Third Street in Alton. Creepy Crawly Totes are available at Jacoby Arts Center for $10.
(The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is a certified Destination Marketing Organization serving Madison, Jersey, Calhoun, Macoupin, Montgomery and Greene counties and Brooklyn and East St. Louis in St. Clair County. The bureau is dedicated to educating visitors about the region by providing information regarding the area’s history, unique landmarks, recreational opportunities, leisure attractions, special events and scenic marvels.)
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