The Land of Enchantment doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Halloween. There’s frightening fun for families, kid-centric candy events, and plenty of opportunities to scream.
The New Mexico Chinese Lantern Festival
New Mexico’s Chinese Lantern Festival displays over 30 stunning lantern displays during the festival. These displays range from 100-foot-long illuminated lanterns to a three-story tall Chinese palace. You won’t find an exhibit like this anywhere else.
That’s not all you’ll see at the festival. Every night, artists present traditional Chinese crafts like inner bottle painting, Chinese knot weaving, and dough modeling.
Be sure to catch one of the nightly performances. The performances showcase Chinese acts like contortion, face changing, plate spinning, Mongolian, Uygur and Tibetan dance.
When: October 6th – November 12th, Nightly from 5:30PM-10PM
Where: Expo New Mexico
Tickets: Click here
Haunted Houses in Albuquerque: Face your fears
What’s more fun than binging on Halloween’s best horror movies? Experiencing the fright for yourself. Albuquerque has some of the best haunted houses in the southwest. From corn mazes to haunted houses, hay rides and trails, there are no haunts off-limits. Check out one of these phobia-filled houses.
Dragons House of Horror
- Complete with zombies and other beasts that will send chills up your spine.
- Open Tuesday – Saturday, doors open at 6:00PM
- Located at the New Mexico State Fair Grounds
- $25-$35
- Click here to grab your tickets.
McCall’s Haunted Farm
- One stop shop for Halloween horrors, playing on traditional scares like clowns. See if you can handle the legacy of farmer McCall!
- Click here for tickets.
Quarantine: Origins
- This year is the 70th anniversary of the Roswell UFO Incident. Get immersed with this interactive haunted house where you’re a part of the story.
- October 6-22, 25-31
- Click here for tickets.
Realm of Darkness
- There’s something about abandoned asylums that will forever give you the creeps. The story behind this haunted house will, too. Realm of Darkness began as an asylum for the insane in 1990. With strange experiments and hokey doctors, Realm of Darkness crumbled during an explosion caused by one of the experiments. Get lost in this story, where you’re looking for shelter and find only evil.
- Tuesday to Thursday, 7:00PM to 10:00PM, Friday to Saturday 7:00PM to 12:00AM.
- Realm of Darkness is located near the International Balloon Park
- Click here for your tickets.
Slaughter House
- The Slaughter House happens to be the first haunted attraction of its kind in New Mexico. Even the producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious have tried it out!
- Click here to find tickets.
Take a Ghost Tour in Old Town
Old Town has over 300 years of haunted history, which you can experience on a 90-minute tour. What’s more? You’ll learn the basics of ghost hunting while you learn about actual events that took place there. Not so surprisingly, Old Town is one of the most actively haunted locations around the country.
If you’re looking for a darker thrill, head to Old Town at 10:00PM for a Moonlight Ghost Tour. Learn about the darker side of Old Town, where you’ll mingle with the ghosts of the Wild West. Check them out Fridays and Saturdays during October, or on Halloween itself.
When: Nightly, 8:00PM (Be sure to make your reservation before 6:00PM)
Where: Plaza Don Luis
Tickets: Find them here.
Watch Day of the Tread
There are t-shirts for all participants, costume contests, entertainment, and food for all. Even if you’re not a big cyclist, don’t forget to check out the Expo on Saturday, October 28th. Vendors and sponsors include Edible Arrangements, Hyatt Regency, El Pinto, and more.
Alternatively, grab your bike and go to Day of the Tread, where you can choose from 9, 26, 50, 64, 80, or 100-mile routes. All proceeds from the event will go to Pegasus Legal Services for Children.
When: October 28th-29th, 9:00AM
Where: Albuquerque Convention Center
Tickets: Register here.
Collect Candy at the ABQ Bio Park Zoo Boo
Trick-or-treat, play games, see haunted habitats, watch the costume parade, and taste treats from vendors and sponsors based in the area at the 29th Annual Zoo Boo.
When: October 28th, 11:0AM to 4:00PM
Where: ABQ Bio Park Zoo
Tickets: Up to four kids can get in for free while in costume. See more details here.
Try Underwater Pumpkin Carving
This novel idea is a great pick for the whole family during the day on Halloween. Divers in the Shark Tank carve pumpkins while fish swim by and through the jack-o-lanterns.
When: October 31st, 2:00PM
Where: ABQ BioPark Aquarium
Tickets: Click here.
Don’t Miss the Dia del Dulce Festival
Candy giveaways, pet parades, costume contests, and family activities run all day. Old Town celebrates Dia del Dulce by opening the doors of local restaurants and shops. The shops are great stops for trick or treating, too!
When: October 31, 4:00PM to 7:00PM
Where: Old Town, Albuquerque
Tickets: Event is free!
Celebrate Halloween in Old Town
Come see live entertainment from Merican Slang, a local funk band. Of course, they’ll be in costume, and they’ll be playing Halloween songs! Join the Monster Mash.
When: October 31, 4:00PM to 6:00PM
Where: Old Town Gazebo
Tickets: Event is free!
Myers & Myers Rea
l Estate
A local real estate professional is one of the best sources of information about events and attractions in their area. With their local expertise, you’ll quickly get a hang of your new city!
If you’re interested in knowing more about Albuquerque real estate, or the neighborhoods around Albuquerque like Rio Rancho, don’t hesitate to reach out! Myers & Myers Real Estate is here to help. You can contact us as [email protected], call us at (505) 401-7500, or visit us online.
