Annapolis is full of charm year-round, but come October, our historic streets take on a delightfully eerie twist. Cobblestone alleys, flickering lanterns, and centuries-old buildings set the stage for a season filled with ghostly tales and spooky adventures.
Whether you’re in the mood for a haunted history tour that’ll send a chill down your spine or you’re ready to brave a full-on fright night, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate spooky season right here in (and around) Annapolis. Grab your flashlight, call your bravest friends (or your boldest teens), and get ready to explore the spirited side of our city!
Ghost Tours in Annapolis
Whether you believe in ghosts or just love a good story, these tours are a must-try this spooky season. Tours book up fast in October, so be sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time.
Annapolis Ghost Tours & Crawls
We tried Annapolis Ghost Tours & Crawls’ Haunted Pub Crawl last year and loved the mix of local history, ghost stories, and stops inside some of downtown Annapolis’ supposedly haunted watering holes.
This year, you can choose from several options. Haunted Pub Crawls visit three bars over two hours, while the Hidden History Pub Crawl digs into Annapolis’ darker tales of murder, scandal and mayhem. There’s also a Witches of Maryland Pub Crawl, which explores Maryland witch trials, superstitions and local legends.
Prefer to skip the drinks? Walking tours include the classic Walking Ghost Tour, Hidden History Tour and Annapolis Witches & Legends Walking Tour. The walking tours are about 90 minutes, and Annapolis Ghost Tours describes them as fun for all ages.
Watermark’s Special Historic Hauntings
Each October, Watermark offers its Special Historic Hauntings tour, a spirited walk through the city’s darker, more mysterious past. Guided through shadowy alleys and side streets, you’ll hear chilling stories inspired by historical records and explore some of Annapolis’ lesser-known haunted sites.
The tour also includes a stop inside historic Hogshead, where you’ll step into an 18th-century Annapolis setting that makes the ghost stories feel just a little more real. Special Historic Hauntings is offered only in October.
Want your spooky stories on the water instead? Watermark is also offering a Haunted Lighthouse Cruise on Oct. 24. The 90-minute nighttime cruise circles Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse while a live interpreter shares lighthouse history and ghostly tales.
Haunted Attractions to Scream Over
If ghost tours let you stroll through centuries of haunted history, these attractions pull you right into the action. Haunted hayrides, eerie trails and haunted houses galore—Maryland has plenty of scream-worthy spots for anyone ready to embrace spooky season.
Whether you’re in it for jump scares, creepy corn mazes or just a night out under the October sky, here are a few favorites to add to your list.
301 Devil’s Playground – Galena, MD
Five haunted attractions, endless screams. At 301 Devil’s Playground, you’ll work your way through The House of Hell, 3-D Phobia, The Barnyard, The Barn of Torture and The Harvest, a haunted corn maze where getting lost is part of the terror.
There’s also food, music and entertainment on site, making it easy to turn the drive to the Eastern Shore into a full fright night.
AVFD Station 7 Terror Trail – Gambrills, MD
If you prefer your thrills a little closer to home, the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department’s Terror Trail delivers big scares for a good cause.
The full Terror Trail is an outdoor walk through the woods and is recommended for ages 8 and older. For younger kids—or anyone not quite ready for chainsaws and jump scares—the Boo Loop offers a much gentler Halloween experience designed for children under 8.
New for 2026: parking has moved to the Davidsonville Park-and-Ride at 2701 Davidsonville Road, where guests take a free shuttle to the trail. Limited Fast Passes are also available this year.
Proceeds support the volunteer fire department, so your fright night helps a good cause.
Bennett’s Curse – Baltimore, MD
A true Maryland haunt institution, Bennett’s Curse has been terrifying visitors for more than 25 years with elaborate sets, creatures, special effects, and plenty of jump scares.
And if this one has been sitting on your Halloween bucket list, this might be the year to go: 2026 is Bennett’s Curse’s 10th and final season at its Eastpoint location before the attraction moves into its next chapter.
Consider that your warning, and possibly your last chance to brave this version of the haunt.
Forest of Fear – Annapolis, MD
You don’t have to leave Annapolis for a haunted trail. On Oct. 24, the SPCA of Anne Arundel County transforms its nature trail into the Forest of Fear, where werewolves, ghouls, and other creatures lurk in the woods waiting to make you jump. This one is meant for brave souls, so expect actual scares, not a leisurely Halloween stroll. Tickets are $10, and all proceeds support the SPCA and its animals. Just leave your four-legged friends at home for this one.
Laurel’s House of Horror – Laurel, MD
Housed inside a former movie theater, Laurel’s House of Horror already has the perfect creepy setting before the scares even begin.
For 2026, the haunted house features four themes in one continuous walkthrough: The Carlisle Hotel, The Midnight Hour, The Cult, and Studio 13. The fall season runs through Nov. 7.
If walking willingly into a giant haunted house somehow isn’t enough, you can also try one of its escape room experiences, including Escape the Movies and Escape BeetleJuice.
Legends of the Fog – Aberdeen, MD
It’s a little bit of a drive from Annapolis, but Legends of the Fog packs enough scares into one night to make the trip worthwhile.
The attraction is celebrating its 20th season in 2026 with four main experiences: the Legendary Haunted Hayride, CornStalkers Corn Maze, Farewell Hotel, and The Slaughterhouse.
You’ll question every rustle in the corn, grip the person next to you on the hayride, and probably regret volunteering to walk in front inside the haunted houses.
When you’re ready to catch your breath, the midway has bonfires, food trucks, games, concessions, and Skelly’s Bar for guests 21 and older.
Whether you’re strolling through candlelit streets on a ghost tour or clutching your pearls in the middle of a haunted maze, there’s no shortage of eerie adventures waiting right here in Maryland. So grab a brave buddy or two and make this Halloween one to remember. Just don’t forget to look over your shoulder… you never know who (or what) might be following you.
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