As October approaches and an eerie chill fills the air, bookstores across North America are transforming their autumn aisles into spooky spaces full of festive Halloween fun.
From story times full of clever costumes to market vendors dedicated to helping you find your new favorite Halloween horror book, there is an event out there for every age and any reader. These eight bookstores are raising the bar when it comes to haunted hosting!
For Budding Bookworms
Halloween Costume Storytime at Sleepy Hollow Bookshop (Sleepy Hollow, NY)
Costumes are encouraged for this storytime event at Sleepy Hollow Bookshop, located in Sleepy Hollow, New York. No need to RSVP for this Halloween Costume Storytime event; simply promise to show up ready to read.
Get ready for a cozy mid-morning reading session, complete with delicious pastries and coffee, perfect for parents. If your little ghoul loves the story to bits, you’re in luck! Look around to find a plethora of shelves stocked with literary family fun.
Spook-Tacular Storytime with Steve Patschke at Bookstore 1 Sarasota (Sarasota, FL)
The Spook-Tacular Storytime with Steve Patschke at Bookstore 1 Sarasota, located in Sarasota, FL, will take place on Halloween, setting the perfect spooky vibe for your evening of trick-or-treating fun.
Join Steve Patschke for an interactive reading and signing of his new children’s book, The Haunted Scavenger Hunt. The book follows four friends as they find themselves in some mysterious mischief, leading them on a haunted Halloween scavenger hunt. Little ones will love following Steve on a scavenger hunt of their own — solving puzzles, finding clues, and maybe even finding a new festive friend to share their trick-or-treat treasures with.
Boooooks with Friends at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library (Memphis, TN)
Stop by Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, located in Memphis, TN, for Boooooks with Friends, a fun-filled Halloween event for the kiddos. Be sure to come with your spooky spirit in your best costume!
Naps for the whole family will be a must after this event. From book giveaways to a spine-tingling storytime, Boooooks with Friends will keep the kids entertained for hours. Don’t forget the haunting tricks or treats that you will receive.
Fun For Everyone
Black Cat’s Curious Carnival & Psychic Fair: A Vintage Halloween Event at Black Cat Books & Oddities (Medina, OH)
Black Cat Books & Oddities’ Black Cat’s Curious Carnival & Psychic Fair: A Vintage Halloween Event is a must-visit for all lovers of the whimsical. Located in Medina, OH, this Halloween carnival will feature all things vintage.
With book signings, a psychic fair, and more, Black Cat’s Curious Carnival & Psychic Fair: A Vintage Halloween Event is perfect for getting you in the spooky mood for the season. You’ll want to show up in your best vintage costume for a potential reward!
Mature Monsters Only
The Romantasy Masquerade Ball at Burning Pages Bookstore (Wilmington, NC)
The Romantasy Masquerade Ball at Burning Pages Bookstore in Wilmington, NC, will not disappoint. This mystical, once-in-a-lifetime event will bring your deepest desires for regal romance to life.
The ball will feature unique elements of mystery as you move through the night of All Hallows Eve dressed in your best royal uniform. Enter a raffle to be crowned King or Queen of the night, an experience that you are guaranteed never to forget.
Books & Boos at Wandering Quills Books (Pickerington, OH)
Join the Wandering Quills Books mobile bookstore for their Books & Boos event in Pickerington, OH, for a fun-filled Halloween night that readers dream of. Pair a new read with a yummy cocktail and mingle with other readers relishing in the height of the spooky season.
Be sure to be quick! Before you know it, Wandering Quills Books will take off for their next location, books and all.
Blind Date with a BOOk at Interabang Books (Dallas, TX)
Interabang Books is dedicated to finding you your perfect match this Halloween — bookwise, that is! They will be hosting Blind Date With A BOOk, where you will be matched with a book that screams for you.
Each ticket will also come with a free tea reading, including the mug, of course! Are you ready to have your fate revealed by the leaves left in your cup? If so, be sure to check out this event for your Halloween night.
If you won’t be able to attend these awesome events, check what’s happening in your area. You might just be able to snag some spots for the best Halloween yet!
Are you interested in reading more on bookish culture? Check out our Book Culture page!
Looking for interesting Halloween-themed book recommendations? Check out our Supernatural Picks: Paranormal Romance Recs and Vampire and Werewolf Books to Sink Your Teeth Into shelves on our Bookshop.org page to help support indie bookstores.
