Unbe-leaf-able Autumn Experiences in Downtown Cleveland
By Ian Meadows
September 23, 2025
It’s hard not to fall in love with downtown Cleveland, especially in the autumn! With free family experiences, special movie screenings and stage productions, festive food and beverages, sports and recreation, and so much more, here are a few ways to make the most of the season across our city center.
Click on one of these links to explore each specific topic, or continue scrolling to learn about them all!
Festive Family Fun
Bring the whole family downtown for some light-on-the-scares, heavy-on-the-fun experiences! Make memories together by enjoying a variety of special events featuring creative crafts, spooky games, and playful activities.
IngenuityFest 2025: Forging The Future at IngenuityLabs
With a dynamic blend of art, industry, and imagination, IngenuityFest 2025 will showcase hands-on experiences, electrifying performances, and immersive exhibits that bring together makers, dreamers, and doers. Day Passes are $15 and Weekend Passes are $25, with children 12 and under always free!
Friday, September 26th: 6pm – 1am
Saturday, September 27th: 1pm – 1am
Sunday, September 28th: 1pm – 6pm
Fall Fun Days at Voinovich Park and Public Square
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. invites all ages to fall in love with Downtown Cleveland at Fall Fun Days! Enjoy spooky crafts, boo-tiful face painting, mouthwatering food trucks, and more!
Saturday, October 4th at North Coast Harbor’s Voinovich Park and Saturday, October 18th at Public Square
11am – 2pm
Step inside the free Spooky Tower for a hauntingly good time for the whole family!
Saturdays and Sundays, October 4th – 26th
Saturdays: 11am – 7pm; Sundays: 12pm – 5pm
Mini Pumpkin Painting at Cleveland Public Library
Decorate your own mini pumpkin to take home at Cleveland Public Library! All supplies provided.
Main Library, 4th Floor, Room 458 - Artlab
Tuesday, October 7th
3pm – 4pm
Pumpkins & Piranhas at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Explore the deep “BOO” sea during Greater Cleveland Aquarium’s Pumpkin & Piranhas afterhours Halloween celebration. Full Aquarium access, four-page activity, themed décor and music, diver interactions, appearances by the friendly landshark Finn and special treat bags for costumed kids are all part of the fun. Capacity is limited and advance tickets for this warm and dry fall family outing are recommended to ensure entry and adequate treat bags.
Fridays and Saturdays, October 17th – 25th
6pm - 8pm
Spooky Autumn Fest at Tower City
Prepare to have a ghoulishly good time at this free event with trick-or-treating, an inflatable corn maze, fall games and more!
Saturday, October 25th
Saturdays: 12pm – 6pm
Haunted Hallway at Cleveland Public Library
Stop by Cleveland Public Library’s Youth Services for a spooky (not so spooky) hallway trick or treating experience. Afterwards, enjoy fall themed family-friendly activities, stories, and more!
Main Library, 4th Floor, Room 458 – Artlab; Room 477 – Storytime Room
Saturday, October 25th
1pm – 4pm
Operation Safe Halloween “Trunk or Treat” at the Old Courthouse
Trunk or Treat style trick or treating at the Old Courthouse on Lakeside Ave downtown! Wear your costume! Free parking in the nearby Huntington Garage.
Friday, October 31st
6pm – 8pm
Eerie Amusement on the Stage & on the Screen
From blockbuster fall flicks to spooky stage shows, enjoy these special screenings and performances at Playhouse Square, Cleveland Public Library, Great Lakes Science Center, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Social Cinema Outdoor Movies at the Great Lakes Science Center: “Scream”
A movie-going experience unlike any other, Social Cinema is Cleveland’s 21+ Outdoor Movies Series. Featuring a curated bar, local food trucks, a pre-movie DJ and beautiful Cleveland skyline views, the vibes at Social Cinema are unmatched. Experience the classic 1996 movie “Scream” at this event!
Friday, October 3rd
7pm
Fall Film Series at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Join the Rock Hall’s 2025 Fall Film Series to explore films that highlight the powerful connection between music and comedy, in celebration of their new exhibit SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years Of Music.
Thursday, October 16th at 7pm: Wayne’s World
Thursday, October 30th at 7pm: School of Rock
Thursday, November 6th at 7pm: The Blues Brothers
Thursday, November 13th at 7pm: Hairspray
A Bunch of Hocus Pocus at Cleveland Public Library
Oh, look. Another glorious morning - Join Cleveland Public Library for this fright-tastic film, decorate your very own ghostly ghoul, and enjoy some spooky snacks.
Main Library, 4th Floor, Room 458 - Artlab
Saturday, October 11th
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Blockbuster Films of the 1980s: “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” at Cleveland Public Library
Join Cleveland Public Library to watch “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982), one of the top grossing films of the 1980s.
Louis Stokes Wing – Lower Level, Auditorium
Saturday, October 18th
1pm – 4pm
Great Lakes Theater’s “Dial M For Murder” at the Hanna Theatre
Deception, blackmail and murder collide in this fresh take on the classic thriller that inspired Hitchcock’s masterpiece. Tony’s plot to kill his wife Margot takes an unexpected turn in this fast-paced adaptation that will keep you guessing until the final twist. Taut, suspenseful and full of surprises, this gripping story will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Friday, October 24th – November 9th; various showtimes
Cleveland Ballet’s “Dracula” and “Code of Silence” at the Mimi Ohio Theatre
Just in time for the spookiest time of year, Dracula is a captivating adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic Gothic novel, brought to life through two time Tony Award nominated Lynne Taylor-Corbett's mesmerizing choreography and haunting music performed live under the baton of Lorenzo Lopez. Paired with Taylor-Corbett's Code of Silence, you don't want to miss these shows in tribute to the late choreographer.
Friday, October 24th – Saturday, October 25th; various showtimes
Cleveland Ballet’s “Dracula After Dark” at The Hermit Club
Step into the shadows and celebrate the night at "Dracula After Dark," an exclusive afterparty following Cleveland Ballet’s performance of "Dracula." Guests are invited to dress the part — from dramatic evening wear to full costume, and enjoy specialty cocktails, themed small bites, music, and dancing. Mingle with fellow ballet-goers and company dancers for a fang-tastic end to an unforgettable evening at The Hermit Club at Hofbräuhaus Cleveland.
Saturday, October 25th
9pm – 11:30pm
Fa-boo-lous Food and Beverage Experiences
Murder mystery dinners, river cruises, Halloween bar crawls, and seasonal specials – grab your friends and dig your fangs into these can’t-miss fall feasts!
Merwin’s Clambake at Merwin’s Wharf
Feast on a riverside Clambake Dinner at Cleveland Metroparks’ Merwin’s Wharf in the Flats.
Fridays and Saturdays, October 3rd – 25th
4pm – 8pm
The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Cleveland
At The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show, you’ll tackle a challenging crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The criminal is lurking somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!
Saturday, October 11th
6pm – 9pm
Murder Mystery at Lady Caroline
Lucky you! You've been invited to the wedding of the year. With two families merging, someone is bound to lose power . . . and even their life. In this "married to the mob" speakeasy mystery, you'll never know who to trust. Keep your wits about you and be ready to follow the clues to solve the case. Oh, and be sure to dress like the cat's meow for this mafia wedding. Flapper dresses, zoot suits, headbands and feather boas, fedoras are all appropriate.
Friday, October 17th
7pm – 10pm
Caroline’s Cursed Halloween Cruise at Lady Caroline
Adorned with spooky decorations and illuminated by flickering lights, Lady Caroline is an eerily enchanting backdrop for this Halloween cruise. As the ship glides past the Cleveland skyline, you can enjoy spellbinding views of the city’s iconic landmarks, dance to music by our spooky DJ, participate in costume contest (with prizes for the top three entries!) and indulge in devilishly good food and a bewitching drink from the “BOOs” menu.
Saturday, October 25th
7pm – 10pm
Cleveland Halloween Bar Crawl – Downtown W 6th Street and Flats East Bank
Get ready for the Official Halloween Bar Crawl in Cleveland, the ultimate way to dive into the city’s spooky season! Dress in your wildest costume and experience the Cleveland haunted bar crawl adventure. Purchasing a ticket gets you free entry to the best bars in the city, fantastic drink deals, and nonstop thrills as you hop from bar to bar throughout the Downtown and Warehouse District. Don’t miss out on one of the best Halloween parties in Cleveland!
Saturday, October 25th; Friday, October 31st; and Saturday, November 1st
Halloween-Inspired Funny Bus Tours
Join the Funny Bus all month long in October for Halloween-inspired tours. They feature 90-minute city tour through Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods with a local comedian as your host. Guests can bring their own beer and wine too! The Funny Bus will highlight some of Cleveland’s haunted houses and scary places, while playing Halloween music and games; however, please understand this is NOT a haunted tour. The Funny Bus does funny, not spooky!
Thursdays – Sundays in October; various times
Indulge in Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
Whether you’re craving a pumpkin space latte, spiced autumn beer, or warm pastry, enjoy seasonal favorites at downtown’s amazing local businesses.
Explore Downtown Cleveland’s “Eat” webpage linked above to explore downtown coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.
Spooktacular Sports and Recreation
Downtown’s temperature may be cooling down, but its fun is heating up with scenic runs and marathons, cheering on CLE’s sports teams, and giving back at volunteer opportunities.
The Towpath Marathon at Canal Basin Park
The Towpath Marathon is a classic fall race that starts in Canal Basin Park on the east bank of The Flats in downtown Cleveland and continues along the Towpath Trail. The race includes a 10K, half marathon and a Boston qualifier certified marathon course. Along the course you’ll see Camp Cleveland, the Towpath Mounds, sweeping views of the Cuyahoga River Valley and the downtown skyline.
Saturday, October 4th
7:30am – 3pm
Hermes Dead Sprint 5K & b.a. Sweetie Little Monster Candy Dash
Trick or Treat…if you dare! Run for your life around the Flats and Whiskey Island in your best Halloween costumes, make it to the finish and celebrate at the Survival Party inside McCarthy's Downtown! Featuring the b.a. Sweetie Little Monster Candy Dash (8 & under) Kicks off at 8:45 AM – a short, candy-filled sprint that’s all treats and no tricks!
Saturday, October 25th
9am – 12pm
Cheer on the Browns at Huntington Bank Field
Join the Downtown Dawg Pound by attending a home Cleveland Browns game at Huntington Bank Field, watching at a local bar, or partaking in a famous Muni-lot tailgate. Get decked out in your orange, white, and brown, and cheer on the Brownies with thousands of other fans in the best place to experience a game – right here in downtown Cleveland.
October Home Games: Sunday, October 5th against the Minnesota Vikings; Sunday, October 19th against the Miami Dolphins
Attend the Cavs Home Opener at Rocket Arena
The Cavs are gearing up to kick off their season! Be sure to cheer them on during their pre-season games, and then pack Rocket Arena for their home opener and all other home games downtown!
Home Opener: Sunday, October 26th against the Milwaukee Bucks
Volunteer with the Downtown Green Team
The Downtown Green Team helps keep downtown’s public spaces spruced-up and beautiful, while assisting with various events. Consisting of community volunteers, the group supports downtown beautification efforts and local experiences.
Sundays, May-October: Spruce Up the Square
Wednesdays through the Fall: Stirring Up Hope soup ministry
Saturday, October 4th: The Towpath Marathon
Visit DowntownCleveland.com, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on all the latest seasonal happenings around DTCLE. You’re sure to have a gourd time this October and all autumn long!