By Natalie Derrickson

If you’re a Halloween fanatic, there’s only one spot to be this fall — the 78th Annual Historic Irvington Halloween Festival. A community-wide celebration of all things spooky, Irvington located about 15 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis, welcomes all to enjoy their shared affection for the haunting season. Kicking off on Oct. 19 with the Masquerade Ball, guests 21 and older will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and intrigue.

Be bewitched at the Spooky Organ Concert on Oct. 20, purchase original art on Oct. 21, and try keeping your eyes open during the Horror Shorts Movie Night, presented by Heartland Film and Playground Productions on Oct. 22. If horror isn’t your genre, the Family Movie Night on the 23rd may be your ticket. Continue your patronage of the arts on the 24th and listen to a special reading of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and tales from local writers. Dress up and tour Irvington’s spine-chillingly decorated neighborhoods on Friday’s Zombie Bike Ride.

Saturday’s Vampire Run begins at 9:30 a.m., and the street fair opens at 10 a.m. Arrive early to register your canine or yourself in the festival’s costume contests. Kids 12 and under can get their mid-day wiggles out in the free Little Bat Dash at 11:30 a.m. Do your best Monster Mash with the kids at the family stage and jam out at the main stage as the battle of the bands rocks out. Shop for Halloween decor and handmade goods, and enjoy delicious food from vendors offering burgers, vegan fare, and sweet treats. Don’t miss the beer garden’s eight breweries and cidery or the family zone, home of the family stage, and pumpkin carving contest. The festival parade departs from Washington Street at 4:30 p.m., featuring witches, goblins, superheroes, princesses, and more of all ages in a final celebration of the spookiest festival of all.

Natalie Derrickson is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.