It's impossible not to love Halloween in Wisconsin! With a fresh crispness in the air and an abundance of spooky vibes, there are many ways to celebrate the season, especially here in the Madison area.

Madison has long been known as a city with a haunted side. Here are a few Halloween happenings near Madison, WI. 

Experience Haunted Attractions in Madison

Madison Ghost Tour - Madison, WI

Address: 100 N Hamilton St, Madison, WI 53703

Hosted by U.S. Ghost Adventures, the spooky Madison Ghost Tours take guests through a historical tour of some of the city's most notoriously haunted sites. Tours meet up at the Madison Children's Museum before departing on foot toward locations including:

• Majestic Theater - Madison's oldest theater, built in 1906, is said to be home to numerous spirits, including the notorious Putty Man and the Waving Ghost.
• Great Dane Pub - A thriving brewery and restaurant since 1994, the building that now houses the Great Dane Pub was previously the Fess Hotel. It is said to still be haunted by its former owner, George Fess, who died here in 1875.
• Tempest Oyster Bar - The spooky secret of this beloved neighborhood watering hole is that it was once a funeral parlor that doubled as an apartment complex.

Hayrides at the Capitol - Madison, WI

Address: 10 W. Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703

Madison Parks offers hayrides at various special events throughout the year, especially during the autumn season. This October, head to the Capitol Square in the heart of Downtown Madison for a hayride tour around the Capitol Building. Tours will take place from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Wednesday, October 29, each lasting about 20 minutes. The cost is just $3 per person, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Screamin' Acres - Stoughton, WI

Address: 3865 WI-138, Stoughton, WI 53589

For a genuinely frightening experience this Halloween season, take a 25-minute drive southeast of Madison to the community of Stoughton to visit Screamin' Acres. Open every Friday and Saturday in October, Screamin' Acres is an immersive haunted house experience that has become a Dane County tradition over the last 14 years. Once inside, guests take part in a terrifying storyline that encompasses four separate attractions and takes about 45 minutes to complete. 

Lost Souls of State Street - Madison, WI

Address: 30 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703

Downtown Madison holds its share of spooky secrets, and you'll discover plenty of them on the Lost Souls of State Street ghost walk. Starting at 7:30 pm on weekend evenings, these walking tours begin in front of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and visit several of the most notorious locales around State Street. With your expert paranormal guide, your tour group will: 

• Meet Pete the Projectionist, the ghost who haunts the Orpheum Theatre.
• Discover the secrets that lurk in the hallways of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
• Hear the ghost story behind Madison's Grain Exchange Building, and learn how it connects to one of America's Founding Fathers.

Schuster's Haunted Forest - Deerfield, WI

Address: 1326 US-12, Deerfield, WI 53531

Schuster's Farm is a charming 220-acre family farm that hosts a wide variety of fall events in Deerfield, just 20 minutes from Madison. In addition to a pumpkin patch, corn maze and other family-friendly fun, the farm is also home to Schuster's Haunted Forest, which offers a frightening adventure in the ghostly woods after dark on autumn weekends.

Ready to learn more about life in Madison, WI? Get in touch with our real estate agents today to explore life in Dane County.