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During the Halloween season, Billings features dozens of frightful experiences for folks around the city. Many of these events are also hosted for a charitable cause. As the last of the aspen leaves flitter to the ground and the first northern winds blow in from the plains, it’s the perfect time for Montanans to get a little bit spooky!
Looking for ideas to explore the haunted fun around town? As Halloweekend approaches, I present Seven Spooktacular Halloween Activities in Billings, MT!
1.) Masquerade at the YAM
The Masquerade at the Yellowstone Arts Museum is Billing’s artsiest Halloween party! This event is for the elegant guys and ghouls who want to show off their costumes in a beautifully decorated venue and revel with potions mixed by the best of Billings’ artisan distillers and breweries. Tickets run $55 per person on the YAM’s website, and include hors d’oeuvres from the in-house Raven Café D’Art, locally-crafted beverages, and live entertainment. Ticket proceeds go towards the museum’s important cultural work. Best of all, the venue itself may even be haunted… The YAM is built into the old Yellowstone County Jail, and perhaps still houses the ghosts of inmates such as Calamity Jane.
2.) HauntedMoss Mansion
During the spooky season, Billings iconic Moss Mansion is transformed into a world-class haunted house. For the week leading up to Halloween, HauntedMoss allows folks of all ages to explore Billings’ most historic home in a haunted ambience. Visitors will avoid the monsters clustering in the mansion’s naturally dark and chilly hallways, then chart their course through the maze behind the house. Tickets are sold at the door for $20 per person. A classic family experience in Billings, this Halloween event is fun for kids and adults alike!
3.) Scarity Haunted House
Who said you can’t get spooked for a good cause?! With tickets at $20 per adult and $10 per kid, the Scarity Haunted House donates all of its proceeds to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yellowstone County and The Phoenix Sober Active Community. This year, Scarity is hosted at Oscar’s Park, an underrated events venue located due south of ZooMontana. For this year’s theme Apocalypse, visitors will escape the zombies haunting the foggy gravel on the edge of Yellowstone River. With its extra-potent jump scares, Scarity is great for the young adult crowd.
4.) The Maize at Grandpa’s Farm
No Montana fall would be complete without exploring a corn maze! The Maize at Grandpa’s Farm, located on the far West End of Billings, is the best in the biz when it comes to these family-friendly adventures. This year, in celebration of Yellowstone National Park’s 150th Birthday, their maze was shaped to resemble the Old Faithful geyser when viewed from overhead. The craftsmanship of this maze is worth the visit on its own! For most of the autumn season, The Maize offers the utmost family-friendly experience. In addition to easygoing daytime walks through the cornfield, they also offer tractor rides around the property. During the last weekend of October, however, Grandpa’s Farm turns into a haunted maze replete with ghouls and goblins. Kids are still welcome during these scarier times, but you may want to keep an eye on the youngest ones. Admissions are $15 per person for these Halloween “Hauntings.”
5.) BOO at the Zoo!
With the largest menagerie in the state, Billings’ animal lovers have always flocked to this underrated West End treasure. On the last Saturday of October, however, ZooMontana becomes home base for all of the kids in our Magic City. Boo at the Zoo is “the safest trick-or-treating in town” and a marvelous opportunity for little monsters to show of their most horrific and hilarious costumes. 2022 is the first time this event has returned since Covid, so it should shape into one of their most happening Halloweens yet! Bring your candy baskets and some coffee to keep up with your sugar-happy kids. For the adults attending this event, which is targeted for visitors under 10 years old, just make sure not to wear anything too scary.
6.) Scary Movies at the Art House Cinema
Billings is home to some of Montana’s best movie theatres. This is thanks largely to the wonderful folks at the Art House Cinema. The non-profit creative group was founded on the idea that “great art stirs great conversations.” This year, their frightening holiday feature is John Carpenter’s eponymous Halloween, screening Saturday night at the Babcock Theater. In the past, around Halloween, they’ve also shown classics like the Rocky Horror Picture Show! Whatever the showing in a given year, Art House always puts on a spooky show – and as with many other Hallloweekend events listed above, the proceeds go towards a great community cause.
7.) Juliano’s Restaurant
Perhaps you find yourself in a more romantic bent this Halloween. Maybe your indulgence in sugary treats has given you a craving for some real food. Yet, with all the haunted spirits in the air, you still can’t help but get a dose of ghost. If that’s the case, consider a Halloween dinner at Juliano’s Restaurant. Located in the northwest corner of Downtown Billings, this historic home-turned-5-star-restaurant is one of Billings’ best kept secrets. In addition to their Hawaiian-inspired gourmet menu, Juliano’s is reportedly the home of a ghost named Murray. If you have any doubts about his existence, be warned: he is known to toy with nonbelievers!
Bonus: Haunted Hollows Around Montana
Outside of Billings, Montana has its fair share of ghost stories. Where better to hear those than a bona-fide ghost town!
Bannack State Park, located in Montana’s far southwest corner, is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West. Bannack was founded in the gold rush of 1862 and served as the original capital for the territory of Montana. The remains of this historic site are excellent for exploring a spooky, abandoned era of Treasure State history.
Another great Halloween destination for Montanans is the Old Montana State Prison, located along I-90 in Deer Lodge, MT. Once the home for some of Montana’s creepiest characters, the Old Montana Prison is regarded as one of the most heavily haunted places in America. Ghost tours run from May to October, where visitors can hunt for paranormal activities. This one is not for the faint of heart. Real horror fans, however, will find it well worth the drive.
