Halloween for Grownups: Pop-Up Bars

Halloween for Grownups is taking over Philadelphia this October, with pop-up bars running through October 31 and parties and events continuing through November 1. It's the adult version of trick-or-treating, and it's spread across the city rather than tied to one spot. You'll find the pop-ups in Midtown Village, Manayunk, Center City, Glen Mills, Fairmount, and South Philly, so there's something close to you regardless of which neighborhood you're in.

If you're into the scarier side of things, the haunted house scene is a big part of the draw. The Bates Motel in Glen Mills was named by CNN Travel as one of the best haunted houses in America, and the Fright Factory is staged in a basement of a factory more than 120 years old, called one of the scariest attractions in the country by the Travel Channel. Both are worth a look if you're in the mood to be genuinely rattled.

Literary ghosts also haunt the city this month. The Pumpkin Press sits blocks from Edgar Allan Poe's former home, and a Poe tour runs at Andalusia. If you're more into the campy or the community side of the season, there are drag brunches and drag shows, Rocky Horror shadowcasts, a Monster Mash Bloody Mary Challenge, and the FearLit 2026 literary convention. Between the pop-ups, the haunted houses, and the parties, there's plenty to pick from depending on how you like to spend your October. The pop-up bars run through October 31, and the parties and events go through November 1.