Haunted History Center Halloween

Haunted History Center Halloween takes over the Heinz History Center on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 AM to 2 PM. It's a family-friendly bash that falls into a month of Halloween programming the museum and the Fort Pitt Museum have put together, and it leans into the macabre side of Pittsburgh's past—think haunted house history and spooky trivia. The day is built for kids, but it's a full-museum thing, not just a single room.

There's a good bit to do. The Steel City Ghostbusters run a Spooky Slime Lab where kids can make their own slime, and Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop sets up a candy bar for sampling. The Bethany College Bone Lab brings in the skeletal side of things, and outside, The Coffin Bean & Co. rolls up with a mobile coffee bar pulled by a hearse. Between those, there's face painting and temporary tattoos, and a scavenger hunt that sends you hunting for stories and odd objects across the museum's six floors. Little monsters leave with a free special-edition orange pickle pin.

The day also ties into the museum's new exhibit, Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages, which looks at the beasts that once roamed the region—so if you're into prehistoric creatures, that's a good reason to linger. Costumes are encouraged, though they ask that you leave masks and toy weapons at home.

Admission is free for kids 17 and under through the Kamin 'Free for Kids' Initiative, with regular rates for adults. Tickets are required for everyone, so you'll want to grab yours ahead of time. The event runs from 10 AM to 2 PM at 1212 Smallman Street.