Get ready to party hard enough to wake the dead. An adult Halloween in Pittsburgh is loaded with costumes, cocktails, music, and the macabre, and we’ve dug up all the best ways to celebrate after dark. Just get your tickets fast—they tend to disappear quickly, and missing the frightening festivities would be a grave mistake. Though if you can’t make it out to one of the events below, you can always throw a Halloween party of your own using our recipes for spooky cocktails and adult Halloween treats.
Adult Halloween Parties and Costume Events in Pittsburgh
Greensburg Witches Gala
Saturday, October 3 | South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg
Don’t let the name fool you—no ballgowns or tuxes are needed for this Halloween-themed street festival in downtown Greensburg. Cloaks, pointy hats, and broomsticks aren’t in the dress code either, but costumes are encouraged. And while it’s not strictly a 21+ event, the festivities run until late, making it an ideal night out for anyone whose trick-or-treaters are already tucked in.
The jam-packed evening kicks off at 5 p.m., and includes music, food vendors, shopping at the Enchanted Bazaar, and contests for the best costume, witch hat, and creepy cackle. There will be performances on the main stage all night, including three from local band HIDEF, and a full-blown dance-party finale starting at 8:30 p.m. To get into the Halloween spirit and learn about Greensburg’s eerie past, join the Haunted History Tour, with spooky stories brought to life by actors from Westmoreland Performing Arts. Or head to the library to check out the Greensburg Ghost Society’s paranormal displays and other scary goings-on. With all the festivities, we recommend comfortable shoes—unless you plan to fly on your broomstick.
Haunted Science Center
Friday, October 9 | Kamin Science Center, North Shore
Admission: $20–$25
Science, but make it spooky: This adults-only, after-hours costume party at Kamin Science Center, with exclusive cocktails and mocktails, is the place to find out whether you’re a skeptic or a total believer. Attendees will explore supernatural science, hearing from Paranormal in Pennsylvania—a real ghost hunter group—and checking out the devices they use to find and communicate with spirits. Try out tools like dowsing rods and electromagnetic field detectors, and even make your own moving ghoul using the vibration of a small motor. If these undead communications get to be too much, don’t worry—the Steel City Ghostbusters will be on hand, with their Ectomobile parked out front.
For more mad-scientist vibes, make sure to check out the Frankenscience presentation, which brings Mary Shelley’s classic story to life with millions of high-voltage sparks. Guests can also enjoy a screening of the 1962 classic horror film Carnival of Souls, a tense, moody thriller presented by Steel City Horror Show’s Sean Collier—who is also TABLE’s arts and culture editor. And don’t miss a stunning view of the stars without the October chill: catch a show at Buhl Planetarium to hear about the mythological, spooky origins behind constellations.
Just in case you’re in need of a drink or bite to eat after the event, check out what bars and restaurants the North Shore has to offer.
Night of Death and Disaster
Friday, October 23 | Warhol Museum, North Shore
Admission: $35–$75
This 21+ Halloween celebration is a lot more fun than its name would suggest. Whether you’re a fan of Andy Warhol, artistic costumes, or simply want to attend the chicest Halloween event in Pittsburgh, the Night of Death and Disaster will be full of glamour and fun—and definitely be Warhol-approved: On display will be pieces from his Death and Disaster series, a collection of paintings based on shocking images from newspapers and other mass media. Warhol took the photos out of their journalism context and repeated them as art, exploring how seeing the same images of tragedy and death again and again can affect us.
Along with the art, guests can enjoy small bites, creepy cocktails, and Second Skin spinning post-punk DJ sets. Sprouts of Consciousness will offer spooky, Halloween-themed custom poetry, with poems typed live on a typewriter to take home. Partygoers can also receive personalized tarot readings from Three3Three and Pgh Astrology, which may turn into minor therapy sessions—the best nights out typically do.
VIP guests get early access to everything listed above, plus two free drink tickets. If you want early access, minimal crowding, or the chance to walk up and say, “I’m a VIP”—because who doesn’t?—it’s worth the upgrade.
Just be mindful when you’re choosing your fit: while costumes and your most outrageous and creative getups are encouraged, anything that might hit or damage the art—masks, wings, tails, props—is prohibited.
Roast of Stephen King
Friday, October 23 | The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls, Millvale
Admission: $26
This Halloween-themed comedy show is definitely the It event of October. In the Funhouse’s more intimate upstairs theater, comedians will dress as characters from Stephen King’s universe and roast their maker, friar-style. It’s part of an ongoing local series of shows featuring comedians roasting pop culture figures while dressed as people or characters from their world. Past roasts have included Taylor Swift, Twilight, and High School Musical.
The show starts at 8 p.m., but you’ll want to get there an hour early to see the pre-show drag cabaret, hosted by Wanda Bread—don’t forget cash to the tip the queens. Funhouse’s full food and drink menu will also be available for late-night noshing.
Phipps After Dark: House of Haunts
Friday, October 30 | Phipps Conservatory, Oakland
Admission: $20–$23
Don’t be haunted by FOMO, be haunted at Phipps! This adults-only celebration transforms Phipps into a mystical house of spookiness—and since the conservatory is already stunning after dark, it should really come alive the night before Halloween. Dress in costume and wander through the conservatories while enjoying themed activities, music, scary surprises, and a cash bar open until 9:30 p.m. Whether you’re there for the Halloween revelry or simply want an excuse to see Phipps after hours, there’s plenty to enjoy. But honestly, if your top priority is to get pictures with that drop-dead-gorgeous backdrop, we respect it.
Keep your evening going and explore the rest of Oakland while you’re in the area.
Pittsburgh Witches Ball
Saturday, November 7 | Keith-Holmes VFW Post 402, Coraopolis
Admission: $55–$75
Halloween might be over by this event, but it doesn’t mean the fun has to be. Join the Pittsburgh Black Hat Society Network for a cackling good time at their 17th annual Witches New Year celebration, packed with rituals, live entertainment, dancing, and more. This year’s theme is Wonderland, but your most outrageous, eccentric, whimsical costumes and outfits will be welcome—think part Alice Cooper, part Alice in Wonderland. Event organizers ask that you skip “cheesy vampires, green hags, and red devils.” Instead, challenge yourself to get creative: There’s even a prize for best dressed.
There will be plenty of live entertainment, including alt-pop singer Candi Carpenter, gothic-folk glam rock band Dust Bowl Faeries, lyrical group Colin & the Crows, and The Valkyries Dancers. Don’t miss the buffet, which includes vegan options, and if you like your spirits with a side of spirits, be sure to hit up the cash bar.
Want to honor someone who’s no longer with you? Bring photos of loved ones who’ve passed, or of familiars—spirit guides that witches call upon in their practice—for the ancestors altar. Spirit dances and rituals will be conducted throughout the evening, but participation is always optional: the Network says the event is an inclusive, safe environment, open to all faiths and practices.
Looking for more reasons to get out of the house? Check out our guide for things to do around Pittsburgh.
About the Author
Anna Montesanti is a freelance journalist in the Pittsburgh region. She recently graduated with her B.A. in nonfiction writing from University of Pittsburgh and is obtaining her master’s in journalism from Emerson College. She loves covering pop culture and local happenings, and in her free time you can find her trying local coffee shops and walking in Pittsburgh’s gorgeous parks.
Featured Photo From The Andy Warhol Museum
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