Skeleton Festival

Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 2 – 5 PM

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is thrilled to host it’s pre-Halloween celebrations, Skeleton Festival! This family-friendly festival will feature trick-or-treating, costume contests, Sip & Stroll, and more as we welcome spooky season with our community.

CANDY MAP

EARLY TRICK-OR-TREATING

Give your family plenty of time to pick up candy before the costume contest and pumpkin showdown begin on Court Square by starting your trick-or-treat adventure on Liberty & Mason Street businesses during this pre-festival promotion.

Participating Liberty and Mason Street businesses will be giving out treat bags to the first 30 visitors at each location starting at 1 PM! Treat bags will be filled with toys, candy and possibly $10 Downtown Dollars inside! First come, first served while supplies last!

Trick-or-treating will continue until 5 PM with other participating businesses giving out candy starting at 2 PM. There are over 40 businesses handing out candy this year, check back soon for the official candy map and grab a print copy from HDR info booth on Court Square on Saturday, October 19.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY TRICK-OR-TREATING

All the music, crowds, and activity that accompany the experience of trick-or-treating downtown, during Skeleton Festival, can be overwhelming or otherwise impossible for some members of our community to navigate, but it’s important to us that everyone feels welcome at our events, which is why we are excited to announce the launch of a new, low-sensory pre-festival event and additional sensory-friendly programming at this year’s Skeleton Festival on Saturday, October 19th! Neurodivergent children and their caregivers are invited to a Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat Hour, with the businesses in Shops at Agora, on Saturday, October 19 from 1-2pm. During this 1 hour event, trick-or-treaters will follow floor stickers and pick up a new seasonal treat (both candy and toys), at each of the seven businesses, in a calmer, more controlled environment. From 1-2pm, this area will ONLY be open to trick-or-treaters who will benefit from a low-sensory experience.

Beginning on Tuesday, October 1st, individuals interested in participating in the Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat Hour can visit Great.Full Goods, in Shops at Agora, to pre-register for the event and pick up a Trick-or-Treat bag. Each bag will contain a map of the businesses in Shops at Agora and a social story outlining what to expect on the day of the event. Pre-registration is not required but is an option for those who would benefit from acclimating to the space ahead of time.

In addition to the Sensory-Friendly Trick-or-Treat Hour, Skeleton Festival will also feature a Sensory-Friendly Zone at Saint Stephen’s United Church of Christ from 2-5pm. This area will have a full roster of low-sensory entertainment, including giant bubbles with Bubbles by the Burg, a magician, Halloween-themed sensory bins, crafts, and more.

Rain Location will be inside Saint Stephen’s United Church.

SIP & STROLL

Sip & Stroll is an element of our events that replaces the usual beer garden. Adults aged 21+ can purchase a beer, wine, or cocktails at a participating brewery, cidery, or restaurant and enjoy it while strolling downtown.

Click on the button below to learn more about how Sip & Stroll works, view participating locations, and preview seasonal drink specials that will be available during the event.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS PLAZA

Head on over to the “Jimmy Madison’s” parking lot to learn about Dia de los Muertos, in collaboration with Virginia Organizing. Featuring a community ofrenda, pop-up market, kids crafts, and photo op.

KIDS ACTIVITY

Kids, come celebrate fall fun and creativity with Snapology of Harrisonburg by building your own brick Jack-O’-Lantern to take home as a festive keepsake.  Snapology will be located in front of the Massanutten Regional Library. 

MORE SPOOKY SURPRISES!

Check out these activities and promotions happening across downtown during Skeleton Fest!

Yards Games at Atlantic Union Bank

Head over to the Atlantic Union Bank lawn for fun yard games such as giant jenga, large connect four, corn hole, activity tables, and more! Win giveaways and free prizes by playing games.

“Truck or Treat” with Mashita

Find Mashita food truck at the Friendly City Food Co-op Harvest Party from 1PM–5PM for hot food and another chance to get candy!

Free Face Painting and Cotton Candy at Posh Fairy Floss

Stop by Posh Fairy Floss for free face painting! Also, don’t forget to pick up a free small bag of cotton candy and get 10% off your purchase of any fall products (fall themed cotton candy, sorbet, shakes, and floats).

Fall Coffee Fest at Brothers Craft Brewing Co.

Join Brothers Craft Brewing for their 10th annual Fall Coffee Fest—before, during, and after Skeleton Fest—from 10AM–10PM. Merge Coffee Company will be bringing fresh coffee and coffee infused beer. Also, browse through Sick Thrift’s vintage finds. Other activities include a JMU Football Watch Party, pumpkin carving/painting, a kids game station, a campfire with s’mores, and lots of food and drink options! Finally, don’t miss the live music by the jam/funk band, Bloo Lagoon, from 1:30PM–4:30PM!

Halloween Merchandise at The Golden Pony

Visit the Golden Pony for special Halloween-themed merchandise.

JMU Chemistry Weird Science Lab

Science can be spooky! Check out these interactive demos with JMU Chemistry on Court Square!

$1.50 Hot Chocolates at Coffee Hound

Hey kids, warm up at Coffee Hound with $1.50 hot chocolates!

PARKING & STREET CLOSURES

There will be ample event parking in downtown Harrisonburg for Skeleton Festival, including additional private lots open to the public on Saturday, October 19. Main Street, from Campbell Street to just before Wolfe Street, will be closed, but parking will be accessible from Mason Street and Liberty Street.

Public parking is available all day in the municipal parking lots listed below and in additional Saturday Event Parking lots indicated with red markers on the interactive map on this page. Street parking is also available on Liberty Street between Grattan Street and Warren Street.

Guests will be able to park in hourly spots without time penalty. Please adhere to any posted tow-away zones, accessible parking spaces, and Restricted Parking areas.

Skeleton Fest would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors!