Celebrate Halloween the Montpelier Way!
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
Montpelier's celebration has something for everyone, from Trick or Treating to Karaoke. Check out the list of events to celebrate this year!
October 27th
- Pumpkin Carving Contest at Bent Nails Bistro: Help line the Langdon Street bridge with your creatively carved pumpkins. Bring them to Bent Nails Bistro (opens at 5pm Wednesday thru Saturday). Pumpkin entries are due by Friday Oct 27th. Bent Nails Bistro will take your name, number, and email and give your carved pumpkin a number plus light them on the bridge when it gets dark. Voting ends Halloween night so place your vote for your favorite pumpkin in the ballot bucket at Bent Nails Bistro.
- 7:00 pm Bear Pond Books - YA Horror Night with Kristen Simmons, Kosoko Jackson and Ann Davila Cardinal (age 14 and up)
October 28th
- 5:00 open, music starts at 9:00 pm, Bent Nail Bistro - two year Anniversary and Halloween Party with the Nailers
- 6:30 open, film at 7:00 pm dance party at 8:30 pm, Blossom Wellness Center's Dance Film, dance party and finger food potluck
- 3:00 -8:00 pm, Join Barr Hill for a “spirited” Halloween party at Gin Lane. Sip spooky cocktails, enjoy ghoulishly good bites from Paprika Catering Company and dress to impress for the costume contest! Prizes for best individual and group costumes - winners will be announced at 6pm. Open to all ages. $5 suggested donation for NOFA-VT and our farmers to help with flood relief.
October 30th
- 6:00- 7:00 pm Halloween Tales with Tim Jennings at Kellogg Hubbard Library - ages 12 and up
October 31st
- 4:00 - 7:00 pm - pizza slices for sale on Langdon Street from Woodbelly Pizza
- 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Trick or Treat throughout Downtown (State, Main, and Langdon Streets)
- 5:00 - 5:30 pm - Halloween Parade and Jamboree, costumed pets welcome too! (meet at corner of State and Elm at new Filibuster Cafe and end on Langdon Street)
- 5:30 - 7:00 pm - Thriller Dance on Langdon Street (every 30 minutes on the half hour), including Halloween-themed dance parties between shows.
- 5:00 - 8:00 pm - 1st Annual Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat at Just Basics, The Montpelier Food Pantry at 89 Main Street (entrance on East State Street). Stop by for trick or treating, cider, and a photo booth! Bring a donation to the pantry and you'll receive a raffle ticket for prizes from local businesses.
- Unfortunately, due to a fire, this event is cancelled - Charlio's World Famous Halloween Karaoke with DJ Party Bear
