Spooky season is arriving at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, bringing a mix of mad science, mysterious artifacts, ghost stories and autumn traditions. Whether your idea of Halloween fun involves a costume contest or an evening of haunted tales beneath the stars, this fall’s lineup offers adventures for a range of ages and scare levels.

For central Indiana families, the seasonal celebrations begin downtown and extend to historic destinations where colorful foliage adds to the atmosphere.

The Indiana State Museum’s signature fall event, Night at the Boo Bash, returns Oct. 9 from 6–8:30 p.m., transforming all three floors into a Halloween playground. Quirky characters inspired by museum artifacts will guide visitors through an evening of hands-on activities, treats and entertainment.

With Fred the Mastodon looking on, guests can test their lung power in a scream booth or experiment with funky instruments to create spooky sounds. Connie Fusion’s science show promises lively reactions, while Dr. Rose’s Mad Science Lab invites families to make their own vial of light.

Children can spin Dunky’s candy wheel for Halloween treats provided by Bassett Services, then venture into Ross the Sloth’s Giggle Graveyard. There, UV flashlights reveal whimsical epitaphs designed to inspire more laughter than fright.

For those willing to get close to something creepy and crawly, All Bugs Go To Kevin will introduce visitors to live critters. Nearby, Cricket’s critter catapults offer a playful challenge: launching plastic insects onto webs.

Costumes are encouraged, and guests can compete for prizes before heading to the dance floor for monstrous music and a little Halloween twisting and shouting.

The museum’s after-hours adventures continue with Twilight Tales, a series of flashlight tours through the galleries. Visitors will discover myths surrounding mysterious artifacts and explore what might be lurking in the shadows.

The Strange Encounters tour, offered Oct. 21 and 23 at 7 p.m., is designed especially for families. Adults seeking a more eerie evening can choose Beyond the Grave, taking place Oct. 28 and 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Beyond Indianapolis, Whitewater Canal State Historic Site in Metamora offers an autumn outing during Canal Days, Oct. 2–4. Hosted by Historic Metamora, Inc., the annual festival draws thousands of visitors for vendors, food, activities and small-town seasonal charm.

From 10 a.m.–5 p.m. each day, guests can enjoy free admission to the Grist Mill, with grain-grinding demonstrations scheduled for 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Freshly ground corn will also be available for purchase.

Between festival stops, visitors can explore Metamora’s canal history and learn how these waterways helped transport people and goods in early America.

For a night of storytelling in a memorable setting, head to T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Nashville. Ghost Stories Under the October Sky, scheduled for Oct. 16 from 7–9 p.m., invites guests to gather beside the site’s cemetery for haunted tales from the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.

Bring a flashlight, blankets and a picnic, then settle in as the storytellers add a little suspense to a crisp October evening.

These destinations, along with Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City, offer opportunities for a fall day trip from central Indiana. The drive provides its own seasonal attraction as changing leaves bring color to the journey.

Advance registration is required for most spooky season programs. Ticket prices vary, and Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites members receive a 25% discount on ticket prices.

For tickets, program details and information about locations throughout the state, visit IndianaMuseum.org.