Bewitched BOOseum Brings a Spooky Twist to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

It’s The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis like you’ve never seen it before! For the first time in its history, the museum’s beloved annual Haunted House will transform into a mashup of eerie fun and nostalgic exhibits in Bewitched BOOseum — a brand-new haunted adventure inspired by the museum’s most iconic moments.

Opening Friday, October 10, and running through Halloween, Bewitched BOOseum celebrates The Children’s Museum’s 100-year legacy by giving visitors a spooky spin on its most memorable exhibits. Founded and operated entirely by The Children’s Museum Guild, the Haunted House has been delighting (and scaring) families for 61 years, serving as the museum’s largest annual fundraiser.

“Bewitched BOOseum puts an eerie twist on some of our most popular and classic museum exhibits — where aliens and dinosaurs roar, our Carousel becomes the Scare-o-sel, and even science gets seriously scary,” said Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum. “Our Guild witches have been brewing up something ghoulish, and we can’t wait for kids of all ages — and kids at heart — to come through our annual Haunted House this year and be delightfully scared!”

The Haunted House is one of Indiana’s only Halloween attractions designed for all ages, offering both Friendly Hours and Frightening Hours to suit every visitor’s comfort level.

• Friendly Hours (Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; extended to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays) feature bright lighting, upbeat music, treats, and cheerful greeters.

• Frightening Hours (Thursday–Saturday, 4–8 p.m.) turn up the chills with haunting music, jump scares, eerie lighting, and spooky surprises around every corner.

The Haunted House is fully accessible, including the fan-favorite spinning vortex tunnel bridge — a thrilling classic for repeat visitors.

New this year, the Guild has introduced special theme days throughout the month:

• Tuesdays: Unique themed days with free giveaways

• Wednesdays: Free bike helmets distributed by the Indiana Department of Transportation

• Saturdays (Frightening Hours): Free books provided courtesy of the NCAA®

Beyond the Haunted House, the museum is offering a full lineup of Halloween and fall-themed events to “skele-brate” the season:

• Museum My Way (Oct. 14) – A sensory-friendly experience for visitors with disabilities.

• Halloween After Dark (Oct. 18) – An adults-only after-hours party featuring the Haunted House and several museum exhibits.

• Twilight Fright (Oct. 25) – A night of fun for kids and tweens ages 7–14 with Haunted House admission, outdoor sports challenges, food, and more.

The Haunted House — the longest continually operated in the nation — is imagined, built, and staffed by the 100 volunteer members of The Children’s Museum Guild. Collectively, these women contribute more than 36,000 volunteer hours each year to make the experience possible.

Tickets are priced at $8 for museum members and $9 for non-members, with all proceeds supporting vital museum programs such as the infoZone Library, free admission days, and youth programming.

For more information on Bewitched BOOseum, including hours, theme days, and ticket purchases, visit childrensmuseum.org/haunted-house.

Get ready for a night of FRIGHT and DELIGHT at The Children’s Museum’s Bewitched BOOseum!