Harvest Nights at Newfields returns this fall with glowing pumpkins, fog-filled paths, Garden Monsters and plenty of Halloween atmosphere without turning the night into a haunted-house experience.
The seventh season of Harvest Nights runs Sept. 26 through Nov. 1 in The Garden at Newfields. Families will find longtime favorites including the Pumpkin Path of Peril and Ghost Train, along with new interactive effects inside Mischief Manor, a Gothic Garden full of locally created monsters and a new series of Halloween movie nights.
Newfields describes Harvest Nights as “spooky, not scary,” which remains a useful distinction for parents. There are ghosts, fog, dark paths and plenty of Halloween imagery, but this is built as a fall festival rather than a scare attraction.
Related: Find more fall fun around Indianapolis
New interactive ghosts, Garden Monsters and more
The Pumpkin Path of Peril and Ghost Train are back, surrounded by tens of thousands of pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns throughout the nighttime route.
One of the biggest additions is Boo Shoo, a new interactive installation by Lightborne that lets guests chase away the ghosts of Mischief Manor. Fungi Forest also returns with 50 oversized handmade mushrooms created by Kara Kent and local partner Expo Arts, LLC.
This season’s Garden Monsters follow a new theme, The Gothic Garden, inspired by The Goth Garden: The Mystery, Beauty, and Lore of Dark Gardening by Felicia Feaster. Local artists created the creatures that appear throughout The Garden, and families can see them during regular daytime admission as well as after dark during Harvest Nights.
Mischief Manor has several new surprises
Lilly House becomes Mischief Manor during the Halloween season, and Harvest Nights admission includes access to its first floor.
Inside, families will find 30 handcrafted jack-o’-lantern sculptures by local artist Katie Lloyd-Jones and a new zoetrope shadow show from Lightborne. Outside the house, Lightborne’s large-scale projection mapping turns the historic building into part of the nighttime show.
Adults ages 21 and older can also head upstairs to the Harvest Nights Lounge presented by Cutwater. The pop-up lounge includes themed decor, a photo booth and cocktails for purchase.
Is Harvest Nights scary for kids?
Harvest Nights sits in the middle ground between cute daytime Halloween events and actual haunted attractions. Newfields specifically calls it “spooky, not scary.” Expect darkness, fog, ghosts, unusual sounds, glowing displays and Halloween imagery, but not the jump-scare-heavy setup of a traditional haunted house.
Parents with sensory-sensitive children should know that Harvest Nights is a multi-sensory experience. Newfields warns of bright and contrasting lights, changing sounds, large images, crowds and other visual and audio effects.
The full experience takes place largely outdoors, so families should also plan for the weather and a fair amount of walking.
Plan on 90 minutes to two hours
Newfields says most guests spend about 90 to 120 minutes at Harvest Nights. Even guests booking the final ticket time of the evening should have enough time to complete the route, since the event remains open for 90 minutes after the final admission time.
The walking route follows an accessible path. Wheelchairs, strollers and small wagons are allowed throughout Harvest Nights, although strollers and wagons must be parked outside Mischief Manor. Wheelchairs are permitted inside, and Newfields has wheelchairs available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nursing rooms are available inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art and in the basement of Mischief Manor.
Art or Treat adds trick-or-treating Oct. 15–16
Families who want to add actual trick-or-treating to the night should look at Art or Treat on Oct. 15 and 16. The treat trail is included with Harvest Nights admission, and each guest receives a bag to collect candy and other surprises.
Non-food treats are available for guests with allergies. Families can look for tents marked with a Teal Pumpkin to find those options. Costumes are encouraged, although full-face masks are not permitted.
New Spooky Screenings pair Halloween movies with Harvest Nights
Newfields is also adding a Spooky Screenings: Harvest Nights Film Series inside The Tobias Theater. The lineup includes Casper, Hocus Pocus, Scream and The Nightmare Before Christmas, with admission to Harvest Nights included with film tickets.
The family-oriented screenings add extras before the movie, including Halloween trivia with Casper and a witches’ cackle contest before Hocus Pocus. The Scream screening is restricted to guests ages 21 and older and includes admission to Ghouls Night Out.
The Nightmare Before Christmas screening also comes with an unusual bonus: select Winterlights trees will be illuminated early, giving ticket holders a sneak peek at the holiday display while they walk through Harvest Nights.
Food at Harvest Nights
There are multiple places to buy food and drinks along the route. The menu includes cinnamon Bavarian crème churros, giant Bavarian pretzels, caramel corn and parmesan-garlic vampire fries.
A new heartier option is a cup of beef chili from local vendor Fischer Farms. Adults will also find seasonal cocktails, whiskey drinks and draft beer, including Elysian Brewing Co.’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale. Newfields checks ID for all alcohol purchases.
Harvest Nights tickets and parking
Advance tickets are required. Newfields uses dynamic pricing for Harvest Nights, meaning prices can change depending on the date, ticket time and demand. The current event listing shows public adult tickets starting at $25, with members receiving lower pricing. Buying earlier generally means a lower price.
Children ages 5 and younger are free. A $2 processing fee applies to each paid ticket.
Families who qualify for the Indiana Access Pass can purchase Harvest Nights tickets for $5 per eligible family member, with children ages 5 and younger free. Access Pass tickets do not have the processing fee.
A Premier Package is also available with expedited entry at the main entrance and Mischief Manor, a 2026 commemorative pin, pumpkin blinky lights and a non-alcoholic beverage.
Free parking is available
Families do not have to pay for parking. Free parking is available at Newfields, although the closest lots can fill on busy October nights.
Reserved Priority Parking costs $20 per car. On especially busy nights, guests using free parking may be directed to the Indiana Interchurch Center at 1100 W. 42nd St. Newfields plans to run two free shuttles between that lot and Newfields.
All Harvest Nights guests enter through the Efroymson Entrance Pavilion for ticket scanning.
Plan your visit to Harvest Nights at Newfields
Harvest Nights at Newfields
Sept. 26–Nov. 1, 2026
The Garden at Newfields
4000 Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Admission: Public adult tickets currently start at $25 and vary by date and demand; ages 5 and younger free
Parking: Free parking available; Reserved Priority Parking is $20
Length: Plan on about 90 to 120 minutes
Tickets: Advance tickets required
Official information and tickets: Harvest Nights at Newfields
Harvest Nights is a rain-or-shine event. If weather becomes severe enough for Newfields to close the event, updates will be posted online and ticket holders will receive instructions by email.
