For Halloween aficionados, there is a bit of a debate on when spooky season officially starts. Is it July fifth, the day after summer’s major holiday and when Halloween merchandise appeared in craft and home decor stores?

Or maybe it starts mid August, when apple and pumpkin flavored treats appear in grocery stores and coffee shops.

Some attribute the start of spooky season to September first or the first day of fall.

But by October first, I think everyone can agree that spooky season is in full swing.

October 4th

The Girl in the Mist by Vinaya Bhagat on shelves.

Curse of the Reaper by Brian McAuley on shelves.

“Scream meets The Shining in this page-turning horror tale about an aging actor haunted by the slasher movie villain he brought to life”

It Rides A Pale Horse by Andy Marino on shelves.

“From a new star in horror fiction comes a terrifying novel of obsession, greed, and the shocking actions we’ll take to protect those we love, all set in a small town filled with dark secrets.”

October 5th

October 6th

Folklore Season 2 streaming on HBO Max

“An anthology of six superstitious stories based on local folkloric myths from various regions in Asia.”

Terrifier 2 in theaters.

“Resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County to terrorize a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.”

Fathom Events presents Poltergeists in theaters for one night only to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film’s release.

October 7th

Keep an eye out after sunset for the peak of the Draconid meteor shower. Easier to enjoy then other meteor showers that peak in the early morning, expect to see about ten shooting stars in an hour.

The Midnight Club streaming on Netflix.

“At a manor with a mysterious history, eight members of the Midnight Club meet each night at midnight to tell sinister stories — and to look for signs of the supernatural from the beyond.”

Hellraiser streaming on Hulu.

“A young woman must confront the sadistic, supernatural forces behind an enigmatic puzzle box responsible for her brother’s disappearance.”

October 9th

Full Moon

October 11th

Island of the Sea Wolves streaming on Netflix.

“Explore wild, wondrous Vancouver Island, where the ocean nurtures all life, from bald eagles who go fishing to sea wolves who swim in frigid waters.”

The United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters by J.W. Ocker on shelves.

Welcome to the United States of Cryptids, where mysterious monsters lurk in the dark forests, deep lakes, and sticky swamps of all fifty states. From the infamous Jersey Devil to the obscure Snallygaster, travel writer and chronicler of the strange J. W. Ocker not only uncovers the bizarre stories of these creatures but investigates the ways in which communities have embraced and celebrated their local cryptids. Whether you believe in Bigfoot or not, this fully illustrated compendium is a fun, frightening, fascinating tour through American folklore and history, exploring not just the stories we tell about monsters but also what stories of monsters say about us.”

October 14th

Halloween Ends in theaters and streaming on Peacock.

“Four years after her last encounter with masked killer Michael Myers, Laurie Strode is living with her granddaughter and trying to finish her memoir. Myers hasn’t been seen since, and Laurie finally decides to liberate herself from rage and fear and embrace life. However, when a young man stands accused of murdering a boy that he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that forces Laurie to confront the evil she can’t control.”

The Curse of Bridge Hollow streaming on Netflix.

A man and his daughter must team up to save their town after an ancient and mischievous spirit causes Halloween decorations to come to life and wreak havoc.

October 18th

Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3 streaming on Netflix.

The iconic and gripping series returns with a three-week event featuring more unexplained deaths, baffling disappearances, and bizarre paranormal activity. Unsolved Mysteries Vol 3 is from the creators of the original docuseries, Cosgrove/Meurer Productions, and 21 Laps Entertainment, the producers of Stranger Things. Unsolved Mysteries episodes releases on October 18, with Volume 3 episodes to follow on October 25 and November 1. Each date will offer us three episodes for a total of nine

Sebastian by P.D. Cacek on shelves.

“The son of a world-renowned photographer, Morgan Riley is familiar with his mother’s creative eccentricities. Having been the subject of one of her photographic series, he knows all too well how focused she can become with a new project. So he’s not overly concerned when his mother shows him her newest series that spotlights a small, featureless white plastic manikin the size of a two-year-old child that his mother has named Sebastian. However, as Morgan watches his mother’s obsession with the manikin grow, he begins to question her sanity and fear for her safety…”

Soft Places by Betty Rocksteady on shelves.

“Soft Places is a novella / graphic novel hybrid. Johnna is found naked, wandering the streets with a mysterious head injury. Seemingly psychotic, she’s forced into the care of perverted psychiatrist Dr. Gonne. She must escape his clutches and return to a strange place she only half-remembers.”

The Last Chairlift by John Irving on shelves.

“In his 15th novel, the author of “The World According to Garp,” “The Cider House Rules” and “A Prayer for Owen Meany” tells the story of a slalom skier who becomes pregnant at a competition in Aspen, Colo. Years later, her son revisits the site of the competition and encounters plenty of family history, secrets and ghosts.”

October 21st

28 Days Haunted Series streaming on Netflix.

“Three teams spend 28 days in some of the most haunted locations in the United States for an experiment based on the theories of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.”

Halloween Beyond: Piercing the Veil, Lisa Morton, Lucy A. Snyder, and Kate Maruyama (Oct 21): When the Halloween Beyond stores appear across America, they intertwine the lives of three visitors in a web of mystery and magic

October 22nd

Fathom Events presents Medea live from the Met.

Sondra Radvanovsky stars as the sorceress who will stop at nothing in her quest for vengeance. Joining her in the Met-premiere production of Cherubini’s masterpiece is tenor Matthew Polenzani as Medea’s husband, Giasone. Carlo Rizzi conducts.

October 25th

Sign Here by Claudia Lux on shelves.

“A darkly humorous, surprisingly poignant, and utterly gripping debut novel about a guy who works in Hell (literally) and is on the cusp of a big promotion if only he can get one more member of the wealthy Harrison family to sell their soul.”

My Encounter With Evil streaming on Netflix.

“The testimonies of three women, their families and friends after confronting evil in its purest essence. They tell all about the possessions, demonic incantations and exorcisms they experienced.”

October 28th

Cassandra’s Typewriter by Andrew McRae on shelves.

“This genre-busting tale takes a dark look at the ability of art and its creators to mold society while cautioning against the deification of perceived heroes. Rife with dark humor while delivering an ominous message for humankind, the novella revolves around the lives of a vile, reclusive author whose once-groundbreaking work has been long forgotten and the intrepid reporter assigned with securing the interview of his lifetime.”

October 31th

Halloween