Dayton to Host 40th Annual Hauntfest October 24
The Oregon District will celebrate its long-standing festival with both daytime family activities and evening events.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Cultural
Live Poll
Do you believe large annual festivals provide a net benefit to your local community?
Dayton will host the 40th annual Hauntfest in the Oregon District on October 24, 2026. The event features a variety of entertainment including food trucks, costume contests, and fire dancers.
Why it matters
Hauntfest serves as the Oregon District's largest annual fundraiser, supporting local operations and community programming. Organizers have implemented comprehensive security protocols to ensure a safe environment for all attendees.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Hauntfest, which begins its family-friendly programming at 11 a.m. The festival utilizes the entirety of East Fifth Street, which will be fully fenced off for the duration of the event.
The players
Dayton Police
The municipal law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety and managing security staffing at large city events.
The details
The festival features family activities like a fun run, candy crawl, and pumpkin painting during the day, followed by evening entertainment. Security measures include metal detection wands at all entrances and a policy to confiscate weapons for retrieval after the event.
Timeline
11 a.m., October 24, 2026: Family-friendly activities begin.
Evening, October 24, 2026: Main Hauntfest event occurs.
Industry Dynamics
Hauntfest continues the tradition of the Oregon District's historical festival fundraising model to support local initiatives. The event highlights the growing trend of urban districts leveraging seasonal festivals as primary mechanisms for neighborhood revitalization and maintenance.
Residents should note that East Fifth Street will be closed to thru-traffic, with surrounding streets restricted strictly to local access. Attendees are encouraged to utilize designated rideshare pick-up areas to navigate the event footprint efficiently.
The takeaway
Visitors planning to attend the festivities should arrive early to navigate security screenings at the gates. Guests are reminded to secure any restricted items before entering the event perimeter to avoid delays at the entrance.
Further reading
For more information on upcoming local events, visit the Dayton Cultural section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WDTN.
Live Poll
Do you believe large annual festivals provide a net benefit to your local community?
