EMPAC announces first free community Halloween party
Friday, October 30, 2026 | 3–10PM
Free and open to the public
One-night-only haunted ship experience anchors an afternoon and evening of films, DJs, costume contests, trick-or-treating, artmaking, and more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Everyone in Troy knows the river. Few know what lies beneath it.
TROY, NY—This Halloween, the Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute transforms into a supernatural world inspired by Troy’s maritime past. Taking place Friday, October 30, from 3–10PM as part of Troy Night Out, this free community event brings together a haunted ship, movies, DJs, costume contests, trick-or-treating, artmaking, and plenty of strange encounters throughout the building.
At the center of the night is an immersive haunted ship experience created inside EMPAC’s Studio 1—Goodman venue. Guests become part of the story as they journey through the remains of a vessel lost somewhere beneath the Hudson River, encountering its history—and what may still be living aboard—along the way. Designed for ages 9 and up, the experience puts EMPAC’s theatrical spaces and technical production capabilities to spooky new use.
Beyond the ship, the adventure takes over the building. Guests can trick-or-treat at pop-ups hosted by RPI student clubs and local businesses including Nerdy by Nature; pose among a treasure trove of theatrical props from the historic Proctors Theatre; and enter costume contests judged by special guests from the Troy, RPI, and EMPAC communities. Prizes come courtesy of regional businesses including Saratoga Candy Co., Candy Kraft, and Krause’s Candy.
Troy’s FlagSSSDay Collective joins the festivities with regalia from its legendary Crow Procession and a hands-on mask-making workshop. Guests can make something to wear that night—or save their creation for the Collective’s next Crow Procession on December 12. Spooky snacks will be available for purchase throughout the event in Evelyn’s Café, located at EMPAC on Level 5.
From 3–7PM, the party welcomes families for trick-or-treating, mask-making, a kids costume contest, and a 5PM screening of the gloriously weird pirate adventure Muppet Treasure Island (1996).
Then the kids go home and things get stranger.
From 7–10PM, the lights go down for an after-dark party featuring a cash bar in Evelyn’s Café at EMPAC, an adult costume contest, and Hellseeker Club DJs Rachel Rave + 100 Psychic Dreams. FlagSSSDay Collective’s “crows” will flock through all levels of EMPAC while its theater venue turns toward creature-feature territory with an 8PM screening of Lake Placid (1999).
ALL DAY | 3PM–10PM
- HAUNTED SHIP EXPERIENCE | Studio 1—Goodman | Ages 9+
- SPOOKY SNACKS + DRINKS | Evelyn’s Café | Beer and wine sales begin at 7PM
- PROCTORS PHOTO BOOTH | Evelyn’s Café
- TRICK-OR-TREAT | Level 7 Lobby + Evelyn’s Café
- CHILL-OUT SPACE | Studio 2
FAMILY HOURS | 3–7PM
- 3–7PM | MASK-MAKING WITH FLAGSSSDAY COLLECTIVE | Mezzanine
- 4PM | KIDS COSTUME CONTEST | Theater
- 5PM | MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND (1996) | Theater
AFTER DARK | 7–10PM
- 7–10PM | HELLSEEKER CLUB DJS: RACHEL RAVE + 100 PSYCHIC DREAMS | Evelyn’s Café
- 7PM | ADULT COSTUME CONTEST | Theater
- 8PM | LAKE PLACID (1999) | Theater
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Beneath the Hudson is free and open to the public. Families are welcome from 3PM through 7PM After-dark festivities run from 7PM until 10PM. The haunted ship experience is recommended for ages 9 and up.
Friday, October 30, 2026 | 3–10PM
EMPAC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York
