Halloween Ghost Ship Festival

Save the date for next year:

Saturday, October 15, 2027

Costumes, smiles, and spirited family fun filled the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s 9th-annual Halloween Ghost Ship Festival on October 17, 2026. Guests enjoyed free tours aboard Kalmar Nyckel, ghost stories, pumpkin and face painting, crafts, live music, food trucks, and more.

New attractions included trick-or-treating in the park, trackless train rides, and the “Trash to Krakens” recycled sea monster art contest.

Click the link below to view photos and videos that capture a memorable day made possible by our visitors, volunteers, crew, artists, and community partners!

2026 Halloween Ghost Ship Photos

Sea Monster Art Contest Winners!

Trash to Krackens, Where Recycling Gets Monstrous!

Young artists ages 5 to 17 turned recycling into creatures of the deep! Using their imaginations (and at least 80 percent recycled materials), kids brought their works to the Kalmar Maritime Center for our Halloween Ghost Ship festivities. Above of are photos of some of our winners and winning creations!


Festival Activities

FREE Parking & Admission! (Small fees for some activities)

• Free Ship Tours by our Pirate Captain & Her Creepy Crew

• Halloween Ghost Ship Tours on Our 3/4-Size Indoor Ship Replica

• Spooky Touch Tanks

• Exploration Science: Create Slime! (small fee)

• Halloween-Themed Crafts

• Outdoor Pumpkin Painting

• Face Painting (small fee)

• Food Trucks

• Live Music by We Kids Rock

• Silly Spooky Storyteller Bill Wood

• NEW Trick or Treat in the Park

• NEW Trackless Train

• NEW Sea Monster Art Contest: Trash to Krackens, Where Recycling Gets Monstrous!


Feel free to dress up in your favorite costume!


Thank You to Our Generous 2026 Sponsors!