As autumn leaves swirl and shadows lengthen across the Delaware Riverfront, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is preparing for its annual Halloween Ghost Ship, slated for Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The event transforms the tall ship and its dockside campus into a maritime Halloween extravaganza. Admission and parking are free, though some activities carry fees. Visitors will have the chance to tour the 141-foot Kalmar Nyckel, where volunteer crew members will don spookily themed costumes. Alongside shipboard tours, guests can explore spooky displays inside the Copeland Maritime Center, including a three-quarter scale model of the ship’s deck and museum exhibits dressed up for Halloween.
Groundside attractions will include pumpkin painting, craft activities, face painting (for a fee), performances by children’s musician Bill Currier, and spooky storytelling by Bill Wood. A costume parade invites guests of all ages to join in the fun, and food trucks will be on hand for refreshments.
Organizers encourage attendees to dress up and plan ahead for a family-friendly outing steeped in maritime history and Halloween fun.
For more information or to see past event photos, visit the Kalmar Nyckel website. (Kalmar Nyckel)
