Boo on the Boat 2025: Trick-or-Treat Aboard Toledo’s Historic Ships
October 15, 2025 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) invites families to celebrate Halloween at Boo on the Boat, happening Friday, October 24 through Sunday, October 26. Join us during museum hours for Halloween fun aboard two of Toledo’s most historic haunts—the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio.
Costumed trick-or-treaters can explore the pilothouses and galleys, collecting treats in pre-portioned, sealed bags at haunted stations along the way. The event offers a frightfully fun way for young explorers to dive into Great Lakes history while enjoying the spooky season.
Additional details:
👻 Non-food treats are available for children with food allergies, offered as part of the Teal Pumpkin Project.
👻 All children must be accompanied by an adult.
👻 Free admission for museum members and children ages 0–5. For non-members, the program is included with museum ship admission.
👻 Free participation for Museums for All visitors, presented by UToledo Health and Toledo Refining Company.
“We love seeing our decks filled with families in costume,” said Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, Marketing and Communications Manager with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “This event is a wonderful way to connect the community with maritime history in a fun and engaging way.”
Join us at the National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front Street, Toledo, for this family-friendly Halloween tradition.
About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.
Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945 and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.
WHAT: Boo on the Boat
WHEN: October 24 – 26 | Museum Hours
WHERE: National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605
ADMISSION: $20.00 (Museum & Ship) – Adults (18-64)
$18.00 (Museum & Ship) – Seniors (65+)
$14.00 (Museum & Ship) – Youth (6-17)
FREE – Children 5 and under, GLHS/NMGL Members
MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, 419-460-8181
