Get ready for one of the most thrilling and spine-tingling traditions at the U.S. Naval Academy! While Navy football games and Commissioning Week get much of the spotlight, there’s another legendary event that brings equal excitement, but with a delightfully spooky twist. Welcome to the Naval Academy Halloween Concert, known officially as the Halloween All Saints’ Day Organ Concert. This hauntingly fun performance has thrilled midshipmen, faculty, staff, and Annapolis townsfolk since 1997 - and it's back again this October with three unmissable shows.
Each year around All Saints’ Day, the USNA Chapel is transformed into a stage for eerie sights and magnificent sounds. This event blends the reflective tone of All Saints’ Day with the chills and thrills of Halloween in a celebration that’s become one of the most popular performances on the Yard.
At the heart of this haunting musical experience is Monte Maxwell, USNA’s Juilliard-trained Director of Chapel Music and Chapel Organist. Maxwell is a living legend and a sorcerer of the sprawling Naval Academy organ who has been dazzling audiences for over two decades. His command of the Academy’s immense organ - featuring more than 15,000 pipes and a five-manual console - is nothing short of magical. Whether he's playing gentle, soulful hymns or thunderous, heart-pounding classics, Maxwell never fails to captivate.
It’s reported that at his audition over twenty years ago, each musician was asked to bring three pieces of music to play. Maxwell brought ten. He asked the selection committee to choose their three favorites and then proceeded to play them by heart.
This inimitable master of the macabre makes sure the concert oozes with Halloween thrills and chills.
Related: The Spookiest Ticket in Town: The USNA Halloween Concert
Unlike anything else performed at the Academy, the Halloween All Saints’ Day Organ Concert is a dynamic, theatrical record-breaking event. Expect fog machines, dramatic lighting, ghostly projections, and midshipmen acting, singing, and dancing in ways you’ve never seen before. One moment might feature a haunting version of “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” echoing through the Chapel with cinematic intensity, and the next could lift your spirits with a soaring “Battle Hymn of the Republic” or a powerful rendition of “God Bless America.” Enthusiasts flock to experience a large sampling of different songs that are, at times, tender (and at other times, terrifying).
And don't be surprised if the performance begins with a bit of drama: in past years, a casket has been rolled solemnly to the front of the chapel, only for Monte Maxwell to rise from within it and launch into the opening number. The surprises are endless, and each year’s show offers a fresh take with new musical pieces, effects, and moments that will leave you spellbound.
Because of its popularity, the Naval Academy Halloween Concert always sells out fast. This year, the show will take place during the last weekend of October with three showtimes:
All performances will be held at the iconic USNA Chapel, a stunning venue in its own right. To secure your spot, purchase tickets as soon as possible here.
A USNA shuttle will be available for all performances, running from the old NEX at 693 Kinkaid Road, Annapolis:
Pro tip: Arrive at the chapel at least 45 minutes early to catch the spooky pre-show festivities that take place outside. Seating is first-come, first-served, so getting there early is a must!
If you just can’t wait to see what wicked things will come your way at the concert, you can watch the ghosts of concerts past here.
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The USNA Halloween Concert is just one of many appealing events on the Yard. Be sure to check out other standout events this fall and winter:
What makes the Halloween All Saints’ Day Organ Concert so unique is the way it bridges sacred and spooky, reverent and playful. All Saints’ Day honors the saints and heroes of the past, and in this concert, the music captures both the light and the shadows of that legacy. It’s a sensory celebration that blends tradition with performance, solemnity with surprise.
And behind the show is a greater mission. Every ticket purchased, every bite enjoyed at the Naval Academy Club, and every keepsake purchased from the USNA Gift Shop supports the midshipmen. These proceeds go toward funding extracurricular activities like the arts, theater, music, and club sports, enhancing the lives of those who serve.
Related: The Spookiest Show in Annapolis: USNA Halloween Concert
When you come to the Yard for this spectacular concert, you’re not just in for a night of chills and thrills, you’re helping to shape the next generation of leaders. Dine, shop, and tour the Naval Academy before the concert to make the most of your visit. And don’t forget to check out the Naval Academy walking tour, stop by the Chapel, and maybe even visit the Herndon Monument while you’re there.
This fall, join us at the USNA Chapel for a concert guaranteed to give you goosebumps in the best possible way. The USNA Halloween All Saints’ Day Organ Concert is a beloved tradition you won’t want to miss.
Ready to get wonderfully scared? We’ll see you at the Chapel.