WATERVILLE — Downtown Waterville is expected to be bustling with Halloween-themed activities Oct. 26 as the city hosts “Nightmare on Main Street,” which organizers say will include pumpkin carving, a movie, live bands, a dance performance, a whodunit mystery show, many treats and an adult costume contest.

Even Taylor Swift fans can join the festivities at a sing-along to her greatest hits, at the Waterville Opera House.

“It’s a really, really fun time of year and it’s a great event for kids and adults,” Michael Hall, the city’s community development specialist, said. “It brings a lot of people.”

Hall  introduced the “Nightmare on Main Street” idea to Waterville after heading up an annual event he helped organize when he was executive director of the Augusta Downtown Alliance. Gardiner and Hallowell also hosted Halloween activities, and Augusta drew inspiration from those events for its festivities.

“I thought it would be great to show some Halloween love to northern Kennebec County and bring that kind of atmosphere up here, and also do something for the community at large,” Hall said.

Waterville’s downtown merchants, Waterville Creates, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and the Greene Block + Studios are supporting the event, which is being sponsored by KV Federal Credit Union and the Central Maine Motors Auto Group, according to Hall. City Manager Bryan Kaenrath is also a big supporter, he said.

“I’m working with a great group of merchants looking to be a Main Street community and when I pitched (‘Nightmare on Main Street’) to them, they were really excited about doing it and getting other businesses involved,” Hall said.

Hall, who was hired last year for the Waterville position, has applied to the Maine Downtown Center for the city to become a Main Street Maine Community, a program designed to help communities build vibrant downtowns, he said.

Events planned for Oct. 26 are scheduled to begin at noon, with a screening of the animated, family-friendly film “Coraline” at the Maine Film Center at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center at 93 Main St.

At 2 p.m., Waterville Creates is set to host pumpkin carving at Castonguay Square, next to the Schupf Art Center and Waterville City Hall. If it rains, the event would be moved inside the center.

Later in the afternoon, Main Street is to be closed to traffic between Temple and Spring streets for a trunk-or-treat event at which businesses and others with tents decorated for Halloween are to line the streets and hand out goodies. Hall said more than 40 participants are expected to give out treats, and if more are interested, they should contact him at City Hall.

“We want to have at least part of the street be a safe place for children and families,” he said.

At 6 p.m., the band Random Ideas is scheduled to perform at the Greene Block + Studios at 18 Main St., and at 6:30 p.m., the traveling group The Dancing Witches of Merkaba Sol is to present a magical show at Castonguay Square.

“They were just in the Salem Halloween parade” in Massachusetts, he said. “It’s just really fun, choreographed dances.”

Also at 6:30 p.m., the Waterville Public Library is planning to host a “Nosh & Knock Off” whodunit mystery event at 73 Elm St. Those wanting to attend must reserve spots early for the ticketed event.

After the Taylor Swift sing-along event, planned for 7 p.m. at the Opera House, the Silver Street Tavern & Restaurant at 2 Silver St. is set to host an adult Halloween costume contest at 8:30 p.m. Contestants are asked to show off their most creative, spooky or funny costumes for a chance to win the award for best costume.

“It’s going to be a big night in Waterville,” Hall said.