Calling all Halloweenies! Autumn is just around the corner, and it’s time to plan how you’ll celebrate this season of mischief and magic. Whether you’re into family fun, like pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, or fear and frights, like being chased by a chainsaw-wielding psycho in a haunted house, there are Halloween festivities for everyone. Without further ado, let’s explore the spookiest places to celebrate Halloween in the United States.
U.S. Destinations to Celebrate Halloween
1. Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a mecca for Halloweenies. It’s a veritable “witch city,” with rich history, a magical vibe, and a whole lot of witch kitsch. And the latter isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Salem knows it’s kitschy and leans into it by embracing popular culture. But it also doesn’t forget its history, especially when 19 innocent people were accused of witchcraft and hanged in 1692.1 So, if you’re a history buff, fear not, because Salem has a plethora of historic sites to visit. What’s so bad about visiting the 17th-century house of Salem Witch Trials Judge Jonathan Corwin in the morning and getting a tarot reading in the afternoon? Nothing! Learn history, have fun, and get that broomstick out of your butt.
The beauty of Salem is its variety of witches, from the Puritan scapegoats to modern-day Wiccans, to Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem.
Witch City has a full calendar of events, known as Salem’s Haunted Happenings, to help you plan your time. Celebrate Halloween by hopping on a trolley tour, visiting a historic museum, getting your fortune told, or braving a haunted house.
*Click the “+” icon to expand the text.
My fellow Hocus Pocus fans will be pleased to know that several scenes from the iconic 1993 film were shot in Salem. Locations include the Pioneer Village, where Thackery Binx lived before he was turned into a kitty cat; the Ropes Mansion, which is Allison’s house and where Dani told her that Max likes her yabbos; the Old Town Hall where Bette Midler put a spell on us all at the Halloween Party; and Salem Common, the stage for many outdoor scenes.
If you’re planning to celebrate Halloween in Salem, book early because hotels fill up. Additionally, look for lodging in Boston, which is a 30-minute train ride to Salem. Just beware—Salem is PACKED to the brim on Halloween day and night. If you’d like to avoid crowds, go in early October or even late September. While I’ve been to Salem on October 31st, I preferred my visits during less-crowded weeks.
Finally, I highly suggest picking up J.W. Ocker’s book, A Season with the Witch: The Magic and Mayhem of Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, to get a full sense of what you’re in for. It’s been my constant companion each time I visit Witch City.
Salem’s Haunted Happenings begin in October and run the whole month. However, Salem is spooky all year round, so you can visit anytime to get your fill of witch history.
Links
2. Sleepy Hollow Country, New York
Welcome to Sleepy Hollow Country, where the Headless Horseman roams the woods looking for his next victim. As the setting for Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” this area of the Hudson River Valley leans into its literary and historic past. Even though Irving never mentions the holiday in his 1820 tale, Sleepy Hollow Country has become a small slice of Halloween heaven.
While Sleepy Hollow is the center of Halloween festivities, they extend into neighboring Hudson River Towns, such as Tarrytown, Irvington, and Croton-on-Hudson.2 In his short story, Irving used the name “Sleepy Hollow” to refer to the valley of the Pocantico River. But today, we use the term “Sleepy Hollow Country” to describe New York’s Hudson River Valley region in general, which extends beyond the village of Sleepy Hollow.
Sleepy Hollow Country is the perfect location to celebrate Halloween, with candlelight visits to Gothic mansions, thousands of pumpkins illuminating the night sky, haunted hayrides, evening lantern tours in a cemetery, illusion magic, Irving’s historic home, and immersive storytelling of legends and lore.
Be sure to check out Totally Historic’s Halloween in Sleepy Hollow Country: Where Legends Come to Life and Guide to the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze for more details.
The village of Sleepy Hollow has a long history, with different names. It was officially incorporated as the village of “North Tarrytown” in 1874.3
The area, however, had been home to Dutch settlers since the 1640s, who called the Pocantico River “Slapershaven,” or “Sleepers’ Haven.” “Sleepy Hollow,” the English derivation of the Dutch name, later referred to the valley of the Pocantico River. Washington Irving used this name in his famous 1820 short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Welcome to Sleepy Hollow, where the Headless Horseman gallops through the woods, searching for his missing head. When first published in 1820, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow propelled Washington Irving into international fame and created a haunting legend that is unequivocally American. Set in New York’s Hudson Valley, the timeless tale follows Ichabod Crane’s encounter with the Headless Horseman, a Hessian mercenary decapitated during the Revolutionary War. This volume is the perfect read for spooky season, because if Washington Irving and the Headless Horseman don’t scream Halloween, I don’t know what does.
In December 1996, the village was officially renamed “Sleepy Hollow” to connect to its famous past. The village also gave its downtown street signs a facelift, especially along Beekman Avenue. The black and orange signs are adorned with the Headless Horseman emblem.
Halloween events for October sell out quickly, so get your tickets early (like, now)! It’s a good idea to use a car as transportation so you can quickly and easily jump between the Hudson River Towns. Each has its unique character, cuisines, and Halloween offerings, so I advise you to explore them. Alternatively, you can take local buses to get around, as well as Metro-North Railroad, which runs along the Hudson River. Finally, Grand Central Terminal is about an hour away from Sleepy Hollow via Metro-North, so you could easily head into Manhattan during your stay.
Festivities begin in September and run through the end of October/early November.
Links
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
Clown image by Tina Schulz from Pixabay; LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, LA. Image credit: Reading Tom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
With its rich history, frequent ghost sightings, and voodoo tradition, New Orleans is haunted AF on a regular night. But on Halloween—when the veil lifts and the dead roam the earthly plane—The Big Easy is one spooky place. While there are family-friendly activities available, NOLA is really a place for adults to party hard, dress in extravagant costumes, and dabble in the paranormal.
To celebrate Halloween in New Orleans, visit historic cemeteries where the dearly departed rest above ground. As you walk in the Cities of the Dead, don’t forget to pay your respects to the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Then, head over to the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum and the many voodoo shops around town. If history is your thing, check out the Museum of Death and the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.
If you’d rather spend your time exploring the supernatural, take a ghost tour through the French Quarter. Be sure to pass by the haunted LaLaurie Mansion, where Madame LaLaurie brutally mistreated enslaved people in the 19th century and created some very bad juju.
Finally, party the night away at the official Halloween Parade by Krewe of Boo, the New Orleans Vampire Ball at the Legendary House of Blues, and the official Halloween bar crawl.
Since New Orleans is dripping with culture, history, and the supernatural, it’s no surprise that it’s a prime filming location for movies and television shows. Film crews have captured one gorgeous building—the Buckner Mansion—not once, but twice.
Disney recently used exterior shots of the house for the 2023 film, Haunted Mansion. But many American Horror Story fans will also recognize it as Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies in Coven (Season 3).
The Buckner Mansion is a private residence today, so you can’t go inside. But you can check it out from the street. It’s at 1410 Jackson Avenue in the Garden District.
If you’re in New Orleans on October 31 and don’t mind crowds, head to Frenchman Street because that’s where the action is. It’s one massive street party, with live music, drinks, and costumes galore.
For a more kid-friendly adventure, walk around New Orleans’ neighborhoods to see local homes decked out for Halloween. The Garden District has sweet Halloween décor, especially the St. Charles Avenue mansions.
Halloween events begin in October and run the entire month. But New Orleans is haunted all year round, so feel free to visit the Crescent City any time.
Links
4. Anoka, Minnesota
Salem, Sleepy Hollow, New Orleans…these are all Halloween big hitters due to their supernatural traditions and historic character. So, you may be wondering where the hell is Anoka, why it’s on this list, and why you haven’t heard of it before.
Well, this Minnesota town of 18,000 people just so happens to be the Halloween Capital of the World. The town earned its moniker by being the first location in the United States to host an official Halloween celebration. The year was 1920, and ever since then, Anoka has hosted Halloween festivities throughout October.
The main event is the Anoka Halloween Parade, called the Grande Day Parade, but they also have the Light Up the Night Parade and the Big Parade of Little People for kiddos. In addition to attending a parade, you can show everyone how fit you are by participating in the Gray Ghost Run, which is a 5K, or if you’re less inclined to get sweaty, a 1-mile fitness walk. And of course, you must run or walk in costume. I’m picturing a lot of 80s fitness instructors.
You can also celebrate Halloween in Anoka by joining a ghost tour with the Anoka County Historical Society, getting scared at a haunted house, shopping in their Halloween Store, and taking photos of the jack-o’-lantern roundabout at the intersection of Washington St., Fourth Ave., and Military Rd.
In the early 20th century, Halloween pranking was a time-honored, yet annoying, tradition among youth, particularly bands of mischievous boys. The people of Anoka were so concerned about the pranking problem that in the year 1920, they decided to do something about it. They were fed up with waking up on November 1 to find their cattle roaming Main Street and their windows full of soap. So, civic leaders held an official Halloween celebration with parades and bonfires to divert attention from the pranks. And…it worked!
This decision created a tradition in Anoka and gave it the honor of being the first location in the U.S. to officially celebrate Halloween. In fact, in 1937, a young boy named Harold Blair went to Washington, D.C., with a proclamation stating Anoka was “The Halloween Capital of the World.”4
Exploring Anoka is best done by car. The town is about an hour’s drive from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and 40 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. You can also opt to take a train from Minneapolis to Anoka, which is a 30-minute ride.
Halloween activities are in October. The best time to visit is the last week of the month.
Links
5. St. Helens, Oregon
Fans of the 1998 film Halloweentown will instantly recognize why St. Helens, Oregon, is on this list. As the filming location for the movie, the city has since embraced its status as a Halloween icon. Visitors can expect a healthy dose of childhood nostalgia, as well as seasonal tricks and treats.
Each October, St. Helens transforms into Halloweentown, with costume and scarecrow contests, trick-or-treating in the Old Town District, pumpkin displays, haunted tours, haunted houses, live entertainment, and special events. Don’t miss the lighting of the Great Pumpkin in the city plaza and a replica of the taxi driven by Benny, the skeleton cab driver from Halloweentown. It’s the perfect place to celebrate Halloween in all its glory.
Halloweentown wasn’t the only movie filmed in St. Helens. Film crews also descended on the city to film the Twilight series. Although Twilight is set in the fictional town of Forks, Washington, several stores, street locations, and homes (including Bella Swan’s house) from St. Helens can be seen in the film. As a result of St. Helens’ cinematic history, several actors from the Twilight series and Halloweentown movies (there are 3 sequels) have made appearances at the Spirit of Halloweentown festivities.
Halloween events require a ticket, although it’s reasonably priced at around $40-45 for adults and $20-25 for kids. The ticket is a day pass including performances, a haunted house, shuttle rides, costume competitions, and more. Purchase your tickets online in advance because they sell out.
Driving to St. Helens is your best bet. It’s only about 45 minutes from Portland. When you arrive for the Halloween festivities, use their designated paid parking lots. The lots have a complimentary shuttle to and from Spirit of Halloweentown that’s only 4 minutes.
Celebrate Halloween in St. Helens from late September to October 31. While some activities are on weekdays, most fall on weekends. There is a calendar of special guests and events on the website.
Links
6. Disney & Universal Studios in Florida and California
Disney
Looking for a family-friendly location to celebrate Halloween? Look no further than Disneyland in Anaheim, California, or Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Both locations include seasonal bites and drinks, as well as Halloween décor, especially hand-carved pumpkins. Your favorite characters from the Night Before Christmas make appearances throughout the parks, and Jack Skellington presides over a fireworks spectacular.
In Disneyland, the main event is the Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween party at Disney California Adventure Park. Disney World’s celebration is in Magic Kingdom, with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Mickey’s extravaganza includes trick-or-treating throughout the park, a Halloween parade, and a stage show hosted by the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus.
Universal
For those looking for a scary, shit-in-your pants event, head over to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. No kiddos allowed here. It’s truly a horror fest at Universal, with terrifying haunted houses, live entertainment, and gory vignettes on the streets. The latter are called scare zones, and if you’re not paying attention, they will scare the shit out of you. Universal Orlando Resort has 10 haunted houses, while Universal Studios Hollywood has 8. The haunted house themes vary by year but draw upon classic horror stories and modern franchises. In addition to the spine-chilling attractions, you can also go on some of the standard rides, which stay open throughout the evening.
Disneyland, California, has a Halloween tree inspired by Ray Bradbury’s 1972 book, The Halloween Tree. This fantasy novel follows a group of boys as they embark on a journey to discover the history and meaning of Halloween with their mysterious guide, Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.
Bradbury had a close relationship with Walt Disney and even collaborated on several projects in Disneyland and Disney World. He also wrote the screenplays for two Disney films, one of which was an adaptation of his novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes.
In 2007, the 35th anniversary of The Halloween Tree, the grand oak tree in front of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland transformed into the novel’s Halloween Tree. Every year since then, the oak has captivated visitors and reminded them of the spirit of Halloween. For Bradbury fans, you’ll be pleased to know that the author visited the tree several times before he died in 2012.
As I’m sure you’re aware, visiting Disney and Universal can be hella pricey. But they’re great options if you love amusement parks and Halloween. The Halloween celebrations at both venues begin after-hours, so you must purchase separate tickets in addition to regular day-passes if you’re doing the parks beforehand.
Disney tickets sell out quickly, especially for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, so get them early! At Universal’s Horror Nights, you’ll wait in lines for haunted houses, which can be lengthy. You can opt to skip the lines with an express pass, but this is an additional fee on top of your ticket. I always pay for the passes because I hate waiting in line, but it’s a hell of an expense.
Universal’s haunted houses are scary, and yes, actors do jump in your face and chase you. If you’re a scaredy-cat, you’ll probably want to skip it. If your reaction to actors startling you is to throw a hook at the person’s head, maybe work out your issues before coming to this event. Touching or fighting with the attraction’s actors is strictly prohibited.
Finally, costumes are welcome at Disney, but not at Universal.
Disneyland dates: August 22 – October 31, 2025, select nights, 6 pm to 11 pm.
Disney World dates: August 15 – October 31, select nights, 7 pm to midnight.
Universal Orlando dates: August 29–Nov 2, 2025, select nights.
Universal Hollywood dates: September 4–November 2, 2025.
Links
Let me know if you’ve visited any of these locations to celebrate Halloween in the comments below.
Are you a die-hard Halloweenie? If so, check out the following articles for more Halloween-themed content.
- The Origins of Halloween
- The Origins of the Jack-o’-lantern
- Vintage Halloween Postcards in the Early 20th Century
Footnotes
- The total death toll was at least 25; in addition to the 19 hanged, 1 one pressed to death, and at least 5 died in prison. ↩︎
- Although technically, they’re villages, not towns. ↩︎
- Because it’s north of the village of Tarrytown. Duh. ↩︎
- Morton, Trick or Treat, 77. ↩︎
Bibliography & Further Reading
*The following links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no cost to you.
Bradbury, Ray. The Halloween Tree. Yearling, 2001.
Bradbury, Ray. Something Wicked This Way Comes. Simon & Schuster, 2017.
Irving, Washington. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories. Edited by Elizabeth L. Bradley. Penguin Classics, 2014.
Morton, Lisa. Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween. London: Reaktion Books, 2019.
Ocker, J.W. A Season with the Witch: The Magic and Mayhem of Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts. Countryman Press, 2016.
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