Halloween is a holiday that is observed on October 31 and associated with the pagan and religious roots and secular traditions. For kids, dressing up in costumes, trick or treating and tons of candy is a great treat. On the other hand, adults can have fun with this by attending a festive party, visit somewhere haunted, hop on a ghost tour, or join the kids trick or treating.
No matter how you prefer to spend Halloween, if you’re like me and enjoy visiting new places to experience their unique and festive celebrations, I’ve got the perfect suggestions. These are the best cities in the U.S. to celebrate Halloween.
Salem, Massachusetts
Haunted happenings are among the most popular Halloween celebrations in the country. From October to the first week of November, there are more than a half million partyers, paraders, and perambulators wandering around Witch City(Salem).
Residents and visitors also enjoy walking tours and special events as well. If you’re interested in bats and humans’ connection to them, you might want to check out Bats! At Peabody Essex Museum!
New Orleans, Louisiana
Halloween is one New Orleans celebration that transforms into a full-blown party. With so much Voodoo history, it becomes a macabre wonderland. The French Quarter is taken over by costumes, parties, and parades.
There are also local legends that spirits will roam the streets of the city during the Krewe of Boo parade. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience also has its own more magical take on Halloween, as they call it.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Famous as the setting for Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the town of Sleepy Hollow, unsurprisingly, celebrates Halloween in a big way. In October, the city of the dead opens its doors about 30 miles north of Manhattan, offering up haunted hayrides, Gothic mansions, cemeteries tours, street fairs, and parades.
As always, it’s the Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze, an illuminated, hand-carved Jack-o’-lantern display that won’t soon be forgotten, with more than 7,000 of them. These celebrations, of course, also feature a visit from the Headless Horseman.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, is one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. You’re encouraged to visit the Hamilton-Turner Inn, Laura’s Cottage, the Marshall House, 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Restaurant, and Moon River Brewing Co., all reputedly haunted by the dead.
Don’t miss the city’s famous, beautiful cemeteries. Many tour groups will gladly take you around all the haunts. Savannah offers Halloween-themed bar crawls, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating through its historic district.
Manitou Springs, Colorado
If you’re searching for truly unique Halloween events, you have to attend the Emma Crawford Coffin Races in Manitou Springs, Colorado. This quirky annual event is throwing a rock to honor another crusher.
In 1929, Fairview Cemetery got Emma Crawford’s coffin when a heavy rain and snowmelt mishap caused the ship to be slid down Red Mountain to Fairview Cemetery’s rightful resting place.
Now, it’s transformed into a fun, lively race where participants dress up and race “coffins” through town to see who can cross the finish line the fastest.
San Francisco, California
A legendary San Francisco mash of the city quirkiness with festivity, the Castro Street Halloween Fair is a must-attend. Presidio Heights is a vibrant alcove that allows trick-or-treaters to escape the hustle and bustle.
Bordered by parklands and filled with old homes dressed in their Halloween best, the neighborhood offers endless spooky spectacles to make the holiday memorable.
St. Helens, Oregon
Or have you ever seen the Disney movie Halloween Town? If so, you’ll be pleased to learn St. Helens, Oregon, is the film’s location. The town has fully welcomed its Halloween town notoriety during the Halloween time period.
From the end of September to the end of October, St. Helens morphs into a near-mirror match of the movie. The town of Ashland, Oregon, has buildings around town that are festooned with festive decorations, including replicas of the pumpkin, a giant taxi, and other props from the movie. It’s like walking into the movie itself.
Chicago, Illinois
To start, go to the Chicago Botanic Garden to witness the Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns, where you’ll see the carved pumpkins. Next, enjoy the artistic nature of Halloween through the Arts in the Dark nighttime parade.
For an epic Halloween celebration not to be missed, check out the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade. This wild celebration features fire breathers, gory costumes, and ghoulish dancers ready to scare you if you’re not paying attention.
Austin, Texas
One of a kind, Austin has a unique rhythm—perhaps no place more evident than in its concert venues—that you can see well beyond them.
Situated between the city center and the marshes, Windsor Road has attractive Craftsman-style homes running along Pease District Park, which is an ideal setting for birthdays, barbecues, and Halloween jaunts.
Independence, Kansas
The Neewollah festival takes place annually in the small town of Independence, Kansas, and has been going on since 1919. If you’re wondering about the quirky name, it’s simply “Halloween” spelled backward.
The festival was originally designed years ago to inspire the townspeople to not partake in pranks and to instead celebrate fun and laughter; now Kansas’ biggest celebration takes place over nine days. There are food vendors, a carnival, nightly entertainment, a chili cook-off, several parades, and more to enjoy.
Salt Lake City, Utah
With an attraction voted one of the best-haunted houses in the nation, Salt Lake City makes a pretty good case for visiting during Halloween.
If haunted houses aren’t your thing, the city also throws the Giant Pumpkin Palooza and Zombie Walk, a Halloween movie series, and a Halloween-themed drum show, among other activities.
Los Angeles, California
If you are looking for something for the children to attend, Boo at the Zoo Festival, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, or any of the other family-friendly festivals, you have it in Los Angeles. In the City of Angels, the spooks come to life as the haunted mazes and terrifying attractions fill the city of angels with their tricks and treats.
Usually, LA comes alive at night, on top of trick-or-treating, with that city’s famous theaters showing special horror movie screenings. If you are a thrill seeker, this World Heritage city beckons you with the largest haunted house in the land, but you’ll have some choice family-coordinated fare at the Scarecrow Walk, Boo at the Zoo, and the city’s famous historical landmarks.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thrill-seekers flock to this World Heritage city to explore the largest haunted house in the country. Still, family-friendly fare can be found at the Scarecrow Walk, Boo at the Zoo, and the city’s acclaimed historic landmarks.
Historic homes of all shapes and sizes and architectural styles collide in the West Philadelphia neighborhood of Cobbs Creek before spooking the neighborhood on Halloween night — not real ones, but the goods.
Seattle, Washington
If you love Halloween, you’ll love celebrating in Seattle, where bright orange leaves fall like confetti and misty afternoons lend the region a delightfully eerie vibe. Skyrmningas is a spooky place, but it has its share of scary sites, and some of the best are Seattle Southside.
Living in Seattle is still an inexpensive, down-to-earth town for the whole family. Pedestrian-friendly paths will take trick-or-treaters to Halloween candy and kid-friendly adventure in the heart of the Laurelhurst neighborhood.
Anoka, Minnesota
The self-proclaimed “Halloween Capital of the World,” Anoka, Minn., is a town that takes this fall holiday very seriously, with numerous parades attended by people from all over the Midwest.
With nearly 18,000 residents, Anoka is about 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis, and pretty much everyone turns out — and it’s both the pumpkin carving and the house decorating contests. Runners dress up in costumes for the 5K “Gray Ghost Run.”
Denver, Colorado
Outdoor adventurers looking to make a jog of it in this Rockies town might want to check out Cory-Merrill when it comes to Halloween trick or treating.
Halloween delights abound in the South Denver area, where an annual block party is held, where family, food, and fun are always welcome!
Las Vegas, Nevada
Although Las Vegas is known for its casinos and nightlife, It also knows how to party for Halloween. Vegas is famous for its clubs and gambling and, of course, what it does best—shows, haunted attractions, and even upscale Halloween balls.
The famous strip comes alive with themed parties and events. Register for the Las Vegas Fetish & Fantasy Halloween Ball to experience a night of fetish fun and fright guaranteed!
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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