Pumpkins, costumes, and spooky fun! Halloween is a time for thrilling festivities, and the sheer variety of Halloween events popping up across the globe is truly captivating. From elaborate haunted houses and spine-tingling scare zones to family-friendly trick-or-treating strolls and community-based celebrations, there’s a Halloween event to suit every taste and age. This article dives deep into the exciting world of Halloween events, exploring everything from the origins of these spooky celebrations to current trends and must-attend destinations. Let’s uncover the best Halloween events this year, with me and nationalparkshops.com!
Contents
- 1 The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
- 2 The Village Halloween Parade, Manhattan, NY
- 3 Krewe of Boo – New Orleans, LA
- 4 Spirit of Halloweentown, St. Helens, OR
- 5 Terror on Tillson Street – Romeo, MI
- 6 Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival – Scottsdale, AZ
- 7 Sea Witch Festival – Rehoboth Beach, DE
- 8 Emma Crawford Festival – Manitou Springs, CO
- 9 The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor – Long Beach, CA
- 10 Wicklow Gaol Tours – Kilmantin Hill, Co Wicklow
- 11 Gravedigger Ghostbus – Dame Street, Dublin
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Oh, you made a pumpkin? That’s nice, but it doesn’t compare. The volunteers at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze have carved seven thousand pumpkins. Each year, pumpkin enthusiasts come to Van Cortlandt Manor on the Hudson River, just 20 minutes north of a small New York town once haunted by the Headless Horseman, to see massive pumpkin displays.
You can walk through a tunnel of jack-o-lanterns, be amazed by a moving pumpkin windmill, and get spooked in a cemetery with pumpkin gravestones and characters with pumpkin heads. With sparkling lights and a cup of chili, it’s a truly festive autumn experience.
The Village Halloween Parade, Manhattan, NY
Sinister spirits, clattering bones, and… cat outfits? The Village Halloween Parade fulfills all your Halloween desires: the bizarre, the scary, and the adorable! Each year, over two million people—both kids and adults—gather in New York’s Greenwich Village to witness gigantic puppets, marching bands, and imaginative costumes at the biggest public Halloween event in the United States. Once the children head home to enjoy their new candy haul, adults can stay for the after party.
Krewe of Boo – New Orleans, LA
Halloween receives a Mardi Gras flair thanks to the Krewe of Boo. Since 2007, this parade has been haunting the French Quarter. Floats featuring large papier-mâché figures throw out candy, voodoo doll pins, and lots of beads (it’s New Orleans, after all). The celebrations begin with The New Orleans Zombie Run. Make sure to dress as a zombie to evade the Big Easy Rollergirls as they chase down skaters dressed as the undead.
Spirit of Halloweentown, St. Helens, OR
In St. Helens, Oregon, experience Halloweentown. Each October, this quaint town changes into a Disney Channel classic for a month-long celebration featuring a haunted hotel, an eerie scavenger hunt, and a massive pumpkin in the town square. St. Helens is also where you can find Bella Swan’s house from Twilight, where guests can stay in her real bedroom from the film—before she becomes a vampire and has a vampire baby, of course. It’s a Halloween event two-for-one!
Terror on Tillson Street – Romeo, MI
If there were a Halloween-themed equivalent of the competitive light displays in Christmas Vacation, it might resemble Terror on Tillson Street. This two-block area in Romeo, a small town near Detroit, attracts around 80,000 visitors each year with its hauntingly elaborate decorations. There’s a house featuring killer clowns, a ghostly pirate ship, and a hockey rink populated by skeleton skaters. Residents claim that every year the displays become more intricate, making this Halloween event enjoyable even for those who visited last year.
Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival – Scottsdale, AZ
The 12th Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Arizona, and will provide a distinctive Halloween event for families. Scheduled for October 25-27, this engaging event showcases more than 20 hot air balloons, which also serve as trick-or-treat locations, offering exciting balloon rides and over 4,000 pounds of candy. In addition to nightly costume competitions and numerous complimentary activities for children, the festival guarantees a memorable experience brimming with spooky visuals and exhilarating fun.
Sea Witch Festival – Rehoboth Beach, DE
Picture this – a 20-foot neon green witch face hovers above a beach town in Delaware, yet it doesn’t frighten kids. Instead, it brings out joyful laughter from the audience. The original Sally the Sea Witch stepped down in 2019 after overseeing the annual Sea Witch parade for 25 years, but now the festival showcases an identical replica created by Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade artist Ken Moody. Around 180,000 attendees come in costume to view the balloon, complete with red eyes and a crooked nose. Additional activities include a broom-throwing competition, hayrides, a dog costume parade, and a scarecrow exhibition.
Emma Crawford Festival – Manitou Springs, CO
The Emma Crawford Festival, held annually in Manitou Springs, Colorado, celebrates a unique local legend and Halloween spirit. Scheduled for October 26, 2024, the festival features the famous Emma Crawford Coffin Races, where teams of four “mourners” race coffin-like contraptions down Manitou Avenue, carrying a costumed impersonator of Emma Crawford. This quirky event commemorates Emma, who moved to Manitou Springs in the late 1800s seeking a cure for tuberculosis but tragically passed away. Her wish to be buried on Red Mountain was fulfilled, but after heavy rains dislodged her coffin years later, the town created this festival in her honor.
The day includes a lively parade, costume contests, and various awards for categories like “Best Emma” and “Best Coffin.” This Halloween event is free to attend and attracts thousands of spectators, making it a beloved tradition in the community. Additionally, festivities kick off with a Victorian Wake at Miramont Castle the night before, adding a historical touch to the celebration.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor – Long Beach, CA
Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor isn’t just a haunted house; it’s more like a haunted ship. This retired ocean liner, constructed in the 1930s, becomes particularly eerie in the autumn, featuring five haunted mazes inside. Additionally, there are hidden speakeasies, fire dancers, live music, ax-throwing, and rides for when you want a moment away from the scares. The Queen Mary is said to be haunted as well, so you might encounter an actual ghost or two!
Wicklow Gaol Tours – Kilmantin Hill, Co Wicklow
For one night only, explore the ‘Gates of Hell’ during a nighttime tour of the historic dungeon at Wicklow Gaol. This immersive experience, enhanced with virtual reality features, will narrate the gaol’s grim history filled with corruption, rebellion, and gloom. You’ll listen to tales about its most notorious prisoners and discover why it’s considered one of the most haunted locations in Ireland. If you’re afraid of the dark, daytime tours are available every day.
Ideal for: Adults and teenagers.
Gravedigger Ghostbus – Dame Street, Dublin
This two-hour tour on the Gravedigger Ghostbus showcases Dublin’s most haunting locations, exploring 600 years of eerie history brought to life by the Gravedigger performers. The journey includes stops at notable sites like Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, and Cork Hill, each with intriguing stories, culminating at the famous Gravediggers Pub.
Ideal for: Supervised adults and teenagers.
Don’t just watch the Halloween fun unfold – be a part of it!
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