Where is the best place to go to in America for Halloween? We have you covered, but it depends on what you are looking for; for a haunted experience in Salem, Massachusettes; for a family family-friendly Halloween, Orlando, Florida has the most options; for a big party atmosphere, New Orleans and Las Vegas are your best bet. What state has the best Halloween? Anoka, Minnesota, has been named the “Halloween Capital of the World,” so it would be tough to beat that, but there are Halloween celebrations overall since different states have different strengths when it comes to Halloween fun. From spectacular Jack-o-Lantern shows to chilling ghost tours, there are plenty of reasons to travel this Halloween. Here are some of the Best Halloween destinations in the United States. Make sure to check out The Scariest Haunted Houses In America and Scariest Places: Do You Dare?
Anoka, Minnesota “Halloween Capital of the World”
Dubbed the “Halloween Capital of the World” by the United States Congress since 1937, this city is known for holding the country’s first Halloween parade in 1920. Why, you may ask? Children would often play pranks and cause mischief, and to reduce vandalism, the Anoka Chamber of Commerce organized a Halloween parade, and the rest, as they say, is history. A Night Up the Light parade takes place about a week before Halloween, and on Halloween weekend, locals dress in costume and walk in the famous Grande Day Parade features floats, marching bands, costumed characters, and more. The Anoka Knights of Columbus run Anoka Haunted House, one of the state’s scariest. The Walking Ghost Tours of Anoka take visitors through Anoka’s historic downtown area and share stories of the city’s haunted past. The Anoka Halloween Pumpkin Bowl football game is played between the Anoka Tornadoes and the Coon Rapids Cardinals. It is a tradition that dates back to the 1940s. The city is a great place to visit for a unique Halloween experience.
Helens, Oregon
This small town received its “claim to fame” when Disney Chanel filmed its 1998 original movie Halloween, known as the “Real Halloweentown” because it was the filming location for the popular Disney Channel movie “Halloweentown.” Every year in October, the city hosts a month-long festival called Spirit of Halloweentown. The locals now carry on the holiday spirit with events, including train ride tours, boat rides, a haunted house, The Great Big Halloween Exhibit, and a parade celebrating all things spooky. The Spirit of Halloweentown Train Ride takes visitors through a haunted forest and past several Halloween-themed scenes. The Whispers in the Woods is a walk-through attraction that features live actors and animatronics. The Pumpkin Puzzle Plaza is an interactive maze of pumpkins and other Halloween-themed puzzles. The Museum of Peculiarities and Oddities features a collection of strange and unusual artifacts. The Vendor Village features a variety of vendors selling food, drinks, merchandise, and more. The Halloweentown Pumpkin Lighting features the lighting of a giant pumpkin in the St. Helens Courthouse Square. The Spirit of Halloweentown festival is an excellent event for people of all ages, and it offers a variety of activities to choose from. The city is a popular destination for people of all ages who want to experience a unique and fun Halloween celebration.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
This quaint riverside town celebrates author Washington Irving’s headless horseman tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” year-round, especially at Halloween. Visitors can tour the historic 90-acre Sleepy Hollow Cemetary, visit Irving’s grave, and witness the re-enactments of his spooky story. Nearby Tarrytown offers The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze, which features carved pumpkins lighting up the night sky, and over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins that are displayed in the evening hours. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Lantern Tours take visitors through the historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where many characters from Washington Irving’s story are buried. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Experience is an interactive walk-through attraction that tells the story of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” using live actors and special effects. The Headless Horseman Haunted Hayride takes visitors through a haunted forest, where they may encounter the Headless Horseman himself. The Horsemen’s Hollow Haunted House is one of the scariest in the area. Other ghost tours, a Halloween parade, haunted hayrides, street fairs, and a farmer’s market exist. Sleepy Hollow is a village in Westchester County, New York that has been celebrating Halloween for over a century.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Massachusetts, also known as America’s “Witch City,” the site of the infamous Salem witch trials in 1692. Costumed crowds fill the streets to celebrate the spookiest night of the year. There are haunted houses and ghost tours to choose from, a historic house tour to visit, the Salem Witch Museum, and a graveyard paying tribute to witch trial victims. Halloween in Salem. Salem Haunted Happening is a month-long festival that features a variety of events and attractions, including haunted houses, costume contests, ghost tours, and more. Visit the Witch House; the historic house is one of Salem’s most haunted houses. Visit the Salem Witch Museum, which tells the story of the Salem witch trials and the city’s haunted history. There are a number of specialty shops in the city that sell everything from Halloween costumes to witch hats to candy. Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts: Festival of the Dead
Orlando, Florida
Halloween fun awaits at Orlando’s theme parks. Universal Orlando Resort holds Halloween Horror Nights, and ticketholders can choose from 10 haunted houses. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida features haunted houses, scare zones, and live shows based on famous horror movies and TV shows. Disney World offers a Halloween Parade and “Hocus Pocus,” villain spectacular, and Halloween-themed fireworks. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World is a family-friendly event features trick-or-treating, costume contests, and special meet-and-greets with Disney characters. Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida Resort features LEGO-themed Halloween decorations, activities, and shows. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular features trick-or-treating, costume contests, and animal encounters. Gatorland Gators, Ghosts & Goblins Halloween Event has trick-or-treating, costume contests, and alligator encounters. The city has something to offer everyone, from families to thrill-seekers.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Halloween attracts tourists to New Orleans for its haunted history and lively party scene. New Orleans is known for its thriving vampire subculture and eerie above-ground cemeteries seen on ghost tours. Locals and visitors dress in crazy costumes, and the voodoo shops in the area hold their events. Tour the historic houses and cemeteries throughout New Orleans and learn why it’s called “the most haunted city in America.” Popular attractions during Halloween include the Voodoo Museum, which tells the story of Voodoo’s history and culture in New Orleans. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a historic cemetery and is the final resting place of many famous New Orleanians, including Marie Laveau, the Queen of Voodoo. Halloween In New Orleans. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar historic bar is said to be one of the most haunted places in New Orleans. Frenchmen Street is a lively street home to several bars, clubs, and restaurants that host Halloween events throughout the month. Krewe of Boo Parade is an annual parade features floats, marching bands, and costumed characters. In the 1970s, the Krewe of Boo parade began, which has become one of the most popular Halloween parades in the world. The city’s vibrant culture, rich history, and many Halloween-themed events and attractions make it a great place to experience the holiday.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas offers some of the most intense haunted houses in the country. Screams Halloween Theme Park features five haunted houses, scare zones, and live entertainment. Clown’s Crypt, a haunted house, is known for its terrifying clowns.🤡 The House of Shock is one of the most intense haunted houses in the country, if not the world, known for intense scares and disturbing imagery. The haunted house is set in a real abandoned warehouse, and the actors are all highly trained and experienced. The haunted house also features a number of special effects, such as pyrotechnics and animatronics, to create a truly immersive and terrifying experience for visitors. Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park features a variety of rides and attractions, including a haunted house. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden hosts various Halloween-themed events throughout October, including a pumpkin trail and a Halloween train ride. Many bars and restaurants hold costume contests. Today, Dallas is known as one of the top Halloween destinations in the United States.
Los Angeles, California
Several Halloween-themed events and attractions are happening in Los Angeles throughout October. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood has haunted houses, scare zones, and live shows based on popular horror movies and TV shows. Knott’s Scary Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm also has haunted attractions, scare zones, and live performances. Haunted Hayride at Griffith Park takes visitors through a haunted forest and past a variety of Halloween-themed scenes. West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval annual parade features floats, marching bands, and costumed characters. Boo at the LA Zoo features trick-or-treating, costume contests, and animal encounters. Visitors can take a ghost tour, visit a haunted house, or wander through the city’s streets and enjoy the Halloween atmosphere. Movie screenings are a staple of a Hollywood Halloween. Mr. Jack -0-Lanterns Pumpkin Patch has multiple locations in the city; visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetary and the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Scarium of the Pacific event.
Independence, Kansas
The week leading up to Halloween is Neewollah, Halloween spelled backwards. The festival is one of the largest Halloween festivals in the United States, attracting visitors from all over the country. Neewollah was founded in 1919 by a group of businessmen who wanted to provide a safe and positive outlet for children on Halloween. There is a parade with floats, marching bands, and costumed characters. A pageant to crown the Neewollah Queen. Pumpkin contests, Haunted Houses, and other highlights include carnivals, street parades, arts and crafts, and marching band competitions. Neewollah is a family-friendly festival with something to offer everyone. Other sights include the city’s historic sites, such as the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and the Independence, Kansas Oil Museum.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hotels on the strip are decked out in spooky decor, with many theme show events to attend. This year’s attractions include a Blackout Dining in the Dark experience, the Haunted Museum, Blackout, and the SAW Escape Room. Experience the Zombie burlesque show and take part in the many costume contests. There are a number of Halloween-themed shows in Las Vegas, including Cirque du Soleil’s O, Michael Jackson ONE, and Blue Man Group. Las Vegas is known for its over-the-top parties and celebrations, and Halloween is no exception. The city’s casinos and nightclubs host some of the world’s biggest and most elaborate Halloween parties. Visitors can go trick-or-treating at some of the city’s casinos and hotels or wander around the Strip and enjoy the Halloween atmosphere.
New York City, New York
New York City hosts one of the world’s biggest Halloween parades and parties. The Halloween Parade is one of the biggest in the world, with over 60,000 participants and 2 million spectators. There are tons of parties and events, like the Village Halloween Parade Ball, the RISE Halloween Ball, Day of the Dead at the American Museum of Natural History, and events at bars and clubs across the city. Costume contests are very popular. It goes up 6th Avenue in Manhattan with incredible costumes, giant puppets, dancers, artists, and bands. Haunted houses and ghost tours can be found around the city, including Blood Manor and the Merchant’s House Museum. There are also haunted hayrides at farms just outside the city like Queens County Farm. For kids and families, there are trick-or-treating events like Trunk or Treat at the Bronx Zoo and events at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. The Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park is adorable. In Greenwich Village and other neighborhoods, you’ll see trick-or-treaters out in costume going door to door and brownstone houses decked out in spooky decorations. Upstate New York also has great fall foliage around Halloween. The Halloween experience continues with Day of the Dead and Día de Muertos celebrations in early November, especially in Mexican and Latin American neighborhoods.
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