Some towns celebrate Halloween with a few carved pumpkins and porch decorations. Others go all out, transforming entire streets with elaborate displays, costume parades, haunted attractions, and festivals that draw visitors from across the country. From the famous Salem Haunted Happenings celebration in Massachusetts to coffin races in Colorado and a real-life Halloweentown in Oregon, there’s no shortage of spooky places to explore. Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic fall getaway or something a little more frightening, these 12 towns that go all out for Halloween are worth adding to your October travel planFSTs.
Salem, Massachusetts
Few places embrace Halloween quite like Salem, where Haunted Happenings fills October with costume parades, street performers, markets, and spooky attractions. The city’s connection to the 1692 witch trials adds a historical dimension, although the tragedy itself deserves more than a Halloween-themed retelling. In 2026, the monthlong celebration concludes with a special drone show on Halloween night. The biggest drawback is the crowd. More than a million visitors typically descend on Salem during the season, so visiting on a weekday earlier in October can make the experience considerably easier.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow gave this Hudson Valley village one of America’s most recognizable ghost stories, and the community has embraced its Headless Horseman reputation. October brings cemetery tours, seasonal attractions, and Halloween festivities against a backdrop of historic buildings and autumn foliage. Nearby Croton-on-Hudson hosts the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an illuminated display featuring thousands of pumpkins. The 2026 Blaze runs through November 8, with tickets starting at $24. Book ahead, since popular evenings sell out and tickets aren’t available at the gate.
St. Helens, Oregon
Fans of Disney’s 1998 movie Halloweentown might recognize St. Helens, which served as a filming location for the Halloween favorite. Every fall, the town celebrates that connection with Spirit of Halloweentown, featuring a giant pumpkin display, costume contests, haunted attractions, and entertainment. Some events even bring actors from the film back to town. The 2026 celebration runs on selected weekends from September 26 through November 1. It’s a nostalgic trip for anyone who grew up watching the movie, although admission charges and crowded themed weekends can add to the cost.
Anoka, Minnesota
Anoka has been calling itself the Halloween Capital of the World for generations, and its celebration dates back to 1920. What began as an organized community alternative to Halloween mischief has grown into a longstanding tradition featuring parades, costume contests, and activities involving local schools and organizations. Unlike destinations built around commercial haunted houses, Anoka’s festivities still have a distinctly hometown atmosphere. October is the time to visit, particularly around the Grand Day Parade. Check the official schedule before traveling, since the major events aren’t spread evenly throughout the month.
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Most towns hold Halloween parades. Manitou Springs sends decorated coffins racing down the street. The Emma Crawford Coffin Races began in 1995 and honor a local woman whose unusual burial history inspired the event. Teams dress in elaborate costumes and push wheeled coffins along Manitou Avenue, competing for speed and creativity. The 2026 races take place October 24, with free admission for spectators. It’s a wonderfully strange tradition in a scenic mountain town, but expect road closures, large crowds, and limited accessibility in some viewing areas.
Trending on Cheapism
Romeo, Michigan
Every October, an ordinary residential street in Romeo becomes one of Michigan’s most imaginative Halloween displays. Known as Terror on Tillson Street, the tradition sees homeowners decorate their historic houses with skeletons, monsters, graveyards, and elaborate homemade scenes. The displays aren’t part of a commercial haunted attraction; they’re created by residents who have made Halloween a neighborhood tradition. Visitors can walk the street for free, with the most complete decorations generally appearing closer to October 31. Go before Halloween night if you’d rather admire the creativity without the biggest trick-or-treating crowds.
Independence, Kansas
Halloween spelled backward gives Independence its signature celebration: Neewollah. First held in 1919, the festival has grown into a nine-day community tradition with parades, carnival rides, performances, food vendors, and competitions. For 2026, festivities run October 23 through 31, culminating in the Grand Parade on Halloween morning. It’s the kind of old-fashioned small-town celebration where the entire community gets involved. Many events are free to watch, although carnival rides and certain attractions cost extra. Arrive early for the parade, when spectators start claiming good viewing spots well before it begins.
Laconia, New Hampshire
Laconia’s Pumpkin Festival proves that Halloween doesn’t need haunted houses to make an impression. Downtown fills with carved jack-o’-lanterns, seasonal food vendors, costume parades, and live entertainment, with a towering pumpkin display providing the centerpiece. The 2026 festival takes place October 23 and 24, making it a convenient weekend getaway during New England’s autumn season. General admission is free, although food and other purchases can add up. The glowing displays are especially appealing after dark, when the downtown atmosphere feels more festive than frightening.
Sign up for our newsletter
Deadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood already looks like a setting for a ghost story, with its historic saloons and Gold Rush-era buildings. Add Halloween costumes, live music, and elaborate competitions, and you get Deadweird, the town’s annual celebration of all things strange. The 2026 festival takes place October 30 and 31, with a Monster Ball and costume contest offering cash prizes. The main evening parties are for adults 21 and older, and some require admission. Families aren’t forgotten, though: the separate KidWeird celebration includes free trick-or-treating, games, and costume activities.
Keene, New Hampshire
Keene has a special relationship with jack-o’-lanterns. Its pumpkin festival began in 1991 and became famous for enormous displays of carved pumpkins, including a Guinness World Record in 2013. Today’s celebration is smaller, but the tradition continues with community pumpkin carving, costumes, entertainment, and glowing displays along downtown streets. The 2026 festival takes place October 17. It’s particularly appealing for visitors who prefer traditional Halloween fun over elaborate haunted attractions. Just don’t expect the record-breaking crowds or pumpkin counts of the festival’s earlier years.
Franklin, Tennessee
Historic downtown Franklin trades its everyday charm for pumpkins, costumes, and seasonal festivities during PumpkinFest. The annual event fills Main Street with arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, food, and family activities, all surrounded by preserved historic buildings. In 2026, the festival takes place October 24 and 25. It’s more of a lively autumn street festival than a frightening Halloween destination, making it particularly suitable for families and visitors who enjoy browsing local shops. Admission is free, but the large crowds can make parking and getting around downtown challenging.
Chatham, Massachusetts
Cape Cod might be better known for summer beaches, but Chatham offers a quieter reason to visit in October. During Pumpkin People in the Park, local businesses, organizations, and residents create imaginative pumpkin characters displayed throughout Kate Gould Park. The 2026 exhibition runs from October 14 through November 1, giving visitors plenty of time to enjoy the displays and explore the historic downtown. This isn’t a destination for haunted houses or late-night parties. It’s a relaxed, seasonal outing that’s particularly appealing when the summer crowds have gone home.
