10 Spooky Halloween Destinations
The weather’s getting chillier. The leaves are turning orange from the lush green it was just a week ago. Coffee spots are starting to bring back pumpkin spice lattes to their seasonal menus. It’s officially time to pull out the hoodies, flannels, and comfy boots because fall is here ladies and gentlemen.
And though I adore all of the things I’ve mentioned already, my absolute favorite part of fall is Halloween. No matter how old I get, my family and I go all out for the spooktacular festivities. Cue the creepy music, fog, and frightening decorations – all of which are nothing compared to the effort we put into our costumes.
Halloween is definitely one of my top three favorite holidays because of the perfect combination of weather, comfort, and decor. In this article, I’ve listed ten destinations that really know how to celebrate the season. It’ll be the perfect time and place to go on a little vacation right before the freezing winters hit – unless you live in the south or west of course!
1. New Orleans
New Orleans Halloween
It’s no secret that I love visiting New Orleans and it’s probably because you get that spooky, voodoo vibe all year long. But during Halloween is when the mysterious chill of the city really amplifies. The magic and Wicca shops have an extra supernatural feel to it and the cemetery walks which are available anytime you visit New Orleans seem just a little more ghostly than they usually would.
Many people might not know that New Orleans hosts a Mardi-Gras-inspired Halloween parade called the Krewe of Boo every year; it is one of the largest Halloween parades in the country. The parade turns into an all-night, family-friendly party right on the streets of the famed French Quarter. You’ll see an array of floats, all Halloween themed with some really scary floats of vampires and werewolves. Visitors of all ages get into the festivities by wearing costumes to see the procession and collect locally made candy and other trinkets usually given out by the float drivers.
Once the kids are asleep, adults can choose from an array of after-event parties – tickets can sell out quickly so go prepared. Many of the restaurants, bars, and clubs in the Quarter also host some amazing events.
2. Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca, Mexico halloween
Though it’s not officially a Halloween destination, Oaxaca is the best place to be for Mexico’s very own Dia de Los Muertos or “Day of the Dead”. The three-day celebration kicks off on October 31st, and though you’ll find that cities across Mexico all celebrate the event in their own way, the festivities in Oaxaca is one of the most famous.
Every year the streets of Oaxaca light up with colorful Dia de Los Muertos decor while the city’s main square is the focal point of the three-day street festival – though the nights are when everything really comes alive, pun intended. You’ll see people coming from all over the world to drink, dance, learn about local culture and traditions, partake in costume parties, go on spooky cemetery visits, and so much more.
3. Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts Halloween
The town of Salem, Massachusetts has been the epicenter of everything spooky since the infamous witch trials in the early 1690s. Salem leaned all the way into its eerie past and has hosted a month-long Festival of the Dead for years now. You can spend your time there doing all sorts of fun, mysterious things like attending a witch’s gathering on Halloween night, participating in seances, indulging in a mourning-themed tea, giving in to a psychic reading, or dancing the night away at a Halloween ball. The city has an official website dedicated to their many Halloween-themed events so you could pick ones that are right for you.
Salem is a great choice for adult-only and family-friendly events both; I’d like to begin my adventure with a trip to the Salem Witch Museum so we can go back to the beginning and see where the city’s original rendezvous with witchcraft first started. The museum will wrap you up in the mystery and magic of the holidays. Other fun family-friendly things include kid-friendly ghost tours, trick or treating, going pumpkin picking, or having a snack at the famed Psychic Fair and Witches’ Market. End the vacation by attending the city’s Grand Parade, which is guaranteed fun for the entire family.
4. Sleepy Hollow, New York
Sleepy Hollow, New York Halloween
A suburb of New York City, Sleepy Hollow rose to fame when it was used as the setting of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” – a short story about a headless horseman said to be the ghost of a decapitated Hessian soldier from the American Revolution. The legend has inspired many stories, books, and movies over the years.
Honoring its heritage, Sleepy Hollow has many Halloween events for you to choose from. Horseman’s Hollow is the most popular choice as it includes a series of events and tours like exploring the haunted town of Sleepy Hollow, going on a spooky hayride, visiting Irving’s gravesite as well as several other iconic landmarks.
Other attractions around the area include visiting the spirit of the Phantom of the Opera in Lyndhurst Mansion, having a seance in the Old Dutch Burying Ground, or taking a tour of the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze which comprises over 10,000 jack o’ lanterns.
5. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia Halloween
Savannah is one of the oldest cities in Georgia and has an eventful history with the supernatural and battlefields that add to its mysterious reputation. Legend has it that a lot of the buildings and attractions you will find in the historic downtown area are actually built on top of cemeteries; this alone offers enough juice for the rumor mills to run about how the buildings are now haunted by the spirits of the past. In fact, many of the historic structures and Renaissance Revival mansions that now serve as a B&B or hotel have eerie ghost stories of their own so the fun can start right from your room!
Everyone gets into the holiday spirit in Savannah, making it the perfect vacation destination during Halloween. You’ll find so many spooky things to do to put you in the perfect Halloween mood such as haunted house tours, guided tours of the city’s graveyards, ghost-hunting excursions, and much more; these tours often highlight the best of the surroundings cemeteries, battlefields, and structures, creating a more immersive experience.
There are tons of other events throughout the city for the entire family to enjoy. For example, there’s a family-friendly Halloween hike at the Oatland Island Wildlife Center complete with trick or treating. If you’re looking for something a little more after-hours go on pub crawls along River Street or head on over to the Alee Shriner Temple for their annual charity event, the Boo Bash Halloween Party.
6. Derry City, Ireland
Derry City, Ireland Halloween
Many people may not know that the Halloween holiday actually originated from Ireland, and if you want to experience the best Halloween celebrations in the country, then there’s no better place to do it than in Derry City.
Better known there as Samhain Night, the festivities remain as close to the original medieval Irish festival where the entire concept originated. Initially, the festival was only supposed to mark the end of the harvest, what with the shorter days and darker nights, but locals soon believed that it was also the time the dead came back to visit the mortal world.
Derry City is still one of the best places in the world to celebrate Halloween, and they do so in grandeur with a nine-day event called The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival which fully embraces everything spooky. In addition to the usual parades and haunted houses, there are also ghost tours, voodoo workshops, screenings of horror movies, a dragon safari, and additional family-friendly experiences.
7. Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania, Romania Halloween
Home to one of the most famous faces of horror, Dracula himself, Transylvania seems like the ideal vacation destination when you’re seeking someplace spooky. The hometown of the Gothic villain lies amidst ancient towns and towering mountains in the heart of Romania. You’ll find the ethnicity and culture of Transylvania to be complex, and well preserved. The beautiful and rich setting of the town makes for the perfect Goth-inspired horror atmosphere that you seek while celebrating Halloween.
Go on a tour of the town to really make the most of everything there is to see and do. Start your day by exploring Bran Castle, the historic home of the spine-chilling fictional character. Afterward, head to the medieval clock tower that stands tall in the center of the town – the mystery increases once you learn that a torture chamber lies directly beneath it.
8. Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida Halloween
At first glance you may be thinking “why in the world would anyone go to Orlando for Halloween instead of during the summer?” and here’s why: the theme parks in Orlando go above and beyond to give their guests one of the most frightful, horrifying Halloween experiences. Every year, the haunted houses become scarier, the costumes more realistic, and the parades more animated.
The two major theme parks, Universal Studios and Disney World, both go all out for their individual Halloween events. You’ll get a chance to trick or treat, run through the haunted houses, attend dance parties, meet your favorite characters, and end the night with a display of fireworks. They even think of the little ones who would absolutely love spending a day at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
9. Keene, New Hampshire
Keene, New Hampshire Halloween
It wasn’t until I was researching creepy vacation destinations for Halloween that I came across Keene, New Hampshire. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this city is home to one of the largest Halloween events in the entire nation. The Keene Pumpkin Festival attracts thousands of people every year, each who come to enjoy the festivities with their family. You’ll find everything pumpkin/ Halloween/ season related all in one place – and even some things that you may have never heard of like pumpkin bowling!
The fun lasts all month long so be sure to allocate time to fully enjoy everything at the Keene Pumpkin Festival as well as the nearby New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival which is famed for its 34-foot-high pumpkin tower and on-site beer garden with their pumpkin-flavored ale. You’ll also find the Milford Pumpkin Festival and the Monadnock Pumpkin Festival nearby so be sure to stop by there too!
10. Maui, Hawaii
Maui, Hawaii Halloween
While Hawaii may not have crisp fall leaves and pumpkin patches galore, Maui proves that you don’t need any of those things for a memorable and world-renowned Halloween party. Their Halloween in Lahaina party, which is often called the “Mardi Gras of the Pacific” is a fun way to bring in the season of spook.
Lahaina, which is a historic whaling town, blocks off their streets, closes down their businesses, and throws a party as you’ve never seen before. Almost everyone is in costume, no matter their age, though the event is very family-friendly and even has its own children’s costume parade.
Once it gets late, revel in the streets while in costume, drink the local drink, eat from an array of food stands, and dance the night away to the many live bands playing in stages across the city. The celebration is one of the most sought in the nation so make sure to book your tickets in advance to make the most your Halloween!