9 Spooky and Iconic Places To Celebrate Halloween in the United States (2026)
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a real American Halloween, and this year, Saturday, October 31, 2026, promises to be a big event. Since Halloween lands on a weekend, you can expect neighbourhood trick-or-treating, city festivals, and big costume parades to come together for a three-day 'Halloweekend' starting on Friday, October 30.
Travel tip: If you want to visit top Halloween destinations like Salem, Sleepy Hollow, or New Orleans, be sure to book your hotel and event tickets by mid-August. Most homes are fully decorated by October 15, and big theme park events like Halloween at Disneyland usually run from early September until the first weekend of November.
If you’re visiting from another country, figuring out how American trick-or-treating works, finding the best-decorated neighbourhoods, and steering clear of big tourist crowds can feel like a lot. Based on first-hand experiences across the US in the fall, here’s your go-to guide for enjoying a classic American Halloween in 2026.
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What to expect in the U.S. at Halloween
When the leaves start to turn, and a cool breeze fills the air, you know it's time for Halloween in the United States.
Americans embrace the spooky spirit from coast to coast with parades, parties and good old-fashioned family fun.
America's streets come alive with pint-sized pirates, majestic unicorns, and eerie zombies, creating a mesmerising spectacle that's as heartwarming as it is haunting.
From the iconic pumpkin patches of New England to the pumpkin-carving competitions of the Midwest, Halloween in the United States wouldn't be complete without the grand pumpkin spectacle.
For those seeking a more hair-raising experience, haunted houses, mazes, and ghostly tours are plentiful during the bewitching season.
In this Halloween guide, I highlight nine spooky places in America to celebrate witches, ghouls and everything that goes bump in the night. Are you brave enough to read on?
| 2026 Date | Day of the Week | Event Type | First-Hand Traveller Tip |
| Mid-September to Mid-October 2026 | Daily (Varies) | Pumpkin Patches & Fall Festivals | Harvest festivals peak during these weeks. If visiting famous spots like Sleepy Hollow, NY, book weekend entry tickets a month in advance. |
| Friday, October 30, 2026 | Friday | Mischief Night / Pre-Halloween | Major theme parks (Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, Disney’s Boo Bash) will be at maximum capacity. Buy "Express/Fast Passes" to bypass 2-hour queue lines. |
| Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Saturday | Official Halloween Night & Trick-or-Treating | Residential trick-or-treating peaks between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM. Suburban neighbourhoods usually close streets to cars for safety during these hours. |
| Saturday, October 31, 2026 (7:00 PM) | Saturday | NYC Village Halloween Parade | The 53rd Annual Parade marches up 6th Avenue. You can only march if you are in full costume. Arrive by 5:30 PM if you just want a viewing spot on the sidewalk. |
| Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Sunday | Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) | Head to cities with rich Hispanic heritage like Los Angeles or San Antonio for massive, vibrant community altars and cultural parades. |
Salem, Massachusetts
I knew that Salem was one of the best places in the world to celebrate Halloween, and so as a lover of all things spooky and whimsical, I visited Salem at Halloween for an unforgettable escape into the eerie and otherworldly.
Step into Salem's past as you stroll down cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old architecture. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is a poignant reminder of the tragic events that unfolded in the 17th century.
Immerse yourself in the stories of accused witches and explore the Salem Witch Museum, where interactive exhibits recount the gripping tales of the trials.
Experience everything that goes bump in the night in Salem
Halloween is the perfect time to embark on a guided ghost tour that leads you through Salem's most haunted sites, including the infamous House of Seven Gables and the Old Burying Point Cemetery.
Afterwards, satisfy your appetite with an array of Halloween-inspired treats. Salem's restaurants and cafes serve up spooky delights, from cauldron-inspired cocktails to pumpkin-spiced everything.
Shop for trinkets and spooky paraphernalia at Coven Cottage, or indulge in a "Witch's Brew" latte at Jaho Coffee & Tea.
As the witching hour draws near, join the lively Haunted Happenings Festival, where the town comes alive with street performances, parades, and costume contests.
So, grab your broomstick, put on your finest witchy costume, and prepare for an unforgettable adventure in this charming coastal town.
Salem at Halloween is a spellbinding experience that will leave you under its enchantment long after the witching season has passed.
New Orleans, Louisiana
When I visited New Orleans during Halloween, I was amazed to see almost every historic iron-wrought balcony in the French Quarter draped in skeletons and tattered effigies
New Orleans, the Big Easy, N'awlins, the Crescent City. It has been called many things, but it is never dull, and visiting New Orleans at Halloween is proof of that.
Little tombstones and skeletons emerge from manicured lawns in the Garden District, and the residents are dressed to kill - think vampires and zombies!
Every store has some Halloween-related window display: a gasping, rotting corpse or a forlorn ghost greeting you as you enter the store.
First up, check out the Krewe of Boo parade. Here, the parade participants dress up in every manner of evil monster. The parade winds around the city, followed by parade watchers in equally bizarre costumes.
Join the fun activities in New Orleans at Halloween
Don't miss the many local haunted houses, ghosts and ghoulies walking tours or spooky tours of New Orleans cemeteries.
Uncover the legend of the upper-class landowners who tortured people in their basements. Many of the haunted houses have resident ghosts who frequently emerge to welcome guests.
If you want to take a Halloween cemetery tour, book well in advance, as the only other way to get into a cemetery during Halloween in New Orleans is to die!
If you do make it there alive, visit the Saint Louis Cemetery. Here, you will find the tomb of Marie LaVeau, the beautiful voodoo practitioner who maintained a vibrant practice in the city.
If all these Halloween fixtures aren't enough, visit the New Orleans Escape Room attraction.
Feel the terror as you and your friends are locked in a room with only 60 minutes to escape using clues strategically placed around the room. And did I mention there's a zombie in there with you!
As you frantically search the room for clues and the clock ticks away, the zombie's chain gets looser and looser, and he gets closer as he reaches out with clawing fingers to the locked-in and desperate participants. Many participants escape the room. Others, sadly, do not.
But if you survive and have time to extend your stay in New Orleans by a week, you'll find it's one of the best places to visit in November in the US. The first weekend will be the Caribbean celebrations of Bayou Bacchanal.
Key West, Florida
If you're looking for one of the best places to celebrate Halloween in the United States, you can't beat Key West, Florida. It's one of the most haunted places in the United States.
After all, this vibrant beach town at the southernmost tip of the United States comes alive with fun decor, and exciting celebrations that will make you wish Halloween would never end.
So, start off your trip by visiting "Robert Doll" at the Fort East Martello Museum. After all, many people have claimed that the doll can move, alter its face, and laugh before moving things around the room. Therefore, stop by and see for yourself what Robert can do.
Next, if you're looking for a more family-friendly activity, you can walk through the "Scarecrows in the Forest" at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.
Be sure to look at these expertly designed scarecrows made of all-natural materials and vote for the best scarecrow of them all.
Get involved in all the spooky activities
Join a ghost tour, a haunted pub crawl, or do the Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour, and your expert guide will tell you all about some of the gruesome things that happened in Key West hundreds of years ago.
Remember your costume, as Fantasy Fest is a fantastic, 10-day, Halloween-inspired festival from October 21st through October 30th.
It features a wide variety of themed parties, such as toga parties that allow you to dress up, get into the Halloween spirit, and enjoy Florida in October.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, is one of the most haunted cities in the country, and it goes all out to celebrate the spooky season.
The city has quite a dark history, so it's easy to see why it's considered haunted.
It has been ravaged by fires and military battles, plagued by multiple Yellow Fever epidemics, and it was once known as a hub for the transatlantic slave trade.
The Sorrel-Weed House is one of the most haunted houses in the city, offering guests a paranormal tour.
At the same time, the Davenport House Museum provides insight into the devastating Great Yellow Fever Epidemic that Savannah's citizens endured in the 1820s. It can be visited on the Savannah Ghost Tour, offered by US Ghost Adventures, the leading ghost tour company in the US.
Fall Festivities in Savannah
There are plenty of other things to do in Savannah during October as well. Try visiting the Plant Riverside District to enjoy live music, beer, and German cuisine in celebration of Oktoberfest.
The Savannah Film Festival, held in October, is also a great spot for celebrity spotting. Did you know that "Halloween Ends," starring Jamie Lee Curtis, was filmed in Savannah?
A handful of pumpkin patches are located just outside the city limits, where you can go pumpkin-picking or experience corn mazes and wagon rides.
The seasonal displays in Savannah's Historic District are also fantastic during October, especially along River Street. The shops go all out when it comes to decorating for Halloween.
Be sure to stroll along the riverfront and visit River Street Sweets, where you can pick up seasonal treats like pralines and caramel apples.
Consider staying at a haunted hotel to enhance your visit to Savannah during the spooky season.
Spooky Savannah offers a variety of ghost tours, including haunted pub crawls, family-friendly trolley tours, and spooky nighttime walking tours. While these are all available year-round, they become even more popular in October.
If you can handle the spine-tingling stories, join the Ghosts and Graveyards Tour.
Some of the most haunted options include:
- The Marshall House, part of the Historic Inns of Savannah Collection - especially rooms 414 and 420!
- The East Bay Inn is renowned for its notorious resident spirit, Charlie.
- The historic 17Hundred90 Inn, with its resident ghost named Anna.
New York City
New York City is one of the best places in the United States to experience all the Halloween festivities.
The city doesn't hold back at this time of year. There is a huge Halloween parade, haunted tours, haunted houses to visit, and tons of NYC fall activities.
The most popular Halloween event is the Halloween parade on Manhattan's West Side, which I attend each year.
During this famous parade, locals will dress up in Halloween costumes and march through the city with a live band. The parade begins at 7 pm and concludes around 11 pm. The Halloween Parade is also completely free.
New York also offers a range of haunted houses. Blood Manor is one of the popular houses where you come face-to-face with terrifying characters.
These houses are only open on specific dates of the year, so please check the website and book tickets in advance.
And that's not all. Simply walking around New York's streets during Halloween will get you excited for the spooky season. Local shops and cafes decorate their properties and serve themed treats during Halloween.
If you want something more child-friendly at Halloween in the United States, visit the great Jack O'Lantern Blaze.
Here, you'll walk through Hudson's Valley and discover a stunning light show comprising 7,000 illuminated Jack-O'-Lanterns, a Ferris wheel, and a circus sideshow.
Remember that temperatures tend to drop during this season, so pack layers when visiting New York's most iconic Halloween events.
Western Catskills, New York State
One of the best Halloween destinations in the United States is the Catskills in Upstate New York.
From the colourful foliage to the different Halloween events, there are plenty of great things to do in the Catskill Mountains during autumn and spooky season.
Peace, Love & Pumpkins is a fabulous event in October at the Bethel Woods Centre for the Arts in Bethel, New York. This is also where the famous 1969 Woodstock festival took place!
Attending Peace, Love & Pumpkins is one of the best ways to get into the Halloween spirit and one of the most memorable things to do during a fall getaway to the Western Catskills. There are fabulous hand-carved, lit-up Jack-o'-Lanterns, creative pumpkin art, and fun Halloween displays.
Activities in the Western Catskills Mountains
Other great things to do in the Western Catskill Mountains are to enjoy a fun autumn day at Upward Brewing Company or Seminary Hill Orchard and Cidery.
Visit the Callicoon Farmer’s Market to pick pumpkins, purchase Halloween décor, get fresh produce and fall goods like cider doughnuts and pies, and do one of the many hikes in the area.
Hudson Valley, New York State
The Halloween parade in New York City is one of the most famous in the world. But many people don’t know that you can find an even better Halloween celebration in New York State, just a little to the north in the town of Sleepy Hollow, located in the Hudson River Valley.
Sleepy Hollow is the setting for the famous story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving.
During Halloween, guests can tour Irving’s charming former home, Sunnyside. It is covered with Halloween decorations, including grizzly images of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane from the famous story.
Families with children can participate in Halloween games and arts-and-crafts projects. Later in the evening, Sunnyside will host outdoor performances of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Pop along to Tarrytown
After visiting Sunnyside, head to the neighbouring village of Tarrytown, which also goes all out for Halloween.
If you look carefully, you can see a little image of the Headless Horseman on the local street signs.
Tarrytown hosts the most popular Halloween parade in the area every year, with the village decorated with witches, skeletons, and other things that go bump in the night.
Finally, head a 15-minute train trip away to Croton-on-Hudson for the Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze!
Every fall, more than 7,000 carved jack-o’-lanterns are on display here. You can see everything from a pumpkin sea monster to a Ferris wheel and a pumpkin Headless Horseman. You can even walk over a bridge made of pumpkins.
Be sure to buy tickets in advance, as they are not sold on the premises.
Finish the evening with local cider and doughnuts, and it’s the perfect end to a Hudson Valley Halloween adventure.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a mecca for those seeking a spooky Halloween experience.
If you’re wondering why, consider that the farming community was the scene of a 3-day battle in 1863 that resulted in 50,000 casualties! Every church, house, barn and building was used as a Civil War hospital, and many wounded did not survive. Needless to say, there are many ghostly sightings around Gettysburg!
This haunted town now hosts a range of activities from ghost-story walking tours to full-blown paranormal investigations using rented equipment.
You don’t need to go on a tour to get spooked because Gettysburg has so many haunted places.
Check out the Museum of Haunted Objects for those seeking the extra creepy and strange.
Halloween is the perfect time to visit Gettysburg, as October brings cooler weather, fall foliage, and things that go bump in the night!
Gettysburg ghost tours are available all year, weather permitting. However, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd are extremely popular as the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, when the town becomes a hotspot for spooky goings-on and ghost-hunting excursions.
A popular tourist spot is the haunted Daniel Lady Farm in Gettysburg. It is set up as it would have looked in 1863 when it was used as a hospital. A forensic team confirmed that the stains on the floor were human blood!
Disneyland, California
Nowhere in the United States does Halloween get celebrated in such a fun way as at Disneyland in California.
Disney magic combined with the Halloween spirit makes it one of the best family-friendly places in the United States to celebrate Halloween.
Halloween at Disneyland typically lasts for two months, September and October, and features themed decorations, costume-clad characters, spooky attractions, and unique entertainment.
Several Disneyland rides and attractions get Halloween makeovers, and parades and shows reflect the spooky spirit.
The most popular Disneyland Halloween attraction is 'The Haunted Mansion Holiday,' a holiday makeover inspired by Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
It combines Halloween and Christmas elements for a spooky yet festive ride experience.
At Disney California Adventure Park, the "Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!" ride transforms into a thrilling after-dark version called Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark.
Celebrate the witching hour at Disneyland
Main Street USA at Disneyland looks fantastic. It's adorned with hand-carved pumpkins, bats, eerie lighting and a giant Mickey-shaped pumpkin that is hard to miss.
You can wear your Halloween costumes to the park, enjoy themed treats, and encounter Disney villains.
Enjoy Halloween-themed treats, such as spooky cupcakes and themed popcorn buckets.
Halloween Screams is a spectacular nighttime show that takes over Sleeping Beauty's castle and is accompanied by a Halloween-themed fireworks display.
Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland hosts a special Oogie Boogie Bash event that sells out every year.
This special event features an exclusive Halloween parade, trick-or-treat trails, character meet-and-greets, and a dance party led by Oogie Boogie from "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
Halloween at Disney is most definitely a fun place for the whole family!
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Angela Price: is an accomplished travel writer bringing extensive expertise and passion to the world of travel.
With over 40 years of globetrotting adventures under her belt and with a keen eye for unique experiences, she has established herself as an authoritative voice in travel, offering invaluable insights for fellow adventurers seeking to uncover the delights of worldwide destinations.
Her motto is “live life wandering not wondering”. Read more about Angie.