Spectacular Halloween Events Guaranteed to Get You in the Spooky Spirit
Falls means foliage, festivals, apple picking, and, of course, Halloween! In the lead-up to the festive day, there are events taking place all across the country throughout the month of October. You'll find everything from haunted houses to pumpkin-carving contests - and even an appearance by the headless horseman! Here are some of the best Halloween events to get yourself in the spooky spirit.
The Blaze - Croton-on-Hudson, New York
The Blaze, officially called the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, is one of New York's most popular Halloween events. Located at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, this annual event features thousands of hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns illuminated in intricate designs like spiderwebs and dragons.
Salem Witches' Ball - Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, an hour from Boston, knows a thing or two about witches, so expect the town to brew up plenty of Halloween events. Its month-long Festival of the Dead features graveyard conjurings, séances, magic circles, and psychic readings, culminating with the Salem Witches' Halloween Ball on October 26.
Halloween Horror Nights - Orlando, Florida
The Halloween Horror Nights that take place at Universal Orlando are not for the faint of heart. There are numerous "scare zones," where all manner of monsters, zombies, and ghouls will menace you, and there are also nine elaborately staged haunted houses and mazes, including ones honoring Stranger Things. To read more about what to expect, click here.
The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval - West Hollywood, California
The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, on Santa Monica Boulevard, is a raucous Halloween street party attracting people from all over the world for partying in creative costumes. Expect live entertainment, pumpkin-carving contests, and the crowning of the Queen of The Carnaval.
Horseman's Hollow - Sleepy Hollow, New York
At this scary spectacle in the Hudson River Valley's village of Sleepy Hollow, you follow a lantern-lined path through the woods and a corn maze, where you'll encounter all manner of spooky creatures, including ghosts, witches, goblins, and, of course, the headless horseman himself.
Boo at the Zoo - Washington, D.C.
Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly event at the National Zoo in D.C. that has plenty to keep the kids interested (make sure they come in costume!), including 4o treat stations for some major trick-or-treating, decorated trails, and animal demonstrations. Plus, they'll receive after-hours access to areas like the Great Ape House and Reptile Discovery Center.
VooDoo Fest - New Orleans, Louisiana
Giving Mardi Gras a run for its money in terms of bacchanalia, the Big Easy has plenty of events in October, including VooDoo Fest (Mumford & Sons and Childish Gambino headline this year), cemetery ghost tours, the family-friendly Boo at the Zoo, costume parties, and the annual Vampire Ball. Click here for the skinny on this year's fest.
Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade - Manitou Springs, Colorado
In honor of Emma Crawford, a 19th-century woman buried atop Red Mountain and whose spirit is said to haunt the area, is the Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade. Some 70 costumed teams race makeshift coffins (the more creative, the better!) down Manitou Avenue amid cheers from the crowd.
Saratoga Scare Fair - Ballston Spa, New York
The multiday Saratoga Scare Fair, in Ballston Spa (just south of Saratoga Springs), has several hair-raising haunted houses, where you'll come face-to-face with evil clowns and deranged killers looking for their next victims - expect lots of fake blood, fog machines, and eerie sound effects.
Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival - Kennesaw, Georgia
The Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival, located less than an hour's drive from Atlanta, is a family-friendly event that features hot air balloons (tethered rides are available), multiple stages for entertainment, trick-or-treating, costume showdowns, vendors, and more.
House of Torment - Austin, Texas
For some Texas-sized spooks, hit the House of Torment in Austin, which features numerous haunted houses, including Graveside Manor: the Possession and The Frenzy: Dark Carnival, as well as a creepy outdoor maze where you can bet a ghoul will be jumping out at you.
Spooky Zoo Spectacular - Chicago, Illinois
The Spooky Zoo Spectacular is a free, family-friendly Halloween event that takes place on October 27 in Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. Make sure the kids dress up, as there will be trick-or-treating stations at several of the animal exhibits, as well as a haunted house and live entertainment.
Jack-O'-Lantern Spectacular - Louisville, Kentucky
Come dusk, check out the hand-carved and hand-painted pumpkins along this walking trail in Louisville's Iroquois Park at the annual Jack-O'-Lantern Spectacular. This popular Halloween event features some 5,000 illuminated jack-o'-lanterns along the easy-going quarter-mile route.
Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film - Seattle, Washington
Brush up on your horror film knowledge during the Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film exhibit (ongoing, with special events/screenings throughout October) at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. Get creeped out by more than 50 props and costumes from film and television, including Friday the 13th, The Walking Dead, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Terror Behind the Walls - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly's eerie Eastern State Penitentiary gets even more scary when the fortress-like former prison (where Al Capone was once locked up) gets taken over by Terror Behind the Walls. This fright fest features six attractions, including Quarantine, Lock Down, and Breakout, and if you choose the interactive experience, expect to be touched and grabbed ... yikes!
Haunting on Dog Street - Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg goes all out during the Halloween season. Expect ghost tours, escape rooms, scary horse-and-carriage rides, and concerts featuring dark baroque-style music. The festivities culminate with Blackbeard's Feast at Shields Tavern on Halloween night - wear your best buccaneer gear and mingle with pirates.
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