Lonely PlanetOct 1, 2026
The Best Places to Celebrate Halloween in the US
Halloween is the rare holiday when your costumes and festivities can be both cute and creepy. Here are the top US places to get in on the fun.
25 things in this story
- Spirit of HalloweentownFestivalfeatures stage shows, film-location walking tour, roaming performers
- Elsewhere
- Hawthorne HotelHotelSalem, United Stateshistoric hotel hosts the Salem Witches' Halloween Ball
- Hollywood Forever CemeterySightLos Angeles, United Statesatmospheric surroundings for a scary flick
- Clown MotelMotelTonopah, United Statescreepy motel in Tonopah
- The Mizpah HotelHotelTonopah, United Stateshaunted hotel in Tonopah
- Great Jack O’Lantern BlazeFestivalHudson Valley, United Statesfeatures over 7000 carved gourds, pumpkin planetarium, Headless Horseman’s Hideaway bar
- Witch Trials MemorialSightSalem, United Statesvisit this memorial in Salem
- Salem Witch MuseumMuseumSalem, United Statesvisit this museum in Salem
- Psychic Fair and Witches' MarketMarketSalem, United Statesdive into the world of the unknown
- Salem Witches' Halloween BallFestivalSalem, United Statesmasquerade held at the historic Hawthorne Hotel
- Krewe of BooFestivalNew Orleans, United Statessupernatural celebration with Mardi Gras flair
- Zombie RunFestivalNew Orleans, United Stateszombies take to the streets
- Sea Witch FestivalFestivalRehoboth Beach, United StatesHalloween staples and ocean-inflected events
- The Rocky Horror Picture ShowPlaceNew York City, United Statesfind showings with costumes, props, callbacks
- Village Halloween ParadeFestivalNew York City, United Statesfamed for creativity and sheer size
- Knott’s Scary FarmFestivalLos Angeles, United Stateshaunted mazes and Halloween-themed shows
- Halloween Nights at Eastern State PenitentiaryFestivalPhiladelphia, United Statescountry’s largest haunted house
- Pennhurst AsylumSightSpring City, United Stateshosts a haunted house and paranormal tours
- The CauldronRestaurantPhiladelphia, United Stateshas Halloween vibes year-round
- Silver Queen HotelHotelVirginia City, United Stateshaunted hotel in Virginia City
- Mackay MansionMuseumVirginia City, United Stateshaunted mansion in Virginia City
- Goldfield HotelHotelGoldfield, United Statesabandoned hotel considered gateway to Hell
- Extraterrestrial HighwayTrailRachel, United Stateslinks kitschy alien-themed stops and dark skies
- Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror NightsFestivalLos Angeles, United States
- Dark Harbor at the Queen MaryFestivalLong Beach, United States
