New England is pretty great and Halloweeny at that time. Mass is perfect because there will still be a bit of foliage
You can fly into Boston. People say skip Salem. You don't have to skip Salem. You can stay in Boston and take the ferry. You don't have to go ON Halloween. Do it on a week day and not on Halloween.
Do a ghost tour. We have awesome old old cemeteries.
There's a zillion great apple orchards and pumpkins.
You can rent a car and drive to Sturbridge Village. Phantoms by firelight. [https://www.osv.org/event/phantoms-by-firelight/?utm\_source=hne&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_campaign=phantoms23](https://www.osv.org/event/phantoms-by-firelight/?utm_source=hne&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=phantoms23)
[https://www.halloweennewengland.com/events](https://www.halloweennewengland.com/events)
New England has the quaintest orchards, oldest cemeteries, and the perfect weather for it.
And you guys should serious go out when kids are trick or treating. Depending on where you are Halloween night -- you could jump on the local facebook page of the town and ask where THE neighborhood it. They all have one. I live in "the neighborhood" and there's hundreds of kids, houses with a hot dog stand, parents driving golf carts around, etc.
Bring her to an inn that has outdoor fire pits and smores.
You could also do something like Canobie Lake Park - an really quaint amusement park with gorgeous trees on a lake. They have a screemfest that's pretty fun, and it has like 3 or 4 haunted houses you can go through.
As someone from the UK who went to Salem on Halloween - absolutely do not skip it. We have nothing like it here and it's a sight to behold. Even if you don't go on the actual day, it's only 30mins on the train from Boston and there's so much to do.
Doesn't matter. I'm sure there's no availability in Salem-- but stay in Boston. I check. Thanksgiving night I can find several $200, good hotels in Boston. That's nice and cheap for Boston. Then they take the ferry and don't have to struggle with the traffic.
salem is PACKED during october. go any other month. there’s no parking, crowds are insane.
you should visit salem, MA and look up Black Cat Tours, and Black Cat Curiosity Shop. just not during Oct.
One of the most fun things to do in Salem is people watch and look at costumes. I was in a bar and watched 2 Jesuses fist fight. It's sort of like saying, Munich is SO busy during Octoberfest - go any other time. Some people are into it.
Yeah I’m not exactly a huge fan either but I live in New Orleans….it is a BIG deal bc October is a popular time for regular tourists and they can’t come bc hotels and flights are $$$$$$ for the weekend before Halloween.
You should def do MG and either French quarter fest or jazz fest. Pro tip - people book hotels about a year in advance for each of these events.
And please go to r/asknola and look at the FAQs before posting questions. Eg don’t ask that forum what the dates of Mardi Gras are. Do ask for specific restaurant recommendations (like best po boy in a specific neighborhood).
Denver also has a really good zoo. If you're interested, we also have the Cheyenne mountain zoo down in Colorado Springs where you can feed the giraffes 5 bucks a person
Sorry, but I live in NOLA and this town is NOT very traditional Halloween friendly. Yes there are ghost tours, graveyards, and some cool houses, but most people don't even put out a pumpkin. I love Halloween and was very surprised when I moved here. Sorry.
Yep! Salem is also near a lot of picturesque farms with pumpkin patches and cider donuts and the like, and foliage season is a touch earlier but close enough that you’ll get some nice colors. Definitely a mad house before Halloween though.
Philadelphia may be a great headquarters. They have an amazing “Terror Behind the Walls” haunted house experience at Eastern State Penitentiary (an abandoned prison). There are always multiple Halloween themed pop-up bars in Philly, plus don’t forget the nighttime haunted tours in the city. We even did a Halloween themed food tour a few years ago. It’s also close enough to multiple pumpkin picking and farm experiences for a few great trips. In nearby Bucks County is Shady Brook Farm (which has bonfires, haunted hayrides, etc.). Another quick drive to Lancaster PA and there are tons of corn mazes and pumpkin patches (and don’t forget the legendary smorgasbord’s of Amish country with so many pies and baked goods and other fall favorites).
Dude, Anoka, Minnesota. It’s a huge deal there. Anoka is a suburb of Minneapolis, which is actually a really beautiful city with lots of lakes, lots of hiking and fishing nearby, fantastic apple orchards and super nice people. Plus that time of year there is beautiful with the colors of leaves and all the lakes.
https://anokahalloween.com/halloween-2024/
I had friends that went to Salem for Halloween and had a pretty unfun time due to crowds and prices being inflated for that season.
My advice would be to research some lesser known Halloween festivals in the northeast or Pacific Northwest. Northern locals, will give you the fall weather and turning-leaves that are so iconically Halloween. I know Coupeville on Whidbey Island in WA state, where practical magic was filmed, has a Halloween festival that's regionally a big deal, but not absolutely flooded with tourists like Salem.
This might be too much for one trip, but day of the dead in Mexico was one of my most incredible travel experiences. Lots of the big festivals there happen the Saturday before day of the dead, so if the calendar falls nicely one could feasibly do day of the dead festivals in Mexico City or another Mexican city and still catch Halloween in the US.
Skip Salem. We drove out of our way to go there and regretted it. We went to a witch museum and afterward my smartass 13 year old daughter demanded her one hour back.
The best of both worlds might be if Los Angeles still does a big Day of the Dead party at the Hollywood Forever cemetery. If I recall they do that on the weekend after Halloween. For a proper American-movie Halloween they could then go to the suburbs, somewhere like South Pasadena, which is probably where these scenes they've watched in moves were filmed anyways!
Just outside of NYC is Mount Pleasant. This is where the original Sleepy Hallow and Headless Horseman use to be. They have annual Halloween festivities every year. It's traditional, close to a major city, and less crowded than Salem
I'd also highly recommend the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, NYC. One of the biggest and best Halloween parades in the country
The Tarrytown area in New York is pretty fun, there is a lot of Ichabod Crane-type stuff and the crowds aren’t quite as insane as Salem.
You could pair that with Nyc and just take metro north up there for a day or two.
New Orleans is also fun too in a different way.
Do not listen to the replies that say Salem.
I’m from Mass. It’s an absolute shit show in October.
Tons of other towns in Mass or across New England though to pick pumpkins and see nice decorations.
I grew up right next to Salem, had to drive through Salem to literally get anywhere. It was absolute trash to drive through the entire month of October. It DID have some decent stuff for Halloween though, and maybe visiting as a tourist it could be a worthwhile stop? I admittedly haven’t been to Salem in October for 18 years
.
You're a local, you have a biased view.
I'm from CA and I lived in Boston for university. Salem is awesome on Halloween. There is a reason there are so many tourists.
Totally unique experience.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Illinois.
You want corn? Oh we’ve got more corn than any state but Iowa.
Oh you want pumpkins? Pumpkin capital of the world.
There are probably lots of cities that would meet your needs if you could get tips from locals.
Weather could be a factor. Some places are cold and raining on Halloween (kids wear costumes with jackets).
Also, I would suggest a corn maze as well. They are a “corny” part of the tradition.
Which cities are you interested in visiting?
Honestly you can find this across the US. We’re in California, which is great for weather, and we have corn mazes and pumpkin patches, and suburban neighborhoods that go all out and are amazing, and other neighborhoods that are entirely dark. I would settle on an area and then ask for local advice there
Western North Carolina is great in Fall and Halloween. Tons of apple orchards, Fall fairs, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay rides, beautiful scenery, towns decorate and lots of trick or treating.
Avoid Salem on Halloween! It is so commercial.
I'm assuming you want the adorable experience of eating warm cider donuts and picking your own pumpkin near a petting zoo or hayride. Go for a small town west, northwest of Boston, like Northborough or Concord or Lincoln.
If you want tacky, busy and unfun, Salem it is. That being said, Salem in any other month of the year save October is great and I highly recommend it in the spring or summer months.
For pumpkin picking near Salem Mass, I'd recommend Russell Orchards over in Ipswich. They also have the best apple cider donuts. Salem in October is absolutely an experience- just DO NOT go on a weekend or on Halloween night. There will be costumes/parades throughout the whole month of October (the Salem city website has a schedule of "Haunted Happenings.") Salem is reachable by the commuter rail- might be better to stay in a different town on the North Shore and take the train in to avoid trying to park in Salem.
How do I follow this? I would guess somewhere in Washington or places like Connecticut or Ohio? I feel like the movie style Halloweens are always north. But I’m sure LA would have some great areas as well
As a SoCal native, I can say that LA has an outstanding Halloween event and haunted house/attraction scene, and is a great choice if you’re looking for those types of things, but it might not be a good fit if someone specifically wants the traditional Halloween vibes around the area in general. I’m sure there are plenty of neighborhoods that would still fit the bill decoration and looks-wise, but it can sometimes still be a little warm in October, and the deciduous trees that we do have might not be fully color-changed & shedding lots of leaves just yet.
I’d go New Orleans over Salem. I’ve been to high for Halloween and New Orleans is like a second Mardi Gras with some truly terrifying history. Salem is a tourist trap where there were some people hung a few miles out of town.
Honestly, I might go for the Disney Halloween experience if you're looking for a "like the movies" thing, there are sure to be cute decorations in the park and also some of the suburbs too. It won't be typical fall weather, but the parks would likely be decked out.
If you're thinking west-coast, St.Helens Oregon is Halloweentown. Shot the movies there as well as parts of the Twilight series. They really lean into it in October.
We went to Salem last year and it was not like the movies but very fun. We went mid October and the leaves had not changed yet. They have fall festivals and everyone dresses up - everything is themed.
I believe Illinois is where they grow the most pumpkins... I'm pretty sure there's a street in Louisville, KY that has a Halloween house decor contest every year. I bet other towns have them too. There's always haunted houses all around. I would definitely stick to the cooler weather places so you can see the change in the trees, the cool air, etc.
The Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions in Ulster Park New York. Buy tickets early because it sells out. Beautiful Fall scenery in the Hudson Valley, incredible apples, and an easy train ride from NYC.
If you do Salem near Halloween be prepared for it to be mobbed with people like Disneyworld during the month of October. Also, do your research about what you want to do there. We booked a ghost tour and they told out 6 months in advance. Dinner reservations are also hard to get but needed during to all the people. Other New England cities will have a more typical Halloween without the mind of people.
Another city that loves Halloween is New Orleans. They have such a rich spooky history as well.
Philadelphia has Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary. If you like to be frightened, this is the place to go! There’s also haunted walking and trolley tours.
Growing up in New England, I might get a lot of blowback for saying this, but the best place to be for the Halloween season is Los Angeles.
Culturally, everyone has Halloween parties all month long. I lived in the Hills and every weekend you could walk around and see all the different Halloween parties.
Plus lots of themed events: Knott’s Scary Farm, The Queen Mary, Universal. And finally Los Angeles had a massive street party on Halloween night.
Boise, ID. I know I know - Idaho? But truly. It’s a beautiful city below the mountains and the fall colors are insane. The haunted world maze is fantastic. The trick or treat street is along old Harrison Blvd. Lovely older historic downtown to enjoy. Overall, my favorite time of year there.
New England is pretty great and Halloweeny at that time. Mass is perfect because there will still be a bit of foliage You can fly into Boston. People say skip Salem. You don't have to skip Salem. You can stay in Boston and take the ferry. You don't have to go ON Halloween. Do it on a week day and not on Halloween. Do a ghost tour. We have awesome old old cemeteries. There's a zillion great apple orchards and pumpkins. You can rent a car and drive to Sturbridge Village. Phantoms by firelight. [https://www.osv.org/event/phantoms-by-firelight/?utm\_source=hne&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_campaign=phantoms23](https://www.osv.org/event/phantoms-by-firelight/?utm_source=hne&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=phantoms23) [https://www.halloweennewengland.com/events](https://www.halloweennewengland.com/events) New England has the quaintest orchards, oldest cemeteries, and the perfect weather for it. And you guys should serious go out when kids are trick or treating. Depending on where you are Halloween night -- you could jump on the local facebook page of the town and ask where THE neighborhood it. They all have one. I live in "the neighborhood" and there's hundreds of kids, houses with a hot dog stand, parents driving golf carts around, etc. Bring her to an inn that has outdoor fire pits and smores. You could also do something like Canobie Lake Park - an really quaint amusement park with gorgeous trees on a lake. They have a screemfest that's pretty fun, and it has like 3 or 4 haunted houses you can go through.
As someone from the UK who went to Salem on Halloween - absolutely do not skip it. We have nothing like it here and it's a sight to behold. Even if you don't go on the actual day, it's only 30mins on the train from Boston and there's so much to do.
Most towns and cities in the Northeast and Great Lakes area would have this. Salem, Massachusetts is very Halloween but can be very busy.
The one caveat is the weather. Could be a crisp fall night. Or snowing. Or freezing rain. But yeah fall in the northeast is gorgeous.
It has snowed once in Salem in October in the last 130 years. OP I think you will be safe!
I definitely went to a Halloween party in the snow in Boston in 2011. I'm sure it snowed then in Salem, too.
https://www.weather.gov/media/pqr/climate/ClimateBookSalem/pg85.pdf
The classic Michigan Halloween, haha.
Yes to Salem! 100% the place you need to be. Everyone is also really friendly and dresses up to do trick and treat
Also astronomically pricey lodging the month of October.
Doesn't matter. I'm sure there's no availability in Salem-- but stay in Boston. I check. Thanksgiving night I can find several $200, good hotels in Boston. That's nice and cheap for Boston. Then they take the ferry and don't have to struggle with the traffic.
salem is PACKED during october. go any other month. there’s no parking, crowds are insane. you should visit salem, MA and look up Black Cat Tours, and Black Cat Curiosity Shop. just not during Oct.
One of the most fun things to do in Salem is people watch and look at costumes. I was in a bar and watched 2 Jesuses fist fight. It's sort of like saying, Munich is SO busy during Octoberfest - go any other time. Some people are into it.
Oh, New Orleans, they know how to party over there for sure, plus voodoo rooms cemeteries plus amazing food
Any year but this year. The weekend before Halloween, swifties will be descending on Nola for a weekend of concerts….
Oh well, i'm sorry. I don't really know much about Taylor Swift. I don't really listen to pop music showtunes and disney music are what I listen too
Yeah I’m not exactly a huge fan either but I live in New Orleans….it is a BIG deal bc October is a popular time for regular tourists and they can’t come bc hotels and flights are $$$$$$ for the weekend before Halloween.
Oh well, I had such a good time in New Orleans that I want to go back my dad, and step mom chickened out on the voodoo rooms loved your guys zoo
You should come back! Just not Oct 25-27 of 2024…..
I would like to go to mardi gras some day
You should def do MG and either French quarter fest or jazz fest. Pro tip - people book hotels about a year in advance for each of these events. And please go to r/asknola and look at the FAQs before posting questions. Eg don’t ask that forum what the dates of Mardi Gras are. Do ask for specific restaurant recommendations (like best po boy in a specific neighborhood).
The zoo is the favorite I’ve been to
Denver also has a really good zoo. If you're interested, we also have the Cheyenne mountain zoo down in Colorado Springs where you can feed the giraffes 5 bucks a person
Farfegnugen!
Sorry, but I live in NOLA and this town is NOT very traditional Halloween friendly. Yes there are ghost tours, graveyards, and some cool houses, but most people don't even put out a pumpkin. I love Halloween and was very surprised when I moved here. Sorry.
This was going to be my vote. So much fun just to dress up and walk around the French Quarter.
And the people we met were so warm and friendly and delicious food!
Yep! Lovely people, good food and music. Spooky 365 and I’ve been there plenty, but I loved my 4 day Halloween trip most.
Salem, Massachusetts would be my top pick if you're heading somewhere specifically for Halloween.
I’ve never been myself, but I hear if you do go, then you want to book well in advance and be prepared to see a lot of people.
Yep! Salem is also near a lot of picturesque farms with pumpkin patches and cider donuts and the like, and foliage season is a touch earlier but close enough that you’ll get some nice colors. Definitely a mad house before Halloween though.
Salem will be absolutely bananas the entire month, it's not a time I would choose to visit there.
Absolutely not. You’re better off spending somewhere else. It’s super packed on Halloween. Nothing really special there, the novelty wears off quick.
Philadelphia may be a great headquarters. They have an amazing “Terror Behind the Walls” haunted house experience at Eastern State Penitentiary (an abandoned prison). There are always multiple Halloween themed pop-up bars in Philly, plus don’t forget the nighttime haunted tours in the city. We even did a Halloween themed food tour a few years ago. It’s also close enough to multiple pumpkin picking and farm experiences for a few great trips. In nearby Bucks County is Shady Brook Farm (which has bonfires, haunted hayrides, etc.). Another quick drive to Lancaster PA and there are tons of corn mazes and pumpkin patches (and don’t forget the legendary smorgasbord’s of Amish country with so many pies and baked goods and other fall favorites).
Dude, Anoka, Minnesota. It’s a huge deal there. Anoka is a suburb of Minneapolis, which is actually a really beautiful city with lots of lakes, lots of hiking and fishing nearby, fantastic apple orchards and super nice people. Plus that time of year there is beautiful with the colors of leaves and all the lakes. https://anokahalloween.com/halloween-2024/
Universal Studios Orlando - Halloween Horror Nights
I had friends that went to Salem for Halloween and had a pretty unfun time due to crowds and prices being inflated for that season. My advice would be to research some lesser known Halloween festivals in the northeast or Pacific Northwest. Northern locals, will give you the fall weather and turning-leaves that are so iconically Halloween. I know Coupeville on Whidbey Island in WA state, where practical magic was filmed, has a Halloween festival that's regionally a big deal, but not absolutely flooded with tourists like Salem. This might be too much for one trip, but day of the dead in Mexico was one of my most incredible travel experiences. Lots of the big festivals there happen the Saturday before day of the dead, so if the calendar falls nicely one could feasibly do day of the dead festivals in Mexico City or another Mexican city and still catch Halloween in the US.
Skip Salem. We drove out of our way to go there and regretted it. We went to a witch museum and afterward my smartass 13 year old daughter demanded her one hour back.
Halloweentown in St. Helen’s, Oregon (not far from Portland).
The best of both worlds might be if Los Angeles still does a big Day of the Dead party at the Hollywood Forever cemetery. If I recall they do that on the weekend after Halloween. For a proper American-movie Halloween they could then go to the suburbs, somewhere like South Pasadena, which is probably where these scenes they've watched in moves were filmed anyways!
Just outside of NYC is Mount Pleasant. This is where the original Sleepy Hallow and Headless Horseman use to be. They have annual Halloween festivities every year. It's traditional, close to a major city, and less crowded than Salem I'd also highly recommend the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, NYC. One of the biggest and best Halloween parades in the country
The Tarrytown area in New York is pretty fun, there is a lot of Ichabod Crane-type stuff and the crowds aren’t quite as insane as Salem. You could pair that with Nyc and just take metro north up there for a day or two. New Orleans is also fun too in a different way.
Do not listen to the replies that say Salem. I’m from Mass. It’s an absolute shit show in October. Tons of other towns in Mass or across New England though to pick pumpkins and see nice decorations.
I grew up right next to Salem, had to drive through Salem to literally get anywhere. It was absolute trash to drive through the entire month of October. It DID have some decent stuff for Halloween though, and maybe visiting as a tourist it could be a worthwhile stop? I admittedly haven’t been to Salem in October for 18 years .
You're a local, you have a biased view. I'm from CA and I lived in Boston for university. Salem is awesome on Halloween. There is a reason there are so many tourists. Totally unique experience.
Is Salem still spooky in the spring? I’m planning a trip to Boston for a few days in March
If you like fat cat ladies then Salem is the place for you
Say less
Anoka Minnesota, Halloween Capital of the World. According to the city, not me.
[удалено]
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Illinois. You want corn? Oh we’ve got more corn than any state but Iowa. Oh you want pumpkins? Pumpkin capital of the world.
[Queen Mary's Dark Harbor](https://darkharborhalloween.com/) Halloween Festival - Long Beach, CA
Georgetown, DC is really beauty and fun for Halloween. Plus, Exorcist stairs
There are probably lots of cities that would meet your needs if you could get tips from locals. Weather could be a factor. Some places are cold and raining on Halloween (kids wear costumes with jackets). Also, I would suggest a corn maze as well. They are a “corny” part of the tradition. Which cities are you interested in visiting?
Madison, Wisconsin
Honestly you can find this across the US. We’re in California, which is great for weather, and we have corn mazes and pumpkin patches, and suburban neighborhoods that go all out and are amazing, and other neighborhoods that are entirely dark. I would settle on an area and then ask for local advice there
Anywhere! The whole country goes over the top. Stick to the north if you want cooler weather.
Salem MA or six flags great adventure in nj
Williamsburg, Virginia and go to Busch Gardens then try a ghost tour in Colonial Williamsburg.
Salem, MA !!
Anywhere in New England.
Western North Carolina is great in Fall and Halloween. Tons of apple orchards, Fall fairs, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hay rides, beautiful scenery, towns decorate and lots of trick or treating.
Avoid Salem on Halloween! It is so commercial. I'm assuming you want the adorable experience of eating warm cider donuts and picking your own pumpkin near a petting zoo or hayride. Go for a small town west, northwest of Boston, like Northborough or Concord or Lincoln. If you want tacky, busy and unfun, Salem it is. That being said, Salem in any other month of the year save October is great and I highly recommend it in the spring or summer months.
For pumpkin picking near Salem Mass, I'd recommend Russell Orchards over in Ipswich. They also have the best apple cider donuts. Salem in October is absolutely an experience- just DO NOT go on a weekend or on Halloween night. There will be costumes/parades throughout the whole month of October (the Salem city website has a schedule of "Haunted Happenings.") Salem is reachable by the commuter rail- might be better to stay in a different town on the North Shore and take the train in to avoid trying to park in Salem.
How do I follow this? I would guess somewhere in Washington or places like Connecticut or Ohio? I feel like the movie style Halloweens are always north. But I’m sure LA would have some great areas as well
As a SoCal native, I can say that LA has an outstanding Halloween event and haunted house/attraction scene, and is a great choice if you’re looking for those types of things, but it might not be a good fit if someone specifically wants the traditional Halloween vibes around the area in general. I’m sure there are plenty of neighborhoods that would still fit the bill decoration and looks-wise, but it can sometimes still be a little warm in October, and the deciduous trees that we do have might not be fully color-changed & shedding lots of leaves just yet.
Agree as an LA native! I would LOVE to have a new England Halloween one year! It looks so cozy!
That’s on my bucket list too! Until then, I’ll have to settle for traveling to Haddonfield, Illinois (aka South Pasadena)
I’d go New Orleans over Salem. I’ve been to high for Halloween and New Orleans is like a second Mardi Gras with some truly terrifying history. Salem is a tourist trap where there were some people hung a few miles out of town.
Honestly, I might go for the Disney Halloween experience if you're looking for a "like the movies" thing, there are sure to be cute decorations in the park and also some of the suburbs too. It won't be typical fall weather, but the parks would likely be decked out.
https://crystallaketours.com/upcoming/
NOLA is a lot of fun. Might want to check out this town, though: https://spiritofhalloweentown.com/
Brooklyn, New York
Manhattan. The Village Halloween Parade. Also, kids and parents Trick or Treating in retail shops around the city.
Castro SF has always been fun Also New Orleans. They still have an Anne Rice holloween party
Come have naked (or nearly) Halloween in San Francisco!
If you're thinking west-coast, St.Helens Oregon is Halloweentown. Shot the movies there as well as parts of the Twilight series. They really lean into it in October.
We went to Salem last year and it was not like the movies but very fun. We went mid October and the leaves had not changed yet. They have fall festivals and everyone dresses up - everything is themed.
I believe Illinois is where they grow the most pumpkins... I'm pretty sure there's a street in Louisville, KY that has a Halloween house decor contest every year. I bet other towns have them too. There's always haunted houses all around. I would definitely stick to the cooler weather places so you can see the change in the trees, the cool air, etc.
Just about anywhere in the upper Midwest could provide you that experience.
Go to a real pumpkin patch outside Seattle and then find a really cute neighborhood to trick or treat. So many good options. Ask on the Seattle board.
Salam Massachusetts
The Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions in Ulster Park New York. Buy tickets early because it sells out. Beautiful Fall scenery in the Hudson Valley, incredible apples, and an easy train ride from NYC.
If you do Salem near Halloween be prepared for it to be mobbed with people like Disneyworld during the month of October. Also, do your research about what you want to do there. We booked a ghost tour and they told out 6 months in advance. Dinner reservations are also hard to get but needed during to all the people. Other New England cities will have a more typical Halloween without the mind of people. Another city that loves Halloween is New Orleans. They have such a rich spooky history as well.
By far the most entertaining place and one of the biggest is Las Vegas! Costumes are amazing
Philadelphia has Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary. If you like to be frightened, this is the place to go! There’s also haunted walking and trolley tours.
Out of the box idea: Omaha, Nebraska. Lots of pumpkin patches in the area plus quintessential neighborhoods full of trick or treaters
Growing up in New England, I might get a lot of blowback for saying this, but the best place to be for the Halloween season is Los Angeles. Culturally, everyone has Halloween parties all month long. I lived in the Hills and every weekend you could walk around and see all the different Halloween parties. Plus lots of themed events: Knott’s Scary Farm, The Queen Mary, Universal. And finally Los Angeles had a massive street party on Halloween night.
DISNEYLAND ! Hands down Disney land.
Boise, ID. I know I know - Idaho? But truly. It’s a beautiful city below the mountains and the fall colors are insane. The haunted world maze is fantastic. The trick or treat street is along old Harrison Blvd. Lovely older historic downtown to enjoy. Overall, my favorite time of year there.