Where to go for Halloween

Stand here for the end of the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, which last year ran on the first Thursday of October from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:15 p.m. and was free to watch. Check the Salem Chamber listing before booking, since the 2027 and 2028 parade dates are not announced yet.

Book this first, since guides say it sells out weeks ahead of Halloween and last season October tickets were released daily at 10 p.m. for the following day. It is one of the three core history stops, along with the Witch House and the House of the Seven Gables.

Visit the 17th century home of witch trials judge Jonathan Corwin as part of the core history circuit, and book as soon as your dates are set since it sells out weeks ahead in October. Pair it with the Salem Witch Museum and the House of the Seven Gables on the same walk.

Tour the seaside house that inspired Hawthorne's novel, one of the three history stops guides say to book weeks ahead for October weekends. Go early in the day to leave the evening free for the street festival.

Bring children here for Boo Carre trick or treating, which last year ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the French Market District. Arrive early, since the free parade route and market events draw big family crowds.

Spend a daytime family session at Boo at the Zoo, which last year ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. over three October days with trick or treating for children up to age 12. Advance tickets were listed at 30 to 36 dollars, and guides advised buying them early because the event sells out.

Drink by candlelight in one of the oldest buildings on Bourbon Street, widely described as haunted. French Quarter bars stay open late on Halloween night, so come after the parade crowds thin out.

Order absinthe in this 1806 building on Bourbon Street, steeped in absinthe history and ghost lore. It is a natural second stop after Lafitte's on a haunted bar crawl of the Quarter.

Watch the Village Halloween Parade from this busy viewing stretch, where last year tens of thousands of costumed marchers, giant puppets and bands passed from 7 p.m. up Sixth Avenue. Anyone in costume could join the march, with lineup at Canal Street between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., and watching from the sidewalk is free.

Book an early dinner here before the parade, since guides advise eating around 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. a few streets off Sixth Avenue. This year round Halloween themed restaurant serves a prix fixe menu with Edward Burger Hands and Cheshire Mac and Cheese, and it takes reservations.

Come here for the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, which last year was held on October 19 in the East Village. It is a daytime, family friendly warm up to the night parade in the Village.

Drink here after the parade in this Lower East Side beer garden, listed as decorated for Halloween with seasonal cocktails and no cover. Tables are bookable on Tock, so reserve ahead for parade night.

Stand at the Carnaval stage for the free West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, which last year ran from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. along a one mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard with a live DJ set and food trucks. Last year the rules banned alcohol and backpacks on the route and allowed clear plastic bags only, so check the City notice for the year you travel.

Join the free costume street party at the east end of the Carnaval mile, which last year stretched between North Doheny Drive and North La Cienega Boulevard. Arrive before 6 p.m. to get a good spot, since the boulevard closes to traffic from mid morning on the day.

Start or end the night at this long running gay bar on Santa Monica Boulevard, open since 1979 and right on the Carnaval route. Note that drinking on the Carnaval route itself was banned last year, so keep drinks inside the bars.

Stop here for a seasonal pumpkin espresso martini, listed in a Los Angeles guide for the Halloween season. Book a West Hollywood hotel as soon as your dates are firm, since Halloween night club parties are ticketed and 21 and over.

Walk the Great Jack O Lantern Blaze here, with more than 7,000 hand carved jack o lanterns on a half mile walk including a pumpkin carousel and the Headless Horseman. Last year it ran September 18 to November 8, open every night in October, with advance only tickets from 24 dollars and nothing sold at the gate, so book the last two weekends of October earliest. Note the Blaze is in Croton-on-Hudson, not Sleepy Hollow village itself.

Visit for Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country and the Twilight Village evening events, part of the Hudson Valley season around the Blaze. Pair it with a daytime trip to Sleepy Hollow village, since the sites sit a short drive apart.

See evening Legend performances at Washington Irving's home in Tarrytown, one of the Hudson Valley events listed alongside the Blaze. Book ahead for October weekends, when the whole area is at its busiest.

Take a Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Lantern Tour after dark, one of the seasonal evening events in the village itself. Layer up for a cold night, and use Metro-North to Croton-Harmon for the Blaze, since parking and road traffic are heavy on peak nights.

Watch the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade from its kickoff corner, where last year costume contest registration opened at 6:30 p.m. and the parade started at 7:30 p.m. Watching is free, and the contest offered 500 dollars for first place in each of five categories.

Gather here before the parade, since this Northalsted bar was listed as a pre parade meeting spot. Halsted Street closes for the parade and block party, so arrive on foot and check CTA service closer to the date.

Book the Halloween Extravaganza Drag Dinner here after the parade, listed as the post parade show on North Halsted. Reserve ahead, since parade night tables and shows in Northalsted fill fast.

Head to the rooftop here for Nightmare on Clark Street, a 21 and over haunted house and bar pop up that ran Thursdays through Sundays through November 1 in a recent guide. Every ticket included at least one drink, so buy in advance rather than at the door.

Book the after hours Halloween tours here, which last year ran as 3 Nights of Halloween on October 30, October 31 and November 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tours were listed from 45 to 75 dollars, and the first two nights were sold out at the time of that listing, so book the specific night you want as soon as it is listed. The cemetery sits outside the walking core, so plan a short ride or a guided tour.

Visit this house on a Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tour, which includes nighttime entry here and to Perkins and Son's Ship Chandlery. Book when you book your room, since guides say Halloween weekend tours reach capacity quickly, and note the tour is PG-13 with children 6 and under not permitted.

Come here for the free all ages Halloween event, which last year ran on October 31 with music from 5 p.m., costume contests and food trucks. It is the most casual, family friendly stop on a Savannah Halloween night.

Eat at this haunted restaurant tracing its roots to the 1730s, listed as one of the oldest buildings in Savannah. Book ahead for Halloween weekend, since ghost tour crowds fill the Historic District restaurants.

Join the free Halloween Bash street party here, with live music, roaming performers, costumes and Viva Vision light shows. Last year the events ran October 30 to November 1, and entry to the street itself is free, though clubs have dress codes and 21 and over rules.

Go through Universal Horror Unleashed next to AREA15, a year round attraction with four haunted houses including Universal Monsters and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, plus themed bars and live shows. General admission was listed from around 49 dollars with timed entry at 69 dollars, so book timed entry in advance for Halloween weekend. Costumes and costume masks are not allowed inside, and it is not recommended for anyone under 13.

Tour more than 30 rooms of paranormal artifacts at this downtown haunted museum, one of the October haunted houses listed in the guides. Book ahead for Halloween weekend, when downtown hotels and attractions surge in price.

Drink sixty floors above Fremont Street at Haunted Heights, which last year opened on October 31 from 8 p.m. with complimentary entry, tables available, a 5,000 dollar costume contest prize and Halloween cocktails. Book a table early, since Halloween weekend club tables surge in price.

Stand in the Heart of Samhain zone for the Awakening the Walled City Trail, which last year ran October 28 to 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through themed zones across the Walled City. The trail closed with a Carnival Parade and fireworks over the River Foyle on October 31, and the 2027 and 2028 dates are not announced yet.

Visit the Disco at the Diamond zone on the trail, one of the themed stops inside the Walled City. Do not plan to drive into the Walled City during the festival, since rolling closures ran from about 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on trail nights last year.

Walk to the Pumpkin Street zone near this cathedral, another themed stop on the Awakening the Walled City Trail. Use the peripheral car parks at Foyleside and Quayside plus extra Foyle Metro buses, since the Walled City streets close during the festival.

Eat here as a dinner stop pairing craft beers with local cuisine, listed in a Derry guide for festival nights. Stay within walking distance of the Walled City if you can, since hotel occupancy hit 96 percent during last year's festival.

Bring children to Stokerland, the free fun park in this park beside St Patrick's Cathedral during the Bram Stoker Festival. The festival is held over the last October bank holiday weekend, which can fall before Halloween (23 to 26 October in 2026), so match your dates to the programme.

Take families to Dracula's Disco here if it is on the Bram Stoker Festival programme, held over the late October bank holiday weekend. Book ticketed festival events as soon as the programme is out in September.

Hear Spooky Stories at the library that inspired young Bram Stoker, listed as a festival highlight last year. It is a quiet, literary counterpoint to the Temple Bar crowds on Halloween night.

Drink on Fleet Street in the Temple Bar area, listed as a traditional pub option for Halloween night. Expect queues and door policies in Temple Bar on Halloween night, so arrive early or head to Smithfield and Stoneybatter for a more neighborhood feel.

Watch the Samhuinn Fire Festival here, where last year drummers, acrobats and dancers told the struggle between Summer and Winter with the Cailleach at the heart of the performance. Tickets in advance were listed from 9.50 pounds for adults and 7 pounds for under 18s plus booking fees, and you must buy from the authorized box office supplier only, since tickets are not available for resale. The 2027 and 2028 dates are not announced yet, but the festival is tied to October 31.

Eat and drink in this 19th century church on George IV Bridge, with live monster shows, creepy animatronics, huge steins of beer, blue monster martinis and nduja loaded fries. It is the most theatrical dinner stop in the Old Town for Halloween night.

Drink in this gothic underground bar in historic vaults, with seven rooms, three bars, a pool room and a free cinema showing cult horror films nightly. Order the Dracula Bite cocktail after the Calton Hill festival.

Book fine dining or afternoon tea here by Edinburgh Castle, listed as the upscale option in an Edinburgh Halloween guide. Book Old Town hotels as soon as Samhuinn tickets are listed, since Halloween weekend fills fast.

Visit for Halloween at Hampton Court Palace, which ran October 24 to November 1 in the family guides, included in admission, with roaming ghosts, storytelling, eerie projections and sound effects. Book timed tickets in advance, since the most popular Halloween events sell out fast.

Visit for Halloween at the Tower, which ran October 24 to November 1 in the family guides, with ghostly residents, a Haunted Forge, an Enchanted Wishing Well and a Raven's Observatory. Do not plan a costume visit here, since visitors are not allowed to enter the Tower in costume.

Walk the Halloween light trail here, which last year ran October 17 to November 2 with illuminated trees, ghoulish installations and fire performers, plus daylight, twilight and moonlight sessions. Book timed entry in advance for peak season evenings.

Dance at the London Halloween Ball here, which last year was held on October 30. Book ball tickets when they are listed, since Visit London advised booking before it sells out.

Dance at the castle's Halloween party, with a guided tour, a big tent by the lake, a DJ until 4 am and red wine and palinca included. It is usually held on the Saturday nearest Halloween and needs a party ticket, so book ahead.

Eat a traditional dinner here 300 metres from the castle before the party, since food at the party itself is limited.

Spend the daytime in Brasov Old Town around this church before the castle night, since Bran village is much smaller and quieter than Brasov. Plan to stay in Brasov for more restaurants and transport, or stay two nights in Bran if you want to walk to and from the castle.

Meet the castle party tour here at 6:30 p.m. for round trip transport to Bran and back, with a maximum of about 50 travelers in one listing. Book about 3 to 4 months in advance, since the tour is popular and typically booked well ahead, and consider staying in Brasov if Bran is full.