Halloween Hurray: The top Halloween festivals in the U.S.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

It is that time of the year when nature is filled with shades of yellow and streets are full of golden lights emanating from numerous Jack-o-lanterns. As the world awaits to celebrate the popular festival of Halloween, it is the time to remember old traditions and enjoy modern day fun and adventure!

Similar to several other destinations, the United States is known for its countrywide Halloween celebrations. Take a look at some of the most spooktacular Halloween festivals in the country:

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, Orlando, Florida

Considered to be one of the most popular Halloween celebrations in the world, the Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights presents a plethora of activities for the festival attracting thousands including each year. Universal Studios transforms into a creepy wonderland of horrors for the occasion of Halloween throughout the month of October. The theme park offers over the top, scream-worthy interactive mazes based on your favorite horror shows and movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Walking Dead, among many. The entire park is filled with scary monsters and creatures ideal to give visitors jumpscares at every nook and corner.

Festival of the Dead, Salem, Massachusetts

Salem is recognized around the world for its infamous history of witchcraft and wizardry. Needless to say, the city has become one of the top choices for travellers to spend their Halloween shrouded in mischief and mystery. Salem opens the Festival of the Dead at the start of October and celebrates it throughout the month until Halloween Day. The event explores the mysteries of death with events that investigate the ways people have honored, celebrated, and secretly delved into the unknown destination. The festival usually has events like The Annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo, The Mourning Tea where people share stories of their loved ones, and The Official Salem Witches‘ Halloween Ball which is the city’s most magical Halloween event where guests celebrate the afterlife with food, dancing, ritual, live music, free psychic readings, and prizes.

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Long Beach, California

The Queen Mary, a cruise liner docked off Long Beach, California, is often said to be one of the most haunted places in the world. The venue also holds the reputation for having one of the scariest Halloween celebrations in the US. Visitors can explore six terrifying haunted mazes with more than 200 monsters and ghosts at the Dark Harbor. It is believed that these attractions were inspired by the actual spirits that haunt the ship. The venue also provides live entertainment, food, and beverages during the event that runs throughout the month of October for the occasion of Halloween.

Jack-‘O-Lantern Spectacular, Louisville, Kentucky

This incredible Halloween event is ideal for the entire family. Beginning from mid-October, the festival extends until the beginning of November and involves a 1/4 mile walking trail in Iroquois Park lined with over 5,000 carved pumpkins that are more like a work of art than any Jack-O-Lantern one has seen. This illuminated “art show” is open every day from dusk until 11 p.m. during the week and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pumpkin Walk at The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Flagstaff, Arizona

Yet another event marked by signature Halloween pumpkins is considered family-friendly. Visitors can celebrate Halloween as well as the fall season by walking through the Arborteum Fall Gardens full of glowing Jack-O-Lanterns. Travellers can wear their best costume on a hay ride and sip hot cider and cocoa while watching the spectacular view. They can even try apple bobbing or enter into a pumpkin carving competition to win a prize. If a carved pumpkin is left at the garden during the day, the Arboretum arranges them along the garden paths for the nighttime walk.

Halloween in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is known as the “most haunted city in America” and is recognized around the world as one of the best places to celebrate Mardi Gras. The Big Easy is also famous for its Halloween celebrations. New Orleans is full of guided haunted tours at its very many haunted tourism destinations, but the main party is centralized in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, within walking distance from the French Quarter. Activities and adventures galore during Halloween at New Orleans and the open container laws also allows booze flows from the many stations and stalls.

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, West Hollywood, California

The West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval is another popular Halloween festival in the U.S. The street party of 500,000 is a sight to behold as thousands of visitors put on their best costumes to revel in WeHo’s wild nightlife. Located on Santa Monica Blvd between Doheny Dr and La Cienega Blvd, WeHo Halloween Carnaval takes over on October 31 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., but the parties continue in nearby venues all night long. The street party is free and open to the public, but it is best to leave the kids and pets at home for this one.

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