The 20+ Best Small Towns For Celebrating Halloween

When grinning pumpkins show up on porches and things go bump in the night, you know the scary season is upon us. Salem is one of the best small towns to celebrate Halloween; parades like this one even attract monsters. Each year, along with over a million humans, revelers assemble (excuse the pun, Frank; you’re already assembled) to scream and shiver over the tours, museums, historic houses, and haunted happenings in this Boston suburb.

If you'd rather see kids in cute costumes than ghosts and ghouls, there are plenty of other tricks and treats out there. Some attractions and events are family-friendly, while others will scare you stiff.

Be aware (or beware): Some Halloween experiences don't start until it's dark, and some have age and other restrictions. Most don't give refunds or exchange tickets if you buy tickets but decide not to go or you leave early. Before you visit, check each website for opening days and hours, possible changes due to weather, and more.

Read on, if you dare, to find the fun or fright that's right for you.

Dare to walk the shadowy streets of Old Sturbridge Village when its popular Halloween event, Phantoms by Firelight, opens an all-new, immersive experience: the Frankenstein Encounter. Guests become part of the story as they wander down winding paths past historic homes and village greens illuminated by flickering firelight and the eerie, blue glow of early electric lights. The scary fun, inspired by author Mary Shelley's classic novel and the scientific fascinations and fears of the 1830s, happens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from Oct. 3-25, 2026. Expect to meet strange characters, make disquieting discoveries, and become part of a community facing the impact of experiments that have gone too far.

Families can play themed games, enjoy seasonal treats, and other Halloween fun as the Village itself becomes a eerie stage for an adventure unlike anything Old Sturbridge has offered before. If you can't make this event, the Village, designed to represent a rural New England town in the 1830s, has a variety of virtual resources you can experience.

Looking for something unique this Halloween? Shiver your timbers aboard a haunted dredge boat. The USS Nightmare is the resurrection of the 227-foot William S. Mitchell, a retired steam-powered dredge built in 1934. While it was waiting to be turned into a museum, the vessel broke loose from its moorings in a flood and crashed into several bridges before being recovered. Local reporters called this the Mitchell Massacre, and the damage to the boat's stern is still visible. Instead of going to the scrap yard, the dredge was sold, and turned into a haunted house along the Ohio Riverfront in Newport. At Halloween, guests board the "Death Dredge" to explore two levels of dark passageways that twist around the dredge's enormous machinery. The chilling legend of Capt. Mitchell, his family, and crew comes alive as visitors encounter fog, special effects, and terrifying characters. There's a lights-on matinee for families and younger visitors that's available with or without an immersive "RIP" upgrade; the Captain's Extreme Tour is adults-only. See the website for the specific dates, hours, and descriptions of these tours.

Weekends in mid-October can see lines of two hours or more, but the wait is shorter earlier in the season. Fast Pass and Front of the Line Admissions options can reduce the time. Is the USS Nightmare really haunted? We can't say, but visitors and paranormal investigators have reported its strange sights and sounds for years.

When a traveling carnival comes to town, the locals think the evil legacy of the late Bludgeon family is finally over. Guess again, folks! At Dead Man’s Farm, located on Nightfall Acres in Philadelphia, Tennessee, the Bludgeon Haunted House, Lost Souls Haunted Trail, Midway games, and "killer' food trucks scare up screams from Friday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. You'll also find a horrible host of other attractions, including 5-minute escape rooms as you try to get away from the Bell Witch and a mad scientist, and, new for 2026, from a serial killer and a mummy. Let your goosebumps settle down as you browse the Haunted Pumpkin Gift Shop or take a break around a communal bonfire. The Farm has "chicken runs" for guests who want to bug out early, but there are no refunds. No strollers are allowed, and children must be able to walk on their own to enter; see the website for details on rules and restrictions. Guests age 18 or older with ID as proof of age can buy the "touch" option, which allows the monsters to grab, corner, or separate you from your group — you might even become part of the show.

"Something wicked this way floats," or so they say about the annual Macon Witches Float in Macon, Georgia (warlocks and wizards are welcome, too). Wear your best peaked hat, swap your broomstick for a paddle, and glide down the Ocmulgee River from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2026, at this ticketed event. Bring a non-motorized floatation device or rent one from Ocmulgee Outdoor Expeditions. A magical Full Moon Float is set for 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 24, 2026, with life jackets and boats outfitted with glow sticks.

Witches who don't like water (we're talking to you, Wicked Witch of the West), can join landlubbers in a Macon Macabre Walking Tour that's heavy on Southern Gothic. It's offered on select dates in September and October of 2026. US Ghost Adventures also offers haunting tours. Book a room, if you dare, at the allegedly haunted 1842 Inn, or visit Rose Hill Cemetery, open dusk to dark; four of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band are buried there. New for 2026: ParanorMacon, a paranormal conference on Oct. 16-17. Learn about other Halloween happenings at Macon Beyond.

Don't fret if you're on the West Coast and your broom won't fly that far. Dress in your witchiest finery and join the Annual Witches and Warlocks Paddle in Morro Bay, California, shown here. Morro Bay is a seaside city on the Pacific Coast, about 12 miles north of San Luis Obispo. Scheduled for October. 24, 2026, this is a non-permitted, non-sanctioned event, so you'll participate at your own risk; see the website for details, including the start time and safety info.

Since its debut, over a million visitors have experienced the amazing Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. It runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, 2026, rain or shine; there no exchanges or refunds, although refunds may be allowed when the event is closed due to hazardous weather and if requested before the last night of the show. Guests walk a trail illuminated with more than 5,000 creatively carved pumpkins at this annual event. In keeping with the 2026 theme, the art of the pun, the hand-carved gourds on the Great Pun-Kin Trail feature witty one-liners, pop culture references, jokes, fun characters, and "pun-believable scenes." Timed-entry tickets for this family-friendly event are sold online only and must be purchased in advance. Carousel Village, located near the zoo, also welcomes families with an historic indoor carousel, miniature seasonal train, and a fully accessible, indoor playground.

Ghouls, start your coffins! The Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival in Manitou Springs, Colorado, set for Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, is named for the late Emma Crawford, who came to this small town hoping its fresh air would cure her tuberculosis. Sadly, she passed away in 1891. After years of heavy rains and erosion, her coffin was unearthed from its mountaintop resting place and slid into town. For over three decades, locals have honored her memory with yearly races. Teams push wheeled coffins, which must meet certain specifications, through the historic downtown area as people from around the U.S. and around the world come to watch. After a noon-time parade with quirky characters, teams of four pallbearer-pushers and one Emma rider compete for the fastest time on an uphill course. After the winners cross the finish line, the teams park their rides and join Halloween-costumed crowds to an after-party at Soda Springs Park. Live music from RADO, a mash-up, "gender-defying" band, along with food, drinks, and macabre revelry, add to the fun and reinforce the town's motto, "Keep Manitou Creative.''

The Headless Horseman, inspired by Washington Irving's 1820 story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," rides again at Halloween. Stay "wary on the prairie" when you visit Conner Prairie, a living history museum in Fishers, Indiana, and the home of the Headless Horseman Festival. This family-friendly event opens on Thursdays through Sundays from Oct. 1 to 25, 2026, and capacity is limited, so plan ahead. Visitors can see live magic and fire shows, wander through a corn maze, walk a haunted trail, make a "Perilous Plunge" on a dry tubing hill, play carnival games, and more.

Another horseman, shown here, gallops through the village of Sleepy Hollow, in New York State's Historic Hudson Valley. See the 2026 calendar of events for Halloween happenings, like the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, an exhibit of over 7,000 elaborately carved pumpkins at historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. While the manor has been temporarily closed for improvements, the Blaze is scheduled to go on as usual. Spend an eerie evening on Fridays through Sundays, Oct. 2-31, 2026, at the Twilight Village, an immersive experience with live storytellers, fire performers, an appearance by the Horseman, and more. Solve a live-action, 18th-century whodunit to find out what really happened to Ichabod Crane at the interactive Headless Horseman Files. That's not all; check out the magical Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country, An Audience with Poe, Irving's "Legend," and more. These events and attractions are offered on select dates and times, so see the website for details and more chills and thrills.

The Haunted Farm is a patch of eerie farmland in Hendersonville, North Carolina. According to legend, a feud between two families led to decades of curses and devastation. Another tale says two lovers disappeared in the nearby woods, never to be seen again. If you get too scared to continue when you visit the Farm, look for the "chicken runs," paths you can use to escape. (But sorry, no refunds.) In 2026, the Farm opens Sept. 25-26, Oct. 2-3, Oct. 9-10, Oct. 16-18, Oct. 23-25, and Oct. 29-31. The season ends with a special "black-out night" on Nov. 7 that promises an entirely different experience. Opening times vary, and weather can affect the events, so check the website for details.

Prepare to scream your way through the two-story Farmhouse, which consists of a series of rooms, each with a spine-chilling theme. They're movie-studio quality and staffed with cast members who arrive two hours early every evening for makeup and wardrobe, so guests can encounter frightfully realistic characters. The rooms include an insane asylum, a deranged dentist's office, a clown carnival, haunted library, and more. Other attractions also promise to terrify. Fall is harvest season, so look around the area for U-pick orchards and market stands for pumpkins, gourds, and other seasonal treats.

Every October, Louisiana’s capital city, Baton Rouge, turns into a pumpkin — oops, no, not a pumpkin. It becomes home to the family-friendly Fifolet Halloween Festival, named for the ghostly, glowing balls of blue light that reportedly flicker or float over muddy swamplands; the name comes from a French word for "will-o'-the-wisp." From Oct. 29-31, 2026, crowds can gather to enjoy the Halloween fun. March in a parade that starts at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30, dress up for a costume ball beginning at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31,, and join the pub crawl at 6 p.m. on Oct. 29. Look for fundraising events from the 10/31 Consortium, a 501c3 non-profit that serves the community. The 2026 theme is "Unsweet 16," since this is the 16th anniversary of the fest. "It's a birthday party to die for!" the website promises, and it spins a twisted take on typical sweet 16 celebrations.

If you’re feeling brave — and we really do mean you'd better have ice water in your veins — check out The 13th Gate, often rated as one of the top haunted houses in the U.S. Located in downtown Baton Rouge, it terrifies visitors with a rickety bridge spanning passages filled with live snakes, a life-like pirate ship, a zombie-infested graveyard, and more. Guests have said the details and realistic effects can blur the line between reality and fantasy. This 40,000 square-foot spectacle, open select dates and times in September, October, and November of 2026, isn't recommended or suitable for everyone. Don't say you weren't warned!

Every fall, football fans flock to Athens, Georgia, home of the Georgia Bulldogs, to cheer their team to victory. Athens is also known for its Wild Rumpus Halloween Parade & Spectacle, a kind of Mardi Gras that's been called one of the premier Halloween celebrations in the Southeast. Thousands of locals and visitors clad in fantastic, imaginative costumes march to the beat of primal drums and howl at the moon in this huge, free extravaganza, scheduled for Oct. 31, 2026. Downtown Athens is transformed into a fantasyland with street dance parties, live music, food, drink, performers, and more. Before the fun starts, join the pre-parade meet-up from 5 to 8 p.m. at Creature Comforts Brewery, and wind down that night at the Midnight Howl after-party from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in Paloma Park. The pre- and post-events are free; open-container drinking requires the purchase of a Wild Rumpus wristband. Watch the website for more details as they become available.

Neewollah — that's Halloween spelled backwards — is a celebration that began in Independence, Kansas, in 1919, to encourage kids of all ages to have positive fun instead of indulging in the usual Halloween pranks. It runs from Oct. 23-31, 2026, and has become the largest annual festival in the state; Independence grows from a population of 8,500 to 75,000 by the end of the 9-day fest. Come for three parades, a chili cook-off, a ticketed musical, and the Queen Neelah pageant, when one participant is crowned and others are selected for her court. The main downtown area expects over 30 food vendors, a carnival, and a bandstand for nightly entertainment. Look for an arts and crafts fair, 5K, 10K, and fun runs, a "night at the movies," and more. See the calendar for dates, times, and details.

Colorado's magnificent, historic hotel, The Stanley, inspired author Stephen King to write his terrifying novel, The Shining, after he stayed in one of its rooms. It's located in Estes Park, a small town that's over a century old. Parts of the hotel are said to sit on a quartz and limestone mineral belt that helps conduct paranormal activity.

Take a 60-minute walk on The Shining Tour to learn about the differences between King's novel, the 1980 Stanley Kubrick film, The Shining, and the 1997 miniseries of the same name. Advance reservations are encouraged. Are you dying, so to speak, to hear from some of the past — and passed — hotel guests? Book 13, a late night, theatrical seance held at the hotel with its resident apparitionist, Hannibal. See the website for tour and seance dates and times.

In 2026, Salem is celebrating the 400th anniversary of its founding. It's famous — or infamous — for its 1692 witch trials. Despite that dark chapter in its rich history, visitors come to explore its role in literature, art, seafaring, trading, piracy, and more. Learn about the trials at the Salem Witch Museum, find your next fantasy or dark lit read at Midnight Bookseller, and look for locally made treasures at Georgia's Little Salem Shop. Bind your own spell book, craft a rustic broom, or create a spell jar at The Witchery, and don a costume for enchanting photos at Witch Pix. Explore the Salem Witch Board Museum and head to Pickering Wharf for waterfront dining at Longboards Restaurant & Bar. Reward your fearless self with a cookie from Goodnight Fatty.

Want more? Of course you do! Catch chilling tales aboard Mahi Mahi Cruises' Haunted Harbor Cruise or revel in local legends with Witch City Talking Tours. Challenge your friends to a group adventure at Stained Hourglass Escapes. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2026, head to Witch Hats on the Wharf, as wanna-be witches strive to break a world record by forming a virtual sea of pointed hats.

Round out your visit at The House of Seven Gables, the inspiration for author Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel of the same name. Find more to see and do at Salem Haunted Happenings.

Eerily described as South Dakota's most haunted city, Deadwood hosts Deadweird every year, a two-day bash that turns the historic mining town into a Halloween hotspot. There's a Monster Ball for ages 21 and up on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, with a live band and dancing; there's a small cover charge. On Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, come for a costume party and contest offering cash and other prizes. It has a small, per-person entry fee. You must be 21 or over to attend either event.

All ages are welcome at the Trunk-or-Treat on Halloween Day from 4-6 p.m. Afterwards, there's a free KidWeird event from 5-8 p.m. for ages 12 and under with more trick-or-treating, games, music, and a costume contest. Look for more scares in the haunted halls of the historic Bullock Hotel, take a ghost tour at the Fairmont Hotel or join in the paranormal investigations at the Adams House on select dates in October.

Savannah is considered one of the most haunted cities in the country, and the Halloween season (any season, really) is a great time to visit its old cemeteries, historic buildings, and haunted houses, restaurants, and inns. Take a Hearse Ghost Tour to look for zombies or apparitions or a PG Ghosts & Gravestones Tour for jump scares, creepy tales, and the city's haunted past. Some tours aren't recommended for kids. Meet the ghosts at Moon River Brewing Company or admire some hauntingly beautiful resting places at the Bonaventure Cemetery and Colonial Park Cemetery. Many hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and inns are said to have resident spirits that just might haunt your dreams. Find out about Savannah's First Annual Halloween Block Party on Oct. 31, 2026, and other haunting happenings on Eventbrite. Scary movies like 2022's Halloween Ends and the 1962 classic Cape Fear were shot in this lovely, atmospheric Southern city.

Galena Country in northwest Illinois feels magical when the trees change colors in fall, and it's delightfully scary at Halloween. The Galena 46th Annual Halloween Parade and Festival, said to be the largest and longest in the tri-state area, happens on Oct. 31, 2026, with marching bands, costumed participants, spectacular floats, prizes, and treats for all ages. If that's not enough, hear rarely told tales of Galena's history and stories about ghosts and local tragedies on a Matthew's Haunted Pub Crawl. (You don't have to drink any spirits, if you don't want to; you can just hear about them). Expert storytellers at the Haunted Galena Tour Company take you into the shadows with spine-tingling folklore and tales of ghosts and paranormal experiences; they say they're "dying to share our ghost stories with you." Save time to drive an antique tractor or take an ATV tour at Dittmar Farms and Orchard in the village of Elizabeth, where you can pick pumpkins on weekends from September to October or apples through October. You may want to check on availability before you go, since weather and other factors can affect crops.

The rushing waters of Niagara Falls USA in New York are a natural wonder, but they overflow with supernatural marvels, too. Follow The Haunted History Trail to hot spots across the state like creepy pubs, historic sites, museums, a haunted asylum, and more. The Winery at Marjim Manor offers a (g)host of special events during the season, including a murder mystery dinner on Oct. 24, 2026, and, on Oct. 25, 2026, Spirits with Spirits featuring Psychic Medium Ivy Rivera and her associates. Bed down at the historic Red Coach Inn, shown here, where a ghostly bride and groom reportedly walk the halls. If you’re an experienced hiker, follow the challenging trail at Devil’s Hole State Park; there aren't any artificial lights, so it's extremely hazardous at night. At the Cave of Evil Spirits, listen for the echoes of British soldiers and a local Seneca who died in a 1763 massacre. Other otherworldly sights: Ghosts at Oakwood Cemetery, where daredevil Annie Edson Taylor is buried. In 1901, on her 63rd birthday, she was the first person to tumble over the Falls in a barrel. She lived to tell the tale.

New for 2026: Ghosts of the Garrison, on Oct. 16-17 at Old Fort Niagara. Visitors can walk the darkened halls of centuries-old buildings and hear tales of apparitions and mysterious phenomena. Tickets are on sale now on the website.

Take the family to the Niagara Pumpkin Farm from mid-September through select dates in October 2026. You'll find pumpkins, haunted hayrides, seasonal treats, and fun activities.

Climb aboard the Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train as it rolls through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina on Friday and Saturday nights from Sept. 25-Oct. 31, 2026. It's a 20- to 25-minute nighttime ride in an open-air train with safe fun for everyone. The Tweetsie Railroad is a wild west theme park that transforms for Halloween with haunted houses, trick-or-treating, an Enchanted Forest, creepy carnival, costumed characters, a musical black light puppet show, and more. Wrap up the season downtown at the Boone BOO! on October 31, 2026. The family-friendly festivities run from 4-6:30 p.m. The kids can trick-or-treat and the giant inflatables are great for photo opps. You'll also find lively music, a costume contest, and lots more fun. Make a short drive south to the Blowing Rock Halloween Festival on Oct. 31, 2026, for a kids' Monster March and trick-or-treating.

Experience the enchanted side of the mountains in North Carolina's Haunted High Country. Pause on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Wiseman's View or the Brown Mountain Overlook at night to look for eerie, dancing lights, and watch for the phantom hiker at Grandfather Mountain State Park and other restless spirits in the area.

Adams, Tennessee, is home to the Historic Bell Witch Cave, one of America's most famous haunted sites. According to legend, a cruel witch tormented John Bell, the owner of the property, and his family. She vowed to kill John and haunt his descendants. Visitors now report hearing voices, groans, growls, and other sounds from the cave, leaving them to wonder if the witch came back after Bell's death, or if she never left. The Bell Witch Fall Festival presents a ticketed performance of Spirit: The Authentic Story of the Bell Witch of Tennessee, from Oct. 22-24 and again from Oct. 29-31, 2026. Visit the cave and participate in otherworldly experiences that range from the mild to the terrifying, including tours of a replica of John Bell's cabin, where his frightening encounters began. Todd and Leanne Escue, of The Black Wolf Paranormal, return in 2026 on Sept. 26, Oct. 22, and Nov. 21 to host investigations of the cave, cabin, and a Native American burial ground. Tours last about six hours.

Myrtle Beach charms visitors year-round with its sandy beaches, happy vibes and sunshine, but communities in this coastal area cast a different spell in autumn. Conway, South Carolina, about 15 minutes away, legally changes its name for the entire month of October to the "City of Halloween." It goes all out with elaborate decorations (there are new additions for 2026), a Graveyard Grand Prix Coffin Race on Oct. 17, ghost walks led by professional storytellers, themed market sheds, a witch's garden, light displays, scavenger hunts, a Halloween Golf Cart Parade, family fun activities, and more. Take a Halloween-themed pirate ship ride with Crazy Sister Marina or join the Big BOO-ginning Costume March that kicks off the season on Oct. 1, 2026, starting at 6 p.m. Check out the City of Halloween, SC for other details and events.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice — don't say it three times, or you might summon the malicious spirit from the 1988 film of the same name. Most of the outdoor scenes for Beetlejuice, a blend of dark comedy and horror, were shot in East Corinth, a village in Corinth, Vermont, that stood in for the fictional town of Winter River. Stars Michael Keaton (who played Beetlejuice), Catherine O'Hara (Delia Deetz), and Winona Ryder (Lydia Deetz) reprised their original roles for director Tim Burton's sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which opened in theaters in 2024.

The movie sets have been taken down, but fans still come from all around to visit some of the filming landmarks in town, like the iconic bridge on Chicken Farm Road (the bridge is no longer covered), the girls' school, and the place where the Maitland house stood. Find more frights, scares, and not-scary family fun here and in other towns for 2026 at Vermont Halloween Events and Activities and Vermont Haunted Houses.