8 Awesome Places to Celebrate Halloween

We’re finally coming into my favourite time of the year and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s the time of year where the pumpkins are carved, the air gets crisper and things get spookier. 

Halloween is believed to be the day where the veil between the living and the dead is at its  thinnest so people would dress in costume and light bonfires to ward off the spirits. 

The holiday has such a long and rich history, I would recommend reading this article for a really good deep dive. 

Here are just some of the places around the world that go all out with the scares and they look like awesome places to celebrate the season.

1. Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Of course we start with the site of the famous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. During the trials 19 men and women were accused of practicing witchcraft and put to death. Now it is home to the Haunted Happenings festival which is the largest Halloween celebration in the world. 

Some things to see during the festival include a grand parade, costume balls, themed haunted houses, witch museums, ghost tours, seances, tarot readings and witch shops. 

2. Transylvania, Romania

What could be more iconic than visiting the birthplace of Dracula to celebrate the season?!

Every year Bran Castle hosts an adults only Halloween party featuring a night time tour of the castle, DJs, themed food, drink and decorations. They also hold a separate event for families and children. 

If you fancy something a little bit different you can party in the dungeon of the Medieval Citadel in Dracula’s hometown of Sighisoara. Or you can dine in Dracula’s childhood home which has been transformed into a restaurant named Casa Vlad Dracul. 

3. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Already known as a haunted city (and so high up on my bucket list) NOLA does not skimp on the ghoulish fun. 

There are so many things to do during the whole month of October including ghost tours, voodoo shops (including Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo), haunted houses (LaLaurie Mansion anyone?), performances, spooky museums and all the fancy dress you can handle. 

As I mentioned, New Orleans is already known as one of the most haunted cities in the US, so why not enhance the experience with a stay in a haunted hotel?

4. Savannah, Georgia, USA

With a history of pirates, war, disease, fires and murder, it’s no wonder that Savannah is widely thought of as the most haunted city in the US. 

You can ghost hunt all year round but wouldn’t it be more fun in the Halloween season? As well as joining a ghost hunt you can join the Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour or the Ghosts and Graveyards Tour. If you don’t fancy a tour you can head to the Moon River Brewing Company. Located in one of Savannah’s most haunted buildings, it only makes sense that they would throw an annual Halloween party.

If you are a fan of the John Berendt novel ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ you can join a walking tour of all the sights in the book. Some of the guides were even extras in the movie. 

5. Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA

Home to the legend of Ichabod Crane and the headless horseman, Sleepy Hollow was made famous by the Washington Irving short story from 1820. Irving is buried in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery where you can take a child-friendly day time tour or an adults only tour at night. 

One of the most popular attractions is the Haunted Hayride which takes you along Ichabod Crane’s escape route from the headless horseman. 

Some of the other events on offer include a Halloween parade, Tarrytown Music Hall ghost tour, the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, Headless Horseman Ball and tours of some beautiful properties including Lyndhurst Mansion, the Octagon House and Washington Irving’s estate. 

6. Derry, Northern Ireland

As Halloween originated from the ancient festival of Samhain in medieval Ireland, it’s no wonder that Derry has the largest (plus award winning) Halloween festival in Europe.

Derry Halloween is a four day extravaganza of a celebration with an endless amount of entertainment. You’ll find everything from haunted houses and sensory experiences to pumpkin carving (plus other family friendly crafts), live music, the story of Samhain, creepy critters kids farm, a drone display, a carnival, fireworks and so much more. 

It honestly looks incredible and I hope I can experience it one day. 

7. Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios, Orlando, USA

I am such a fool. I have only recently come back from Orlando and visited Universal while Halloween Horror Nights was on but it wasn’t in the itinerary or the budget. Yes, I have regrets. 

This annual event comprises of several haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment and the opportunity to enjoy the rides at night. This year Death Eaters were roaming around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter *welp*. 

Some of the themed haunted houses this year include Stranger Things, The Exorcist, Chucky and The Last of Us. 

I will sort myself out and get there one day. 

8. Dark Arts, Harry Potter Studio Tour, London, UK

Roughly 20 miles from Central London in Watford, is the home of The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour. It’s been years since I visited but it’s a great place for any HP fan to visit. 

From mid-September to early-November the whole studio transforms for the Dark Arts. You’ll find hundreds of floating pumpkins in the Great Hall and projections of the Dark Mark throughout the studio to look for. You can even learn wand combat from the HP wand choreographer and practice your skills on the Death Eaters. 

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Have you experienced any of these places on Halloween? Where is your favourite place to celebrate and get spooky?

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For more festive fun, check out this post on Christmas traditions.