12 Places That Take Halloween Seriously

Mid-autumn is the time of year when most cities start to wind down. Finally, people accept summer's farewell, embrace cooler weather and sip warmer drinks. Not the towns on this list, though. These cities see October as a monthlong Halloween celebration, changing once-quiet sidewalks into ghoulish displays of fantastically decorated homes. Keep reading and see which place takes Halloween the most seriously.

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The infamous witch trials of the early 1690s might explain why Salem, Massachusetts, is still obsessed with this bewitching time of year. Nowadays, vampires, ghouls and all other seasonally spooky beings are welcomed in a literal celebration of the afterlife at Festival of the Dead (FOD). Throughout October, the FOD hosts events aimed at connecting with "spirits," such as the daily Salem Psychic Fair and Witches Market. There's even a hosted "dinner with the dead," proving Salem has gone from hunting to haunted.

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Sleepy Hollow, New York, has a major reputation to live up to, as the host to the creepy tale of the headless horseman. October hopes are fulfilled with the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, one of the largest Halloween happenings in town. For 46 nights (from September 28 through November 2), 7,000 jack-o'-lanterns, carved in an array of odd expressions, are illuminated in an impressive show that's as fun as it is family-friendly, even with discounted prices for kids (free if they're under 3 years old!).

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Don't think that just because Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the City of Brotherly Love that it goes easy on the chills and thrills. There are big scares for scream seekers, including the haunted Bates Motel and Pennhurst Asylum. That said, there's still plenty for those looking for a lighter Halloween experience. Visitors can drop in on Pumpkinland, the giant pumpkin patch, or attend a special holiday movie screening. If you're looking for a span of spooks so the whole family has options this Allhallows' Eve, Philly is your city.

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Pulling many of its major attractions into the frightening fall festivities, St. Louis, Missouri, transforms itself for the haunted holiday season. Six Flags St. Louis provides a wholesome, Halloween-themed good time for all ages during the day, but parents are warned to get the kiddos out before night falls, when the more mature monsters show face. The St. Louis Zoo follows a family-friendly path with Boo at the Zoo every night, which allows tiny trick-or-treaters to celebrate without the scare.

The Windy City brings a different sort of chill this month. Dyeing the water orange in the Daley Plaza fountain might give you an idea of just how serious Chicago is about Halloween. Constantly listed as one of the best cities to go trick-or-treating in America, Chicago offers kids opportunities to rack up candy while adults enjoy a long list of activities, too. Ghost tours every night, fall festivals every weekend and standout events like a play about Edgar Allen Poe or a "Boo-lesque" show cover a broad menu of possible events.

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It's a small town and an otherwise quiet neighborhood, but Tillson Street in Romeo, Michigan, doesn't attract thousands of visitors each year because of its size. The close-knit community of homeowners on Tillson Street have, for generations, helped one another decorate their homes in eerie and elaborate ways. Every year, crowds get bigger and thousands of pieces of candy are handed out by the welcoming residents who are happy Halloween hosts.

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No matter what time of year it is, New Orleans knows how to throw a party. Considered by many as the most haunted city in the country, New Orleans has a beauty in the way the dead are celebrated during Halloween. Cemetery tours, especially the well-known St. Louis Cemetery, highlight the stunning above-ground mausoleums and crypts. Add the exceptional haunted houses and the Voodoo Festival into the mix, and NOLA is a top contender for out-of-this-world Halloween experiences.

Old Victorian homes are a perfect backdrop for creepy Halloween tours in Savannah, Georgia. On the Ghost and Gravestones tour, a gravedigger leads groups through the most haunted parts of town, including exclusive nighttime entry to some locations. Haunted houses, crowded with supposed spirits, line the city's streets, and the Bonaventure Cemetery waits for darkness to fall before it comes alive. The faint of heart might want to carry a flashlight through town!

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Like many other cities that turn up the dial for Halloween, Los Angeles is flooded with all-too-real haunted houses and even better parties (it is LA, after all). But it has two things that make it a standout Halloween town—some of the most versatile Day of the Dead celebrations in the U.S. and Universal Studios Hollywood. One of the best Día de los Muertos celebrations happens downtown on Olvera Street (October 25–November 2). As for those who venture into Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, the originators of the horror genre, they should be ready for screams from rides and other scary things that go bump in the night.

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For us grown-ups, Las Vegas always feels like Halloween, with costume-clad pedestrians all over and plenty of cocktails (aka adult candy) being passed out like miniature chocolate bars. Hotels like the Bellagio are known to set up elaborate decorations, such as the display shown here, to signal the season. What sometimes flies under the radar are the kid-friendly, G-rated parties like Operation Halloween in Tivoli Village, an escape room-type adventure, or the Ghost Walk on Halloween Day. Las Vegas includes everyone in its spook-tivities.

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We all know and love Seattle for being quirky, and its reputation makes local Halloween celebrations even more interesting. One of the best trick-or-treat venues for adults is after hours at the Seattle Chocolate Factory, where patrons solve a mystery and look for treasure, all while enjoying rich delectables (sorry, kids). Another Halloween event held in town is KawaiiWeen, an art and fashion show emphasizing Kawaii, the Japanese culture of cuteness. (This year, there will be adorable witches everywhere.)

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Many people in Portland, Oregon, enjoy wearing costumes all year long. Thanks to them, the costume shops in town reign supreme in the nation, with no shortage of creative ideas from locals. Nearby pumpkin patches and corn mazes show the lovely autumn colors of the region. If you're looking for something strange, check out the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, where the dressed-up participants actually race huge pumpkins.

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