Southeast US:
Halloween Events in the Southeast states includes a Ghost Train festival in North Carolina, ghosts and legends in Colonial Williamsburg, and much more.
New Orleans
Check out Boo at the Zoo, Ghostly Galavant through through the St. Louis Cemetery and more, in this city famous for atmosphere.
Bryson City, NC: The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
Get on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, meet the Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and other characters from the classic Peanuts comic strip, select a pumpkin, enjoy hayrides, bouncy house, trick or treating, and more, during several weekends in October.
Texas:
Texas Halloween Events
Boos and Zoos and other special events. In San Antonio, families with young kids can do a low-cost Zoo Boo at the San Antonio Zoo, with trick or treat, entertainment, costume contest, games.
Houston, Texas
Halloween events include Boo on the Boardwalk!, Zoo Boo, Broomstick Adventures 3-hour driving tour of haunted Houston, and McDonald's Halloween Mansion at the Children's Museum.
Southwest US:
A round-up of Southwest US Hauntings: ghost tours, haunted places, and more.
Wisconsin:
A whole haunted state! Check out Haunted Wisconsin, and don't be scared by the macabre welcome page, geared to teens and truly-scary events; you can also look for "family" and gentler fun.
New Orleans
Check out Boo at the Zoo, Ghostly Galavant through through the St. Louis Cemetery and more, in this city famous for atmosphere.
Bryson City, NC: The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
Get on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, meet the Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and other characters from the classic Peanuts comic strip, select a pumpkin, enjoy hayrides, bouncy house, trick or treating, and more, during several weekends in October.
Texas:
Texas Halloween Events
Boos and Zoos and other special events. In San Antonio, families with young kids can do a low-cost Zoo Boo at the San Antonio Zoo, with trick or treat, entertainment, costume contest, games.
Houston, Texas
Halloween events include Boo on the Boardwalk!, Zoo Boo, Broomstick Adventures 3-hour driving tour of haunted Houston, and McDonald's Halloween Mansion at the Children's Museum.
Southwest US:
A round-up of Southwest US Hauntings: ghost tours, haunted places, and more.
Wisconsin:
A whole haunted state! Check out Haunted Wisconsin, and don't be scared by the macabre welcome page, geared to teens and truly-scary events; you can also look for "family" and gentler fun.
Ohio:
Cedar Point Amusement Park --"roller coaster capital of the world" -- in Sandusky Ohio is a top draw for families during summer, and gets lively in Halloween season too. "HalloWeekends" run from mid-September, with Fright Zone, haunted houses for little kids, resort packages, Halloween shows, pumpkin carving, costume contests. Look for Fright Nights on Fridays; a number of coasters and rides are open (weather permitting.)
Chicago:
Halloween events in Chicago include "Chicagoween".
Cedar Point Amusement Park --"roller coaster capital of the world" -- in Sandusky Ohio is a top draw for families during summer, and gets lively in Halloween season too. "HalloWeekends" run from mid-September, with Fright Zone, haunted houses for little kids, resort packages, Halloween shows, pumpkin carving, costume contests. Look for Fright Nights on Fridays; a number of coasters and rides are open (weather permitting.)
Chicago:
Halloween events in Chicago include "Chicagoween".
California:
LEGOLAND, California
The 128-acre LEGOLAND in Carslbad has Brick-or-Trick Party Nights throughout October, with trick-or-treat trail, costume and Howler contests, entertainment, Halloween-themed LEGO like the witch in the photo, made out of 54,000 LEGO bricks.
Disneyland Halloween
Disneyland gets a Halloween makeover with lots of decorations, especially at "Haunted Mansion Holiday": the classic Haunted Mansion attraction gets taken over by Jack Skellington and other characters from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. (Typically, decorations continue through the Holiday Season.) See lots of Disneyland Halloween photos.
Also at Disneyland, Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party is a special party on several nights (-- you'll need a special ticket for this event.)
Universal Studios Hollywood- Halloween Horror Night:
Attend if you dare, in Orlando or Anaheim, on a bunch of nights throughout October, and on a few nights in November too. Definitely not for little kids!
Universal Studios Hollywood: CityWalk Spook-tacular
For younger kids, Universal CityWalk entertainment zone has free fun such as trick-or-treating, costume contests, entertainment, and appearances by characters such as the Mummy. There's no entrance fee for CityWalk.
Knott's Berry Farm Halloween Haunt
Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California (150 acres of rides and attractions) has lots of horror every year. Another place that's probably not for little kids!
Los Angeles Area Festivals and Events
About.com's Los Angeles Travel website has a huge list that goes beyond the theme parks to include events at many other attractions, such as zoos and aquariums, and also ghost tours, haunted trails, and more.
Washington State:
Halloween in Seattle-Tacoma
Black Cat Ball, haunted forest, and more -- from About's Guide for Northwest Travel.
The 128-acre LEGOLAND in Carslbad has Brick-or-Trick Party Nights throughout October, with trick-or-treat trail, costume and Howler contests, entertainment, Halloween-themed LEGO like the witch in the photo, made out of 54,000 LEGO bricks.
Disneyland Halloween
Disneyland gets a Halloween makeover with lots of decorations, especially at "Haunted Mansion Holiday": the classic Haunted Mansion attraction gets taken over by Jack Skellington and other characters from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. (Typically, decorations continue through the Holiday Season.) See lots of Disneyland Halloween photos.
Also at Disneyland, Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party is a special party on several nights (-- you'll need a special ticket for this event.)
Universal Studios Hollywood- Halloween Horror Night:
Attend if you dare, in Orlando or Anaheim, on a bunch of nights throughout October, and on a few nights in November too. Definitely not for little kids!
Universal Studios Hollywood: CityWalk Spook-tacular
For younger kids, Universal CityWalk entertainment zone has free fun such as trick-or-treating, costume contests, entertainment, and appearances by characters such as the Mummy. There's no entrance fee for CityWalk.
Knott's Berry Farm Halloween Haunt
Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California (150 acres of rides and attractions) has lots of horror every year. Another place that's probably not for little kids!
Los Angeles Area Festivals and Events
About.com's Los Angeles Travel website has a huge list that goes beyond the theme parks to include events at many other attractions, such as zoos and aquariums, and also ghost tours, haunted trails, and more.
Washington State:
Halloween in Seattle-Tacoma
Black Cat Ball, haunted forest, and more -- from About's Guide for Northwest Travel.
More Halloween Around the World
Vancouver BC:
The popular Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train runs nightly during most of October. Also in Vancouver: Fright Nights at the Playland amusement park.
Hawaii:
Halloween in Lahaina, Maui
The biggest Halloween celebration in Hawaii, including a Children's Costume Parade. Over 25,000 people attend, on Lahaina's Front Street!
London England:
London is a terrific city to visit with kids, and if you go at Halloween there's extra fun: ghost walk, Creepy Family Cruise, London Dungeon... and a bonus: off-season airfares and rates for hotels. Check out London Halloween Events
France
Halloween in France? Really?? Well, some of the earliest Halloween traditions started in Europe. Though seen as primarily an American holiday, recently Halloween celebrations are becoming more popular in France. About's Guide for France Travel covers the scene. I second this idea: delicious creations at chocolateries.
Halloween in Scandinavia
All about local Halloween traditions and celebrations in Scandinavia, information on public holidays and where to go for Halloween.
Mexico:
Day of the Dead Festivities: forget October 31; November 1 and 2 are the big days in Mexico, and despite the somber name "Dias de los Muertos", these dates -- the Christian Holy Days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day-- are a colorful celebration full of flowers, candy, chocolates, and traditions.
The popular Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train runs nightly during most of October. Also in Vancouver: Fright Nights at the Playland amusement park.
Hawaii:
Halloween in Lahaina, Maui
The biggest Halloween celebration in Hawaii, including a Children's Costume Parade. Over 25,000 people attend, on Lahaina's Front Street!
London England:
London is a terrific city to visit with kids, and if you go at Halloween there's extra fun: ghost walk, Creepy Family Cruise, London Dungeon... and a bonus: off-season airfares and rates for hotels. Check out London Halloween Events
France
Halloween in France? Really?? Well, some of the earliest Halloween traditions started in Europe. Though seen as primarily an American holiday, recently Halloween celebrations are becoming more popular in France. About's Guide for France Travel covers the scene. I second this idea: delicious creations at chocolateries.
Halloween in Scandinavia
All about local Halloween traditions and celebrations in Scandinavia, information on public holidays and where to go for Halloween.
Mexico:
Day of the Dead Festivities: forget October 31; November 1 and 2 are the big days in Mexico, and despite the somber name "Dias de los Muertos", these dates -- the Christian Holy Days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day-- are a colorful celebration full of flowers, candy, chocolates, and traditions.