7 Halloween Festivals to Attend Instead of Celebrating at Home ...

Neecey

7 Halloween Festivals to Attend Instead of Celebrating at Home ...
7 Halloween Festivals to Attend Instead of Celebrating at Home ...

If you want to take Halloween seriously but can’t be bothered or don’t have the time to decorate the house and throw a party, there are Halloween festivals around the USA that will very happily welcome you into their spooky fold. From the family friendly to the downright spooky, it’s time to get your costume on, embrace your inner ghoul or witch, and freak out at one of these great Halloween Festivals.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

1. Brick or Treat?

Brick or Treat? No, it’s not a typo. Brick or Treat is Legoland’s version of Halloween. Each of the Legoland parks (San Diego CA and Winter Haven FL) goes all out every weekend throughout October to celebrate ghoulies and ghosties and everything that goes bump in the night. Alongside all the usual bricky fun, kids can enjoy brick or treating along a trail, go on a Scary Scavenger hunt in Miniland and help build a ghost model. And of course, Halloween festivals would not be complete without costumes and there’s a contest each Saturday.

2. Howl-O-Scream

Howl-O-Scream Most US theme parks will run Halloween Festivals. Some will merely make a nod to one of the US’s most favorite celebrations, while others will go all out, like Busch Gardens. This year will be the 13th Howl-O-Ween at Busch Gardens Tampa and it has been described as being intensely scary. It promises to be even more scary this year because once every century, in the thirteenth year, all evil comes out to play. Howl-O-Scream will unleash 13 evils who will torment you round every corner. There’s nowhere to hide!

Frequently asked questions

3. The Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball

The Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball For some, the true symbol of Halloween is the witch. Where better to get your pointy hat and fake wart on than in the most notorious hotbed of witchcraft ever, at the Official Witches’ Ball in Salem. This year it takes place on October 25th at the town’s Hawthorne Hotel. Modern day Warlock, Christian Day, will be your host for a party of dancing and feasting and revelry. Oh and there might be some raising of spirits and people from the dead too, thrown in for good measure.

4. Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party

Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party If you’re looking for family-friendly events for Halloween, you really can’t go wrong with Disney. Running throughout October, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is great fun for little ones who love all the aspects of Halloween but want the fear factor played down. Throughout October the Magic Kingdom is transformed onto a spooky Halloween land, and this year Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare before Christmas join the throngs of favorite Disney characters for the fun.

5. NYC Village Parade

NYC Village Parade If you’re in New York for Halloween, there really is one place to go and that is the Village Parade. 2013 is the 40th year of the parade and you can join more than 60,000 costume clad participants or the 2+million spectators who throng the streets of Greenwich Village. It’s special this year to honor the heroes of Hurricane Sandy which caused the 2012 parade to be cancelled. The Village Parade kicks off at 7pm on Thursday October 31st.

6. Terror behind the Walls

Terror behind the Walls Some of the best Halloween festivals must surely take place in real-life haunted houses, yes? All over the country, haunted houses see their visitor numbers massively increase as everyone gets into the Halloween spirit. One haunted location that goes all out to welcome its ghost hunting visitors is Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. It is rated in the top 10 haunted attractions in the US and has held its special events for Halloween for the last 22 years. This former prison will surely give you the willies!

7. Dark Harbor Halloween Event

Dark Harbor Halloween Event Well if a former prison can hold Halloween festivals, so can former transatlantic liners. Now anchored as floating hotel off Long Beach in Southern California, The Queen Mary plays host again this year to another scarefest. If you love mazes and spooky and creepy things to greet you from hidden dark corners, you’ll especially love the themed mazes at Dark Harbor. Running for various long weekends through October and into November, you can meet malevolent circus performers, monsters of the deep and all manner of creepy freaks.

Have you made your plans for Halloween yet? Will you be trick or treating or hosting a fab party? Maybe you’re going to one of the many Halloween festivals? Please let us know how you celebrate Halloween.

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Oh man,Disney sounds fun! I've been there with family last summer,but wish I could go there for some spooky (and safe)fun!

Zombie walk in Toronto, Ontario and Canada's wonderland has scream park, by far the scariest thing I've ever been to!!

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal is lots of fun