7 best spooky events to attend for Halloween 2025

As Halloween 2025 quietly slides onto the calendar, cities across the nation are stitching together a menagerie of thrills - a patchwork of haunted houses that gulp the unsuspecting in a swoop and costume parties that let the revelry echo after the last light of dusk fades. Whether it’s a bone‑chilling ghost tour that sends shivers down the spine or a neon‑saturated glow‑in‑the‑dark street festival that lights up the night, this year’s lineup of spooky happenings launches a shockwave that reaches every stripe of the Halloween faithful.

Should the appetite tilt toward gut‑splitting terror or a polished contemporary chill? Seven standout horror events in the US stand poised to deliver an October experience that lingers in memory after nightfall.

7 best spooky events to attend for Halloween 2025

Here are some of the best spooky events for Halloween 2025:

1. Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Chicago

With Halloween 2025 on the horizon, towns and cities over the country are busy stitching together a patchwork of seasonal attractions, each one trying to pull people into the spirit of the season. From shadow‑laden alleys that seem to whisper about the supernatural to displays that glitter against the night, the celebrations now invite far more hands‑on participation than ever before.

Leading the pack, Chicago's Night of 1,000 Jack‑o‑Lanterns stakes its claim, bathing the city in a swirl of glowing art and pure Halloween enchantment. This years program (October 8‑12, 15‑19 22‑26 6:30‑10:30 pm) weaves together scares and fresh twists ensuring every visitor, whether a thrill‑seeker or a pumpkin lover, discovers a spark to light up their October nights.

2. Terror on Tillson Street, Michigan

Every October, the sleepy hamlet of Romeo, Michigan undergoes a metamorphosis into a Halloween extravaganza that might eclipse any neighborhood fête - welcome, to Terror on Tillson Street. Tucked north of Detroit, the two‑block corridor draws 80,000 inquisitive wanderers each year all eager to drink in its flamboyant décor and delightfully eerie inventiveness.

From clowns and phantom pirate galleons to skeletons lacing up hockey sticks, each house along the stretch folds into a sprawling Halloween saga. When the sea of candy treats finally gets swept aside and the night of trick‑or‑treating lands on October 31, it turns into a celebration, for Halloween aficionados. But, roll in shared rides - Tillson Street blocks vehicle entry after 5:30 p.m. On Halloween night.)

3. Krewe of BOO, New Orleans

New Orleans is about to mash the spooky with the spectacular, letting Halloween slip into a Mardi Gras‑style groove as the Krewe of BOO! makes its long‑awaited comeback. Since 2007, this two‑day carnival has re‑imagined the Quarter as a moving stage of pageantry, complete with over a dozen painstakingly sculpted floats, from Kern Studios. 450 Costumed riders, 35 marching bands, and kinetic dance troupes pour into the streets, splashing them with visuals and a deliciously chaotic festive vibe.

Adding another layer to the spectacle, towering beasts fling a mix of local curiosities, voodoo‑doll pins, handcrafted treats, and bead necklaces that pulse with light. The weekend rolls in with the New Orleans Zombie Run, where the undead‑clad crowd darts madly trying to stay of the relentless Big Easy Rollergirls.

4. St. Helens, Oregon

Each fall, the unassuming town of St. Helens, Oregon, trades its charm for a splash of Disney nostalgia. Beginning September 26, the community again transforms into the beloved Halloweentown, breathing life into the 1998 Disney Channel classic, for fans and families.

Throughout the October weekends, visitors can explore attractions, peruse the eerie Oddities Museum, and gather around the pumpkin centerpiece in the town plaza. Adding to the vibe, Kimberly J. Brown celebrated for her turn as Marnie Piper, will also turn up. For a twist, St. Helens is home to Bella Swan's house from Twilight. It’s a spot where fans can actually reserve the iconic bedroom that launched the whole vampire‑love saga.

5. Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show

Set against the Naumkeag estate, the Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show makes its comeback this October, offering a dazzling mix of art, history, and Halloween charm. Running Wednesdays through Sundays from October 1 to 31, the event transforms the Gilded Age gardens into an autumn spectacle.

Visitors can sip cocoa while wandering through pumpkin trails, themed displays, and imaginative carvings inspired by pop‑culture favorites, like Sesame Street and The Golden Girls. Highlights showcase a black‑light vortex that swirls, in midnight hues, a greenhouse that feels haunted by a glow, and the expansive Naumkeag mansion, its silhouette bathed in eerie nighttime illumination. For a splash of fun, guests can park in the designated zones and climb aboard a spooky school‑bus convoy bound for the estate, costumes encouraged.

6. Village Halloween Parade, Greenwich Village

New York City is now gearing up to turn into a Halloween paradise with the Village Halloween Parade coming back to Greenwich Village on the last day of the month, between 7 and 11 p.m. It is an annual event known for both spookiness and spectacularity, and it presents the audience with a night full of spooky demons and dancing skeletons, on one side, and cute cats and dogs wearing party dresses, on the other.

Each year, with an audience of more than two million people, the parade has turned out to be the largest public Halloween show in the United States, and features a spectacular blend of mammoth puppets, live music, and spectacular costumes that demonstrate the creativity of its people at its best. Early in the morning, families throng the streets to have fun, and later on, adults remain after dark to celebrate the lively afterparties that carry the Halloween spirit well beyond midnight. Those wishing to get the best glimpse should be on Sixth Avenue by 6.30 pm, when the organizers suggest, though the VIP viewing and participants slots are available to all who are audacious enough to march, as long as he or she has a costume that will make the show.

7. Festival of the Dead, Salem

Every October, Salem, the country's witchy town, shifts into a vibrant hub for the Festival of the Dead, running from October 1 to November 2. This month‑long celebration leans into death, remembrance, and the supernatural, offering a slew of events, from sessions with psychic media to high‑energy parties that probe life beyond the veil. At the core of the festivities lies the legendary Witches Ball, where the usual solemn rituals melt away into a kaleidoscope of costumes, thumping beats, and a night drenched in revelry. For those plotting a visit, locals suggest slipping in by boat to capture the ambience, while motorists can consult Salem's event app for parking guidance and the latest Haunted Happenings updates.

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