Recently updated on July 19th, 2023 at 09:57 am
Halloween is celebrated across the globe each year, and the United States in particular embraces this tradition with vibrant Halloween parades, costume parties, pumpkin carving and of course trick or treating. Here’s our guide to the best places to celebrate Halloween in the United States to be a part of these ghoulishly fun occasions.
Village Halloween Parade, New York City
Back this year for its 43rd edition, The Village Halloween Parade is one of the Big Apple’s most celebrated Halloween events, with hundreds of giant puppets, dancers, artists and bands taking part, along with thousands of New Yorkers. And while only those in costume can march with the parade, anyone is welcome to watch it pass by, from 6th avenue all the way to 16th Street.
Halloween in New OrleansÂ
The Halloween parade garnering the most attention in New Orleans is the Krewe of Boo, which became the city’s official parade of this ghoulish occasion in 2007. The impressive three-dimensional props are the main attraction here, created by the Kern artists who also build the floats for events like Mardi Gras.
West Hollywood Carnaval, Los AngelesÂ
The West Hollywood Carnaval is known to be one of the biggest parties of the year, and the half a million people who attend the event are testament to that. Arrive in costume to celebrate with the crowds on Santa Monica Boulevard and catch the moment the Queen of Carnaval is crowned.Â
Howl-O-Ween in Park City, UtahÂ
A Halloween celebration unlike any other can be found in Park City, Utah, where Howl-O-Ween takes place. On Main Street, costumed festivalgoers arrive to join in on trick or treating the shops along this stretch, before the Howl-O-Ween parade of costumed dogs begins.
Halloween in Orlando, FloridaÂ
Orlando is bursting with celebrations over Halloween, even claiming to be the ‘Halloween capital of the world’, with more than 130 Halloween theme park event nights taking place, alongside an array of other festivities. From Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park, to Sea World’s Spooktacular, this a Halloween destination for the whole family.
Join us on a journey to any one of these exciting destinations, from discovering soulful New Orleans on the Tastes and Sounds of the South trip, to exploring the old Wild West on our Western Frontiers excursion.
Image credits: Cover photo © iStock / knape. Halloween Decorations © iStock / Man_With_No_Name. Halloween Parade © iStock / Manuela Krause. Pumpkins © iStock / unrestedm.