Best Halloween Festivals Around the World for Travelers

October isn’t all about costumes and candy – it’s the month when cities around the world come alive with vibrant energy, whispers of ghost stories and unforgettable celebrations. For travelers who love a mix of thrills, folklore and festive chaos, Halloween is the perfect excuse to go all out.

Forget just pumpkins at home – why not pack your bags and step into one of the world’s best Halloween destinations?

We’re talking about wandering lantern-lit streets in Europe that feel like they’re straight out of a gothic novel, or joining the locals at one of the top attractions where fiction blurs with reality.

Think of this blog as your cheat sheet of Halloween trip ideas. If you’ve ever wondered about the best places to go for Halloween, this list will help you turn October into an unforgettable adventure.

Derry Halloween Festival, Northern Ireland

If Halloween had a spiritual home, we bet it could only be Derry/Londonderry. Every October, this walled city feels like it’s slipped into a spooky realm. At this festival, Samhain legends, fire-lit parades, and Erie Street performers blur the line between past and present.

For four nights, the city becomes one of the top Halloween destinations, buzzing with music, folklore and just the right amount of mischief. And when October 31 arrives, fireworks explode above the historic walls, sealing its reputation as a great place to travel for Halloween if you want a spine-tingling thrill combined with Celtic charm.

Salem inspired events, United States

Salem is a town that needs no introduction. Every October, this historic town transforms into the Halloween capital of the world, where haunted houses groan with secrets, psychic fairs glimpse the fates, and museums promise whispers of the trials that marred history. The cherry on top is Salem Dines’ official Halloween hair. It’s a magical night of costumes, candlelight, and unmistakable scenery. And you should not miss it!

Here you can:

• Wander the cobblestone streets
• Join the Midnight Ghost Tour

For travelers chasing the best Halloween festivities around the world, Salem offers the perfect blend of history, hunts and a bit of hocus pocus.

Village Halloween Parade, New York City

If subtle scares aren’t your thing, then try New York’s Village Halloween. It’s quirky and completely unforgettable, basically the perfect place to go for Halloween. Every year, new themes keep it fresh, turning the city into a living, breathing costume party.

It’s a vibrant carnival of creativity, cementing NYC as one of the top Halloween destinations for what Halloween should be as wonderful as it is spooky.

Dracula’s Castle Halloween Party, Romania

Some Halloween tours are spooky. Others are legendary. And then there’s Bran Castle – known as Dracula’s lair – where the line between folklore and festival is deliciously blurred.

Once inside, you’ll witness vampires in costumes and late-night revelers dancing under the castle’s arches until sunrise (real Nosferato vibes!). Every October, this haunting icon transforms into one of the world’s top-rated haunted attractions, blending centuries-old legends with modern-day celebrations, making it the perfect Halloween pilgrimage.

Day of the Dead, Mexico

Forget mourning – Mexico’s Day of the Dead is a celebration where life and death share the same dinner table. Families create altars lit with marigolds, candles and favorite dishes to invite the spirit home.

The streets erupt with music, sugar skulls, and parades that combine two very different realms. It’s one of the best Halloween travel destinations for anyone who craves a mix of spirit-driven tradition and festive cheer. Here, the loved ones don’t leave – they join the party.

Kawasaki Halloween Parade, Japan

At Tokyo’s Kawasaki, Halloween replaces Kobebs for pure creativity. Thousands of costumed revelers march through the neon-lit streets, from mobile phone icons to spineless clowns.

You can expect papier-mâché heads and shadows popping like pennies. It’s quirky, chaotic and hands-down the best place to go for Halloween.

Halloweentown, Oregon, the soul of America

What if a town could turn into a Halloween movie set? That’s exactly what happens in St. Helens, Oregon, which is best known as the filming location for Disney’s Halloween Town. Every fall, its historic riverfront turns into a month-long festival of haunted houses, giant pumpkin lighting and costume parades.

Plus, you’ll catch celebrity appearances from Twilight and Halloweentown stars. This family-friendly celebration is one of the best things to do during Halloween in America, for travelers looking for some festive magic without too many scares.

Samhain Fire Festival, Scotland

In Edinburgh, Halloween doesn’t just whisper – it roars with ferocious fire. The Hypnotic Fire Festival brings ancient Celtic lore to life with drumming, acrobatics, and a fiery battle between the queens of summer and winter.

Hidden figures march with torches as the goddess Calich decides the fate of the cold months ahead. If you want more myths and magic than jump scares, this is a great place to go for Halloween. This festival doesn’t just mark the change of season. You feel it in your bones.

Vampire Balls, New Orleans, USA

There are few places on Earth that capture the dark allure of Halloween quite like New Orleans, where the night comes alive with whispers of the supernatural. In Vampire Ball of the Endless Night, you bring the character to life. Candlelit halls, velvet gowns, lace masks, and fangs glistening under chandeliers, you name it.

It feels like stumbling into a gothic novel where every corner hides a secret, and every dance sequence is magic. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to spend the night as a creature of darkness, this is where you let your shadow roam free.

Start your next adventure this Halloween!

From Derry’s Scary Parade to Salem’s Witches, the world is bursting with thrills that go far beyond tricks or treats. These adventures are portals to the other side of the world.

So, if you are looking for the best Halloween spots or thinking of cool places to go for Halloween, consider your mark to pack your bags and taste a new experience.

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