Halloween has become a global celebration, and more travelers are seeking unique and spooky destinations to celebrate this frightful season. From haunted hotel stays and ghost tours to eerie festivals and thrilling costume parties, Halloween travel is a trend that continues to grow. Let’s dive into the top Halloween travel trends, where to go, and what eerie activities you can experience this spooky season.
Key Takeaways
- Whether you’re looking for a chilling haunted experience or a festive, family-friendly celebration, these Halloween travel trends offer something for every type of traveler
- From haunted hotels to eerie festivals, Halloween has evolved
Haunted Hotel Stays
More travelers are choosing to stay in haunted hotels for a spine-tingling Halloween getaway. These historic properties, often with tales of paranormal activity, offer special Halloween experiences like ghost tours, themed dinners, and spooky décor.
Top Spots
- Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado (USA): Famous for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining, this hotel offers ghost tours and special Halloween events. Guests can stay in the notoriously haunted Room 217.
- Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta (Canada): Known as the “Castle in the Rockies,” this historic hotel has long been rumored to be haunted by ghostly figures, including a bride who died tragically on her wedding day.
- The Langham Hotel, London (UK): With over 150 years of history, this luxurious hotel is home to several ghost sightings, including a German prince and a butler who haunt its halls.
Spooky Festivals and Parades
Halloween festivals and parades are becoming must-attend events for travelers. These events often include elaborate costumes, live entertainment, themed street markets, and spooky installations, making them a vibrant way to celebrate Halloween.
Top Activities
- Village Halloween Parade, New York City (USA): One of the largest Halloween parades in the world, this iconic event draws thousands of participants dressed in extravagant costumes. Visitors can join the parade or watch the spectacle from the streets.
- Derry Halloween, Northern Ireland: Derry is known as one of the best places in Europe to celebrate Halloween, with a week-long festival featuring haunted house tours, street performances, fireworks, and ghostly parades.
- Fantasy Fest, Key West, Florida (USA): While not strictly Halloween-themed, this wild street party in late October features extravagant costumes, parades, and celebrations that perfectly align with the spooky season.
Ghost Tours and Haunted Walks
One of the most popular Halloween travel trends is exploring haunted sites through ghost tours and paranormal walks. These experiences offer a mix of history and eerie stories, taking travelers through some of the most haunted spots around the world.
Top Activities
- Edinburgh Ghost Tours (Scotland): Edinburgh’s dark history is brought to life on these ghost tours, which explore haunted underground vaults and graveyards with spooky tales of torture and spirits.
- Savannah Ghost Tours (Georgia, USA): Often called the most haunted city in the U.S., Savannah’s ghost tours lead travelers through historic cemeteries, haunted houses, and dark alleys filled with ghostly legends.
- Prague Ghost Walks (Czech Republic): This ancient city is steeped in eerie legends, from alchemists to medieval torture chambers. Prague’s atmospheric old town is the perfect backdrop for a night of ghostly exploration.
Pumpkin Patches and Harvest Festivals
For a more family-friendly Halloween experience, many travelers are visiting destinations known for their pumpkin patches, harvest festivals, and fall-themed events. These locations offer activities like pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and hayrides, providing a festive autumn vibe.
Top Activities
- Salem, Massachusetts (USA): Famous for its witch trials, Salem turns into a Halloween wonderland in October. In addition to witch-themed tours, the town hosts pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and a month-long celebration of Halloween.
- Great Pumpkin Farm, Clarence, New York (USA): This massive pumpkin farm is perfect for families looking to celebrate Halloween. Visitors can enjoy pumpkin picking, corn mazes, spooky hayrides, and Halloween-themed activities.
- Vancouver Pumpkin Patch at Richmond Country Farms (Canada): A picturesque pumpkin patch with family-friendly activities like wagon rides, corn mazes, and seasonal treats.
Costume-Themed Parties and Cruises
Destination Halloween parties are becoming more extravagant, with some resorts and cruise lines hosting themed events where guests can dress up and enjoy Halloween in style. These events often include live entertainment, costume contests, and spooky décor.
Top Activities
- West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval (California, USA): The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is one of the biggest street parties in the U.S., drawing thousands of costumed revelers for an over-the-top celebration.
- Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios (Orlando and Los Angeles, USA): A top destination for thrill-seekers, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights transforms the park into a terrifying experience with haunted houses, scare zones, and immersive horror attractions.
- Halloween on the High Seas, Disney Cruise Line: For a family-friendly experience, Disney Cruises offers “Halloween on the High Seas,” complete with costume parties, themed entertainment, and trick-or-treating at sea.
Abandoned Locations and Dark Tourism
For those looking to push the boundaries of their Halloween adventure, dark tourism destinations are trending. These locations, often with disturbing histories, offer travelers a glimpse into haunted or eerie sites associated with tragedy or the supernatural.
Top Activities
- Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine: While not for the faint-hearted, a visit to Chernobyl during Halloween offers a chilling experience. Explore the abandoned town of Pripyat, with eerie remnants of the nuclear disaster still visible today.
- The Catacombs of Paris (France): Descend into the depths of Paris to explore miles of tunnels filled with the skeletal remains of over six million people. The catacombs are especially eerie during Halloween.
- Aokigahara Forest (Japan): Known as the “Suicide Forest,” Aokigahara is infamous for its tragic history and ghostly atmosphere. Visitors to the area report an unsettling silence and a feeling of being watched.
Interactive Haunted Attractions
Haunted attractions are no longer limited to simple haunted houses. Today, interactive experiences immerse visitors in horror, where they can participate in storylines, interact with actors, and explore terrifying sets. These experiences offer heart-pounding thrills for Halloween travelers.
Top Activities
- The 13th Floor Haunted House (Various Locations, USA): This immersive haunted house experience is filled with elaborate sets, professional actors, and terrifying themes. Locations across the U.S. make it accessible to many Halloween thrill-seekers.
- Dr. Fright’s Halloween Nights (Northamptonshire, UK): A fully immersive scare attraction that offers themed mazes, live actors, and terrifying special effects, making it one of the UK’s premier Halloween experiences.
- Escape Room Haunts: In cities across the world, escape rooms are adding Halloween-themed events where participants must solve puzzles to escape terrifying situations, making for a fun, interactive Halloween adventure.
Final Word
Whether you’re looking for a chilling haunted experience or a festive, family-friendly celebration, these Halloween travel trends offer something for every type of traveler. From haunted hotels to eerie festivals, Halloween has evolved.
