October hits differently. In fact, a few small towns throw parades & race coffins, even filling entire streets with handmade scares, to celebrate the spooky season. Here are a few small towns that go all out for Halloween. Which do you want to see in person?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Anoka, Minnesota
They call Anoka the “Halloween Capital of the World,” & they mean it. The town has been doing Halloween parades since the 1920s, and each October, Main Street fills with floats and people in excellent costumes. There’s even a 5K run that kicks off parade day. Some locals even joke that the city starts planning again the second the last parade ends.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
It’s impossible not to think of headless horsemen in Sleepy Hollow. As such, the town goes heavy on atmosphere, with glowing lanterns & ghost tours, as well as reenactments of Washington Irving’s famous story. You can walk through the Old Dutch Churchyard at night or watch a live version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow near the river. It’s as theatrical as it sounds.
St. Helens, Oregon
St. Helens is where the Disney Channel movie Halloweentown was filmed. And St. Helens leans right into it. The entire downtown dresses up for the month, including having pumpkins everywhere & themed weekends through October. There’s a parade and a haunted hotel. There are even celebrity appearances from the movie sometimes.
Galena, Illinois
Galena is one of those postcard-perfect towns that somehow gets even prettier under orange lights. Every year, they host a nighttime parade that has glowing floats & marching bands rolling past old brick storefronts. Many families line up early to see everything. Honestly, it’s small-town Midwest Halloween at its finest, which is sparkly and a little bit spooky.
Deadwood, South Dakota
Deadwood throws a Halloween party that’s half Wild West, half Mardi Gras. They call it “Deadweird.” Essentially, it’s a costume weekend featuring live bands & dancing, along with a Monster Ball at the casino. Locals & tourists fill Main Street for a massive costume contest that pays out thousands in prizes. It’s pure Halloween energy in a gold rush town.
Romeo, Michigan
Tillson Street in Romeo doesn’t mess around. Every house gets in on it, including front yards packed with handmade props & fog machines. Sometimes, there are full animatronics. Families drive from all over Michigan to walk the blocks, and locals estimate around 2,000 trick-or-treaters show up on Halloween night. And yes, the whole thing’s free.
Manitou Springs
Over in Manitou Springs, people literally race homemade coffins down the main road. It started as a way to honor a local ghost story. Soon enough, it turned into a full event with teams & costumes, as well as bragging rights for the winner. It’s genuinely the most Colorado way to celebrate Halloween because it’s just so much fun.
Independence, Kansas
Neewollah (which is “Halloween” spelled backward) takes over Independence for more than a week. Initially, it was a way to replace Mischief Night, but it became Kansas’s biggest fall festival. There are three parades & a carnival, along with concerts. There’s a chili cook-off that draws huge crowds, and locals treat it like homecoming meets Halloween.
Damariscotta, Maine
Every October, Damariscotta fills up with pumpkins so big that the people turn them into boats. Locals carve out the giants & hop inside, then paddle across the river in the Pumpkinboat Regatta. The event usually begins in mid-October. It’s right after the big weigh-off earlier in the month, and there are food tents & live music running all weekend.
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River’s Halloween celebrations all happen on the night itself. The town’s parade kicks off right at 7 p.m. on Halloween, and it’s so big they close most of downtown for it. Schools & scout troops get involved. You can register in person at the firehouse if you want to walk in the parade. But most people just come to watch.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
