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If you've been counting down the days to Halloween since, well, last Halloween, then it's time to pack your bags and head to the real-life Halloweentown. Yes, you heard that right! The much-loved Disney original movie "Halloweentown," which first bewitched us back in 1998, was filmed in the charming little town of St. Helens, Oregon.
Imagine wandering through a place filled with magic and wonder, where Marnie Piper's mystical adventures come to life. Take it back to Halloween town circa 1998: a town square with an iconic jack-o'-lantern, skeletons driving taxis, and family secrets involving witches and warlocks. If all this makes you feel a delightful twinge of childhood nostalgia, then it's time to dive back into the magic and experience Halloweentown in real life! (For more fall fun check out Best Places to Visit in October in the USA for Fall Leaves)
Explore The Real-Life Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon
Every October, the quaint town of St. Helens, Oregon, transforms into the enchanting and spooky world of Halloweentown. As the filming site of the nostalgic Disney movie, St. Helens pulls out all the stops with its Spirit of Halloweentown celebration. The festivities kick off with the lighting of the Great Pumpkin in the city plaza and continue every weekend with parades, costume contests, trick-or-treating in the Old Town District, haunted tours, and scarecrow displays. The town’s transformation is truly magical, with decorations and photo ops at every corner, including carved pumpkin displays and a replica of Benny the skeleton cab driver’s taxi!
As you wander through the town, you'll find shop windows filled with Halloween displays, from carved wooden pumpkins to real life Halloweentown accessories. The courthouse plaza, known as Pumpkin Plaza, glows with a giant pumpkin reminiscent of the movie. Ghouls and ghosts takeover sidewalk signposts, and you might even spot a cloaked skeleton enjoying a coffee at an outdoor café. For "Twilight" fans, Bella's house is just a short trip away, adding another layer of spooky vibes to your visit.
What to See in Real Life Halloweentown
For die-hard Halloweentown fans, these must-see spots will bring the movie's magic to life before your eyes!
- Visit Aggie Cromwell’s House: 3814 SE Martins Street
- Lighting of the Giant Pumpkin: Halloweentown Plaza
- Hitch a ride in Benny’s Cab: Parked along Halloweentown Plaza (slightly different from the movie cab but Benny will be in the driver’s seat!)
- Wait around at the iconic Halloweentown Bus Stop: Halloweentown Plaza
- Stroll through City Hall/Courthouse Plaza: Halloweentown Plaza at 275 Strand Street
What to do in Halloweentown?
While the city of St. Helens is always open, the real festivities for Halloweentown begin in late September. Kicking off with the lighting of the giant pumpkin in Halloweentown Plaza, the celebrations reach full swing on the first weekend of October (October 4th - 6th, 2024). Join the excitement of the pumpkin lighting ceremony right after the Big Halloween Parade. The beloved giant pumpkin will stay lit throughout October, leading up to Halloween.
You can purchase general admission tickets on the official Spirit of Halloweentown website. Look forward to an enchanting and spooky celebration filled with:
- Haunted Houses
- The Big Halloween Parade
- Pumpkin Lighting Ceremony
- Iconic movie set locations
How to get to Halloweentown?
Located just a 40-minute drive from Portland and about 2.5 hours from Seattle, St. Helens (sorry, we mean Halloweentown) is easily accessible for a spooky day trip or weekend getaway. Weekday parking is free and available throughout town. On weekends, parking is available for $15 if purchased in advance online, or $20 on-site. Simply enter 1810 Old Portland Road, St. Helens, OR 97051 into your GPS, and you'll find the entrance to the parking lot, where a shuttle will take you to the Spirit of Halloweentown festivities.
Remember to avoid parking in residential neighborhoods or roadsides to ensure locals can access their homes. If you are planning to spend the night, check out these cozy hotels near St. Helens, Oregon.
When to visit Halloweentown?
St. Helens, Oregon will transform into the Spirit of Halloweentown starting September 20th, 2024. The Pumpkin Lighting Ceremony and Big Halloween Parade will take place during the first weekend of October (October 4th-6th), with festivities continuing until Halloween!
For the full Halloweentown experience, visit on weekends in the early evenings to witness the lighting of the Giant Pumpkin and watch the streets come alive with magic. If you prefer a quieter visit to explore the iconic movie sights, weekdays are perfect for touring Halloweentown and reliving your favorite childhood scenes without the crowds. Whichever you choose, you'll be grinning from ear to ear as soon as you see the giant pumpkin in the town square smiling back at you!
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