Photo: Spirit of Halloweentown / Facebook
How much do you love Halloween?
While some people are satisfied with one spooky night of autumn delight, there's one town south of the border that takes the holiday to another level.
Located in Oregon roughly an hour outside of Portland, the City of St. Helens celebrates Halloween for the entire month of October. The city calls the annual celebration Halloweentown, and it offers a plethora of things to do for people of all ages. Named after the 1998 movie Halloweentown, the city was the main filming location.
According to Discover Columbia County, guests may visit the festival free of charge and there are plenty of free activities to enjoy, too. There are also a number of paid activities but the organizers note that it is cheaper to purchase the One Big Ticket Pass. This pass may be used over two days at your convenience. What's more, the big ticket includes unlimited free Shuttle to uptown anytime you wish - but there are limited to shuttle hours. A number of activities take place within steps of the drop off locations, and the shuttle will allow you to make the most of your time in the city.
Visitors may enjoy vendor carts with scrumptious foods on the weekends, and there are also several restaurants and pubs in St. Helens by the square.
As for free activities, guests may enjoy may take photos by the decorated Courthouse Plaza, and they can also enjoy the following:
- Go on a Self-Guided Haunted Tour. Tour maps are available at the front desk of City Hall during regular business hours. City Hall is closed for lunch. Cuts+ across from Plaza Square also has these walking maps.
- Enjoy the Scarecrow Trail throughout the business district and other locations. Drive by or enjoy a stop at The Gravehound at Drake’s Towing & Recovery located at 2135 Gable Road.
- Enjoy a ghostly walk in downtown St. Helens and watch for the storefront displays, apparitions & special effects.
There is also a Family Friendly Haunted House, a Halloween Costume Dinner Party, psychic readings, a witches fire and dance show, a tiny parade of pumpkins, the festival of the faeries, an Alien Museum & Experience, and much more.
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Daily information can be found at the kiosk in the corner of Courthouse Plaza (by the pumpkin). Organizers state that it looks like an igloo (so Canadians don't struggle to locate it - joke), and it's the first stop for One Big Ticket Holders.
You can find out more information about Halloweentown here.
