The List: Best U.S. Cities For Trick-or-Treating, According to Experts
1. Salem, Massachusetts
Home of the infamous witch trials of 1692, Salem is an American city suffused with the essence of Halloween. Everyone from occult enthusiasts to U.S. history buffs eagerly enjoy the festive offerings of one of America’s spookiest cities. Travelers mag writes, “Salem tops our list. It is among the best places to be during Halloween, especially since the celebrations here last an entire month… Salem attracts visitors who want to experience haunted places, witchcraft, and magic. Luckily, you can tour the Salem Witch Museum for a better look into this dreadful period. When visiting, there are a few attractions you don’t want to miss. These include Burying Point Cemetery, The Witch House, Proctor’s Ledge, and Howard Street Cemetery.”
2. Sleepy Hollow, New York
The famously haunted location and home to America’s specter, the Headless Horseman, Sleepy Hollow draws annual crowds seeking a fright. This typically quiet town starts to buzz each October. The Storage Space explains, “Located just a 30-mile drive north of Manhattan, Sleepy Hollow is best known as the setting of Washington Irving’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ Halloween is when the village springs to life, with activities for every age, including haunted hayrides, mansion and cemetery tours, farmers markets, live music, street fairs, parades and runs, and visits from the Headless Horseman himself.”
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
After Mardi Gras, Halloween is NOLA’s biggest annual bash. The rich history of supernatural happenings and hauntings make an October trip to “The Big Easy” a must for Halloween lovers. Mindful Travel By Sara writes, “Did you know that New Orleans is known as the most haunted city in the United States? It goes without saying that it’s one of the coolest places to visit for Halloween in the world. The combination of its [haunted] reputation and all its… paranormal tours will make your Halloween experience truly unforgettable.”
4. Anoka, Minnesota
Anoka is host to one of the Nation’s most renowned Halloween festivals. They also boast the Nation’s oldest Halloween Parade dating back to 1920. Travelmarket Report offers more information, “About a week before Halloween, the city hosts a Light Up the Night parade. Then, on Halloween weekend, locals and visitors alike dress in costumes and walk in the famous Grande Day Parade. Other events in October include costumed Bingo nights, the coronation of the new Anoka Halloween Ambassador, and a house decorating contest.”
5. Estes Park, Colorado
This quiet Colorado town hosts a slew of Halloween events centered around the famous Stanley Hotel, from the infamous Stanley Kubrick film “The Shining” based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The Storage Space describes the some of the appeal, “Estes Park is a quaint mountain town with a lot of supernatural elements to it. Take guided ghost tours (both at the hotel and beyond), bring the kids trick or treating at businesses on Elkhorn Avenue, or simply book a room on the extra-haunted top floor of the Stanley and watch ‘The Shining’ on loop all night on the TV, which the hotel ‘graciously’ provides for free.”
