The Parade’s On Pause, But Halloweentown in Oregon Is Still a Halloween Favorite

by | Sep 29, 2024 | Entertainment, Events, Family Fun, Featured, Festivals, Halloween, Holidays, Interesting, Movies, Northern Oregon, Things To Do, Travel

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Who's ready for spooky season? The Spirit of Halloweentown will be back in full swing this October, turning St. Helens, Oregon into a month-long Halloween extravaganza. While the beloved Halloween parade won’t be part of the festivities this year, there’s still plenty of spooky fun to be had. The parade was unfortunately put on hold due to safety concerns from the sheer size of the event, but don’t worry, there's still a lot to look forward to at this year's celebration!

Halloweentown Is One Of The Biggest Halloween Events In Oregon Each Year

A large metal pumpkin lit up at night.
Photo via the Spirit Of Halloweentown Facebook.

The Spirit of Halloweentown has become an October tradition for many Oregonians, kicking off on the last weekend of September and running through the end of October on select nights. The event celebrates the 1998 Disney Channel movie Halloweentown, which was filmed in St. Helens. This year, the town square will once again feature the iconic giant jack-o-lantern (a nod to the one in the movie), and the streets will be filled with eerie decorations and Halloween themed excitement, including roaming entertainers like jugglers, Supernova the strong woman, and Radiance Works the fire-eater. Check out the full list of performers here.

Meet Some Of The Stars From Hocus Pocus And Halloweentown

Kathy Najimy of the movie Hocus Pocus.
Kathy Najimy of the movie Hocus Pocus.

One of the biggest highlights of this year's celebration in St. Helens will be the guest appearances of various movie stars. Kathy Najimy, the hilarious Mary Sanderson from Hocus Pocus, will be making a special appearance. She'll be joining the fun for meet-and-greets along with two cast members from the original Halloweentown movie. Phillip Van Dyke (Luke the Goblin) and J. Paul Zimmerman (Dylan Piper) of Halloweentown will also be on hand to connect with fans and share in the magic of spooky season.

Halloweentown 2024 Tickets And Events

Two people stand in front of a large, spooky carving of a pumpkin head scarecrow.
Photo by Kim Watkins Rocks via Google Local.

From haunted house tours and oddity exhibits to a spooky train ride through “Nightmare on 4th Street” and live performances at the Boo Bash Pavilion, there's no shortage of things to do. See the full list of attractions and exhibits here.

A crowd gathers in front of a massive pumpkin at night.
Photo via the Spirit Of Halloweentown Facebook page

This year $45 for adults and $25 for kids gets you access to all of the ticketed activities and attractions. There's also a $20 'haunted house only' ticket. It should be noted that parking costs $30 and includes a round trip shuttle trip from the parking lot to the event.

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A large pumpkin headed scarecrow sits on a massive wooden chair next to a carved wooden totem pole made of jack-o-lanterns.
Photo by Skyler O'Connor via Google Local.

Should I wait to buy tickets at the event, or buy online? You can save time and money by buying tickets online in advance.

If you’re just looking to soak in the atmosphere without a ticket, there are still a few free activities to enjoy. The vendors' village and Pumpkin Plaza are open to everyone, and the jack-o'-lantern lighting ceremony in the plaza (held every Saturday at 7:30 p.m.) is another crowd favorite that doesn’t require admission.

What are some of the other events that will be going on during the celebration? People get revved up for the haunted hot rod show, costume contests, live performances and entertainers at Pumpkin Plaza, the haunted house, Oddities Museum, Alien Experience, and all sorts of games at the Boo Bash Pavilion.

A crowd gathers in front of a massive pumpkin at night.
Photo via Spirit Of Halloweentown Facebook

Will there be any sort of tour of filming locations for the Halloweentown movie? You can take a self-guided tour and discover the history behind some of the most iconic filming spots from Disney's Halloweentown movie.

Will there be food available at the festival? You can find food at the Vendor Village, along with spooky crafts, and all kinds of seasonal treats! Local shops and eateries will also be open. For those looking for a drink, there will be walk up 'elixir stations' scattered around Halloweentown.

Spirit Of Halloweentown Dates, 2024

A large, spooky carving of a pumpkin head scarecrow.
Photo by Byron Ohler via Google Local.

Not sure which day to go check out Halloweentown? Here's a list of dates. You'll want to check out the event calendar to see what's going on each day to decide which day you want to visit the most.

  • Sunday, September 29th
  • Saturday, October 5th
  • Sunday, October 6th
  • Saturday, October 12th
  • Sunday, October 13th
  • Saturday, October 19th
  • Sunday, October 20th
  • Saturday, October 26th
  • Sunday, October 27th
  • Thursday, October 31st (Limited activities this day - just the retail store, little spook's walk, and trick-or-treating).
A large metal pumpkin lit up at night. There are purple lights lighting up the trees and landscape behind it.
Photo via the Spirit Of Halloweentown Facebook page.

Whether you're a fan of Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, or just love the spooky season, this year’s Spirit of Halloweentown promises to be a thrilling experience. From stage performances to roaming entertainers and delicious food, St. Helens will be buzzing with Halloween fun all month long. Don’t miss your chance to visit this charming town-turned-Halloween wonderland!


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Written By Jessica Tomlinson

Jessica Tomlinson is a native Oregonian currently living in Southern Oregon. She has been blogging since 2006. She loves nature, photography, hiking, camping, and exploring Oregon's wilds.

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