To most, Halloween is merely known as the holiday for trick-or-treating and costume parties. However, the traditions and beliefs revolving round the holiday differ from one part of the world to the other. The following 10 cities from around the world are the coolest yet spookiest around the end of October every year. Whichever city you choose to be your Halloween getaway destination, we promise you that it will take your breath away.
How to Celebrate Halloween This Year!
Celebrating Halloween is almost on everyone’s list. You will find people around you preparing for this Halloween season, buying, making, crafting spooky stuff to keep up the spirits of celebration. It all depends on you how you celebrate some event, but Halloween comes with its own aurora. You don’t need us to tell you how you should celebrate Halloween. It all depends on you!
Want to Celebrate Halloween? Here are the top cities around world:
- Mexico
- Salem, Massachusetts, USA
- Ireland
- Transylvania, Romania
- Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
- London, England
- New York City, New York, USA
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Hollywood, California, USA
- Long Beach, California, USA
Mexico
In Mexico, Halloween is called the Day of the Dead. The event is a three-day celebration which ensues from October 31st each year to the November 2nd. Every city in Mexico celebrates the three-day event differently. It is believed that the spirits return on these three days every year so as to spend time with the ones they love. In Janitzio, elaborate rituals take place such as families gathering in cemeteries by night, folk dancing and fishermen carrying torches in their rowboats. Near Acapulco, in Oaxaca, costumed folk conduct a massive street festival going around decorating the place with skeletons, skulls and flowers.
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
As soon as October starts, the Halloween festive cheer descends upon Salem. From tours to the most infamous haunted spots to hanging and trial re-enactments, parades, fireworks and witch’s circles, the town has plenty to offer for the horror hungry. The Witch House Museum is one of the more popular places to visit. It used to be the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the judges in the Salem witch trials. It is also one of the last remaining building which are directly related to the trials. On the night of Halloween, the town explodes in séances, magic shows, witch balls and fireworks.
Ireland
Halloween originated in Ireland and that is what makes it one of the best places to celebrate the holiday in. It is called Samhain Night and the medieval Irish festival marks the ending of the harvest. The dead are believed to visit the mortal world during this time of the year. The best Halloween celebrations take place in Derry City. The Banks of the Floyle Halloween Carnival operates for nine days celebrating the larger spooks in life. From a Dragon Safari to fireworks, ghost tours and parades, there is a slew of activities to indulge in for an unforgettable experience.
Transylvania, Romania
Romania as a country is famed for its creepy nature. The stunning forests and Gothic architecture only help in adding to this repute. The Bran Castle is the main attraction of the city as it is fabled to one be home to Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The castle is open to the public and it makes for the perfect trip on Halloween night. There are plenty of specialty Halloween tours that go around discovering mysterious legends of the city. All you need on you is a costume.
Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
Washington Irving’s legend of the Headless Horseman makes Sleepy Hollow the ideal spot for the perfect Halloween spook. One of the most popular Halloween attractions of the place is the 300-year old Phillipsburg Manor. It is transformed to feature witched, vampires and ghosts that look too real to be true. The Lyndhurst Castle contains a tour to meet the spirits of the Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein’s and the Mummy. The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is one place you definitely do not want to miss out on. After all, it is where Washington Irving was buried.
London, England
London is the hub of spooky and cool Halloween events. The Dungeon is a popular place to get a real scare – it has successfully sent visitors into panic attacks since 1976. You will come to meet villains such as Sweeny Todd and Jack the Ripper. There are 14 shows in total alongside 3 scary rides. If you are not into intense scary expeditions, then you can simply walk through the city to find plenty of other tours and activities to take part in. From the churchyard haunted by Queen Isabella to the site of Sir William Wallace’s execution, there’s a place for everyone and everything in London.
New York City, New York, USA
Come Halloween and the New York City Village Halloween Parade will completely shut down lower Manhattan. Drawing visitors from all over the world, the parade was established in 1974. It features costumes, dancers and massive mile-long puppets. This parade is literally everything there is to satisfy your Halloween hungry spirit. A Crypt Crawl after-dark even also exists taking people below the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and multiple ghost walks. The city is chockful of haunted attractions that go all out for the annual holiday.
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
The most celebrated time of the year in New Orleans is Mardi Gras. Halloween comes as a close second. The city already has a repute for voodoo and the paranormal. This calls for one of the most incredible Halloween experiences. The largest Halloween street parties can be found on Frenchmen Street. The city’s celebrations of the holiday are over the top in all the stunning ways imaginable.
Hollywood, California, USA
On Halloween, Universal Studios in Hollywood shows you a brilliant side to the wonders of a haunted theme park. The wonderland of horrors will satiate your darkest horror cravings. The special effects and attractions that will leave you screaming (in pleasure or horror, I know not) are the ultimate Halloween escape. If you want to avoid the theme park, you can always attend the largest Halloween party in the world. On the streets of Santa Monica Blvd, more than 500,000 people in West Hollywood celebrate the Halloween Carnaval. One of the biggest events in Los Angeles, the Carnaval is free to attend and lasts from 6pm-11pm on Halloween night.
Long Beach, California, USA
The Queen Mary cruise liner, docked at Long Beach in California is one of the best places to spend Halloween. The Dark Harbor event begins on October 1st every year and it lasts all month long. It features rides, live shows, monsters and six infamous mazes which are haunted by over 200 ghostly spirits. Definitely do not take children with you to the event.
For an unforgettable Halloween this year (and the next 10 years) make sure to visit each of these cities. Not only will you gain insight into the Halloween celebrations of different places from around the world, but you will undoubtedly have a great time as well. Come October and the world lights up from every spooky corner there is.