Spirit of Halloweentown: Happening Now. An Oregon Halloween town on the Columbia River with a month-long Halloween themed festival celebration! Located in the Pacific Northwest city of St. Helens where Halloweentown 
(Amazon Double Feature), the Disney movie was actually filmed.
2021 Dates & Information
It’s almost time!
September 18 – October 31, 2021
Be ready for October 2021 here in St Helens, Oregon.
Everything is going as planned for Halloweentown this year!
Covid Restrictions?
Yes, that’s right. Everything indicates they are going on as scheduled with no written-in-stone Covid-19 restrictions.
They say they “may” limit capacity on weekends so “buy your tickets early” but we know from last year’s dismal turn out this is just a marketing ploy.
They also say “we want you to wear masks in our city” so it sounds like this is a freedom of choice thing. No one truly wants to wear a mask outside unless of course, it is a Halloween mask.
Halloweentown Location
Courthouse Plaza at The Historic Riverfront District
275 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR (map)
General Admission Ticket Prices
But there is an important update!
You must buy tickets if you plan on attending on the weekend this year.
You can buy tickets online.
A new update, while they were selling General Admission Tickets for weekends only, and a separate package that had attractions, they now claim that “General Admission” includes those attractions.
So per a recent change of wording on the website and new information, it is “free to walk around” as it was in years prior to Covid. They just did not update their website with the proper wording for this and oddly sold 2 ticket packages, one which very clearly stated General Admission on weekends only and a second which included attraction names.
It kind of seems like it did not work out and they changed their mind mid-month but as it stands now they are back to the walk-around for free model even though they are selling General Admission Tickets alongside attraction tickets.
The good news is it is cheaper than last year. Seems like they learned the hard way that ripping people off won’t bring crowds.
Another positive note, General Admission tickets do include Haunted House/Hotel and Whispers in the Woods however, you can buy those separately as well.
Prices are listed below.
Haunted House/Hotel Ticket Prices
Open 7 days a week, all ages. 2 and under are free.
Monday-Friday: $10 – $15
Saturday & Sunday: $15 – $20
Whispers in the Woods
Weekends only.
Saturday & Sundays: $5 – $27
Location: North First Street inside Parking Lot St. Helens, OR 97051
Parking Cost:
Parking is included with your General Admission ticket and you must park at the following address on the weekends.
If you do not have a ticket then the cost of parking is $15.
451 Plymouth Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
Don’t forget to wear your Halloween Costume
Yes, everyone dresses up for Halloweentown and it’s always fun to show off your costume.
Here are our top picks for this years Halloween Costumes available from Amazon!
Hotel Options
You do not have many options for local lodging in this small town of St. Helens. Here are the few recommended options that will be sold out fast.
Be sure to call because operations may be different with the “current situation”.
- Best Western Oak Meadows Inn (503) 397-3000
- Motel 6 at Village Inn Restaurant (503) 397-1490
- Deer Island Manor
- Nobb Hill B&B
- AirBnB
Whatever you do, don’t stay in Portland! You may end up wanting to move there but we can give you 47 reasons not to move to Portland.
Nestled away on the beautiful Columbia River in the Northwest quadrant of Oregon, just 30 miles outside of Portland, you will find Halloweentown for the entire month of October. Yes, that’s right, a town that celebrates Halloween all month long! The actual name of the city is St. Helens, Oregon. It is located on Highway 30 in Columbia County in the Columbia Gorge. This area is so beautiful, it is worth the drive alone. It is located between Portland and the coast, so if you wanted to make a beach day out of the trip, you could stay in a local hotel overnight.
Do you have all of these earthquake survival supplies?
The events take place every weekend in October at the Courthouse Plaza in the Historic Riverfront District. It’s quite epic for a small Oregon town.
Photo Credit Facebook
Spirit of Halloweentown Events and Attractions
These events are listed in no particular order. You must check the official Columbia County schedule for actual times and dates. Also, note that these are not all free events. This information is also provided for you on the official documentation.
- Lighting of the Great Pumpkin
- Bonfires
- Costume contests for humans and pets
- Parades
- Live music
- Street performances
- Haunted tours
- Pumpkin patch
- Treasure hunts
- Pumpkin carving contest
- Pony rides
- Happy hours for adults
- Paranormal convention
- Tractor Rides
- Family Fun
- Pumpkin Patch
- Hot Rod Hearse Rally
- Ghost talks
- Tarot card readings
- Face painting
- Celebrity meet and photo ops
- Giant scarecrows
- Lots of local food vendors
- And much more!
Check out these Halloween Address Labels! And tons of other custom printed labels.
Be prepared to see a lot of great Halloween costumes, pumpkin carvings, spooky decorations, creative local businesses, and more! Many great photo ops, street performances, treasure hunts, and more. An enjoyable weekend packed full of family fun in Halloween Town, St. Helens, Oregon.
How did Halloweentown Start?
It all goes back to 1997 when a Disney film crew showed up to the Oregon city of St. Helens to film a cult classic by the name of Halloweentown. The locals really got into the spirit of the set and decided to do a Halloween themed month-long celebration every year from then on out. Now the town transforms into a month-long festival annually for kids and families from all around. They expect up to 10,000 people on a peak night in the month of October.
Is Halloweentown Free?
No. Not anymore. For one, nothing is free, and you know that. Due to “safety concerns”, they will charge you top dollar.
Watch the video! It’s a great place for the kids and family!
Please check out our Day Hike Equipment Guide.
Tina Curry says
Halloweentown is free to visit and you can even get free parking if you spend 15 with any vendor. If you go to attractions they cost but are all sold out. There are free activities too. Last year was restricted to 250 due to covid.
Halloweetown Resident Ghoul (and business owner) says
THERE IS NO LONGER A COST TO COME TO ST HELENS AND ENJOY THE PLAZA, DISPLAYS, STREET PERFORMERS, OR VENDORS.
Cost is for HAUNTED HOUSES, TOURS, HAY RIDES. Getting your photos with the Pumpkin and that instaworthy stuff is FREE! (actually, it is paid for by local businesses who support the event to market themselves and our town development)… it is also free to park on the street in town.
The streets are closed Saturday and Sunday which allows for kids to run around, witches to dance, and ghouls to carry adult beverages.
OCTOBER 30th and 31st Business all have Trick or Treating 4-6, Saturday is also the kids parade at 4.
Pengui says
35 dollars for 3 and up is a Lot to walk on your pavement!!!
Russ Kamp says
Hello, when is the Haunted Hot Rod Hurst show?
Ron Wessle says
Watched the movie recently so I decided to take the kids to see the big pumpkin. We paid $45 to walk around and see store fronts. I don’t recommend visiting. We met the actress who played Marty but I never cared for her it would’ve been better to meet Sophie she carried the movies anyways. She was always been the better witch.
Michael J Johnson says
What day this year is the lightning of the great pumpkin for the Halloween town event?
Sierra says
I have been wanting to go here since I was a little kid. And now that I have kids of my own who are finally old enough to go I have decided to come here to buy tickets but after reading the reviews I think we will have to pass. I’m so sad. We were going to drive 9 hours just to visit here. Dang.