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A mandrill celebrates Howloween at the Oregon Zoo.

Credit: Michael Durham

Halloween Events in and Around Portland

Embrace the season’s spooky spirit with an array of annual festivities.

From corn mazes to costume parties, half-marathons to haunted houses, Portland provides the perfect Halloween plans for any scare-seeking witch or warlock. Scroll down for our editors’ picks of things to do this Halloween, from the spooky to the downright strange.

Portland’s Annual Halloween Events

The Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Returning to the Tualatin Commons every October, The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta is a cherished local event where costumed racers pilot gigantic gourds through a watercourse on Tualatin Commons lake. The event kicks off with a giant pumpkin parade and weigh-off, followed by a full day of pumpkin paddlers plying the shallow lake in 1,000-pound pumpkin boats.

Run Like Hell Marathon

Put on your best costume and get moving during the Run Like Hell Marathon. This annual walk/run follows along a paved trail where costumed runners and walkers can join in on a half marathon and compete in a costume contest simultaneously. Live music, beer, food and entertainment await the runners at the finish line.

Pumpkin Patches in and Near Portland

A favorite Halloween-time tradition in Portland is heading to one of the area’s many pumpkin patches, each packed with enormous orange pumpkins and tons of family-friendly activities (think petting zoos, live music, shopping, food and drinks). Enjoy hayrides, corn mazes (both haunted and not) and apple cider galore.

Spirit of Halloweentown

Every October, St. Helens (the filming site of the classic movie Halloweentown) remembers its brush with fame with The Spirit of Halloweentown, a fun, family-friendly celebration of the season’s spookiest holiday around. Expect costume contests, trick-or-treating through St. Helens’ Old Town District, haunted town tours and scarecrows galore (the town even lights a “Great Pumpkin” in the city plaza).

Haunted Houses

Portland likes its scares as much as any other city and has the haunted houses to prove it. Some of the biggest annual options include Underhill Haunted House at the Moda Center and The Fear PDX Haunted House. Oaks Amusement Park also boasts Oregon’s only scream park, Oaks Park Scaregrounds. You can walk through haunted attractions and then hop on a roller coaster for even more screams.

Portland Oddities & Curiosities Expo

The Oddities & Curiosities Expo showcases hand-selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird. Stroll around the Oregon Convention Center while shopping for items such as taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork and horror/Halloween-inspired pieces.

Howloween

The Oregon Zoo celebrates the spooky season with Howloween. This fun and safe Halloween tradition invites costumed trick-or-treaters to learn about healthy habitats for wildlife, see a magic show and guess the weight of the giant pumpkin.

All Halloween Activities

Embrace the season’s spooky spirit with an array of annual festivities.

Go To October Events

The Corn Maize on Sauvie Island

The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.

Portland Costume Shops

People in Portland like to dress up all year! Find vintage duds, professional makeup and fabulous wigs at these favorite Portland costume shops.

Haunted Portland

Portland is rife with spooky lore and tales of things that go bump in the night; find them with these mysterious spots and spirited walking tours.

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.

Pumpkin Patches in and Near Portland

Get swept up in that autumnal feeling at these friendly farms just outside of Portland with U-pick pumpkin patches and fun family activities like hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos and festive autumn food and drink.

The Spirit of Halloweentown

The historic town of St. Helens, located 45 minutes from Portland, celebrates Halloween all month long with haunted tours, costume contests and more.