Halloween may only come once a year, but you can celebrate it all month long in the beautiful town of St. Helens.

Credit: City of St. Helens

The Spirit of Halloweentown

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

1 min read

John Patrick Pullen

It’s no “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” or” Night of the Living Dead,” but once in the 1990s, the peaceful waterfront city of St. Helens was overrun by something worse than zombies or headless horsemen — a Hollywood movie crew! Now, every October the lovely Oregon town just 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Portland transforms into a Halloween haven.

Learn More About Spirit of Halloweentown and St. Helens

When do the festivities begin?

Decorations are on display from September 28 through Halloween. There are some activities during weekdays, and each weekend has a different Halloween theme with special guests and scheduled events, so be sure to check the official calendar for more details. Details are subject to change; please check Spirit of Halloweentown’s website for current information.

How much does Halloweentown cost?

The town is open to the public, and pumpkin displays, pirates and performances on the plaza are always free.

General admission tickets for a day of Halloween events start at $45. (Individual tickets to some events are also available, starting at $12.) The day pass includes stage performances, the haunted house, shuttle rides, costume competitions, and more.

Tickets are available online and may sell out; get them in advance. Parking is limited on weekends; check the official site for more details on costs, lots and shuttle availability. Details are subject to change; please check Spirit of Halloweentown’s website for current information.

Is the town of St. Helens where the volcano is?

The town of St. Helens gets its name from the active volcano Mount St. Helens. But don’t let that spook you. The town has views of Mount St. Helens, but it is still 39 miles (63 km) away.

How many “Halloweentown” movies are there?

All told, there are four “Halloweentown” movies. The original “Halloweentown,” the one partly shot in St. Helens, came out in 1998. “Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge” came out in 2001. “Halloweentown High” (also known as “Halloweentown 3”) came out in 2004. And the final movie, “Return to Halloweentown,” came out in 2006.

Has anything else been filmed in town?

St. Helens, Oregon, was also a filming location for the “Twilight” movie series, featuring several homes, stores and street locations. Actors from the “Twilight” movies often make an appearance during Spirit of Halloweentown activities; check the official Spirit of Halloweentown’s website for more details.

Each year, St. Helens, the filming site of the nostalgic favorite “Halloweentown,” remembers its entry into lighthearted Halloween canon with Spirit of Halloweentown, a fun, family-friendly celebration of the spookiest holiday around. The celebration of the creepiest day of the year extends into every weekend in October, starting with the lighting of the Great Pumpkin in the city plaza.

Events include costume contests, trick-or-treating through St. Helens’ Old Town District, haunted tours and scarecrows galore. Visitors will find a fun atmosphere, decorations and photo opportunities at every turn, including carved pumpkin displays and a replica of the vintage taxi driven by the skeleton cab driver Benny in the “Halloweentown” movie.

a giant pumpkin sculpture surrounded by smaller pumpkin baskets is lit at night in front of a town hall — The town of St. Helens transforms itself into a spooktacular destination each year.

cars make their way through a crowded parade route — Cheer on your favorite characters at the St. Helens Big Halloween Parade — you just might get a sweet treat.

a large crowd waiting in a town square for the annual pumpkin lighting — The giant pumpkin is lit on the first Saturday of October following the Big Halloween Parade and stays lit at night for the month-long celebrations in St. Helens.

a crowd of kids dressed in halloween costumes posing for a photo on the steps of a building — The historic town of St. Helens celebrates Halloween all October long with haunted tours, costume contests, celebrity appearances and more.

two dressed skeletons with wigs on sitting in the front seat of a car — Start your engines and join the fun at the annual Haunted Hot Rods in St. Helens.

a woman and a child dressed up as Maleficent for Halloween — The peaceful waterfront city of St. Helens, just 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Portland, hosts the annual family-friendly Spirit of Halloweentown.

two people in costumes, one dressed as Deadpool and one as Link, pose for a photo on a sidewalk — With an array of events from costume contests to tarot card readings, you'll want to be dressed and ready for action when visiting the St. Helens Spirit of Halloweentown.

a crowd of people dressed as witches walk in a parade — There will be plenty of witches and witchy activities to entertain the crowds at the Spirit of Halloweentown in St. Helens.

five people dressed in Mandalorian costumes for Halloween — Grab your friends and put on your costumes — you just may win a prize at the St. Helens Spirit of Halloweentown's costume contest.

a skeleton sits in the back of a hearse — The town of St. Helens celebrates all things spooky at the Spirit of Halloweentown annual festival.

During Spirit of Halloweentown, local merchants are dying to get you in the spooky spirit, with costume shops stocking everything from frisky vampire getups to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shells. And with an array of events from ghost talks, tarot card readings and face painting leading up to the big day, you’ll want to be dressed and ready for action. So be sure not to miss it, or you’ll be haunted with regret — at least until next year.