John Patrick Pullen

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Dozens of jack-o\'-lanterns illuminate the lawn of a park
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Jack-o’-lanterns illuminate the lawn of Plaza Park in 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 and more.

Editor's Pick
1 min read

John Patrick Pullen

Editor's Pick
When
Sept. 18–Oct. 31, 2021
Cost: Varies
Where
Courthouse Plaza
275 Strand St.
St. Helens, Oregon

Know Before You Go

As of June 30, 2021, COVID restrictions have been lifted in Portland and the state of Oregon. While events are now allowed, some events may still be canceled, postponed or held virtually. Please check the event website for the most up-to-date information.

It’s no Legend of Sleepy Hollow or Night of the Living Dead, but one time back in the 1990s, the lovely Oregon town of St. Helens was overrun by something worse than zombies or vampires — a Hollywood movie crew! The peaceful waterfront city just 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Portland has never been the same since.

Halloweentown wasn’t St. Helens’ only brush with Hollywood: Parts of a little film called Twilight were also shot here in 2008.

Each year, St. Helens, the filming site of the otherwise forgettable Halloweentown, remembers its brush with the dollar DVD bin with The Spirit of Halloweentown, a fun, family-friendly celebration of the spookiest holiday around. Complete with costume contests, trick-or-treating through St. Helens’ Old Town District, haunted town tours and scarecrows galore, 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.

During The Spirit of Halloweentown, local merchants are dying to get you in the 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 increasing 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.

Upcoming Dates & Times

Sept. 18
Attractions, Events, Fall, Halloween

Learn More About Halloweentown and St. Helens

How much does Halloweentown cost?

General admission tickets that are good for a whole day of Halloween events start at $35. The day pass includes stage performances, the haunted house, a shuttle ride to the Whispers in the Woods and the costume competition. Tickets are available online and may sell out, so make sure to get them in advance.

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 (63km) 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.

Halloween Highlights

Explore the spookier side of Portland.

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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.

a monkey and a jack-o-lantern

Halloween Events in and Around Portland

From corn mazes to dance performances, half-marathons to haunted houses, Portland provides the perfect Halloween plans for any scare-seeking witch or warlock.

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Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels

In the late 1850s, a lonely logger might get more than he bargained for at his local tavern. See Portland's historic underbelly on a Shanghai Tunnel tour.