The 24 Best Cities in the U.S. for Trick-or-Treating

Where are the best haunts for sweet treats and family-friendly, over-the-top Halloween celebrations? From Salem to Sleepy Hollow, there's sure to be a spooky trick-or-treating city near you.

By Manasa Reddigari and Gretchen Heber | Updated Sep 28, 2023 11:59 AM

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Young kids trick or treating at night during Halloween

Photo: istockphoto.com

Some American cities really, really love Halloween. Some have a historical connection to the frightful holiday, while others are just happy for the excuse to decorate, don crazy costumes, and celebrate to an almost obsessive level. Some towns hand out gobs of candy and others engage artisans to carve thousands of spectacular Jack-o’-lanterns. Many take great pains to ensure the trick-or-treating experience is safe for kids of all ages. For an unforgettable Halloween experience, consider a visit to one of these October-loving towns.

1. Anoka, Minnesota

Anoka, MN. Scenes from the annual Anoka Halloween Parade, self-proclaimed “Halloween Capital of the World.”

Photo: istockphoto.com

The self-proclaimed “Halloween Capital of the World,” Anoka, Minn., is a town that takes this fall holiday very seriously, with numerous parades attended by people from all over the Midwest. About 20 miles northwest of Minneapolis, Anoka is home to nearly 18,000 residents, and pretty much all of them join in the activities, which includes pumpkin carving and house decorating contests. Runners dress up in costumes to run in the 5K “Gray Ghost Run.”

2. Savannah, Georgia

Historic River Street in Savannah, Georgia

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This seaport city has long been considered one of the most haunted places in the country. If you visit, don’t miss the Hamilton-Turner Inn, Laura’s Cottage, the Marshall House, 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant, and Moon River River Brewing Co., all said to be haunted by the dead. Also check out the city’s famously beautiful cemeteries. You’ll find plenty of tour groups happy to show you around all the haunts. During the Halloween season, you’ll find Halloween-themed bar crawls, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating through Savannah’s historic district.

3. Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, MA, US-October 14, 2021: The annual Haunted Happenings festival held every October in celebration of the town's history of witch trials and of Halloween. The event was cancelled last year due to the covid-19 pandemic and is being held this year with multiple covid precautions such as masking indoors and free covid testing sites.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Salem’s annual Haunted Happenings event is among the most popular Halloween celebrations in the country. Throughout October, more than a half-million revelers attend parties, parades, and vendor fairs in Witch City. Residents and visitors also enjoy walking tours and special events. You might want to check out Bats! at Peabody Essex Museum, an exhibition all about bats and humans’ connection to them.

RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The 15 Best Outdoor Halloween Decorations of the Year

4. St. Helens, Oregon

Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon

Photo: Flickr via Amy Meredith

Capitalizing on its renown as the filming location of the 1998 Disney film “Halloweentown,” St. Helens celebrates the October holiday in a big way. The town of 14,000 residents hosts parades, costume contests overseen by a Queen of Halloween, a Witches Celebration and much more. The year 2023 will be especially meaningful as the movie celebrates its 25th anniversary, and actors from the film will be on hand to join the revelry.

5. Romeo, Michigan

Halloween decorations on Tillson street in Romeo Michigan.

Photo: Flickr via Rodney Campbell

Just shy of an hour north of Detroit, in Romeo, Mich., neighbors on Tillson Street go all out on Halloween. Decorations galore are on display during the last 2 weeks of October, and then on October 31, the trick-or-treating is next level. Safety here is top priority: Roads are shut down to vehicle traffic and groups of high school kids “patrol” Tillson Street to make sure everyone is safe and having fun. Tens of thousands of pieces of candy are handed out to kids from all over Michigan, as well as visitors from other states.

RELATED: 33 Haunted Houses, Inns, and Airbnbs You Can Stay in on Halloween—If You Dare

6. Sleepy Hollow, New York

Sleepy Hollow, NY, USA October 17, 2009 Halloween decorations resemble a ghostly Colonial barn dance in Sleepy Hollow, New York

Photo: istockphoto.com

Famous as the setting for Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” the town of Sleepy Hollow, unsurprisingly, celebrates Halloween in a big way. About 30 miles north of Manhattan, the town opens its doors in October to residents and visitors, offering haunted hayrides, tours of Gothic mansions and cemeteries, street fairs, and parades. The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze is always a top draw—it’s a display of more than 7,000 illuminated, hand-carved Jack-o’-lanterns. And, of course, local celebrations include a visit from the Headless Horseman.

7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Autumn in center city Philadelphia

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Thrill-seekers flock to this World Heritage city to explore the largest haunted house in the country, but family-friendly fare can be found at the Scarecrow Walk, Boo at the Zoo, and the city’s acclaimed historic landmarks. In the West Philadelphia neighborhood of Cobbs Creek, historic homes of diverse architectural styles serve up eye candy while residents pass out the real kind on Halloween night.

RELATED: 13 Insanely Easy Halloween Projects You Can DIY

8. San Jose, California

San Jose, California, USA - July 17th, 2023: Beautiful view of the Winchester Mansion at night

Photo: istockphoto.com

The Capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is also a hub for Halloween fun thanks to an abundance of amusement parks, observatories, and performing arts venues. Venture to West San Jose for the best trick-or-treating, or take a tour of the hauntingly beautiful historic landmark, the Winchester Mystery House.

9. San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California, USA - September 29, 2019: People enjoying outdoor activities and view of Painted Ladies houses in Alamo Square with background of city in autumn.

Photo: istockphoto.com

While the City by the Bay is known for its vibrant nightlife, trick-or-treaters can escape the bustle in the affluent alcove of Presidio Heights. Bordered by parklands and filled with old homes dressed in their Halloween best, the neighborhood offers endless spooky spectacles to make the holiday memorable.

RELATED: 10 Surprising Reasons to Start House Hunting in Fall

10. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Halloween House in Milwaukee, WI

Photo: Wikipedia via CC 2.0

Dubbed “a great place on a Great Lake,” Milwaukee offers the family-friendly charms of a Midwestern town against a backdrop of staggering natural beauty. In the Golden Valley neighborhood, Halloween revelers can trick-or-treat at nostalgic 1950s-era homes while stealing glances at the scenic Menomonee River from the Menomonee River Parkway.

11. Scottsdale, Arizona

Hot air balloons illuminated at Scottsdale's Spooktacular hot air balloon festival

Photo: Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival

Scottsdale’s Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival brings the fun of dressing up and trick-or-treating to new heights: Over 20 hot air balloons serve as trick-or-treating stations before launching skyward and lighting up the night. The event also includes costume contests, exhibits, and a spook trail.

RELATED: 9 Ways to Decorate With Pumpkins, Indoors and Out

12. Denver, Colorado

Denver, CO, USA - October 3, 2015: Denver's Four Mile Historic Park's annual family friendly Pumpkin Fall Festival. Open to all ages and both admission/parking are free! With old time music, homemade caramel apples, a pumpkin patch, crafts, a pie eating contest, horse drawn wagon rides and more there's sure to be something for everyone to enjoy!

Photo: istockphoto.com

Outdoor adventurers may have another reason to get hiking in this Rockies town when they head to the trick-or-treating paradise of Cory-Merrill. The South Denver neighborhood is rife with Halloween delights, including an annual block party where family, food, and fun are always welcome!

13. Portland, Oregon

Lake Oswego, OR, USA - Oct 28, 2021: Funny Halloween inflatables are seen in a front yard with colorful fall foliage and fallen leaves in Lake Oswego, Oregon, during the holiday season.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Portland’s lush greenery and beautiful blooms aren’t the only things that give the city its colorful character. Grant Park, which served as the setting for many of famed author Beverly Cleary’s children’s books, offers a plethora of kid-friendly venues to enjoy on Halloween.

RELATED: 30 Plants That Will Bring Color to Your Yard This Fall

14. Seattle, Washington

Dose Terrace in Seattle

Photo: CC 2.0 via Joe Mabel

While the Jet City counts many high-flying dignitaries as residents, Seattle remains a down-to-earth town for families. In the heart of the Laurelhurst neighborhood, treat-or-treaters will find pedestrian-friendly paths that lead to Halloween candy and lively, kid-appropriate adventure.

15. Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, OH, USA - August 12, 2023: A view east down West Rich Street a block from the Scioto River features renovated living spaces in an attractive urban setting.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Fall fun is always in the air in this Midwestern capital known for an annual Oktoberfest in its German Village. But you’re really in for a treat when you venture to Smoky Ridge Estates, where retro-era single-family homes, colorful foliage, and sweet treats are sure to immerse trick-or-treaters in the sights and sounds of the season.

RELATED: 13 Terror-ific Yards All Decked Out for Halloween

16. Las Vegas, Nevada

Boys and girls trick or treating on Halloween

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Who knew? The entertainment capital of the world has a quiet side: Tule Springs. This development, home to Fossil Beds National Monument, offers a welcome sanctuary from the noisy crowds and neon lights of Sin City. Here, tree-lined rows of mission-style homes offer trick-or-treaters a candy-dense oasis at the edge of a sprawling metropolis.

17. Baltimore, Maryland

Bright orange leaves hang in front of rowhouse porches in autumn.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Baltimore boasts more public monuments per capita than any other city in the country, and Patterson Park is an exceptional example of this architectural density. The 133-acre park lures visitors with a fishing-friendly boat lake and a breathtaking pagoda, while Renaissance Revival homes in the surrounding neighborhood are prime picks for sweet-toothed trick-or-treaters. An alliance even hosts a Halloween Lantern Parade for kids to show off their costumes.

RELATED: 11 “Real” Haunted Houses to Visit—If You Dare!

18. Dallas, Texas

Colorful fall foliage at front lawn of residential house near Dallas, Texas, USA. Thick carpet of ground Bradford pear leaves at sunrise

Photo: istockphoto.com

While downtown Dallas is known for its eclectic arts and historic districts, if you head northeast to the Lake Highlands neighborhood, you’ll gain access to dozens of subdivisions filled with parks and prestigious hillside homes that are ripe for Halloween fun.

19. San Diego, California

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) skeletons and sugar skulls, funny catrinas musicians playing guitar, Halloween decor in Old Town San Diego, California

Photo: istockphoto.com

Life is a beach in San Diego, nowhere more so than in the seaside neighborhood of La Jolla, where trick-or-treating is a community affair. Residents stroll La Jolla Boulevard in droves to enjoy the ghoulish decor of local shops. If you prefer to stick to residential areas, stop by one of the gated communities to shorten your candy commute.

RELATED: What to Know About Trick-or-Treating at an Apartment Building

20. Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, NC, USA-10/31/18: Two women dressed for Halloween as good and evil witches.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Charlotte’s banking industry may have put it on the map, but its Southern charm and historical landmarks have helped the city maintain its prominence. In the historic neighborhood of Eastover, the old Manor Theatre and antiques shops are a stone’s throw from well-preserved vintage homes that take trick-or-treaters on a trip back in time.

21. Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas, USA - November 15, 2021: Historic buildings along Congress Avenue in the capital of Texas Austin USA

Photo: istockphoto.com

Known as the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin has a unique rhythm that can be witnessed well beyond its concert venues. Windsor Road, in the city center, boasts elegant Craftsman-style homes bordered by Pease District Park, a perfect locale for birthdays, barbecues, and Halloween jaunts.

RELATED: 5 Home Styles That Look Like Haunted Houses

22. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Family with brother boys run in Halloween disguise hold bucket for candies over the town park

Photo: istockphoto.com

This former farming town in the West has been ranked among the fittest cities in the country, thanks in no small part to its myriad parks and bike paths. The San Gabriel neighborhood is no exception. Its tree-lined paths and proximity to the Sandia Mountains make it a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts, while well-stocked candy bowls make it a must-stop spot for trick-or-treaters.

RELATED: 15 Easy DIYs for Instant Autumn Curb Appeal

23. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, USA - November 7, 2021: The Bluebird Cafe opened in 1982 as a small restaurant with a small side state for people to perform which attracted some big songwriters.

Photo: istockphoto.com

True to its nickname, Music City USA, Nashville annually hosts more than a dozen major performing arts events, including the famed Country Music Association Awards. For treats and tunes, venture to Green Hills, where the Bluebird Cafe draws songwriters, The Mall at Green Hills lures shoppers, and leafy streets entice candy hunters on Halloween night.

24. Washington, D.C.

Washington DC, USA-October 31, 2013: Trick and treaters show up for free candy at a home in Georgetown of Washington DC. Halloween is a big event here.

Photo: istockphoto.com

You don’t have to tour the White House to be wowed by the sights of our nation’s capital. Head northwest to American University Park to observe more than 200 years of history reflected in the neighborhood’s 2,700 homes. Many of these houses feature porches or stoops that make them easily accessible to trick-or-treaters.