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Monster Bashes, Thriller Dance-Offs, and More at the Best Halloween Events in the West

From coffin races in Colorado to a Michael Jackson-inspired dance party in Reno, these festive events will put you in the Halloween spirit

Mandy Ferreira
1 /11 Courtesy Manitou Springs Heritage Center

Emma Crawford Festival, Manitou Springs, CO

More than 10,000 spectators make their way to Manitou Springs October 25-26 for one of the quirkiest events in Colorado, as teams of costumed pallbearers race decorated cardboard coffins with a live "Emma Crawford" inside. The 25-year-old event pays tribute to Ms. Crawford, a woman who took to the mountains seeking healing for her tuberculosis and fell in love with hiking—physical limitations be damned. When she passed away, her fiancee had her buried at 7,000 feet on her beloved Red Mountain. As the story goes, it took 12 pallbearers to hike the coffin up the mountain, and rain eventually washed it back down. Beyond the actual race, which pays tribute to the legend, participants also vie for prizes for best coffin, best Emma impersonator, and best entourage all-around. Stick around after the races for a hearse parade and lantern-lit walking tours of the historic town.
2 /11 Courtesy City of St. Helens

Halloweentown, St. Helens, OR

The cult classic Disney movie Halloweentown was filmed in St. Helens, just outside of Portland, and every year since the film’s premiere in 1997, the small town has celebrated Halloween all month long. The festival kicks off October 1 when locals transform the brick-lined downtown into a movie scene complete with an 800-pound pumpkin sitting in front of City Hall. For the past couple years, cast members have come to town too. Stop by any weekend in October, and in addition to awesome fall foliage, you’ll encounter a fresh roster of festivities—from pumpkin lightings to parades to a visit from Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen from Twilight, which was partially filmed in St. Helens) on October 12.
3 /11 Jon Viscott/ Courtesy of the City of West Hollywood

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, Los Angeles, CA

Say hello to the West’s wildest Halloween event. Costume on point? Enter the competition or dance out of your ruby slippers with 500,000 costumed-revelers. Multiple music stages make it easy to find your groove. Alcohol isn’t allowed on the street, but there are plenty of bars and food trucks along Santa Monica Boulevard to keep the party going (bring cash!). Risqué costumes and large crowds make this event best for adults only. Pro tip: Use a rideshare service to get picked up and dropped off a couple blocks from the festival for a smooth entrance and exit.
4 /11 Courtesy Visit Park City

Howl-O-Ween! on Historic Main Street, Park City, UT

Park City shuts down historic Main Street to make room for costumed paraders and their furry friends during Howl-O-Ween, one of the most spirited Halloween events in the West. Grab Spot and show off your matching Scooby-Doos or sit back and take in the sight of more than 300 costumed dogs strutting their stuff. Get there early and trick-or-treat along the storefronts–local merchants hand out kid- and canine-friendly treats.
5 /11 Courtesy Vancouver Halloween Parade and Expo

Vancouver Halloween Parade and Expo, Vancouver, B.C.

Intricate costumes and perfectly in-sync groups take over the streets at Vancouver’s Halloween parade on October 11-13. Expect to see your favorite comic book, anime, and movie stars alongside roving performances. Just can’t wait? Join in on the fun over four days leading up to the culminating parade, with live performances, panels, workshops, and a cosplay contest. Just leave the blood, guts, and gore at home for this family-friendly event.
6 /11 Courtesy Opportunity Village

HallOVeen at the Magical Forest, Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas sure knows how to rock Halloween events. One locals love, HallOVeen, takes over a 3-acre forest that gets decked out with a Nightmare Before Christmas-looking setup of twinkling lights, pumpkin heads, and animatronic skeletons. As long as the sun is still out, HallOVeen is all about the fams with fun rides (slide, carousel, train), trick-or-treat stands, and tons of photo-ops. After 5:30 p.m., things get progressively scarier with Vegas Fright Nights, which includes two haunted houses. Feel good about your spooktacular night knowing all ticket sales benefit the Opportunity Village non-profit, which works with adults that have learning or physical disabilities.
7 /11 Courtesy Reno Crawl

Reno Zombie Crawl, Reno, NV

This epic bar crawl includes more than 50 stops in downtown Reno. Start off the night with a massive Thriller dance party under the Reno Arch before dragging your way around town with 20,000 fellow undead. There’s no last call, but you may want to grab a room at one of their partner hotels to shamble into at the end of the night.
8 /11 Courtesy City of Idaho Falls

Boo at the Zoo, Idaho Falls, ID

From October 24-26, the Idaho Falls hosts one of the biggest Halloween events in the state. More than 15,000 festivalgoers descend on the zoo, which gets lit with 500,000 twinkling lights and stocked with trick-or-treat stations and games for Boo at the Zoo. Little ones walk through displays like a Harry Potter-themed scene and pose with characters from favorite movies such as Star Wars and Disney classics. The daytime festivities end with a costume contest for the kiddos. This year, the zoo adds an adults-only masquerade which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a murder mystery game.
9 /11 Courtesy Mesa Arts Center

Dia de Los Muertos Festival, Mesa, AZ

The most vibrant Halloween events are done Mexico-style. Celebrate the Day of the Dead surrounded by bright colors, live music, and all-around festiveness. You don’t want to miss the massive community altar put together by local artists, volunteers, and attendees. Bring a photo, artwork, or flowers to add or enter your altar into the contest. Face painting, arts and crafts, and handmade goods will help you get into the spirit.
10 /11 Courtesy The Great Pumpkin Haul

The Great Pumpkin Haul, Littleton, CO

Burn off all of that candy at this Halloween event in Littleton. Run, climb, and crawl along two miles of trails in the Denver Botanic Gardens all while carrying a pumpkin. Pick out your prize squash at the starting line and protect it all the way through. Share the load with a friend or double up on the pumpkins for twice the fun. You can even sign up for pre-haul pumpkin workouts to ensure you are the toughest pumpkin hauler.
11 /11 Courtesy Witchstock Festival

Witchstock Festival, Ogden, UT

At Witchstock, one of Utah's best family-friendly Halloween events, start the evening with a civilized cup of "witches' brew" (tea) with your fellow undead before heading off on the Zombie Crawl. The walk will take you down Historic 25th Street and end at the Ogden City Amphitheater for the Monster Bash. Shake off your cobwebs at the costume dance party. Interactive booths from artists and vendors will help you keep the party going once you’re ready to take a break from the dance floor.