34 Ideas for Halloween Fun and Events in the Portland Area

There are so many fearsomely fun ways to celebrate in Portland that it’s hard to fit them all into one month. But if you’re feeling ambitious, here are 34 spooky and not-so-spooky ideas to get you started.

• Visit a Pumpkin Patch. There’s a reason Portland was named LawnStarter’s Best City for Pumpkin Lovers. Plan to eat fresh apple-cider doughnuts, visit farm animals, go on a hayride, and even launch a pumpkin or two. See our full list of pumpkin patches here.

• Attend the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta and Festival. Watch costumed paddlers climb into actual giant pumpkins and race across the Lake of the Commons in Tualatin and try your hand at pumpkin bowling or golf. October 22, 2023.

• Shop Consignment. Head to a shop like PDX Parent Reader Favorites winner Beanstalk Children’s Resale to purchase a new-to-you costume for less. 

• Visit a Treat Shop. Cheese & Crack typically offers Eye Scream Cones, and Salt & Straw never disappoints, with seasonal favorites like the Great Candycopia and usually something a little more adventurous (real insects have been known to make an appearance). If you like your treats more cute than creepy, SORO SORO serves dessert with googly eyes year-round, and they’re not the least bit scary. 

• Decorate Your Home. Find spooky decorations at The Lippman Co., or check out The Oddities & Curiosities Expo at the Oregon Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, October 21-22. If you’re feeling crafty, take a class from the pros at Davis Graveyard; you’ll leave with custom tombstones you couldn’t buy in a shop.

• Bake with Pumpkin. It’s time to fill your home with the scent of pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and Harry Potter-inspired pumpkin pasties. (Or just grab the best pumpkin whoopie pies in town from Baker & Spice.) 

• Make a Halloween Haunted Gingerbread House. Trader Joe’s sells a kit to make this sweet project even easier!

• Make a Healthy Halloween Treat. If you’d like to celebrate without the sugar high, check out these easy recipes.

• See a Show. With fall rains in full swing, October is the perfect time to frequent a local theater. Catch Young Frankenstein at Stumptown Stages or see the classic ballet Swan Lake performed by Oregon Ballet Theatre. 

• Trick-or-Treat on a Train. Your little transportation enthusiast won’t want to miss the Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza at Molalla Train Park on October 29. For more railway fun, ride the Boo Train in Canby, visit Powerland Halloween in Salem, brave a Headless Horseman Train Ride in Yacolt, tour the coast with Oregon Coast Scenic, or splurge on a haunted train experience with Mt. Hood Railroad (ages 13+).

• Plan Your Trick-or-Treat Route. Nextdoor offers a trick-or-treat map where neighbors can mark their homes as stocked with goodies. Pro tip: Look for the homes offering mulled wine and cheese to the grown-ups! And don’t forget to stock your house with allergy-friendly treats.

• Enjoy Daytime Trick-or-Treating. The problem with trick-or-treating is how late it starts! Check out one of the many daytime trick-or-treating events at farmers markets, shopping centers and historic streets.

• Visit Davis Graveyard. The decorations at Davis Graveyard are so spectacular it’s hard to believe it’s free to visit this private home display. The Davis family adds something new every year, and the tombstones are realistic and clever. 8703 SE 43rd Ave, Milwaukie.   

• Or Visit a Real Graveyard! The Tour of Untimely Departures at Lone Fir Cemetery is back! Follow a ghostly guide through the candlelit cemetery and hear the spooky and unusual stories of the departed. *UPDATE: This 2023 event sold out in 24 hours. Mark your calendars for next year!*

• Visit the Pirates of Pinehurst. Every October, Pinehurst Court in Sherwood transforms from peaceful cul-de-sac into a pirate conclave. See over-the-top decorations, watch 10-minute live shows, and redeem pirate doubloons (hidden in Sherwood parks and trails) for a reward!

• Drive a Halloween Home Display Route. See the best decorations the Portland metro area has to offer in a loop curated by Portland’s favorite pumpkin carving artist, Brook Rice. The route takes 1.5 hours to drive, about three hours total including stops to look at the displays.

• Splurge on High Tea. Local steampunk teashop Clockwork Rose Tea Emporium hosts two weeks of Witching Tea every October. Don your costumes and sip in style.

• Get Inspired at a Pumpkin Display. The artfully carved pumpkins at The Pumpkin Display at West Linn include a wide range of subjects, from Curious George to Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Best part? They’re free to visit!

• Carve a Pumpkin. Whether you carve a Timbers ax or a traditional jack-o-lantern, be sure to roast those pumpkin seeds for a delicious snack. Pro tip: Al’s Garden & Home sells pumpkins for $1.99.   

• Wear a Costume and Score Free Treats. Make the rounds, with freebies typically found at Salt & Straw, Krispy Kreme, IHOP, and Mike’s Drive-In on Halloween. Be sure to double-check this year’s offerings, as deals are subject to change. 

• Plan a Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Repurpose Easter eggs on Halloween for kids who prefer to skip trick-or-treating, but still want the candy. To make this even more local, stuff a few eggs with splurgy bonbons from Ranger Chocolate Company.  

• Navigate a Corn Maze. No Halloween season is complete without puzzling your way through a corn maze. Sauvie Island is full of them, and Bella Organic boasts a dog-friendly maze.

• Walk Through a Haunted Corn Maze. Impress your teens with an evening trip into Bella Organic’s haunted corn field, complete with costumed ghouls ready to surprise you at every turn. 

• Attend the Sellwood Monster March and Spooktacular. Don’t miss this Southeast Portland tradition! The parade is free and the carnival is ticketed. The best part is all the fun will be over well before bedtime.

• Brave a Haunted House. Visit a traditional haunted house like Fearlandia, walk through Oaks Park Scaregrounds, or experience a few jump scares from live actors at Cinema of Horrors Drive-In — from the safety of your car, at least. (Best suited for ages 13 and older!) See our full list of haunts here.

• Take a Class at SCRAP Creative Reuse. Every October, SCRAP hosts fun and affordable Halloween crafting events, like a costume-making craft ‘n chill or creepy doll craft night.

• SUP Witches’ Paddle. The Willamette is filled with a coven of floating witches on a special, semi-secret day every October. Keep an eye on the PDX Parent Kids Calendar so you don’t miss this eerie event. 

• Buy a Spooky Book. Portland is full of independent bookstores, but this will be the first Halloween season without black bookshop cat Molly at Annie Bloom’s Books. Honor her memory with a purchase of Creepy Carrots or Room on the Broom, or a donation to Cat Adoption Team.

• Go to the Oregon Zoo. Don a costume and trick-or-treat at the zoo’s Howloween festivities October 28 and 29. And check oregonzoo.org for the announcement of the Squishing of the Squash date.

• Visit a Spooky City. Every year the city of St. Helens turns into a Halloween wonderland during Spirit of Halloweentown, inspired by its appearance in the movies Halloweentown and Twilight.

• Visit the Hood River Fruit Loop. Pick apples, play on farm playgrounds, visit farm animals, and enjoy a perfect fall day in Hood River. For extra fun, plan your trip around The Hood River Valley Harvest Fest from Friday to Sunday, October 13-15.

• Drive-by Holidays on Franklin Street. Five neighbors on Franklin Street in Vancouver put together unforgettable displays with special effects, live music and character appearances.

• Sell Your Candy. Give your kid’s teeth a break and exchange candy for LEGOs at Bricks & Minifigs Beaverton or for cash at select dental clinics, such as PDX Parent Reader Favorites Winner Hollywood Children’s Dentistry.

• Check the PDX Parent Kids Calendar or This Weekend in PDX for in-person events. There’s always something new happening!

Happy Halloween, Portland!