There is no one way to celebrate Halloween. In fact, it is one of those holidays where you don’t have to conform to any rules and norms and connect with your quirky or darker side. Luckily, Portland can be both of those things and every year, it offers a wide range of things to during spooky season. If you’re as excited as us to get the festivities going, we’ve compiled a list of activities and events for every fan, whether you’re an enthusiast of the macabre or like going the more mellow pumpkin-picking route.
1. Join the annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
What happens when Halloween meets aquatic absurdity? The answer is the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, of course! Fearless and smiling paddlers (almost always dressed in outrageous costumes) attempt to navigate gigantic hollowed-out pumpkins as boats. It’s just a bunch of fall fun, whether you choose to compete or cheer nonchalantly from the crowd.
📍 Tualatin Lake at the Commons, 8325 SW Nyberg St, Tualatin, OR 97062
2. Attend a bewitching Halloween-themed concert by candlelight
If you’re looking to shake things up and do something different this spooky season, you can catch a captivating tribute to iconic horror movie soundtracks and creepy songs, thanks to the Candlelight Halloween series. Taking place at historic venues in Portland that despite rumors are definitely not haunted, such as The Old Church Concert Hall and the Alberta Rose Theatre, you can hear chilling renditions of the themes from The Exorcist, Psycho, Suspiria, and many more!
3. Celebrate Howloween at the Oregon Zoo
Every year, Oregon Zoo invites families to a spooky adventure perfect for Halloween. Kids can come dressed in different costumes and explore the zoo while collecting goodies along the way. With lots of entertainment options, from magic to puppet shows, there’s never a dull moment at Howloween. Clearly, the real stars are the animals who get their own carved pumpkins as treats.
📍4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221
4. Catch a horror parody at Killer Burlesque
And for some adult fun, you can always catch a sultry burlesque show with a horror-themed twist at Killer Burlesque. It’s steamy, it’s funny and it’s scary. So if you want to see crazy aerialists, dancers and contortionists channel their inner scream queens, this show is the right way to start your Halloween celebrations. But beware: seeing Michael Myers in sexy lingerie might mess up with your sleep cycle later that night.
📍Alberta Abbey – 126 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
5. Explore an abandoned amusement park
Portlanders are no stranger to Lotus Isle. Located just east of the also abandoned but more successful Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, it was operational from 1930 till 1932. Many people think it’s cursed because it faced so many obstacles and was even struck by tragedy.
When you step into the park’s creaking gate, you’ll be transported to the Freaks movie set. Once known as the “Wonderland of the Pacific Northwest”, it features bizarre-looking bumper cars, sinister rides, and a whole lot more! Visiting this haunted-looking spot should definitely be on your list of things to do on Halloween.
📍288 N Tomahawk Island Dr, Portland, OR 97217
6. Discover Portland’s haunted houses
Another classic Halloween activity is exploring popular haunted houses and luckily, Portland has quite a few to choose from, each with unique themes and terrifying experiences. (It goes without saying that if you don’t like to experience constant fear triggers, maybe skip this one.)
- The Fear PDX: One of the largest and most popular haunted spots in the city with various chilling attractions like “Toxic Carnage” and “The Chop House” high quality special effects and super realistic set designs.
- Underhill Haunted House: Located in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, this horrifying spot is a staple in Portland’s Halloween scene, boasting a Halloween market and three attractions, “Witches Bog”, “Terror Ship” and “Underhill Manor”.
- Milburn’s Haunted Manor: This spooky spot in Hubbard is worth the trip for its eerie old-world charm. It offers an individualized theatrical experience so you know it will deliver plenty of scares.
7. Spend the day at a huge pumpkin farm
This popular destination offers a quintessential Halloween experience. With expansive pumpkin fields where visitors can walk around and pick their own pumpkins, go on hayrides, or get lost in the corn maze, the Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch has by now become a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike. During Halloween, the farm transforms into a festive hub packed with creepy decorations so it’s a great place to celebrate the spooky season with your little ones.
📍16511 NW Gillihan Rd, Portland, OR 97231
8. Trick or drink on a Halloween-inspired bar crawl
Our penultimate choice involves drinking and six of the coolest bars and breweries in the city. Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and get ready to move from bar to bar as you grab refreshing drinks and socialize at each stop.
You’ll initially get a wristband that gives you free bar entry, drinks specials and more perks to enjoy. It’s the perfect opportunity to unleash your inner freak and party with friends (old and new) till 2 am. Let’s get the party startled!
📍 Starting point: Hallway PDX, 20 Northwest 3rd Avenue, Portland, 97209-3907
9. Visit an ooky-spooky graveyard where restless spirits dwell
If you loved Hocus Pocus growing up, you’ll like our last pick. Davis Graveyard is the result of what happens when an odd couple with a common passion for all things spooky decide to share their interests with the world. The “graveyard” is home to highly detailed tombstones, fog machines, animatronics and skeletons that make you feel like you’re in an actual cemetery in Salem at night. It’s a boo-tiful site and you won’t want to miss it.
And there you have it. These activities in and around Portland will get you in a spooky mood all season long culminating on October 31. There’s something that will make every Halloween fan smile or scream in terror!
📍8703 SE 43rd Ave, Milwaukie, OR 97222