BooMap

The 10 Most Unique Halloween Events in the US for 2026

Every town has a haunted house and a pumpkin patch. These ten are different. We went through every event on BooMap, all of them confirmed for 2026 on their own official sites, and picked the ones you won't find anywhere else.

Number 1 is the most unique. Dates and details are from each event's official site; check it before you go, because schedules change.

1

Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Festival

A coffin race. Enough said.

Only in Manitou Springs: costumed teams push decorated coffins up Manitou Avenue, each one carrying an "Emma" riding along, after a parade through town. It's part race, part costume contest, part street party, and it's free to watch.

Where
Manitou Springs, CO
When
Saturday, Oct 24, 2026
Hours
Fan zone 10am; parade noon; races follow
Price
Free
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Colorado Springs

2

Underwater Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving, but make it scuba.

On Halloween afternoon at the ABQ BioPark Aquarium, divers climb into a tank and carve pumpkins underwater while the fish look on, and so do you.

Where
Albuquerque, NM
When
Saturday, Oct 31, 2026
Hours
1:30pm–3pm
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Albuquerque

3

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

Thousands of jack-o'-lanterns, all carved by hand.

Thousands of hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns light a riverside walking path at Van Cortlandt Manor in the Hudson Valley, stacked into giant glowing sculptures and scenes. Evenings only, with advance timed tickets.

Where
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
When
Select evenings Sept 18–Nov 8, 2026; open every night in October
Price
From $24
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near New York City

4

Halloween in the Swamp

A haunted boat ride through a real swamp, at night.

A night at Cypress Gardens, a blackwater swamp garden near Charleston: marshmallows, stories and kids' games, plus an optional haunted boat ride through the swamp for ages 12 and up.

Where
Moncks Corner, SC
When
Oct 15, 16, 23 and 24
Hours
7:30pm–11:30pm
Price
$5 (ages 6+, 5 and under free); Haunted Swamp Experience $30
Suggested age
Teens+ (Haunted Swamp Experience ages 12+; ages 12–16 with an adult)

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Charleston

5

All Souls Procession Weekend

One of the most beautiful ways anyone marks the season.

Tucson's community-made procession honors loved ones who have died, with altars, performers and art over a whole weekend, ending in the ceremonial burning of the urn. It's moving, not scary, and it's free.

Where
Tucson, AZ
When
All Souls Weekend Fri Nov 6 – Sun Nov 8, 2026
Price
Free
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Tucson

6

Queen Mary's Dark Harbor

A haunt on a real ocean liner.

Six haunted mazes aboard and around the historic Queen Mary ocean liner in Long Beach, plus hidden speakeasies, rides and live shows. The ship is the set.

Where
Long Beach, CA
When
Select nights, Sept 18 - Nov 1, 2026 (13th season)
Hours
Evening, check nightly schedule
Price
From $50.99 select nights; presale $29.99+
Suggested age
Adults Only

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Los Angeles + Orange County

7

Anoka Halloween Grande Day Parade

A whole town that has made Halloween its thing.

Anoka, Minnesota calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World, and a month of community Halloween events builds to this big Saturday parade down Main Street. Free, and very much for families.

Where
Anoka, MN
When
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
Hours
1pm–3:30pm
Price
Free
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Minneapolis–St. Paul

8

Trick or Treat in the Cave

Trick-or-treating, in a cave.

Trick-or-treating underground: families walk the decorated passages of Historic Cherokee Caverns, west of Knoxville, collecting candy from costumed volunteers along the way.

Where
Knoxville, TN
When
Oct 16–18 and 23–25, 2026
Hours
Fri 5–8pm; Sat–Sun 3–8pm
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Knoxville

9

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary

The setting does half the work: it's a real prison.

Five haunted houses built inside a real 19th-century prison, the abandoned 10-acre Eastern State Penitentiary, with historic tours, themed bars and more than 200 performers a night.

Where
Philadelphia, PA
When
Select nights through November 7, 2026; see the official calendar
Price
$49-$79 general admission (varies by date/time)
Suggested age
Adults Only

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Philadelphia

10

Haunted Happenings Grand Parade

Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts. There's nowhere quite like it.

On October 1, Salem opens Haunted Happenings with a free costumed parade through downtown, from Shetland Park to Salem Common, with floats and marching bands. In the Witch City, October is the main event.

Where
Salem, MA
When
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Hours
6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Price
Free
Suggested age
All Ages

Dates, hours and details → · More Halloween events near Boston

Runners-up

Know something more unique we should add? Tell us at hello@boomap.app. We add events once we can confirm their dates on an official site.