World’s Best Cities For Halloween Celebrations
Top 5 Destinations to Celebrate Halloween
As summer comes to an end, it’s time to look ahead to one of the world’s most popular holidays. Halloween is just to months away and if you’re a fan of black cats, bats, and jack-o-lanterns, take your Halloween festivities to the next level by travelling to one of the world’s best cities for Halloween celebrations.
Salem, Massachusetts
It’s difficult to choose a location in America for Halloween parties, but Salem rises above other contenders like New Orleans because this New England town celebrates the holiday for an entire month. The town is infamous for its history of witch hunting, yet today its tragic, gory past helps set the tone for an eerily good time. Visit anytime in October and you’ll find a full calendar of ghost stories, séances, haunted houses, and more. There’s a witch museum, plentiful pumpkin patches, and a Salem Witches’ Ball allowing you to put on your Halloween finest for a wicked good time.
Transylvania, Romania
Another location that’s the stuff of legend is Transylvania, Romania. This region is home to a medieval castle once home to the real life Dracula, Vlad the Impaler. Known for his bloodthirsty and ruthless spirit, he slaughtered an untold number of enemies and built up quite the fearsome reputation. For an unforgettably scary night, you can even spend Halloween sleeping inside the castle.
Hong Kong
If you like your holidays to be a bit more light-hearted, hop on over to Hong Kong. Asia’s party capital loves a good, old-fashioned kitschy Halloween. Yet Hong Kong also offers its own ghostly traditions, including the “Festival of the Hungry Ghosts” or “Yue Lan”. Yue Lan is a more serious affair, when locals pay tribute to their ancestors with sacrificial offerings of food. Yet due to Hong Kong’s sizeable expat community, the city’s also big on partying until dawn with Halloween-themed dances and live music events.
Derry City, Ireland
Although it’s often thought of as an American holiday, Halloween actually stems from the Irish tradition of Samhain. This festival marks the end of the harvest period, ushering in the darker days of winter. You can attend Samhain carnivals throughout Ireland, with one of the biggest being in Derry City. Residents enjoy fire dancing, fireworks, and storytelling along with ghost tours and haunted houses. The holidays are for young and old, with many family-themed events, so you can dress your little one up in baby Halloween costumes UK and attend the celebrations.
Oaxaca, Mexico
Finally, Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations are worth a visit for any Halloween fan. These take place between October 31st and November 2nd throughout Mexico and other parts of Latin America. The revelry is designed to honour past traditions and the spirits of the dead, who are said to return on this day to be reunited with their families. Oaxaca is a particularly lively place to enjoy these celebrations, with vibrant marketplaces and candlelit carnivals in the evenings.
Whether you like your Halloween to be spooky, serious, or a bit silly, visit these prime locations to see how the world’s celebrations can differ.
