Spirit of Halloweentown Returns to St. Helens 2026

Photo courtesy of Spirit of Halloweentown

For most of the year, St. Helens is a quiet riverfront town about 30 miles north of Portland. Come fall, a giant glowing pumpkin takes over the courthouse plaza, witches dance through the streets and the town leans all the way into its Disney Channel claim to fame.

The original “Halloweentown” was filmed in St. Helens in 1998, and the city has turned that bit of movie history into an annual Halloween celebration. St. Helens was also a filming location for “Twilight,” so there is plenty here for fans of vampires as well as witches.

In 2026, Spirit of Halloweentown takes place Saturdays and Sundays from September 26 through November 1. Festival hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on all event days.

Here is what you can do for free, what requires a ticket and what to know before making the drive from Portland.

2026 Spirit of Halloweentown

One of the best things about Spirit of Halloweentown is that you don’t need to buy a $40+ ticket just to enjoy the atmosphere.

It is free to walk around town, visit the plaza and browse the food and street vendors. The main festival grounds fill up with Halloween decorations, roaming performers and plenty of photo opportunities. Paid passes are for the larger attractions.

The 2026 event dates are:

• September 26-27
• October 3-4
• October 10-11
• October 17-18
• October 24-25
• October 31-November 1

Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Free Halloweentown Activities

The courthouse plaza is the center of the action. Jack the Pumpkin presides over the square, where you’ll find performers, vendors and the sort of Halloween scenery that makes St. Helens feel considerably more theatrical than it does the other 11 months of the year.

The 2026 schedule also includes costume contests, pirate performances and cannon demonstrations, the St. Helens Dancing Witches, stage shows and roaming entertainers. Jack is lit from 8:30-9 p.m. on festival days.

Movie fans can also join a free Twilight walking tour on event days. Times vary by weekend, so check the schedule before you go.

That means you can make a day of Halloweentown without purchasing admission to the attractions—a nice option if you’re mostly coming for the nostalgia, decorations and people-watching.

Spirit of Halloweentown Attractions

A paid Spirit of Halloweentown pass gets you into the festival’s main attractions. The exact lineup can change, but the 2026 pass currently includes:

Haunted House

The haunted house skips live monsters, making this one of the more kid-friendly scares around Portland. Admission includes one trip through the attraction.

Masonic Building Attractions

The Masonic Building hosts several of the stranger stops on the itinerary. The 2026 schedule lists an alien exhibit, Alien Bar and Brad’s World Reptiles among the featured attractions.

Boo Bash Pavilion

The Boo Bash Pavilion provides covered festival space along with entertainment and activities throughout the day.

Harvest Games Zone

This area is geared toward families, with activities including a hay maze and pumpkin bowling.

Filming Location Tour Trolley

The trolley visits filming locations around St. Helens, including places associated with movies and TV shows shot in town. Rides run until dark.

Jack the Pumpkin Photo

Admission also includes a digital photo with Jack the Pumpkin in the courthouse plaza.

The official ticket page notes that admission provides access to the available attractions, but very busy days can mean long waits and admission to every attraction is not guaranteed before closing.

Halloweentown Cast Members Are Visiting in 2026

Several familiar faces from “Halloweentown” are returning to St. Helens this year.

J. Paul Zimmerman, Emily Roeske and Phillip Van Dyke are scheduled to appear October 17-18. Judith Hoag, who played Gwen Cromwell Piper, is scheduled for October 24-25.

Celebrity meet-and-greets and professional photo ops are separate from regular festival admission and must be purchased online. Current photo-op packages start at $85.

Spirit of Halloweentown Tickets

You do not need a ticket to walk through the plaza or food vendor area.

For the ticketed attractions, general admission starts at about $40, according to Travel Portland. The official event website notes that online tickets are cheaper than buying at the box office and can sell out on busy dates. Children 5 and younger are admitted to the ticketed attractions for free.

Because prices can vary by ticket type and date, check the current options before your visit.

Buy Spirit of Halloweentown tickets

Parking at Spirit of Halloweentown

Parking is one area where the 2026 event has changed.

The official event lot is at 451 Plymouth St., St. Helens, OR 97051. Parking costs $25 per vehicle in advance, plus fees, or $30 onsite. The event says parking is limited and recommends arriving early.

Also new for 2026: you don’t need to take a shuttle from the official lot. The parking area is close enough to access the festival directly.

The organizers specifically ask visitors not to park in residential neighborhoods, and construction and street closures may make some parking areas unavailable.

Spirit of Halloweentown is centered at 275 Strand St. in St. Helens, Oregon.

See the full Spirit of Halloweentown schedule

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