Halloween Trips: Top 5 Places to Celebrate Halloween in the U.S.

For most people, Halloween is not a paid day off of work and the kids still have to attend to school. So many people never think of making a Halloween trip but if it falls on a weekend (like it does this year), it's definitely worth considering. You don't have to go all the way to Transylvania, you can find some great places to celebrate Halloween in the U.S. Whether you want to dress up and party or get frightened out of your mind or perhaps something a little quieter? Consider these top five places to celebrate Halloween in the U.S.:

1. NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum walking cemetery tour
For history lovers, try this walking tour in the French Quarter. In addition to touring the St. Louis Cemetery and other hot spots along the way, you will be introduced to a modern day Voodoo practitioner for a question and answer session. The tour begins at the Museum at 10:30am or 1:00pm (except on Sundays which begin only at 10:30am). 24-hr advance reservation is recommended. A minimum of 2 people are required for the tour to take place. The tour fee of $19 for adults and $10 for kids includes admission to the museum. If you want to see more of the New Orleans cemeteries, there are over half a dozen cemetery tours available. Please check the New Orleans Sources section at the end of this article.

Project Lazarus Halloween Bash
Project Lazarus is a nonprofit organization that provides assisted living to people with AIDS in the region. They throw an annual Halloween bash that is well attended by both the gay and straight communities. In 2009, it will be held at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World from 10pm to 4am. Highlights include DJ Roland Belmares, the Official New Orleans Halloween Costume Contest (11pm to midnight), costume mandatory dancing, open bar and a midnight show. The cost is $70 in advance or $80 at the door.

Voodoo Music Fest
A 3-day music festival held annually during Halloween weekend. The 2009 festival is headlining KISS and Enimen. 3-day passes are $169 and LOA Lounge (VIP) passes are $475.

Anne Rice's Vampire LeStat Fan Club Ball
The 2009 ball is entitled Tru Blood & Gold Ball and will be held at the Republic New Orleans on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 9pm to 2am. Featured guests include author Charlaine Harris and author/illustrator Gabrielle Faust. Featured bands are Kinky Tuscaderos, Saints of Ruin and Marc Gunn. Although pricing on their website is shown as $20 per ticket (for the first 4 tickets) for members and $30 for nonmembers (up to 4 tickets only), currently, tickets are only available to Fan Club members. Check their website in the Sources section for more details.

2. LAS VEGAS, Nevada

Bonnie Screams Haunted Ghost Town
With all the flashy modernized looks of Las Vegas, it's easy to forget this area was also part of the old West, specifically part of the gold and silver rush. There are half a dozen or so ghost towns that can be visited as a day trip from Vegas. Don't miss the chance to visit a haunted ghost town during this Halloween trip. Featuring a haunted train, haunted houses, rides and more, the Bonnie Screams Haunted Ghost Town is open during select dates in October including October 27th-31^st, 2009. General Admission is $20 but it does not include the train ride or haunted trail pass which are an additional $10. The RIP pass costs $30 and includes the train ride and haunted trail pass as well as fast pass for rides and attractions.

Hotel Fear/the Asylum
These sister haunted houses with overlapping story lines are located in different parts of the city. They are open on select days in October including every Friday and Saturday night from 6:30pm to midnight (excepting 10/30 and 10/31 when it will open at 6pm) and Sundays until 10pm. Admission is $11.

Monster Mayhem
Admission permits a tour of two haunted houses and a graveyard. Tickets are $14 and can only be purchased on site nightly. RIP Fast passes can be purchased for an additional $10. Open from 7pm to midnight on select October nights including all weekends and November 1, 2009.

Circus Circus Fright Dome
With 5 haunted houses, 53 rides and attractions, freak shows, scare zones and more, this theme park offers hours of entertainment. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights during the month of October from 7pm til midnight, the price of admission is $34.95 with fast passes costing an additional $15.

The Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball
Probably Las Vegas' most famous Halloween event, it will be held at the Hard Rock Café from 10pm to 4am on Halloween Night during 2009. Highlights include dancing, fire performers, erotic shows and outrageous costumes. Early bird tickets are priced at $60 until Labor Day, after which they will sell for $75.

3. NEW YORK, New York

New York Village's Annual Halloween Parade
With more than 2 million people watching, more than 50,000 people have marched in costume during New York's Annual Halloween Parade. You can show off your creativity and join the parade or you watch the show go by. The parade begins at 7pm and finishes around 10:30pm. It heads straight up from 6^th Ave. from Spring St. to 21^st. Costumed participants should meet at 6^th Ave south of Spring Street at 6:30pm.

New York City Witches Halloween Masquerade Ball
The proceeds of the ball go to the Avon Walk Breast Cancer. Music and a midnight ritual of remembrance are featured. The ball begins at 8pm and costs $22 per person.

Merchant House Museum
In a room mimicking a mid 19^th century funeral parlor, try listening to the Spine Tingling & True: Ghost Stories of the Merchant's House Museum as a way to kick off your Halloween night adventure. Stories are based on paranormal activities at the Merchant House as well as classics from the 19^th century. Tickets are $25 for the public and $15 for Merchant House Museum members. The storytelling takes place Halloween night at 7 and 9pm.

Blood Manor
See if you can take the 20-25 minute journey through the terror found behind the walls of this 5,000 square foot fear machine. Blood manor uses themed rooms and real actors to maximize the fear factor. Advance purchase is recommended. Online tickets are $25 plus a $3.50 handling fee. Tickets at the door are $30 (cash only).

4. SALEM, Massachusetts

Haunted Happenings Harbor Cruise
Take 1.5 hour cruise from Salem Sound passing Marblehead, Beverly, Manchester and Misery Islands. Listen to tons of eerie stories about everything from ghosts to pirates to sea monsters. A special Halloween cruise is available daily at 5pm from October 19^th through November 1^st for groups of at least 8 people. Tickets are $22 for adults and $12 for kids.

Old Town Hall/History Alive!
Be on the jury of a 1692 witch trial in the production of Cry Innocent. You will see the entire trial, be able to ask questions of the actors who will respond in character. In the end, you will decide the fate of accused witch Bridget Bishop. October performances beginning October 3^rd will be daily but the times have yet to be announced as of this writing (9/04/09).

Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village is a recreation of a Puritan Village which allows you to explore life as it was for early settlers. Regular tickets are $9 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Save $2 with the purchase of Cry Innocent ticket. Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for students, seniors or groups of over 15 people and kids under the age of 6 are free.

Trolley Tour
For the 2009 season, the Ghosts and Legends tour will take place on Friday, October 30^th at 6:30pm. Your guides will be fully costumed and share many scary stories. You will stop at the Witches Cottage for a supernatural show of the history of Salem. Tickets for adults are $20, seniors $15, children (6-14) $10.

5.Disneyland (California) or Disneyworld (Florida)
Going to a Disney theme park during the Halloween season is to see a complete transformation of the park. It isn't simply adding a bit of orange and black or some pumpkins here and there. Disney really gets into the details by adding a Halloween feel to every nook and cranny of the park. Enjoy the discovery.

Disneyland/California Adventure
The main event is Mickey's Trick or Treat Party which takes place in California Adventure. Along with Disney Characters participating in the fun, you will find live music and entertainment. There is also trick or treating for healthy snacks and candy as well as craft making centers. As an example of Disney's creative holiday design, you can see giant candy corn at Candy Corn Acres. For October 30^th and 31^st, party tickets are $42. For other select October dates, advance tickets $32 and $39 for same day purchase. These tickets are separate from entrance fees.

Disneyworld
Disneyworld also offers its own party too-Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom Park closes at 7pm for the party. The party includes trick-or-treating, a parade, fireworks and use of some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions (only open to Party attendees). The Party is held on select days in October. Tickets for Halloween night and the night before are $64. Some October nights are available for special advance tickets pricing at $52. Park admission fees are separate.

Whether you attend one of Mickey's parties or not, Halloween is a great time to visit either park to see the characters, staff and visitors dressed in costume as well as enjoy the rides and attractions.

Have fun planning your next Halloween trip!

New Orleans Sources:

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum Website. < http://voodoomuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1> Accessed August 30, 2009.

New Orleans Halloween 26: Twisted Seasons Benefiting Project Lazurus. < http://www.halloweenneworleans.com/eventSat.html> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Anne Rice's Vampire LeStat Fan Club.< http://www.vampirelestatfanclub.com/events.html > Accessed August 31, 2009.

About.com. New Orleans Cemetery Tours by Sharon Keating. < http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/p/Cemetaries.htm> Accessed on August 31,2009.

Voodoo Fest Halloween 2009. < http://thevoodooexperience.com/2009/index.php> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Las Vegas Sources:

Ghosttowns. < http://www.lvlg.com/lasvegas/attracts/ghstwns.htm> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Bonnie Screams Haunted Ghost Town. < http://www.hysteriacity.com> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball. < http://www.halloweenball.com/main.html> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Monster Mayhem. < http://www.monstermayhem.net/event09.shtml> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Circus Circus Fright Dome. < http://www.frightdome.com/home> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Hotel Fear. < http://www.lasvegashaunts.com> Accessed August 31, 2009.
The Asylum. < http://www.lasvegashaunts.com> Accessed August 31, 2009.

New York City Sources:

New York Village's Parade. < http://www.halloween-nyc.com/history.html> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Blood Manor. < http://bloodmanor.com/main.htm> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Merchant's House Museum. Events. < http://merchantshouse.org/events/index.html> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Watson's Adventures: Scavenger Hunts-New York Area. < http://watsonadventures.com/schedule.html#fright> Accessed August 31, 2009.

Charmed by Starr. 5th Annual New York City Witches Halloween Masquerade Ball. < http://charmedbystarr.com/?page_id=45> Accessed August 31, 2009.

The Wiccan Family Temple. 5th Annual New York City Witches Halloween Masquerade Ball. < http://www.wiccanfamilytemple.com/thewitchesball.htm> August 31, 2009.

Salem Sources:

Salem Haunted Happening. < http://www.hauntedhappenings.com/> Accessed September 4, 2009.

Salem Pioneer Village 1630. < http://www.pioneervillagesalem.com/> Accessed September 4, 2009.

History Alive! Cry Innocent. < http://www.salemoldtownhall.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=71> Accessed September 4, 2009.

Trolley Tour. < http://salem.org/cgi-bin/calendar/calendar.pl?view=Event&event_id=414&datestring=20091030&event_schedule=&event_start=6:30pm> Accessed September 4, 2009.

Disneyland Sources:

Disneyland Resort: Halloween Time. < http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/calendar/specialEvents/detail?name=HalloweenTimeSpecialEventPage&bhcp=1> Accessed September 4, 2009.

Disneyland Resort: Mickey's Trick or Treat Party. < http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/reserve/specialOffers/detail?name=MickeysTrickOrTreatPartySpecialOfferPage> Accessed September 4, 2009.

Disneyworld Sources:

Disneyworld. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. < http://www.explorethemagic.com/disney-world-mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party.asp> Accessed September 4, 2009.