With the spooky season just around the corner, pumpkins, fall decorations, and Halloween costumes are popping up in stores everywhere. With the holiday comes plenty of fun events and family-friendly activities to get you and your kids in the spirit. If you’re looking for something to do this October, here are the top family-friendly Halloween events around Portland to check out.
Celebrate the Spirit of Halloweentown
If you didn’t know St. Helens was the filming location of the classic movie Halloweentown, the normally quiet town will be happy to enlighten and bring you into the spirit of the spooky season with their annual family-friendly holiday celebration.
During the month of October, the city offers fun activities and attractions, such as costume contests, special celebrity guests, live music, street performers, exhibits, dances, several vendors, and haunted tours. You don’t want to miss the big parade on October 1st that ends with the lighting of the Great Pumpkin in the city plaza.
The festivities mainly take place on the weekends, but you can take photos and look at all of the attractions on any day of the week. All parking is free on the weekdays, but on the weekends, parking is $15 online and $20 in person. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets if you decide to go on the weekend. Make sure to look at the schedule of activities to plan your visit!
Dates: Sep. 17-Oct. 31, 2022
Courthouse Plaza at The Historical Riverfront District
275 Strand Street
St. Helens, OR 97051
Weekend Parking
471 Plymouth Street
St. Helens, OR 97051
Solve the Corn Maze at Bella Organics
For a fun fall activity, take the family to Bella Organics Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze. The intricate corn maze on Sauvie Island this year emphasizes their theme of HOPE with the number of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: “988.” Part of their proceeds will go towards supporting a local non-profit focused on promoting mental health awareness.
On average, it takes visitors about one hour to figure their way out of the maze. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the regular corn maze but not in the haunted one.
For those who want more of a scare, the Haunted Corn Maze opens on October 1st, 2022. It’s available every Friday and Saturday during the whole month.
Other fun activities at Bella Organic include hayrides, cow train, grain train, hay maze, face painting, petting zoo, and plastic duck races. You can also pick pumpkins at their pumpkin patch, which will be open through October 31st.
All activities and tickets are cash only. The farm store is the only place that accepts credit cards if you purchase produce.
Dates: Sep. 15-Oct. 31, 2022
Bella Organics
16205 NW Gillihan Rd.
Portland, OR 97231
Experience the Canby Haunt Junior
Though the Canby Haunt is known for Halloween thrills, they have a Haunt Jr. for visitors 12 and under. Every Saturday from 7-8 PM, the haunted house is quieter and more well-lit to make it more family-friendly.
This haunted house is also the only attraction that allows you to customize the scare level using a Creature Candle. When you turn the Creature Candle on, you can walk through the corridors without fear, but when it’s turned off, the monsters and scares come alive.
Haunt Jr. is only available on Saturdays from 7-8 PM, but the regular Canby Haunt is every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 PM. Make sure to purchase your tickets beforehand and prepare for crowds if you go later in the month.
Dates: Oct. 7-29, 2022
Clackamas County Event Center
694 NE 4th Ave.
Canby, OR 97013
Attend the Family-Friendly Haunt
Come by the Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a kid-friendly haunted house experience! When you enter Underhill Manor, their largest nighttime haunt, young visitors receive a magic wand designed to ward away any monsters, ghouls, or creepers. And if you find Harry, the resident bat, along the way, there will be a special prize waiting for you at the end.
Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time and check out the Family Saver Pack for up to 8 people.
Dates: Oct. 22 & 23, 2022, 12-3 PM
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
300 N Ramsay Way, Portland
OR 97227
Do the Monster March
This spooktacular event is hosted by the Sellwood Community House. The event opens up with a one-hour Monster March parade, which begins at Sellwood Middle School and ends at Sellwood Community House, where the festivities occur. There will be many activities, including music, food, outdoor games, a photo booth, and face painting.
Make sure to register online and come wearing your costumes!
Date: Oct. 29, 2022, 3-7 PM
Sellwood Community House
1436 Southeast Spokane Street
Portland, OR, 97202
Trick-or-Treat at Gresham Station
On Saturday, October 29th, take your kids in their costumes to Gresham Station for some FREE family fun. Retailers at the station will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. You can make Halloween crafts and meet the friendly alpacas from Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas.
Date: Oct. 29, 2022, 11-2 PM
Gresham Station
649 NW 12th Street
Gresham, OR 97030
Pick Up Goodies at Tigard Farmers Market
The day before Halloween, take the family to Tigard Farmers Market for early trick-or-treating fun! All of the vendor booths will be handing out candy, and you can check out the different products as well in downtown Tigard.
Date: Oct. 30, 2022, 9-1:30 PM
Rotary Plaza
12345 S.W. Tigard St.
Tigard, OR
Emily currently lives in Orange County, California after spending four years in Illinois and half a year teaching in Florence, Italy. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Knox College and an M.A. in Counseling from the University of San Diego and has taught English to native speakers and ESL students for over three years. When she’s not working as a School Counselor or writing, she enjoys traveling the world, playing instruments, and blogging about Millennial experiences at Long Live the Twenties.