HalloweenTown Every October — Attraction in Saint Helens

This event has grown a ton since the last time we visited. Unfortunately it's is still lacking in some areas. There is event parking a ways away from the actual event. Parking price was not posted or told to us until after we asked. It was $30 and we're told no cash, but it includes a school bus ride to and from the event with "busses available every 15 minutes" (it was longer than that when we were waiting to leave). They have vendors along the streets with neat things. The food trucks were a minimum 40-minute wait to order. There were a few sweet trucks like the donuts and the churro trucks that were much quicker for a sweet snack. Restaurants nearby were closer to 1.5 hours or more. The local businesses did not seem prepared what so ever even though this is a reoccurring event. We ordered milkshakes at one of the shops, and it took over an hour to order and receive 3 shakes. They were disorganized, and the staff was talking shit about the customers and the boss in front of everyone. We bought the tickets for the attractions (you do not need tickets to walk the event, just for the attractions). We spent easily an hour in line just to be disappointed by the alien and oddities attraction, very underwhelming. The building that the oddities/aliens is in is also not ADA or stroller friendly. There is a staircase to get to the second floor. That's it. It looks like they had a lift chair, but it was not available for use. The lines to all the attractions were quoted more than 40 min each by event staff. We ended up bypassing the rest of the attractions as the little ones were restless with the wait. We did not see any train rides to 4th street that was on the website either. I'm not sure if it was just not posted well or if it wasn't there. Most people seemed to walk from the event to get there. Make sure to wear good, supportive shoes as there are a lot of incline/declines. Most are not that steep but can become too much if you have certain disabilities. We did get some good pictures of the town, and the event has the ability to become amazing, but it needs some serious work. We did get to catch the costume contest, which was fun. They should add some of the characters from the movies walking around. The first time we had gone several years back, they handed out maps that you could see the bed and breakfast where Aggie's house was, the cemetery, Bella's house from Twilight and several other popular spots. That would be a good thing to bring...

For me, HalloweenTown in St. Helens, Oregon, has become a cherished annual tradition. Each year, the town transforms into a magical, spooky wonderland inspired by the Disney classic film Halloweentown, and despite the changes every year, the experience remains enchanting.

On my latest visit, I was greeted by the familiar street vendors, selling everything from unique knick-knacks to delectable treats and hearty meals. The local vendors really bring the event to life, and their offerings are consistently excellent. Whether you're on the hunt for handmade crafts or craving a seasonal snack, there's always something to enjoy.

The staff at HalloweenTown deserve a special mention. They were incredibly friendly, approachable, and helpful. Whether I needed directions or simply had a question about an event, they were quick to assist with a smile, adding to the welcoming atmosphere of the event.

One of the highlights is how dynamic HalloweenTown is. Every year, they manage to introduce something new, keeping the experience fresh and exciting. This year’s layout and decorations were impressive, and the festive energy is always palpable. The event is family-friendly, and it’s clear they make an effort to cater to all ages, making it a great outing for everyone.

As with any popular event, there are some minor drawbacks. While the price of admission and vendor items is reasonable given the quality, parking can be a bit of a challenge. Since it's mostly side-street parking, you may need to pay a small fee, but it's a minor inconvenience compared to the overall experience.

For anyone who loves Halloween or just enjoys a fun, immersive festival, I highly recommend HalloweenTown in St. Helens. It’s an event I look forward to each year, and I'm already excited to see what next year brings.

Overall, whether you're a fan of the film or simply looking for a fun, spooky experience, HalloweenTown never disappoints. It's a perfect mix of nostalgia, excitement, and community, making it well worth the visit...

We paid for the One Big Ticket which covered entry to the haunted house, the sand island tour, and the spirit in the woods event. The Haunted house was fun but mostly because we recognized some of the animitronics from Home Depot. The Sand Island and Spirit in the woods events were rediculously lame. At least we got to roast a couple of marshmallows after the Sand Island walk. They did have a guy who was dressed as big foot on The Sand Island trail, he pretty much just stood there and he was obviously bored but he was also good natured. The vendors were sparse and there were more beer/booze vendors than there was food. They had a lady serving clam chowder doing a fair bit of business but the guy doing phillysteaks and fries was slammed. There were 2 lines. You paid at the first line (1 hour wait), they gave you a number and then you waited in the second line till they called your number. Guess how long the wait was? There was a Chinese food vendor but I didn't see him and my wife told me about it later. And the final spoiler of the whole day is awarded to The Rooftop. I'm sure it is a top notch eatery or what you would refer to as top notch in this less than stellar little town. Yes, a place where the patrons entertain themselves by pouring beer onto people waking on the sidewalk three stories below. My advise is skip this event and blow through this town doing 60. When a town of 14,000 people needs 3 law offices and a free legal center in a two block downtown this is obviously not a town to hang about in. One final note, the one redeemer to this whole trip was the Outrageous Fortunes Pirates who gave a very loud and entertaining black powder demonstration including flintlock pistols, rifles, and a series of small canons. They even had a blunderbus. 4 stars to the Outrageous...