
Yes, Halloweentown is real, and you can visit it. Every fall, St. Helens, Oregon, the small Columbia River town where Disney filmed the 1998 movie Halloweentown, turns its old downtown back into the movie set. This guide covers what people search for most: where Halloweentown is, the Spirit of Halloweentown festival dates, tickets, parking, the giant pumpkin lighting, where the movies were filmed and the Halloweentown movies in order.
Where is Halloweentown?
Halloweentown is in St. Helens, Oregon, a riverfront town of about 14,000 people in Columbia County. It sits about 30 miles northwest of downtown Portland on U.S. Highway 30, roughly a 30โ45 minute drive depending on traffic. The movie's town square is the plaza in front of the historic Columbia County Courthouse, along Strand Street in the Olde Towne district beside the Columbia River.
When people search "Halloween town Oregon" or "Halloweentown St. Helens," this is the place they mean. The city keeps the movie alive with the yearly Spirit of Halloweentown festival, which brings in up to about 90,000 visitors a season.
Spirit of Halloweentown dates and hours
The 2026 festival runs weekends only (Saturday and Sunday) from late September through November 1. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on event days.
| Weekend | Dates (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SatโSun, Sep 26โ27 | Opening weekend |
| 2 | SatโSun, Oct 3โ4 | Usually lighter crowds |
| 3 | SatโSun, Oct 10โ11 | |
| 4 | SatโSun, Oct 17โ18 | Cast photo-ops (Zimmerman, Roeske, Van Dyke) |
| 5 | SatโSun, Oct 24โ25 | Judith Hoag photo-ops; very busy |
| 6 | SatโSun, Oct 31โNov 1 | Halloween weekend; busiest |
Check the official Spirit of Halloweentown website before you go, since schedules and guest lineups can change.
Halloweentown St. Helens tickets: what's free and what costs money
You can walk the decorated plaza, browse street vendors and visit the food area for free. Most of the bigger attractions need a paid Access Pass:
- Price: starting around $40 for ages 13 and up, less for ages 6โ12. Kids 5 and under are free. Tickets cost less online than at the box office.
- Included: a kid-friendly haunted house (no live monsters), attractions in the Masonic Building (an alien encounter and an oddities exhibit), the Boo Bash Pavilion, the Harvest Games Zone, a filming-location tour train, and a free digital photo with "Jack the Pumpkin."
- Add-ons: celebrity photo-ops (sold online only), tours of the Twilight "Swan House" (a private home toured in small timed groups), and the Haunted Harbor jetboat ride, a 30-minute cruise from the St. Helens dock around Sand Island and Sauvie Island.
The Halloweentown pumpkin lighting
The festival's big moment is the Great Pumpkin lighting. The giant jack-o'-lantern in the plaza, modeled on the one in the movie, lights up at 8:30 p.m. every event night. Pumpkin photos run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you want to see the lighting, find a spot by about 8 p.m. The plaza fills up fast, especially in late October.
You'll also find pirate encampments with cannon demonstrations, the St. Helens Witch Dance, street performers and costumed characters all season.
Halloweentown cast and celebrity guests
Original Halloweentown cast members often come back for paid photo-ops. For 2026, the official site lists J. Paul (Joey) Zimmerman (Dylan), Emily Roeske (Sophie) and Phillip Van Dyke (Luke) for October 17โ18, and Judith Hoag (Gwen) for October 24โ25. Photo-op tickets are sold online only and can sell out.
The original movie starred Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Aggie Cromwell and Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie Piper.
Halloweentown parking and getting there
- Driving: From Portland, take U.S. Highway 30 west/north through Scappoose to St. Helens (about 30 miles).
- Official parking: The festival's main lot is at 451 Plymouth St. Plan on about $25โ$30 per car, and book online to save money and guarantee a spot. New for 2026, the lot is close enough that you don't need a shuttle.
- Don't park in neighborhoods. St. Helens residents ask visitors to stay out of residential streets, and parking is enforced.
- Rideshare: Uber and Lyft drivers are scarce in St. Helens, especially for the ride home after the pumpkin lighting. Don't count on them.
Where was Halloweentown filmed?
The original Halloweentown (Disney Channel, 1998) was filmed in Oregon over about 24 days in May and June 1998. These are the main Halloweentown filming locations:
St. Helens: the Halloweentown town square
The plaza in front of the Columbia County Courthouse and the old storefronts along Strand Street became the magical town of Halloweentown. This is where the festival happens, and it's easy to recognize from the movie, especially the courthouse and the riverfront.
Scappoose: the Piper family neighborhood
The "real world" scenes in the Piper family's neighborhood were filmed in nearby Scappoose, about 10 minutes south of St. Helens on Highway 30.
Aggie's house
The outside of Grandma Aggie's house was filmed at a historic home in St. Helens that once ran as a bed-and-breakfast. Some interior scenes were shot at a farmhouse in Portland's Eastmoreland neighborhood. Both are private residences, so view them from the street only and respect the owners' privacy.
The sequels were not filmed in Oregon
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (2001) was filmed in British Columbia, Canada. Halloweentown High (2004) and Return to Halloweentown (2006) were filmed in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. St. Helens is the only "real" Halloweentown from the original film.
Halloweentown movies in order
| # | Movie | Year | Filmed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halloweentown | 1998 | St. Helens, Scappoose & Portland, Oregon |
| 2 | Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge | 2001 | British Columbia, Canada |
| 3 | Halloweentown High | 2004 | Utah |
| 4 | Return to Halloweentown | 2006 | Utah |
In Return to Halloweentown, Sara Paxton took over the role of Marnie from Kimberly J. Brown. Where can I watch Halloweentown? All four movies are usually streaming on Disney+. Check the service, because availability can change.
Tips for visiting Halloweentown in St. Helens
- Go early in the season or early in the day. Late September and early October weekends are less crowded than the last two weekends of October.
- Visit on a weekday for a quiet look. The festival attractions run on weekends, but the decorations and filming spots are there all week. A weekday is the easiest time to take photos at the courthouse and riverfront.
- Dress for Oregon weather. October evenings are cool and often wet. Bring a rain jacket and layers, especially if you're staying for the 8:30 p.m. pumpkin lighting.
- Book lodging early. St. Helens has few hotels. Many visitors stay in the Portland area or in Longview, Washington, about 35 minutes north.
- Bring cash and a charged phone. Vendors and food lines get busy, and you'll want photos.
- Costumes are welcome. Many visitors dress as Marnie, Aggie or their own Halloween characters.
More Halloween and fall fun near Portland
Make a fall weekend of it. Sauvie Island is right on the way back to Portland on Highway 30. It has corn mazes and farms, including Bella Organic's haunted maze. See our guide to the best pumpkin patches in Oregon. In Portland, you can visit ScareGrounds PDX at Oaks Park and the Oregon Zoo's Howloween (October 17, 18, 24 and 25). Fall colors in the Columbia River Gorge and Silver Falls usually peak in mid to late October. For more trip ideas, see our Oregon coast road trip and best small towns in Oregon.
Halloweentown FAQ
Is Halloweentown a real place?
Yes. The 1998 Disney Channel movie Halloweentown was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon, and the town celebrates it every fall with the Spirit of Halloweentown festival.
Where is Halloweentown in Oregon?
St. Helens, Oregon, about 30 miles northwest of Portland on Highway 30. The festival centers on the courthouse plaza at 275 Strand St.
When is Spirit of Halloweentown?
In 2026 it runs Saturdays and Sundays from September 26 through November 1, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Is Halloweentown in St. Helens free?
Walking the plaza, vendors and food area is free. A paid Access Pass, starting around $40 for adults, covers the haunted house, tour train, games and other attractions. Kids 5 and under are free.
What time is the Halloweentown pumpkin lighting?
The Great Pumpkin lights up at 8:30 p.m. every festival night.
Where do you park for Halloweentown?
Use the official festival lot at 451 Plymouth St. It costs about $25โ$30, and booking online is recommended. Don't park in residential neighborhoods.
Where was Halloweentown filmed?
The first movie was filmed in St. Helens (town square), Scappoose (the Piper neighborhood) and Portland, Oregon. The sequels were filmed in British Columbia and Utah.
What are the Halloweentown movies in order?
Halloweentown (1998), Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (2001), Halloweentown High (2004) and Return to Halloweentown (2006).
Where can I watch Halloweentown?
The Halloweentown movies are usually streaming on Disney+. Availability can change, so check the service.
How far is Halloweentown from Portland?
About 30 miles, or roughly 30โ45 minutes by car via U.S. Highway 30.