Halloweentown Kicks Off 2026 Season in St. Helens With Six Weekends of Halloween Festivities

Halloweentown 2026 has officially arrived in St. Helens, Oregon, the real-life filming location of the beloved 1998 Disney Channel movie Halloweentown. The city’s annual Spirit of Halloweentown celebration opened its 2026 season on September 26, transforming downtown St. Helens into a Halloween-themed destination for movie fans, families and tourists.

The festival runs across six weekends through November 1 and features themed attractions, live entertainment, filming-location tours, celebrity appearances and the return of the giant pumpkin lighting ceremony.

Halloweentown Festival Returns to St. Helens

St. Helens has turned its connection to Halloweentown into a major annual tourism event.

The Disney Channel movie was filmed in the Oregon community in 1998, and nearly three decades later, the town continues to attract fans who want to visit locations recognizable from the film.

The Spirit of Halloweentown celebration has grown from a movie-inspired community event into a broader Halloween attraction featuring entertainment, food, vendors, haunted experiences and activities throughout the downtown area. City documents describe the festival as an event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

Six Weekends of Halloween Activities

The 2026 festival is scheduled across six weekends:

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

Official event hours are generally 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The festival is centered around 275 Strand Street in St. Helens.

The opening weekend began September 26, marking the start of more than a month of Halloween-themed programming.

Great Pumpkin Lighting Returns

One of the festival’s signature attractions is the giant pumpkin lighting ceremony in the town plaza.

For the 2026 season, the pumpkin lighting is scheduled for approximately 8:30 to 9 p.m. on event days. Visitors can also take photographs with the giant pumpkin during designated daytime hours.

The attraction has become an important part of the festival’s visual identity and gives visitors a chance to recreate some of the atmosphere associated with the movie.

Movie Fans Can Explore Filming Locations

The connection to Halloweentown remains central to the event.

Visitors can take a filming-location tour by trolley and explore parts of St. Helens that appeared in the movie. The experience allows fans to see the real-world locations behind the fictional setting that became familiar to Disney Channel audiences.

The festival also features photo opportunities and appearances by members of the original Halloweentown cast.

Original Cast Members Return

The 2026 lineup includes several performers associated with Halloweentown.

Among the announced guests are Judith Hoag, J. Paul Zimmerman, Emily Roeske and Phillip Van Dyke. The event also features a broader lineup of entertainers, performers and specialty acts throughout the season.

The cast reunions add a nostalgic element to the festival, particularly for fans who grew up watching the original Disney Channel movie.

Haunted Attractions and Family Entertainment

Although the festival is built around Halloweentown nostalgia, its programming extends well beyond the movie.

The 2026 schedule includes a kid-friendly haunted house, Boo Bash Pavilion, Harvest Games Zone, pumpkin activities and attractions inside the historic Masonic Building.

Visitors can also find live stage performances, roaming entertainers, costume contests, vendors and food options throughout the festival area.

The event’s official schedule describes activities ranging from hay mazes and pumpkin bowling to magic shows, music and themed performances.

St. Helens Becomes a Halloween Tourism Destination

The festival has become an important part of St. Helens’ tourism calendar.

City documents say Spirit of Halloweentown has developed into an international event attracting tens of thousands of visitors. The celebration also creates opportunities for local businesses, vendors, community organizations and nonprofits to benefit from increased visitor activity.

The town’s location near Portland also makes it accessible for visitors looking for a Halloween-themed day trip or weekend experience.

Travel Portland describes St. Helens as roughly 45 minutes from Portland and highlights the city’s annual Halloween transformation.

Free Downtown Access and Paid Attractions

Not every part of Spirit of Halloweentown requires a ticket.

General access to the plaza square and food-vendor area is free, while passes are required for many of the festival’s attractions and activities. The official ticket information also notes that admission to individual attractions can depend on visitor volume and waiting times.

Visitors can also purchase parking in advance, with the festival warning that parking availability around the event area is limited.

Halloweentown Nostalgia Drives the Festival

The continuing popularity of Spirit of Halloweentown demonstrates how a filming location can develop its own tourism identity decades after a movie is released.

For longtime fans, visiting St. Helens offers an opportunity to connect the fictional world of Halloweentown with the real Oregon locations used in the film. For other visitors, the event has evolved into a broader fall festival featuring Halloween attractions, entertainment and community activities.

With six weekends scheduled through November 1, the 2026 celebration gives visitors multiple opportunities to experience the event throughout the fall season.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is the Halloweentown festival held?

Spirit of Halloweentown is held in St. Helens, Oregon, at and around the downtown area near 275 Strand Street.

2. Is St. Helens the filming location for Halloweentown?

Yes. Disney Channel’s 1998 movie Halloweentown was filmed in St. Helens, and the city continues to celebrate its connection to the film every fall.

3. When does Halloweentown 2026 run?

The 2026 festival runs across six weekends from September 26 through November 1, 2026.

4. What are the main attractions at Spirit of Halloweentown?

Major attractions include the Great Pumpkin Lighting, haunted house, filming-location tours, Harvest Games Zone, live entertainment, costume contests and celebrity appearances.

5. Will original Halloweentown cast members attend?

Yes. The 2026 guest lineup includes several cast members from the original movie, including Judith Hoag, J. Paul Zimmerman, Emily Roeske and Phillip Van Dyke.

6. Is the Halloweentown festival family-friendly?

Yes. The event features family-oriented activities and attractions, although some individual experiences may have their own age or suitability considerations.

7. Is admission to Halloweentown free?

General access to the plaza and food-vendor area is free, while many attractions require a paid pass.

8. What time does the festival open?

The official event hours are generally 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

9. What is the Great Pumpkin Lighting?

It is one of Spirit of Halloweentown’s signature events, featuring the lighting of the giant pumpkin in the St. Helens plaza during the evening.

10. How many visitors does Spirit of Halloweentown attract?

St. Helens city documents describe the event as attracting tens of thousands of visitors, reflecting its growth into a major Halloween tourism attraction.