34 Ideas for Halloween Fun and Events in the Portland Area

There are so many fearsomely fun ways to celebrate in Portland that it’s hard to fit them all into one month. But if you’re feeling ambitious, here are 34 spooky and not-so-spooky ideas to get you started.

Pumpkin Display at West Linn, courtesy Meg Asby
  • Visit a Pumpkin Patch. There’s a reason Portland was named LawnStarter’s Best City for Pumpkin Lovers. Plan to eat fresh apple-cider doughnuts, visit farm animals, go on a hayride, and even launch a pumpkin or two. See our full list of pumpkin patches here.
  • Visit a Treat Shop. Cheese & Crack typically offers Eye Scream Cones, and Salt & Straw never disappoints, with seasonal favorites like the Great Candycopia and usually something a little more adventurous (real insects have been known to make an appearance). If you like your treats more cute than creepy, SORO SORO serves dessert with googly eyes year-round, and they’re not the least bit scary. 
  • Decorate Your Home. Find spooky decorations at The Lippman Co., or check out The Oddities & Curiosities Expo at the Oregon Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, October 21-22. If you’re feeling crafty, take a class from the pros at Davis Graveyard; you’ll leave with custom tombstones you couldn’t buy in a shop.
  • Bake with Pumpkin. It’s time to fill your home with the scent of pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and Harry Potter-inspired pumpkin pasties. (Or just grab the best pumpkin whoopie pies in town from Baker & Spice.) 
  • Make a Halloween Haunted Gingerbread House. Trader Joe’s sells a kit to make this sweet project even easier!
  • Visit Davis Graveyard. The decorations at Davis Graveyard are so spectacular it’s hard to believe it’s free to visit this private home display. The Davis family adds something new every year, and the tombstones are realistic and clever. 8703 SE 43rd Ave, Milwaukie.   
  • Or Visit a Real Graveyard! The Tour of Untimely Departures at Lone Fir Cemetery is back! Follow a ghostly guide through the candlelit cemetery and hear the spooky and unusual stories of the departed. *UPDATE: This 2023 event sold out in 24 hours. Mark your calendars for next year!*
  • Visit the Pirates of Pinehurst. Every October, Pinehurst Court in Sherwood transforms from peaceful cul-de-sac into a pirate conclave. See over-the-top decorations, watch 10-minute live shows, and redeem pirate doubloons (hidden in Sherwood parks and trails) for a reward!
  • Drive a Halloween Home Display Route. See the best decorations the Portland metro area has to offer in a loop curated by Portland’s favorite pumpkin carving artist, Brook Rice. The route takes 1.5 hours to drive, about three hours total including stops to look at the displays.
  • Carve a Pumpkin. Whether you carve a Timbers ax or a traditional jack-o-lantern, be sure to roast those pumpkin seeds for a delicious snack. Pro tip: Al’s Garden & Home sells pumpkins for $1.99.   
  • Wear a Costume and Score Free Treats. Make the rounds, with freebies typically found at Salt & Straw, Krispy Kreme, IHOP, and Mike’s Drive-In on Halloween. Be sure to double-check this year’s offerings, as deals are subject to change. 
  • Plan a Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Repurpose Easter eggs on Halloween for kids who prefer to skip trick-or-treating, but still want the candy. To make this even more local, stuff a few eggs with splurgy bonbons from Ranger Chocolate Company.  
  • Navigate a Corn Maze. No Halloween season is complete without puzzling your way through a corn maze. Sauvie Island is full of them, and Bella Organic boasts a dog-friendly maze.
  • Brave a Haunted House. Visit a traditional haunted house like Fearlandia, walk through Oaks Park Scaregrounds, or experience a few jump scares from live actors at Cinema of Horrors Drive-In — from the safety of your car, at least. (Best suited for ages 13 and older!) See our full list of haunts here.
  • Buy a Spooky Book. Portland is full of independent bookstores, but this will be the first Halloween season without black bookshop cat Molly at Annie Bloom’s Books. Honor her memory with a purchase of Creepy Carrots or Room on the Broom, or a donation to Cat Adoption Team.
  • Sell Your Candy. Give your kid’s teeth a break and exchange candy for LEGOs at Bricks & Minifigs Beaverton or for cash at select dental clinics, such as PDX Parent Reader Favorites Winner Hollywood Children’s Dentistry.

Happy Halloween, Portland!

Meg Asby
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