🎃 Our Weekend in Halloweentown: A Spooktacular Trip to St. Helens, Oregon
If you grew up watching Halloweentown on Disney Channel every October, you know the magic of that movie — the pumpkins, the spells, and of course, Grandma Aggie’s iconic line, “Being normal is vastly overrated.” This fall, Morgan and I decided to bring that childhood magic to life with a weekend trip to Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon!
Starting the last weekend in September and going through every weekend in October, each year St. Helens, OR transforms itself into The Spirit of Halloweentown.
Staying in St. Helens
We checked into the Best Western Oak Meadows Inn, which turned out to be the perfect place to stay for the weekend. It’s just a short drive from the Riverfront District, where all the Halloweentown festivities take place. The hotel was clean, comfortable, and had a great breakfast — exactly what we needed to recharge between all the Halloween fun.
The Best Western Oak Meadows was not fancy by any means, but we only stayed two nights so it was fine. The one thing we did find odd was there is no elevator to the second floor. There is a set of stairs in the middle of the hotel and you must carry your luggage up. Be aware of this if you need an accessible room. You might want to call before you come to make sure there are some first floor rooms available.
There is also no shuttle from the hotel to the festivities, but the drive is short.
Pro-Tip: There are ONLY two places to stay in St. Helens. The other is OYO Hotel St. Helens, OR. It did not have good reviews, and we heard some not-so-good things about it from locals during our stay. For these reasons, we DO NOT recommend staying here.
All Access Pass: Worth It!
We opted for the All Access Passes or the admission pass, which I definitely recommend if you’re planning to make the most of your visit. The passes included access to several activities, including the photo op with the big pumpkin. The Tram Tour of filming locations, which was one of the highlights of our weekend, was also included.
The tram took us on a behind-the-scenes adventure through some of the real filming sites from both Halloweentown and the Twilight movies. The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and shared fun tidbits about the production and local lore.
If you’re a Twilight fan, you’ll recognize a few spots from Twilight’s filming too — it’s like stepping into two movie worlds at once!
Photo Ops, Movie Magic, and a Fun Geocache Find
Of course, no trip to St. Helens in October would be complete without a photo in front of the Big Pumpkin! It sits right in the town square (or “Town Center” as the locals call it) and makes the perfect backdrop for those nostalgic Halloweentown photos.
We also visited all the iconic filming locations — from the City Hall (which doubled as Halloweentown’s Courthouse) to the cozy streets that were transformed into the magical movie setting.
And for my fellow geocachers, there’s a Virtual Geocache (GC9P4XA) located right in the Halloweentown area! The photo requirement asks that you hold up a piece of paper with your geocaching username in your picture with the Big Pumpkin. It’s a great way to combine the magic of Halloweentown with a little geocaching adventure. Don’t forget to pack a small note or slip of paper ahead of time — it makes logging your find quick and easy!
Insider Tip: Go Early!
If you want photos without the crowds, plan to arrive early in the morning. The atmosphere is just as magical, and you’ll be able to capture those picture-perfect shots before the square fills up with visitors.
Lines for food can get very long in the afternoon, so you may want to consider eating early. The daytime seems to be more family-friendly, too.
Getting Around and Parking
Here’s one of our best travel tips: pay for parking online in advance. It makes the day much smoother and lets you avoid the stress of hunting for a parking spot in the busy downtown area.
You can even ride the shuttle bus into the event area, which saves time and helps you skip the traffic near the main square. The bus drops you off right by the action, so you can jump straight into exploring Halloweentown without worrying about parking chaos.
Twilight Bonus Stop: The Bella Swan House
If you’re a Twilight fan, don’t miss a quick stop at the Bella Swan House, located just down the road from the main Halloweentown area. The house is privately owned, but fans are welcome to take photos from the street. It’s a fun little detour and another piece of movie magic that makes St. Helens such a unique place for film lovers.
If you go early in the morning, and before the actual events start, you can easily park at the bottom of the hill and walk up to the house. We got some great pictures without anyone else around. The neighbor walking his dog was friendly too.
What We Skipped
We decided to skip the Haunted House and Alien Invasion attractions this time — they looked fun but weren’t really our style. We also chose not to pay extra for the Courthouse Tour, which includes a look inside Calabar’s Office, a meet-and-greet with the Halloweentown postman, and a few other full sets from the movie.
While it sounded interesting, we were happy exploring the town and soaking up the Halloween atmosphere without it. The cost for the extra tour was also $25 per person.
The Atmosphere
One of the best parts about visiting St. Helens during the Spirit of Halloweentown celebration is the community feel. The town really embraces the magic — there are costumed characters walking around, local vendors selling spooky treats and handmade crafts, and decorations that make you feel like you’ve truly stepped into another world.
One thing that struck us was that most of the local businesses and houses were truly in the spirit of Halloween. Everywhere you look, you see decorations for the season. Some businesses even change their name for the occasion.
It’s a wonderful destination for families, couples, or anyone looking to enjoy a little bit of Halloween nostalgia. Whether you’re reliving your childhood memories or introducing the next generation to Halloweentown, it’s a trip that’s equal parts charming and magical.
Tips for Visiting Halloweentown in St. Helens
- 🎟 Get the All Access Pass: It saves money if you plan to do multiple attractions.
- 💻 Pre-pay for parking online: Then ride the bus in to skip traffic and crowds.
- 📅 Arrive early on weekends: You’ll beat the crowds and get the best photo ops.
- 📸 Don’t miss the Big Pumpkin photo: It’s an iconic stop!
- 🏠 Visit the Bella Swan House: Just a short drive away for fellow Twilight fans.
- 🧭 Bring your geocaching username on paper: There’s a Virtual Cache at the Big Pumpkin!
- ☕ Grab a cozy fall drink from a local café: Perfect for warming up between activities.
- 🕸 Plan for a full day (or two): There’s plenty to explore, from movie sets to markets.
Final Thoughts
Our weekend at Halloweentown was everything I hoped it would be — festive, nostalgic, and full of that cozy Halloween magic that makes October my favorite month of the year. If you love Halloweentown, Twilight, or just enjoy celebrating the spooky season, St. Helens is absolutely worth adding to your fall travel list.
Remember…
Life’s Short… Take the Trip! 👻
