What is Halloweentown?
For those not already familiar, Halloweentown is a fictional, spooky/charming world featured in the Disney Channel movie series Halloweentown, where witches, goblins, and other supernatural creatures live. I grew up watching this every October, so when I found out you could visit the actual place where everything was filmed, I knew this had to be a stop we made on our Oregon road trip! The original Halloweentown movie was released on October 17, 1998 (over 25 years ago) on Disney Channel, and has led to three sequels over the following years. If not already, I recommend including it in your repertoire of movies to cycle through during fall.
Where is Halloweentown?
Halloweentown is in St.Helen’s, Oregon. Below are distances from the nearby cities that you may be visiting from:
- Portland, OR
- Distance: ~30 miles (48 km)
- Drive Time: ~45 minutes
- Seattle, WA
- Distance: ~145 miles (233 km)
- Drive Time: ~2.5 to 3 hours
- Tacoma, WA
- Distance: ~120 miles (193 km)
- Drive Time: ~2 to 2.5 hours
When to Visit Halloweentown?
You can technically visit St. Helens, Oregon, year-round, but the full Halloweentown experience, known as The Spirit of Halloweentown, only takes place during September and October, with most events concentrated in October. The Spirit of Halloweentown only happens on Saturdays and Sundays. If you don’t care much for the festival (which gets insanely crowded), I recommend visiting during the middle of the week or on a Friday! There will be no vendors or attractions, but all the decor (like the Giant Pumpkin) and props will still be out. If you’re there just to tour where they filmed Halloweentown, a less crowded experience will be more ideal for photos.
The full event calendar for the Spirit of Halloweentown will be on their website here. Did you know you can even meet the actors who starred in Halloweentown? To meet some members of the cast, check out their schedules here.
What to Know Before Visiting Halloweentown
Visiting Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon, during October can be a magical and festive experience, but it helps to be prepared. Here are key things to know:
It gets crowded, especially during the weekend – October is the prime time to visit, which means you won’t be the only one with the idea. Weekends are particularly popular, especially as Halloween approaches. If you’re planning to go on a Saturday or Sunday, try to arrive early in the day to beat the crowds, get good parking, and enjoy the town before it gets packed.
The Spirit of Halloweentown Festival is the main event – Every October, St. Helens hosts The Spirit of Halloweentown, a month-long celebration packed with themed activities and entertainment. Expect things like: costume contests, haunted houses, live performances, pumpkin lighting ceremonies, vendor markets, and food trucks.
Tickets are required for some attractions – While it’s free to stroll through town and enjoy the festive atmosphere, special attractions like the haunted house, VIP experiences, or guided tours do require tickets. Popular dates and times can sell out fast, so if there’s something you really want to do, don’t wait to book.
Parking is limited – Downtown St. Helens has limited parking, and it fills up quickly during event weekends. Be prepared to park in overflow lots or use designated shuttle services that run from other areas in town. Follow signs and traffic staff to avoid getting towed or stuck in the wrong area. Note that if you’re visiting outside of festival dates (like mid week), parking is less restricted!
My biggest tip: if you don’t care about the festival, go outside of festival days!
What to Do/See in Halloweentown
St.Helen’s is a small town, and Halloweentown is even smaller. It really takes only about half a day to visit everything, so I don’t recommend making Halloweentown the main point of your trip, unless it’s a day trip. That being said, I found the whole experience really fun and definitely recommend going if you grew up watching the film. We went during non festival days (Friday) during the beginning of October, so all the festival decor/props were out. We were able to take as many photos as we wanted with barely a wait and limited crowds!
Halloweentown Movie Locations
Big Pumpkin
One of the most iconic sights in Halloweentown is the giant pumpkin that sits proudly in the town square. In real life, this location is the courthouse plaza in downtown St. Helens, and during October, it’s transformed into a Halloween lover’s dream. The pumpkin is placed right in front of the historic courthouse, just like in the movie. Visitors flock here each fall to take photos, attend lighting ceremonies, and relive scenes from the film. It’s the heart of The Spirit of Halloweentown festival and often surrounded by themed decorations, food vendors, and costumed characters.
Benny’s Cab
Halloweentown Plaza
Benny’s skeleton taxi cab is a fan-favorite part of Halloweentown, and you can actually see a replica of it in downtown St. Helens. I’m not sure if they move it around each year, but when we went, they had it right next to the Halloweentown Plaza (on the right if you are facing the big pumpkin). While the cab is a replica, the skeleton is the real Benny (or at least, that’s what a worker told us when we were there!).
Visitors can pose next to it and even peek inside the cab to imagine what it’d be like to be Marnie and her siblings through the magical streets of Halloweentown. It’s a whimsical, nostalgic photo stop that brings the movie to life for fans young and old.
City Hall
Halloweentown Plaza
In the Halloweentown universe, the City Hall is where much of the town’s magical business takes place. In real life, that same building is the Columbia County Courthouse in St. Helens. This stately, historic structure serves as a central filming location in the movie, particularly during the town’s big festival scenes. Each October, the courthouse plaza is transformed: fall decorations, hay bales, scarecrows, and of course, the famous giant pumpkin bring the Halloweentown setting to life. The front steps and surrounding square are perfect for reenacting scenes or simply soaking in the atmosphere. Fans often recognize the building instantly thanks to its prominent role in the film. Beyond its movie fame, the courthouse is also a beautiful piece of architecture and history, making it a highlight even for visitors who aren’t die-hard Disney fans. For the full experience, visit during a pumpkin lighting or weekend celebration.
Columbia Theatre
212 S 1st Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
While the Columbia Theatre doesn’t appear prominently in Halloweentown itself, it plays a meaningful role during the Spirit of Halloweentown festival. Located in the heart of St. Helens’ historic downtown, this charming theater often hosts special events, screenings, and themed programming tied to the Halloween season and the movie series. It’s a beautifully preserved historic venue that adds a nostalgic flair to the entire experience. During October, visitors may find Halloweentown playing on the big screen, along with Q&As, cast panels, or costume contests. The theater also contributes to the town’s magical vibe, with its marquee often featuring Halloween-themed messages and décor. For fans of the movie or anyone looking for cozy small-town charm, the Columbia Theatre is a great place to take a break from the crowds, enjoy a show, or just admire its vintage architecture. It’s a local gem that supports the community’s festive spirit.
Bonus: Bella Swan’s House
184 S 6th Street
Halloweentown wasn’t the only movie filmed in St.Helen’s, Oregon. The iconic Bella Swan House, featured in the 2008 Twilight film, is a charming 1930s residence nestled in quiet downtown St. Helens. Though the story is set in Forks, Washington, the actual interior and exterior scenes of Bella and Charlie’s home were filmed in this very real house at 184 S. 6th Street. In 2018, Twilight fans Amber and Dean Neufeld purchased the property. They transformed it into an Airbnb, restoring and preserving the film’s original décor, all the way down to Bella’s blue living room walls, her moss-green bedroom, and Charlie’s kitchen and dining room (even complete with the same table used in the movie).
