Story originally appeared on Westgate Resorts.
From Orlando to New York City and across the country in Las Vegas to other vacation-worthy spots, there are frightful and fun Halloween events popping up from coast to coast. Take for instance, Orlando. As the nation’s theme park hub, you can plan your dream vacation to Central Florida knowing that there is a never-ending list of things to do in Orlando no matter the time of year. From mild winters to humid summers, each of Florida’s “seasons” comes with a unique list of activities and events. This is especially true from September through the month of October when the Halloween spirit fills the air. Everything is pumpkin flavored…and we aren’t complaining! If you think you’re brave enough, you can even check out this list and explore the best of haunted Orlando.
Things to do on Halloween
No matter your chosen travel destination this fall, it’s time to get in the spooky spirit! Here are 10 Spooky Things to Do for Halloween at a Westgate Near You!
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1 | Spend Halloween with the ghost of Elvis in Las Vegas
Do you believe in ghosts? Venture out west to Las Vegas this Halloween to visit Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, where the ghost of Elvis Presley has allegedly been spotted roaming the hallways on the upper floors near the 5,000-square-foot “Elvis Suite.” His ghost has also been seen on the casino floor and backstage at the International Theater, where he performed over 800 shows between 1969 and 1976. It’s been said by hotel employees that Las Vegas icon Wayne Newton spotted the ghost of Elvis looking down at him from a balcony as he performed in the same theater!
WHERE: 3000 Paradise Road Las Vegas, NV 89109 | WHO: 702-732-5111
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2 | Get in the spirit at Dollywood’s Harvest Festival in Pigeon Forge
With color-changing leaves and the smell of pumpkin in the air, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee sets the stage for crisp fall days and long nights spent with family and friends. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival has been consistently voted one of the top fall events for families in the US! As the sun sets, the theme park becomes illuminated by the warm glow of pumpkins while their Great Pumpkin LumiNights takes over the park. Enjoy fun fall-themed photo ops as well as tasty dishes and drinks featuring fall flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, and apple.
WHERE: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 | WHO: 800-365-5996
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3 | Experience the Haunting on Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg
By day, Colonial Williamsburg helps history come alive with important lessons and live-action reenactments depicting the American colonial way of life. But for select nights on and around Halloween, the charming brick-lined Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg is transformed into a spooky spectacle, offering ghost tours, carriage rides, museum talks and more. Bring the whole family and don’t forget your candy bag for trick or treating!
WHERE: West Duke of Gloucester Street Williamsburg, VA 23185 | WHO: N/A
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4 | Hang out with Mickey Mouse & Co. at Disney’s After-Hours Boo Bash in Lake Buena Vista
This Halloween, head to Magic Kingdom to hang out with Mickey Mouse and his crew at Disney’s After Hours Boo Bash! This family-friendly Halloween event takes place most nights from 9:30 pm to 12:30 am and is perfect for Disney lovers who have a flair for the frightful, ghoulish and ghostly! Around the park you’ll spot an abundance of festive holiday décor as well as some of your favorite characters, dressed in their best Halloween costumes. You’ll also find plenty of decadently sweet treats at trick or treating stations around the park, and experience little to no wait times for over 20 Magic Kingdom rides and attractions. Keep your eyes peeled for the Grim Grinning Ghosts inside the Haunted Mansion, and be careful – they might try to hitch a ride home with you!
WHERE: Disney World Orlando Lake Buena Vista, FL 32836 | WHO: 407-939-5277
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5 | Visit the pumpkin patch at McKenna Family Farms in Branson
Celebrate the entire fall season this Halloween at McKenna Family Farms in Branson, Missouri! This picturesque pumpkin patch is family owned and operated and hosts field trips, groups, parties, families and anyone else who wants to swing by for some festive fun! From September 26th to November 9th, you can visit the farm to pick out the perfect pumpkins for carving. For the little ones in your family, there is also a Bounce Pillow, Big Bale Hay Maze, Gerbil Wheels, Fun Swings, Tire Mountain, Jump Pad and more all included in the price of general admission! There is also a hayride and plenty of seasonal local produce available for purchase.
WHERE: 3265 State Highway F Branson, MO 65616 | WHO: 417-593-9890
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6 | Drink your way around Manhattan at the Halloweekend Pub Crawl in New York City
All of Manhattan becomes your playground on Halloween weekend as New Yorkers (and visitors) dress up and hit the streets for a ghoulishly good time! With drink specials until 4 am, take on the city that never sleeps on the most exciting nights of the year with the pub crawl taking place on October 25, 26, and 31. Visit some of the city’s best bars and explore over five neighborhoods including West Village, East Village, Chelsea, Murray Hill and the Lower East Side. Oh, and don’t hold back with your costume – New York City is known for its vibrant nightlife and outlandish fashion so come in your Halloween best! After a long night, retreat to your oasis in the city, Westgate New York Grand Central, where you’ll find some of the biggest rooms and most comfortable beds in the city.
WHERE: New York City, NY 10017 | WHO: N/A
7 | Get spooked at Nightmare Haunted House in Myrtle Beach
Terrifying Myrtle Beach residents and visitors alike since the mid-1980s, this year-round haunted house is sure to have you screaming! This year’s house-meets-escape-room is called Zombie Zone: Undead Adventure and it provides over 4,000 square feet of unnerving darkness, grunts, and blood-curling screams as visitors try to escape the grasp of the unruly undead. Described as a 30-minute, multi-room extreme experience this is one that horror lovers on the east coast do not want to miss!
WHERE: 1001 Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 | WHO: 843-626-0022
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8 | Hang out with family at BOO! On Broadway in Downtown Kissimmee
Occurring on the last Friday of October in Historic Downtown Kissimmee, BOO! On Broadway is a family-friendly event featuring costumes, candy anddid we mention candy?! Before overloading on sugar, be sure to all check out their other offerings including the Great Kissimmee Case Race, stilt walkers, dance performances and more! This event is completely free to attend and takes place from 6-9 pm on Friday, October 29, 2021.
WHERE: 201 Lakeview Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34741 | WHO: 407-518-2501
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9 | Watch the leaves change colors in the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg
Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an ideal spot to watch the fall color display as the leaves change from their summer green to vibrant hues of red, yellow and orange. The colors are usually at their peak from mid-October to early November, so Halloween is the perfect time to get away to the mountains! Enjoy cool, quiet mornings and views of the stunning foliage as you sip hot coffee from your cabin balcony at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park the closest resort to the national park entrance!
WHERE: 107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | WHO: 865-436-1200
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10 | Scream with horror and delight at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando
After taking a year off due to the pandemic, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights is back and bound to be scarier than ever before! This year, houses at Orlando’s premier Halloween event include one based on Netflix’s popular horror series ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ as well as one paying tribute to the cult-classic Halloween-comedy ‘Beetlejuice’. In addition to the 10 Haunted Houses, you’ll have to make your way through the seemingly endless fog and survive five spine-chilling Scare Zones. Now in its 30th terrifying year, this year’s event begins on September 3 and concludes on Halloween night. Think you can handle it?
WHERE: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819 | WHO: 407-363-8000
Final Thoughts about Spooky Things to Do on Halloween
As fall ushers in cooler weather and shorter days, people want to head outside and enjoy the beautiful weather with the seasonal activities that we look forward to all year. Heart-pounding or heartwarming, whether you’re looking to feel the fear or just feel festive, there is a Halloween event near a Westgate Resort that is perfect for you and your family! When you check into a Westgate Resorts hotel, there’s a lot to check out! Your next vacation awaits…start planning your fall getaway today!
