By Jason Heidemann for the Orbitz Travel Blog
Boo! Did we scare you? Probably not, but it's that time of year when thousands don their scary best and hit the streets in search of tricks, treats and frightening fun. If you're looking for this year's biggest events and best shivers, here are the best Halloween parties of 2015.
Fantasy Fest: Key West, FL
This 10-day celebration during the last week of October is the
at its open-minded, free-spirited and downright raunchy best. Recurring events include a
Star Wars
burlesque parody, the Bahama Village Goombay Festival of arts, crafts and music, body painting at the Garden of Eden and more. But the festival is also chock full of one-of-a-kind happenings like the 33rd Annual Headdress Ball, the annual Halos and Horns Pool Party and Wet T-Shirt Contest, a toga party, glow party, annual parade and more. This year's theme is
Haunted Happenings: Salem, MA
The Salem Witch Trials were no joke, but somehow the tiny Bay State town has found a way to turn tragedy into tourism with Haunted Happenings, a month-long fest celebrating both Halloween and autumn that attracts more than a quarter million visitors each year. Highlights include an interactive recreation of the trial of Abigail Bishop (in which visitors are the jury), nighttime ghost tours, multiple haunted houses, The Salem Witches Halloween Ball, a memorial dedicated to the tragic events of the Salem Witch Trials and even a Golden Girls parody done completely in drag (talk about scary!).
High Heels Drag Queen Race: Washington, DC
Prepare yourself for a hundred drag queens racing through the streets of the nation's capital. This annual event actually happens the Tuesday before Halloween (in this case October 27) and gathers together more than 100 men in drag who zip--as best they can--through the streets of DuPont Circle while more than 100,000 spectators look on and local businesses ply them with drink, food and retail specials.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Orlando, FL
If you've ever been to the iconic Orlando theme park you've already seen plenty of costumed characters, but on Halloween visitors are encouraged to join in on the action by dressing for the occasion and joining in family-friendly nighttime activities that happen not just on Halloween itself but on select dates throughout September and October. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party includes the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade, a fireworks display hosted by classic Disney villains and all your favorite characters dressed in fun costumes.
New Orleans Halloween: New Orleans, LA
All Hallows' Eve in the Crescent City isn't just one event; it's many. A city that is no stranger to celebrations, New Orleans Halloween offers something for everyone, including the kid-friendly nighttime experience Boo at the Zoo, a massive street party along celebrated Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, a weekend of festivities at the corner of iconic Bourbon and St. Ann streets in the French Quarter that bring out the city's LGBT community and benefits an AIDS-related charity and a smorgasbord of haunted houses. Did we mention the average daily high in Nola in October is 80?
Village Halloween Parade: New York, NY
A wicked good time is had by folks of all ages at this 42nd annual nighttime parade, which was started by puppeteer Ralph Lee in 1974 and now attracts more than 60,000 participants and over two million spectators annually. The largest nighttime event of its kind in the United States, spectators are treated to a smorgasbord of costumed marchers, dancers and more than 50 live bands all marching to the beat of their own wildly eclectic drum through
iconic Village. This year's
theme is "Shine a Light." Make of that what you will.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
