You may have already downed three pumpkin-spice lattes, decorated your porch with a jack-o-lantern or skeletons, and put the finishing touches on your salmon costume. But have you been SCARED yet this season? If not, we’ve got the list for you.
Each year we gather some of the metro area’s scariest haunted attractions, coolest spine-chilling stage performances, and other fun fall happenings into one big list. Some of these events start in late September. Some continue through October, and a few are a one-shot deal or have limited dates. Comb through it all looking for the thrills you seek this Halloween season.
Haunted attractions
Is being scared at the top of your October “to do” list? If you want frights, screams, shivers, and several nights of nightmare-disturbed sleep, you need to make your way through some sort of haunted attraction. Here’s a selection of top-tier events in the metro area for just those types of thrills.
Haunted Corn Maze at Bella Organic
There are haunted houses, and mansions, and even drive-ins this year, but if you want a more “natural” experience you gotta hit a haunted corn maze. Terrifying creatures stalk you at this Sauvie Island Haunted Corn Maze, and this year offers even more attention to detail with some very realistic props. Be prepared to be haunted by dark ghouls and goblins, chased by zombies, submersed in a spider’s den, and thrills will follow you every step of the way as you try to find a way out of the corn. No kids younger than 5 admitted. Children 13 and younger not recommended, and must be accompanied by an adult. The maze is outdoor in an agricultural area. Dress for the weather.
Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 31, Bella Organic, 16205 N.W. Gilihan Road; online pre-paid ticket purchase recommended, gate admission is cash only (ATM on site) $30-$45 depending on date; ticketleap.events/tickets.
Davis Graveyard
You know how it can be fun to stroll around neighborhoods at Christmas looking at the lights? Davis Graveyard is like that, but with more decay and creepy headstones. This neighborhood Halloween jewel is open for walk-by viewing at all hours, but at dusk it’s illuminated, and on the weekends the lights stay on until 11 p.m. and there’s special effects including creepy sounds, videos, fog, and animatronics. Spooky.
Graveyard nights dusk-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, dusk to 11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 31, 8703 S.E. 43rd Ave., Milwaukie; free; davisgraveyard.com.
“Fracture!” Interactive math horror experience
For many of us, math is scary enough without throwing in some monsters, but Matheatre and Experiment PDX is gathering up Portland performers for a theater/haunted attraction experience that offers both an all-ages (less scary) version and an “After Dark” version for those who want more thrills to accompany their math skills. This escape room-type experience challenges groups of ten guests to use logic, wits, and bravery to put aside the horrors and solve the puzzles plaguing the Fracture. What a cool way to incorporate hands-on mathing with haunting.
Thursdays-Sundays Oct. 2-12, at Experiment PDX, 1421 S.E. Stark St.; tickets are pay-what-you-want starting at $10; us.patronbase.com/_Matheatre/Productions.
ScareGrounds PDX
This Portland favorite combines three haunted houses (updated for 2025) with Oaks Park’s amusement rides and carnival attractions (most nights, but not all). There’s really something for just about anyone from walkthrough attractions, thrill rides, side-shows, mini golf, roller skating, and concessions. Get your tickets early to get the best dates.
Timed entry tickets required various days, Oct. 3-Nov. 1, Oaks Park, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way; tickets start at $30; ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/Scaregrounds.
Underhill’s Season of Screams
Sad news for Underhill fans – the attraction is closed in 2025 due to construction in its regular space. Details: underhillpdx.com.
Milburn’s Haunted Manor (Hubbard)
Things get creepy down in Hubbard as the annual Milburn’s Haunted Manor turns off the lights and summons the scares every weekend in October. There’s also a moonlit pumpkin patch, snack bar, and a photo booth. Wear a costume! Tickets must be purchased online in advance for special time slots. Haunts are rated PG-13.
Mostly weekends, Oct. 3-Nov. 1, 11503 Broadacres Road, Hubbard; tickets start at $27.50; milburnmanor.com.
Spirit of Halloweentown (St. Helens)
If you’re a fan of Halloween, you must make this a stop on your celebration list. This event is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic Halloween experiences and celebrates all things spooky and nostalgic in the town that hosted the filming of the Disney Channel movie “Halloweentown.” This year’s festival includes special celebrity guests, live music, themed experiences, photo ops, and just a general good time. To skip the crowds, try to visit on weeknights. Check the website for a schedule.
Various times and dates through Oct. 31, around the town of St. Helens, on U.S. Highway 30 west of Portland; ticket prices vary, some events are free; spiritofhalloweentown.co.
Looking for ways to skip the traffic and arrive at Halloweentown in style? This year Portland Spirit is partnering with the City of St. Helens to offer 40-foot jet boat rides down the Columbia River to St. Helens. The trial run of this trip sold out in 2024, and you can expect the same to happen this year. During the 1.5-hour cruise a guide will share spooky info on Portland’s haunted tunnels, and scary stories from St. Helens.
Weekends only, Oct. 4-26, boarding at Caruthers Landing Dock. Check the website for tickets and cruise details; tickets $95-$115; portlandspirit.com/cruise/halloweentown.
Cinema of Horrors Drive-In (Ridgefield)
Head north to Ridgefield for the annual Cinema of Horrors where you stay in your vehicle and the scary stuff happens outside your car. Back for its fifth terrifying season, the Drive-In offers guests a chance to watch classic and modern horror films on a massive screen, all while monsters surround your vehicle for an in-car scare experience unlike anything else in the region. Check the website for a list of featured films.
Opens Oct. 8 and continues various dates (7 p.m. start times) through Oct. 31, Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield; tickets $69 per vehicle; ridgefield.cinemaofhorrors.com.
The same folks who bring you the Cinema of Horrors Drive-In will also host a walk-through haunted house this year in Kelso. The Cinema of Horrors Haunted House will be at the Three Rivers Mall and is already open! Visit the website for times/dates through Oct. 31 in Kelso, Wash; kelso.cinemaofhorrors.com.
Ghost of the Grand (Salem)
Salem’s historic 125-year-old Grand Theatre transforms this Halloween season into a haunted experience that mingles thrills with performance. Step behind the stage where immersive storytelling and chilling surprises await around every corner. Salem Haunt Club’s spirits are stirring once again. Are you brave enough to join them?
Oct. 17-Nov. 1, Grand Theatre, 187 High St. N.E., Salem; tickets start at $25; ghostsofthegrand.fearticket.com.
Scary performances
For some of us the days of stumbling through a haunted house with masked monsters chasing you wielding bloody axes is long over. But if you still love Halloween and want some seasonal scares before it all turns over to holly and mistletoe, here are some stage shows that celebrate the season without the heart-stopping scares of a traditional haunted event.
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
In this immersive promenade production of “Frankenstein” the tail explodes into life all around the audience from inside the walls of the venue, to outside under the open sky. You don’t buy a seat to this Experience Theater Project performance, you move WITH the characters as they move around the area, and the story unfolds around you. Each performance is limited to 30 tickets. So get yours early.
Thursdays-Sundays through Nov. 4, Experience Theater Project, 18850 S.W. Alexander St., Beaverton; tickets $60; www.experiencetheatreproject.org
Foolish Mortals
When hinges creak in a doorless theater, and strange and frightening sounds echo from the stage — that is the time when ghosts appear and practice their bump and grind with ghoulish delight. This Haunted Mansion Burlesque show celebrates the most goth season of the year. Scheduled performers will be announced on the website.
Oct. 3-5, Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 N.E. Alberta St.; $40; etix.com/ticket.
Stage Fright Festival
The annual Stage Fright Festival is Portland’s premiere showcase of queer horror theatre that offers a healthy dose of comedy. This year’s venue is the CoHo Theatre. Expect full length productions, “double features” of shorter scares, script readings, interactive installations, a mask-making workshop, and variety performances by both local and international talent including Candy Roberts, Nancy Boys, A Little Bit Off, and others.
Oct. 9-19, CoHoTheatre, 2257 N.W. Raleigh St.; tickets $25; stagefrightfestival.com.
“Dracula” – Oregon Ballet Theatre
A timeless tale of Gothic horror takes center stage as Ben Stevenson’s acclaimed ballet “Dracula” returns to captivate audiences. The production, which first premiered at the Houston Ballet in 1997, weaves together romance and supernatural elements in a spectacular theatrical experience. The story follows the sinister Count Dracula, who lurks in his Transylvanian castle preying upon young women to make them his brides. The production, which OBT first presented in 2022, was designed to commemorate the centennial of Bram Stoker’s novel while attracting new audiences to ballet.
Various times, Oct. 11-18, Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay St.; $39-$220; obt.org.
“Fright Night: A Halloween Circus”
Night Flight’s annual sexy circus tribute to horror movies takes you on a journey back to the golden age of video rental when VHS reigned supreme. The show features Jack StockLynn of Sir Cupcake’s Queer Circus. Organizers say the performance is rated “R.” No kids allowed.
Oct. 23-26, Lincoln Hall, PSU, 1620 S.W. Park Ave.; tickets start at $35; nightflightaerial.com/frightnight.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
This unique concert offers an immersive musical experience, perfect for those seeking a refined and memorable way to celebrate the spooky season. A live string quartet performs works including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the prelude from “Psycho,” the theme from “Stranger Things” and other creepy works in the candle-filled concert hall of The Old Church. Ages 8 and older welcome.
Oct. 24-25, 30, The Old Church, 1422 S.E. 11th Ave.; tickets $40; feverup.com.
BloodyVox – BodyVox
BodyVox’s Halloween-themed production “BloodyVox,” which first premiered in 2010, has evolved from its campy origins into a multisensory dance experience that blends whimsy with seasonal thrills. Despite its ominous title, the show was never intended to be a horror production. Instead, the original performances emphasized the lighter, more playful aspects of Halloween. Today’s show integrates BodyVox’s original films with folklore and nightmare-inspired storytelling, creating a unique celebration of All Hallows’ Eve. Audiences can expect a mix of comedy and eeriness as dancers transform common fears into entertaining performances. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes to the performance.
Oct. 29-30, BodyVox Dance Center, 1201 N.W. 17th Ave.; $50, bodyvox.org.
— Grant Butler The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com
Other Seasonal Events
Some things just defy classification, like giant gourd boats paddled across a pond for fun. So, we’ve gathered those here:
NWCT Halloween Ball
Northwest Children’s Theater’s Halloween Ball returns to The Judy this October with several weekends of costume parades, interactive storytimes, dance parties, and sing-a-longs. Best for ages 4 and older.
Weekends Oct. 11-26, The Judy, 1000 S.W. Broadway; tickets $15; nwcts.org/shows/halloween-ball.
Frankenstein’s Comic book Swap
Die, Monster, Die! Head to Lloyd Center southwest of the ice rink for a day of creepy comic book swaps and sales.
Oct. 18, Lloyd Center Mall, 1510 N.E. Multnomah St.; $1 admission; frankscomicbookswap.com/theswap.
Downtown Vancouver Haunted Walking Tours
Enjoy this mix of stories, memories, research, and personal experiences, as you learn more about the darker side of Vancouver’s history. The tours take about an hour, and you’ll need to walk about a mile. Best suited to those 10 years old and older. Rain or shine (wear appropriate clothing for the weather).
Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 25; Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver; $20; cchmuseum.org/calendar.
Howloween at the Oregon Zoo
The Oregon Zoo won’t be hosting a Halloween-themed event in 2025 according to zoo officials. Look for seasonal types of animal enrichment activities during regular zoo hours through the month of October. Details: oregonzoo.org.
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta is one of the most unique fall festivals in Oregon. Costumed characters paddle giant gourds (and we mean giant – most of the craft weigh more than 1,000 lbs.) across the Lake of the Commons in Tualatin in a series of races. There’s also a giant pumpkin weigh-off, live entertainment, pumpkin bowling and more. The giant pumpkins are supplied by the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers.
Oct. 19, Lake of the Commons, 8325 S.W. Nyberg St., Tualatin; free admission; tualatinoregon.gov/pumpkinregatta.
Run for your Life! (Eugene)
This 5K “fun” run combines physical fitness with heart-racing thrills. Will fast or slow zombies show up this year to get you to pick up the pace?
Oct. 19, Alton Baker Park, 200 Day Island Road, Eugene; registration $20-$30 early bird; secure.getmeregistered.com.
Pumpkin patches and non-scary corn mazes
Sometimes, you want to just really revel in fall. On those days, what you need is a pumpkin toss, an apple cider donut, a hayride and maybe a corn maze. What you need is a pumpkin patch. Luckily, Oregon is chock full of pumpkin patches. Here is just a small sampling of ones you can try in the Portland area. Make sure to check websites for hours and cost – not all of these are free, even if you’re just browsing for pumpkins.
The Pumpkin Patch, Sauvie Island, featuring an 8-acre non-scary corn maze, 16511 N.W. Gillihan Road, thepumpkinpatch.com.
Liepold Farms, 14480 S.E. Richey Road, Boring, offers 6-acre corn maze, hayrides, pumpkins; liepoldfarms.com.
E.Z. Orchards, 5504 Hazelgreen Road N.E., Salem, farmer’s basketball, musical flowers, spider web net as well as hayrides; ezorchards.com/harvest-festival.
Fir Point Farms, 14601 Arndt Road, Aurora, corn maze, wagon rides, giant slide; firpointfarms.com/harvest-festival.
Frog Pond Farm, 2995 S.W. Advance Road, Wilsonville, offers pumpkins picking, llama-themed corn maze; thefrogpondfarm.com.
The Flower Farmer, 2512 N. Holly St., Canby, regular and scary train rides on the Boo Train; flowerfarmer.com/events.
Bauman Farms, 12989 Howell Prairie Road N.E., Gervais, mazes, obstacle courses, rides, and farm animals; baumanshf.com.
French Prairie Gardens, 17673 French Prairie Road N.E., St. Paul, corn maze, slides, pig races; fpgardens.com/pumpkin-patch.
Topaz Farm, 17100 N.W. Sauvie Island Road; maze, hayrides; topazfarm.com.
Plumber Farms, 11435 N.W. Old Cornelius Pass Road; hayrides, pumpkin cannon, pony rides, pig races; plumperpumpkins.com.
– If you have events you’d like to see highlighted at OregonLive.com or in the weekly printed A&E section of The Oregonian, please email submissions to events@oregonian.com at least three weeks prior to the start of your event. Digital images or links to videos are helpful.
— Rosemarie Stein
503-221-4376, events@oregonian.com