Halloween is bigger than ever, with average spending per person reaching a record $114.45 this year as adults find new ways to celebrate. Many are swapping doorsteps for dance floors, planning nights out, haunted tours and themed gatherings that extend beyond Oct. 31. What was once about candy buckets has evolved into a season grown-ups anticipate, with costumes, cocktails and spooky escapes designed just for them.
Cities are turning that demand into full-scale celebrations with parades, haunted festivals and nightlife events that last all month. Many destinations now feature engaging experiences that encourage travelers to make Halloween part of their fall getaway plans.
Grown-up Halloween gets scarier
Americans will likely spend about $13.1 billion on Halloween this year, compared with $11.6 billion in 2023, as people add trips and entertainment to their plans. Travel experts say the season has sparked scream tourism, with adults planning trips around haunted hotels, crime locations and ghost tours. America Haunts, which represents 20 of the nation’s largest haunted attractions, reports strong visitor numbers as thrill seekers look for scarier ways to celebrate.
Theme parks are also meeting the demand. Events like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios pack in crowds every year, showing that haunted, interactive attractions have become a core element of grown-up Halloween culture.
Cities lean into Halloween tourism
Halloween has become a travel draw as cities across the country expand events and attractions for the season. Salem, Mass., has built an entire season around its history, attracting visitors with parades, spiritualism tours, glass pumpkin workshops and haunted shows during its annual Haunted Happenings. In New York, Sleepy Hollow taps into its connection to “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” hosting the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, lantern tours and programs at historic sites that create a village-wide Halloween atmosphere.
Other destinations are adding their own spin. Las Vegas offers adult-only haunted attractions and elaborate costume parades, while Los Angeles draws huge crowds to the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival and packs film studios with screenings of horror classics and behind-the-scenes tours.
Dress-up rules the season
Costumes have become the centerpiece of adult Halloween celebrations. Masquerade balls, rooftop parties and club nights often enforce strict dress codes and award cash prizes or VIP perks for standout looks. Social media fuels the creativity, with TikTok and Instagram users sharing photo-ready costumes and sparking viral themes based on villains, vintage icons and pop culture mashups.
Coordinated group and couple costumes are popular for bar crawls and parades, with cinematic duos like Morticia and Gomez Addams, Barbie and Ken, and Chucky and the Bride of Chucky leading the way. Offices now host after-hours costume parties and happy hours, adding to the mix of celebrations. Haunted houses and theme parks have also adopted the trend, staging special costume nights and setting aside VIP sections where dressing up is part of the ticketed experience.
Drinks and dance floors collide
Cocktails and nightlife now define how many adults celebrate Halloween. Bars roll out themed menus with smoky presentations and drinks named after ghouls and ghosts, using seasonal flavors like apple cider, pumpkin spice and blackcurrant. Citywide bar crawls encourage guests to dress up and hop between venues, with wristbands granting drink specials and priority entry.
Nightclubs add DJs, live performers and costume contests that pack their dance floors. Some venues pair cocktails with murder-mystery dinners, escape rooms or ghost tours that end with a Halloween drink. These events make Halloween one of the busiest nights on the nightlife calendar.
Spooky stays become a draw
Haunted hotels are turning Halloween into a full experience. Properties such as The Stanley Hotel, known for inspiring Stephen King’s “The Shining,” run haunted history tours and themed overnight stays. In California, the Queen Mary hosts events such as haunted encounters, paranormal ship walks and graveyard tours that explore its eerie past.
Many of these stays now include extras such as crime-themed dinners, tarot readings or candlelit tours to make visits more engaging. Boutique hotels join the trend, promoting Halloween packages that turn a regular night away into a seasonal event.
Why grown-ups lead October fun
Adults are fueling the Halloween boom by reviving childhood traditions with a new twist. Costumes and makeup have become creative projects, with DIY designs now part of the excitement. That creative energy carries into how people celebrate, with events that mix entertainment and time with friends leading the season. Dynamic parties, bar crawls and themed gatherings turn October into weeks of activity instead of just one night.
October turns into party season
Halloween has become a monthlong celebration for adults, driven by costumes, cocktails and travel that keep the festivities going. Cities, hotels and venues are responding with events that draw both travelers and locals into the experience. Rising spending and packed attendance show how strong the demand has become. Grown-up Halloween has fully taken hold, turning October into a season that highlights creativity, connection and fun.
Zuzana Paar is the creator of Sustainable Life Ideas, a lifestyle blog dedicated to simple, intentional and eco-friendly living. With a global perspective shaped by years abroad, she shares everyday tips, thoughtful routines and creative ways to live more sustainably, without the overwhelm.
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