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Hulaween opens Thursday 22 October at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida: four nights under the live oaks and Spanish moss, with the art around Spirit Lake lit up after dark and a campsite that dresses up as seriously as the stages. It is the first of a run of Halloween weekends that does not stop until the night itself: the giant pumpkins on Circleville's flatbeds this week, the big raves in San Bernardino, Austin and Chandler on the 30th and 31st, two comic cons, a dance congress in New Orleans, and Salem's Witches' Ball at the Hawthorne Hotel on the 31st.
Halloween used to be a night. This year it is a ten-day festival with a lake of light at one end and a hotel ballroom full of witches at the other, and most of the country in between. The guide has every one with dates and tickets. The thirteen below are the ones we would point a friend at.
- Suwannee Hulaween22 to 25 October, Live Oak, Florida
Four nights on the Suwannee, the illuminated art around Spirit Lake, and a campsite that takes the costume brief as seriously as the stages do.
- Get Freaky23 to 25 October, Salt Lake City, Utah
Three nights at the Utah State Fairpark, and the one Halloween rave where the forecast says bring a jacket.
- The Fest 2423 to 25 October, Gainesville, Florida
Punk's long weekend across downtown Gainesville, with the Bouncing Souls, PUP and Lagwagon at the top of a bill that runs past two hundred bands.
- Circleville Pumpkin Show21 to 24 October, Circleville, Ohio
Ohio's oldest harvest show, free to walk, and this year under dry skies rather than last October's rain.
- PumpkinFest24 and 25 October, Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin's first two-day PumpkinFest: Saturday ten to six, Sunday eleven to five, on Main Street.
- Fright Night Massive24 October, Baltimore, Maryland
One night at Power Plant Live, indoors, so the weather is not your problem.
- Escape Halloween30 and 31 October, San Bernardino, California
The giant. Two nights at the NOS Events Center and the most elaborate costumes in the country.
- Freaky Deaky30 and 31 October, Austin, Texas
Two nights at the Travis County Expo Center, four stages, and a theme this year it calls The Revival.
- Haunted Fest30 October, Columbus, Ohio
One night, with it's murph and MPH at the top of the bill.
- HEX Festival30 and 31 October, Chandler, Arizona
Two nights in the Phoenix suburbs for anyone who wants the rave without the Californian drive.
- LA Comic Con30 October to 1 November, Los Angeles, California
Halloween weekend at the Convention Center with Nicolas Cage, Hayden Christensen and most of the cast of Breaking Bad. The costumes come built in.
- Brujeria Carnaval29 October to 2 November, New Orleans, Louisiana
Salsa, bachata and kizomba take over a French Quarter hotel and carry the party from Halloween into Day of the Dead. New Orleans does not need much encouragement.
- The Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball31 October, Salem, Massachusetts
Halloween night at the Hawthorne Hotel, a thousand dollars for the best costume, and a city that has been rehearsing all month.
Every Halloween festival on the guide, with dates and tickets
Verified Dates from each festival's own site, checked 14 to 18 October: Hulaween, Get Freaky, The Fest, Circleville, PumpkinFest, Fright Night, Escape, Freaky Deaky, Haunted Fest, HEX, Youmacon, LA Comic Con, Brujeria Carnaval and the Salem ball all confirmed on their organisers' pages this week.
Go deeper Halloween Festivals Near You (the guide) · Froligo Skies: the forecast at each festival
