Five Best Halloween Festivals Around the Country

With October finally here, cities all around the country are gearing up for the spookiest season of the year and planning their events accordingly. For a budding photographer who loves to travel, now is a great time to take the trips around the country to check out the best of the best.

If you are looking for a unique place to visit this October, see below for the five best Halloween festivals featured in the United States, and what you are bound to see there.

Salem, Massachusetts. Salem has a chilling history all its own, and the townspeople are not shy about celebrating their sordid past. The Festival of the Dead lasts the entire month of October, with events such as witchcraft expos, a psychic fair and the culmination of events features a Salem Witches Halloween Ball on Halloween night with food, dancing and a little magic.

Long Beach, California. The city of Long Beach features one of the most infamously haunted ghost ships, the Queen Mary. With a haunted history known around the world, you can photograph your way through several spooky mazes with over 200 ghosts and ghouls based on the real men behind the myth.

Louisville, Kentucky. Looking for something more family friendly? Look no further than the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular held in Iroquois Park. With over 5,000 jack-o-lanterns lighting up the night on this ¼-mile trail, you will see less scary faces, and more works of amazing art made all by the locals.

New York, New York. Grab your best costume and your walking shoes for this one, because the annual Village Halloween Parade is something you'll want to be a part of, not just spectate. With giant paper-mâché puppet creations that have been a signature since the parade's inception in 1974, this one is a site not only to see but experience. Anyone is welcome to walk in the parade, as long as they are in costume.

Atlanta, Georgia. The Halloween Festival held in Little Five Points features local artists, food, music and dancing in this annual tradition in the Atlanta hub of arts and delicious food. Bring your wallet, your camera and an empty stomach to this festival, and you’ll leave full of delightful local cuisine and have a gallery of colorful photos to print.

After you’ve satisfied your fall wanderlust, be sure to print your favorite photos from all around your country trip. With memories like these, you’ll want to fill your walls with oval photo frames of colorful costumes and vintage picture frames of all of your spooky sights for all of your October guests to see. Then to be sure to get a head start on planning your trip for next year.