The Oregon River Town That Becomes 'Halloweentown' Every Fall
5 Reasons to Visit® · United States
The Oregon River Town That Becomes 'Halloweentown' Every Fall
The real-life filming location of Disney's 'Halloweentown,' this small Columbia River city spends every October as a month-long Halloween wonderland — and stays quietly charming the rest of the year.
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St. Helens, Oregon, is an ordinary small city for eleven months of the year — and something close to enchanted for the twelfth. Set on the banks of the Columbia River about thirty minutes north of Portland, this riverfront town of roughly fourteen thousand happens to be the real filming location of Disney Channel's beloved 1998 movie "Halloweentown." Every fall it leans all the way into that fame, transforming its historic downtown into a month-long Halloween wonderland that draws thousands of nostalgic visitors from across the country. It is one of the most delightfully specific destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
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The reason people make the pilgrimage is the movie. In 1998, a Disney film crew came to St. Helens to shoot "Halloweentown," and the town square and riverfront became the on-screen home of Marnie Piper and her witch grandmother. The film became a cult classic, replayed every October for a generation of kids who grew up wanting to visit the real place — and St. Helens, to its enormous credit, decided to give it to them. What began as a small local tribute has grown into the sprawling Spirit of Halloweentown celebration.
The centerpiece is the pumpkin. Each night of the festival, a giant illuminated jack-o'-lantern is lit in Plaza Square — the same square from the film — as crowds gather in the dark to watch it glow to life at 8:30. Around it, the historic Riverfront District fills with haunted attractions, a kid-friendly haunted house, live entertainment, street performers, costume contests, harvest games, and a filming-location train tour. For fans of the movie, the thrill is standing in the actual spot where it was shot; for families, it's simply one of the most immersive Halloween experiences anywhere.
A cult-classic film brought to life, a glowing pumpkin every night, and a real river town underneath.
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The cast keeps coming back, too. Recent festivals have brought reunions of the original "Halloweentown" actors — including Kimberly J. Brown, who played Marnie — for meet-and-greets and photo ops, a genuine draw for lifelong fans. St. Helens has a second pop-culture claim as well: portions of the "Twilight" saga were filmed downtown, so the riverfront pulls in vampire fans alongside the witches and warlocks. On a given October weekend, the streets fill with costumes, and the line between movie set and real town blurs in the best way.
What surprises first-timers is that St. Helens is genuinely charming underneath the fog machines. The Olde Towne riverfront district has real historic bones — early-twentieth-century brick storefronts, a courthouse plaza, and wide views across the Columbia to the Washington shore and, on clear days, the Cascade peaks. There are local cafés, antique shops, a marina, and riverside parks, and the setting where the great river rolls past makes even an off-season visit worthwhile. It's a working river town first, a movie set second.
St. Helens is honest about the trade-offs of its fame. The Spirit of Halloweentown festival is now a ticketed, professionally run event, and rising prices and service fees have drawn some grumbling from longtime fans; October weekends bring real crowds and packed parking to a small town not built for them. Going on a weekday, or off-peak, rewards you with more of the magic and less of the crush. But the appeal is genuine and one of a kind. A cult-classic film brought to life, a nightly glowing pumpkin, a historic riverfront, and an easy drive from Portland have made St. Helens the Pacific Northwest's definitive Halloween town. For one month a year, a real Oregon river town becomes the place a generation dreamed of visiting — and that is a kind of magic worth the trip.
St. Helens, Oregon: FAQ
Is St. Helens, Oregon worth visiting?
Yes — especially in the fall. St. Helens is the real filming location of Disney's "Halloweentown," and each autumn its historic riverfront transforms into the month-long Spirit of Halloweentown festival, with a giant lit pumpkin, haunted attractions, cast reunions, and a filming-location tour. Beyond Halloween, it's a charming small city on the Columbia River with a walkable historic district about 30 minutes north of Portland.
Where was the movie Halloweentown filmed?
Disney Channel's "Halloweentown" (1998) was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon, a small city on the Columbia River north of Portland. The town square and historic riverfront district served as the movie's setting, and portions of the "Twilight" films were later shot downtown as well. St. Helens now celebrates its movie fame with the annual Spirit of Halloweentown festival.
What is the Spirit of Halloweentown festival?
Spirit of Halloweentown is a month-long Halloween festival held in St. Helens, Oregon, from late September through October 31 in the historic Riverfront District. It features a nightly Great Pumpkin Lighting in Plaza Square, haunted attractions, live entertainment, celebrity appearances by "Halloweentown" cast members, and a filming-location tour. Many events are ticketed, and it draws thousands of visitors each fall.
How far is St. Helens from Portland, Oregon?
St. Helens is about 30 miles — roughly a 30-to-40-minute drive — northwest of Portland, Oregon, along the Columbia River. That proximity makes it an easy day trip or weekend getaway, especially during the Spirit of Halloweentown festival in October.
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