Spirit of Halloweentown Returns to St. Helens This Saturday for Six Weekends of Halloween Magic

2026 festival features Halloweentown cast reunions, celebrity appearances, attractions, live entertainment and family-friendly Halloween experiences through November 1

ST. HELENS, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The pumpkins are returning to the plaza and the magic is coming back to St. Helens as Spirit of Halloweentown officially opens its 2026 season this Saturday, September 26.

Held in the historic Oregon town where Disney Channel's beloved Halloweentown was filmed, the annual fall tradition will transform downtown St. Helens into a Halloween destination for six weekends of attractions, entertainment, movie nostalgia and seasonal experiences through Sunday, November 1.

Visitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country travel to St. Helens each fall to step into the world made famous on screen, take photos in the iconic plaza, explore filming locations and celebrate Halloween in the place generations of fans recognize as Halloweentown.

Halloweentown Stars Return to St. Helens: The 2026 season will feature appearances from several beloved members of the original Halloweentown cast.

On October 17 and 18, fans can meet:

• J. Paul Zimmerman, who portrayed Dylan Piper, Emily Roeske, who portrayed Sophie Piper, Phillip Van Dyke, who portrayed Luke

The three actors will reunite in St. Helens for a special weekend celebrating the film franchise, with professional celebrity photo opportunities available to guests.

Then, on October 24 and 25, Judith Hoag returns to Halloweentown. Hoag is known to generations of fans as Gwen Cromwell Piper in the Halloweentown films and as April O'Neil in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Celebrity photo opportunities are ticketed separately from regular festival admission and are available online while quantities remain.

A Full Season of Attractions and Entertainment: Spirit of Halloweentown offers guests far more than a visit to the famous movie location. Throughout the season, downtown St. Helens will be filled with attractions, performances, vendors, photo opportunities and Halloween experiences for guests of all ages.

Featured experiences for 2026 include:

• Family-Friendly Haunted House, designed to offer spooky fun without live monsters
• Masonic Building Signature Attractions, including the Alien Exhibit, Alien Bar and creatures from Brad's World Reptiles
• Filming Location Tour Trolley, taking guests to recognizable filming locations throughout St. Helens
• Boo Bash Pavilion, featuring entertainment and festival activities
• Harvest Games Zone, with seasonal games, hay maze activities and family fun
• Jack the Pumpkin Photo Experience
• Outrageous Fortune Pirate Encampment, including storytelling and live cannon demonstrations
• Costume Contests
• Spirit of Halloweentown Retail Store, featuring official event merchandise
• Live Stage Shows and Roaming Entertainment throughout the festival grounds
• The St. Helens Dancing Witches
• Great Pumpkin Lighting, illuminating the iconic plaza each evening

A rotating entertainment lineup throughout the season includes circus performers, comedians, jugglers, magicians, musicians, roaming characters and specialty acts from throughout the region and across the country.

Opening weekend performers include the St. Helens Dancing Witches, Matt Baker, Eric Haines One Man Band, Teatro Pachuco, Cate Great, Mr. Magic, Kylee Wegner and more.

Spirit of Halloweentown kicks off Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, with festival activities scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Admission to the downtown plaza and food vendor areas is free. Guests looking to experience the festival's ticketed attractions can purchase a Spirit of Halloweentown Access Pass, which provides access to participating attractions and activities. Children ages 5 and younger are admitted to Access Pass attractions free of charge.

2026 Spirit of Halloweentown Dates

• September 26 and 27, October 3 and 4, October 10 and 11, October 17 and 18, October 24 and 25, October 31 and November 1

Festival Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Historic Downtown St. Helens, Oregon - 275 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051

Halloween Comes to Life in St. Helens: What began as a celebration of the movie filmed in St. Helens has grown into a destination event that brings Halloween fans, families and movie lovers to Columbia County each fall. Guests can stand in the same plaza seen on screen, explore recognizable filming locations and then spend the rest of the day enjoying a modern Halloween festival built around the community's unique connection to the movie. From movie nostalgia and celebrity appearances to live entertainment, attractions and the glow of the Great Pumpkin after dark, Spirit of Halloweentown offers visitors an opportunity to experience Halloween in a place unlike anywhere else.

Tickets, parking, celebrity photo opportunities, the complete entertainment schedule and visitor information are available at: www.SpiritOfHalloweentown.com