About Halloween
Halloween falls on 31 October each year and is one of the biggest cultural and commercial events in the United States. The National Retail Federation consistently measures US Halloween spending above $10 billion annually — covering costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards — making it second only to Christmas among American holidays for consumer spending.
How America celebrates
Trick-or-treating remains the centrepiece for children, typically running from dusk until around 8–9pm on Halloween night, with porch lights on signalling participating houses. Adult celebrations have grown enormously: costume parties, haunted attractions and horror movie marathons make Halloween a full-season event, with major theme parks running haunted experiences from early September. Pet costumes alone account for hundreds of millions of dollars in annual spending.
American traditions and their origins
Halloween arrived in America with 19th-century Irish and Scottish immigrants, who brought the Celtic festival of Samhain and the jack-o'-lantern tradition — originally carved from turnips, switched to the native American pumpkin. Candy corn dates from the 1880s; trick-or-treating in its modern form became widespread in the 1930s–50s. Salem, Massachusetts and Sleepy Hollow, New York have become pilgrimage destinations each October.
Halloween timing
Halloween always falls on 31 October regardless of weekday, though many US towns schedule official trick-or-treat hours on the nearest weekend when the 31st falls midweek. The following day, 1 November, is All Saints' Day, and 2 November the Day of the Dead — Día de los Muertos — widely celebrated in Mexican-American communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days until Halloween?
There are 91 days until Halloween on 31 October 2026.
What day of the week is Halloween?
Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026.
How many weeks until Halloween?
Approximately 13 weeks until Halloween.
How many months until Halloween?
Approximately 3.0 months until Halloween.
How many hours until Halloween?
Approximately 2,184 hours until Halloween.