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Halloween in Truckee: 2026 Events, Witches Paddles & Fall Fun

Your Guide to Halloween Activities in Truckee, October 2024

Summer is in the rearview mirror, the aspens are glowing and spooky season has officially arrived in Truckee. From pumpkin patches and witch paddles to haunted history, trick-or-treating and Halloween parties, October is packed with ways to celebrate.

Harvest Some Fun at Tahoe Donner’s Fall Festival — October 10

Fall fun takes over the Northwoods Clubhouse for Tahoe Donner’s 15th Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 10 from 11am–4pm.

This family-friendly favorite brings all the autumn essentials together in one place: a pumpkin patch, live music, farm animals, kids’ crafts and pumpkin carving, face painting, bounce houses, climbing wall, pony rides, archery and plenty more. There’s even a Doggie Dip at the Northwoods Clubhouse pool for four-legged family members.

Come hungry for fall favorites like warm pretzels, bratwurst, caramel apples and other seasonal treats. Kids who arrive in Halloween costumes will receive a complimentary gift, too.

Tahoe Donner Fall Festival

Pumpkin patch with hay bales, scarecrow, and families at a fall festival.

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Witches Take Over Donner Lake — October 10 + 25

Grab your pointy hat and paddlecraft because witches are taking to Donner Lake not once, but twice this October.

The annual Donner Lake Witch Paddle kicks off spooky season on Saturday, October 10 from 11am–12pm. Witches, warlocks and other supernatural friends will launch from Dog Beach on the east end of Donner Lake for a costume-filled paddle. Dressing up is strongly encouraged, and participants can also support a Cloak (coat) Drive benefiting Truckee Community Cares.

Then on Sunday, October 25, the Donner Lake Witches Paddle: Haunted Lake brings another gathering of witches to Donner Memorial State Park from 10am–1:30pm. Bring your paddleboard, kayak or favorite paddlecraft, dress in your witchiest attire and be prepared for chilly fall water temperatures. Personal flotation devices are a must.

Sepia photograph of people ice skating on a frozen lake at sunset.

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Escape Room Thrills at Elevation Escape Tahoe

If you’re craving heart-pounding, brain-bending fun this Halloween, gather your crew for one of Elevation Escape Tahoe’s immersive 60-minute adventures.

Unravel the mysteries of The Egyptian Tomb of Djoser, survive The Crypt, or see if you can make it out of The Haunted Motel alive.

Each escape room is packed with puzzles, surprises and just the right dose of spooky suspense for an October night out.

Elevation Escape Tahoe

Dimly lit hotel hallway with warm yellow lights and closed doors.

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Sierra’s Most Iconic Haunted Tour

Truckee may be known today for its mountain-town charm, locally owned shops and lively food scene, but its past has plenty of darker stories to tell.

Truckee’s annual Historical Haunted Tour returns October 15 and 16, taking guests through six historic Downtown locations while talented characters bring some of the town’s rowdiest—and spookiest—stories to life.

Be aware that this event is so popular that it sells out when the tickets go on sale every year so plan ahead now and add a reminder to your calendar if you want to join next year’s tour. Tickets go on sale July 4th at 9am.

Go Spirit Hunting

Just because Truckee’s Historical Haunted Tour is sold out doesn’t mean you can’t explore the spooky parts of Truckee on your own. Take in the history by going on a self-guided downtown Truckee historic tour and explore Truckee’s oldest buildings. Rent a Ghost hunting kit from the Truckee Library and stroll town to see if there are any spirits running about. Or saddle up to a barstool at the Truckee Hotel bar where paranormal investigators have said that it’s haunted. Who knows… maybe a bit of whiskey will get them talking.

Group in period costumes outside the wooden Truckee Hotel.

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Halloween in the Park — October 30

Get the costumes and candy bags ready. Halloween in the Park returns Friday, October 30 from 4–6pm in Downtown Truckee and at the Community Arts Center Downtown Park.

Families can trick-or-treat through Downtown before heading to the park for Halloween-themed tables, activities, music and plenty of treats.

Stick around for the all-ages Costume Contest at 5:30pm, and head inside the Community Arts Center Auditorium for a Día de los Muertos celebration hosted by the Town of Truckee and Sierra Community House.

Halloween in the Park

Crowd gathering at an outdoor evening festival beside market tents and buildings.

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Dance Into Halloween With Truckee Pride — October 31

Halloween night gets a little wilder with Truckee Pride’s Kinkenstein Halloween Party at the Community Arts Center.

From 7–11pm on October 31, expect a high-energy, spooky circus-inspired night filled with local DJs, dancing, drag, burlesque and horror-inspired performances.

Costumes are highly encouraged, and this one is for the grown-up ghosts and goblins: attendees must be 18+.

Come ready to dance, get weird and celebrate Halloween with one of Truckee’s biggest parties of the year.

Kinkenstein Halloween Party

Crowd watches a colorful abstract projection at a red-lit nightclub.

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Go Snow Tubing on Halloween at Sugar Bowl — October 31 + November 1

Sugar Bowl is kicking off its first-ever Tube-or-Treat: Halloween Weekend on Snow at Sugar Rush Tubing, bringing costumes, candy and snow together for Halloween weekend.

On Saturday, October 31, hit the tubing lanes from 10am–4pm, dance to a DJ, trick-or-treat and show off your best look in the costume contest. Two-hour tubing sessions are $25 per person, and costumes are encouraged—along with snow boots.

Can’t get enough? Sugar Rush opens again Sunday, November 1 for one more day of tubing on Donner Summit.

Tube-or-Treat at Sugar Bowl

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Halloween in Truckee: 2026 Events, Witches Paddles & Fall Fun

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