We don't have Halloween in Australia so this should be fun. We will be 'somewhere' between Yosemite and Vegas (may even be in Vegas). What can we expect and what 'fun' things should we do.

In most places Halloween is basically for kids to Trick or Treat (wander the neighborhood in costume knocking on doors to fill their bags with candy). Some adults have Halloween Costume parties - although none of my friends do.

In NYC we have an incredible Halloween parade at night in Greenwich Village - with very elaborate costumes, often groups in matching costumes. Have no idea if there are any public celebrations where you will be - most places do NOT have them.

Well, unless you're staying in a private home in a neighborhood setting, you probably won't even know that halloween night happened. It's primarily a costume dress up night for younger children and they go around to other houses in their neighborhoods for "trick or treat". There's no tricks anymore, just candy treats given out. You may see some adults dressing up on that day but it'll be few and far between.

You might check and see if any restaurants or bars are having parties for adults. Around here, they do with prizes for best costumes, etc.

I don't know where the above posters live but here in Sarasota just about every bar has some type of Halloween party with prizes for best costumes so you can expect many adults in some kind of outfit ranging from very simple vampire or witch outfits to some really elaborate or outrageous ones.

I suspect Vegas bar scene would be the same on Halloween. You can join the fun by having some kind of costume but it's not a requirement.

Are you bringing young children or are you asking in regards to adult things to do?

I used to work with a fellow who would put up elaborate Halloween decorations on his house. He was always in his local papers.

Most people buy candy and hand them out ot kids. Some wear costumes themselves when they answer the door.

Around here, people decorate their houses with skeletons and spiders, everyone carves pumpkins, and the kids go door to door asking for candy. There are also some big haunted houses you can go to. You'll have to check to see what's going on in your specific area. In our area, it's more a holiday for kids.

I agree with the comments above. Outside major cities Halloween is basically a kids/neighborhood event. There was a trend in some areas a few years ago where shopping malls would host a kids event, usually in the afternoon. Lots of kids would go to the mall in costume and each of the stores would hand out candy. It was a good opportunity for moms to feel safe, and for kids to see lots of other kids in costume.

Not sure if this is still in vogue or not. Where I live it's still just a neighborhood event - usually starting about 6pm for the younger kids and lasting till about 8 or 9 when the groups of teenagers canvas the neighborhood.

If you are a family with young kids (3-8 yrs old) then check out a local mall wherever you will be (call ahead to check first). Older kids will shun a mall but will still trick or treat around home.

In some areas parents will drive their kids to other neighborhoods, a practice that I find odd. At my house we typically know all of the kids who come by, chat for a few minutes (complement the costumes), say hi to mom/dad who are tagging along. Then there will be a random big group of kids we've never seen - with a car following them down the street.

A costume can be as simple as putting on a funny hat, or some cat/mouse ears and a few whiskers, or a simple eye mask. Limited only by your imagination.

I am sure that Vegas will also have some more adult activities, including some risque costume parties if that's what you're looking for.

Most posters are talking about Halloween in suburbs and towns around the country.

Halloween in Vegas is a whole different thing.

this link will give you a bit if an overlook

http://govegas.about.com/od/hallowee..._Las_Vegas.htm

BTW - If you are still in Yosemite on Halloween weekend . . . .

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activiti...milyNight.aspx

Don't know if they still do it, but there used to be a Halloween moonlight walk at Mono lake.

janisj gave you good advice about Las Vegas; you'll definitely notice something is different!

The most (in)famous party is the Fetish & Fantasy Halloween Ball; this year it's at the Hard Rock Hotel. It's a little toned down from earlier years (elected officials have outlawed nudity, including wearing nothing but body paint), but it still has quite a reputation.

If you're in your twenties, most clubs will have special parties, with lots and lots of costumes worn by the patrons.

If you just want to observe, walk the Strip at night - lots of interesting costumes to be seen.

If you're a family with children, there are also things to do. The local newspaper (Las Vegas Review Journal) will have more information on this in a month or so.

Thanks one and all. Just to clarify we are a couple in our 40's not bringing any 'kids'. So depending if we are in Vegas or not, we may not even 'notice' its Halloween.

Thanks again

If you are interested in "haunted houses" (the jump out and go boo type), there's usually at least one in an area, if you aren't too far in the middle of nowhere (some are urban and some are actually out in the middle of nowhere, which adds to the spookiness factor). In a large urban area, you'd probably have many options to choose from. They generally run for several weeks before Halloween and have extended hours on Halloween night. They can be either very entertaining, and maybe even somewhat spooky (even to adults depending on your experience with spookiness), or not very spooky or entertaining at all...and it's close to impossible to judge from the outside. The special effects in some are a lot of fun...you can expect to be chased by a chainless chainsaw at the end of 90% of them...cheesy, but just expect it...and there will always be people running from them and screaming.

It's the norm for adults to go to these things without children (most are a bit too much for children anyway - it's somewhat rare to see children younger than teens at the good houses). So, if there are any in the area you'll be in, that's an option. If there is a decent one, and you are even the slightest bit interested, I think it's well worth an evening.

Some places are set up as a small carnival-type environment where, in addition to the main attraction, there may be a "haunted" maze (sometimes in a corn field), carnival rides, a "fun" house, haunted hay rides, etc. Each extra thing is usually an additional cost and none of it is exactly cheap (but some money usually goes to charity).

You can usually research these things online by mid-September...and many offer a slight coupon discount that you can print out from their website.

Some people make a long evening out of going to several haunted houses in one night.

If you do research them, you'll likely come across church functions...Many of those are actually anti-Halloween festivities...So, if you are looking for adult Halloween festivities, avoid those. There are others put on by churches that are more like a moral lesson...maybe about drinking/drugs, or following the righteous path, with scenes from the lives of those who failed to follow the right path (which you may or may not agree with). So, if that's something you might enjoy, then try one...Otherwise, stick to the non-church related houses.

I think that if you go with a childish heart expecting to have fun, you'll have a good time at any good haunted house. If you are in Vegas around Halloween, there should be plenty of options...It doesn't have to be on Halloween night - check their operating days and hours.

Halloween has also become another opportunity for retail stores to try to sell lots of stuff one does not need - sometimes months prior to the holiday - so in the days prior to Halloween if you are near any regular stores, you may begin to doubt the descriptions above. You may begin to think that all Americans spend hundreds on light-up plastic pumpkins, Dracula masks, and motion-activated shrieking plastic skelatons. I assure you this is not the case.

For many of us it is an excuse to buy twice as much candy as we would likely need for any Trick or Treating kids so that we have an excuse to have it leftover in the house.

Halloween in Las Vegas is fun. I was there a few years ago and just being out on the strip and in restaurants and clubs, you'll see lots of interesting things!!

The OP will either be in YNP, or on the back side of the Sierra, or in Death Valley, or possibly in Vegas.

If the first three -- there are no cities (practically no towns) and no big boxes (nothing much, other than small general stores). This is really remote country and there won't be haunted houses or major retailers.

So many of the descriptions of what happens here over Halloween - they won't see any of it. Except if they do go into stores in other cities they visit earlier in the trip.

Now -- IF they have made it to Las Vegas by the 31st -- then they can see some REALLY wild stuff.

Vegas might still be pretty warm in Oct. You never really know, so if you go there, be ready to dress in a costume that is cool. I am sure there will be plenty of Vegas parties as it falls on a Saturday.If you are bringing kids... it might not be the best place to be for Halloween.
You may want to consider Yosemite, then celebrate Halloween in San Francisco.
My sister moved to Melbourne 3 years ago with her family & has introduced Halloween to her neighbors, it is now a neighborhood hit!

"If you are bringing kids... it might not be the best place to be for Halloween."

As aussiedreamer said, they are 40 somethings w/ no kids on the trip.

" . . . . then celebrate Halloween in San Francisco." They are staying in YNP and then in Las Vegas, so SF for Halloween isn't really an option.

aussie, we have Australian neighbors; they go nuts for Halloween - their house is the most decorated on the entire block, and the whole family dresses up. They even put up a graveyard in their front yard, lights, huge spiders. I hope you guys have fun!