Small towns in West Virginia are full of people with a lot of love for their community. This spirit of togetherness is quite visible in the little neighboring towns of Ceredo and Kenova, which team up each year to throw one heck of a Halloween party known as C-K Autumnfest. The typically quiet and peaceful area is converted into a spooky wonderland that draws visitors from all over West Virginia and the surrounding states. It’s such an impressive transformation that Ceredo-Kenova was designated one of Country Living’s “10 Best Small Towns to Visit for Halloween.” The best Halloween town in West Virginia happens to be double the fun come Halloween.

The tiny towns of Ceredo and Kenova look like any other typical small town in West Virginia most of the year.
WikiMedia Commons/Youngamerican
That all changes each October, however, when Autumnfest comes to town.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
Everyone around town gets into the spirit of Halloween.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
Even the businesses get in on the action.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
There are contests for the best-decorated homes and businesses.
C-K AutumnFest

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There are also contests for the best scarecrows around town.
Pixabay/cgordon8527
C-K AutumnFest usually hosts a haunted trail each year called Nightmare at Dreamland, which is as frightening as it sounds.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
You'll probably meet some creepy characters around the festival, even if you don't participate in the trail.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
One of the main attractions in the town of Kenova is the famous Pumpkin House.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
The house is decorated with over 3,000 pumpkins, all hand-carved with different decorations. They are laid out in whimsical displays, and some even have lights that coordinate with music.
Pumpkin carving for the house will begin in mid-to-late October, and you'll be able to see the fully decorated house for Autumnfest and Halloween.
C-K AutumnFest, Inc./Facebook
The pumpkins will be lit 24 hours a day, so you can stop by anytime to see them... but the full effect is most impressive at night!

Autumnfest will take place October 25-26, 2019. For more information, visit the festival’s website and Facebook page.

For more Halloween fun in West Virginia, check out this spooky train ride!

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Best Halloween Town In West Virginia

Marisa Roman | August 29, 2019

What are the best Halloween events in West Virginia?

It’s pretty easy to see that the best place to celebrate Halloween in West Virginia is in Ceredo-Kenova. Over 30,000 people gather each year for the festivities, as well as to see the famed Pumpkin House. But outside of these two towns, there are other Halloween events in West Virginia that are worth checking out. A few of the best ways to celebrate a scary and spooky Halloween in West Virginia include touring the old penitentiary at Moundsville, attending Point Pleasant’s Harvest Fest, finding ghosts in Shepherdstown, and taking a tour of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

What are the best haunted houses in West Virginia?

Sometimes the best fall events in West Virginia also happen to be the spookiest. For those searching for the scariest Halloween town in West Virginia, we’ll do you one better—the best haunted houses in the state. Not meant for visitors of all ages, these haunted houses have the potential to scare the living daylights out of you. Some of the best haunted houses in West Virginia include the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Fright Nights WV, Haunted Dream, Mathias Massacre & Maze, and Fear On The Farm. 

What is the scariest place in West Virginia to visit around Halloween?

The scariest place in West Virginia to visit around Halloween is none other than the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Also known as the Weston State Hospital, this building was home to a psychiatric hospital operating from 1864 up until 1994. The hospital eventually became Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum when it was reopened as a tourist attraction. Tours take place six days a week and visitors will be able to learn the sordid history behind the building, but also feel the cold stone walls and the chilling treatment rooms firsthand.

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