This Is the Absolute Best Town in Kansas to Visit During the Halloween Season

There's no shortage of great places to visit during the fall in Kansas. After all, there's a great variety of things to enjoy in the autumn! Do you want to see the beauty of nature as the leaves change color to golden and red hues? Or do you want to check out some of our allegedly haunted spots? Maybe you're a fan of celebrations like fall festivals and Oktoberfests? Whatever it is you're looking for, you can find somewhere in Kansas that has it. One of the very best places to visit during fall in the Sunflower State is Independence. This small city has a population of just under 8,300, so you may not think there's too much to do here, but it just so happens that one of the largest and oldest Halloween celebrations in Kansas, known as Neewollah, is here in Independence. Check it out:

If you're curious where the name of this spooky season celebration in Kansas, "Neewollah," came from, it's actually "Halloween" spelled backward. This is the longest-running annual festival in the Sunflower State, and it has been going on since 1919. The celebration started as a series of parades designed to prevent the mischief and pranks that typically took place around Halloween.

It looked like the Great Depression and World War II might end the festivities, but Neewollah returned bigger and better than ever. It was revived in the 1950s as a three-day festival and now lasts nine days, with multiple parades, food vendors, a carnival, live entertainment, and so much more. It's such a great festival that the entire family can enjoy.

The event is staffed by 500 volunteers, which is nearly 6% of the town's entire population! Everyone in town seems to get into the Neewollah spirit. There are all kinds of entertainment, including a musical (the 2025 selection is "Annie"), a chili cook-off, an arts and crafts show, and more. There's even a 5K/10K run if you'd like to strut your stuff on the streets of Independence, as well as decorating contests for pumpkins and yards.

This is one of the best fall events in Kansas, and it's a yearly spectacle that shouldn't be missed. Independence is truly one of the best Halloween towns in the country! And if you love leaf-peeping this time of year, check out some of the best places ot view fall foliage in Kansas.

The 2025 Neewollah celebration is scheduled to begin on October 17 and end on October 25. Learn more about the annual Halloween celebration, find out where and when to purchase tickets, and view a calendar of events on the Neewollah website or its Facebook page. If you need a place to spend the night while attending Neewollah, consider making a reservation at this cozy three-bedroom home or this gorgeous four-bedroom, lodge-style home.

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