This Halloween, the gorgeous city of Carmel, California will ring in its 109th birthday with a festive community Halloween parade and plenty of trick-or-treating.
This is an ideal way to enjoy one of the state’s most picturesque small towns during the fall season — keep reading for everything you should know.
109th City Birthday Party and Halloween Parade
On October 31, 2025, Carmel will mark its 109th anniversary with a lively Halloween celebration. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy a festive parade at 4 p.m., featuring city officials, special guests, costumed pups, whimsical floats, and plenty of spooky attire.
After the parade, families can explore the town by trick-or-treating at Carmel’s boutique shops or join the citywide birthday party in Davendorf Park from 5–7 p.m., complete with live music by Shannon and the Night Divers and complimentary food and drinks.
A brief history of Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel was incorporated on October 31, 1916, making Halloween its official birthday. At the time, it was a thriving artists’ colony with just 450 residents, including well-known writers such as Sinclair Lewis, Mary Austin, George Sterling, Jack London, and Robinson Jeffers. These days, Carmel continues to preserve its old-world charm, famously avoiding traffic lights and parking meters.
In the 1920s, designer Hugh Comstock built the whimsical “fairytale cottages,” of which 21 still remain today dotted around the town. These storybook houses look especially enchanting when dressed up with Halloween or holiday decorations.
Clint Eastwood is Carmel’s most famous resident — in fact, he once served as mayor (1986–1988) and still owns the historic Mission Ranch a short distance from downtown.
Whether you visit during Halloween for the parade and trick-or-treating, or during the winter holidays when the town sparkles with festive lights, Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of California’s most magical small towns to experience.