10 Best Halloween Horror Nights of 2018
Come nightfall, many theme parks play host to haunted happenings. From the Grady twins greeting you inside Universal Orlando's The Shining-themed maze to the undead lurking around corners in New York City's Blood Manor, we've rounded up a few spooky locales that are guaranteed to give you a fright. Plus, we have some not-so-spooky events for the kiddos.
FOR ADULTS: Fright Fest at Six Flags
Zombies, ghouls, and other haunts roam the grounds of all the Six Flags amusement parks, ready to terrify riders at a moment's notice. Then each park has its own site-specific scare zones: At Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, for example, you can wander a possessed Hall of Mirrors at an attraction called "Reflections of the Dead," while at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California you can brave something called the "Sewer of Souls." (No, thanks.) This year, a few of the parks will feature a haunted maze that's modeled after the one in the movie Hell Fest (in theaters this fall).
Fright Fest, September 22 to October 31, dates and admission vary by park.
FOR ADULTS: Knott's Scary Farm in California
The longest-running Halloween theme-park attraction has everything, including haunted houses filled with the paranormal, abandoned carnivals, and sideshow freaks. Check out Knott's Berry Farm's the fully immersive Special Ops: Infected, where you and your group are armed with laser guns to ward off the zombie apocalypse, or brave the new Dark Entities maze, a terrifying journey through a space station overrun by a mutated ET. Then stay for a show, where the performers have taken over a run-down movie theater and create a “B” horror film on the spot - with audience help.
Scary Farm, September 20 to October 31, starting at $42 per ticket.
FOR ADULTS: Universal Resort's Halloween Horror Nights in Florida
After nearly three decades of haunts, Universal Studios in Orlando has amassed a cult-like following of true horror buffs. Meander through multiple haunted houses and not-for-the-faint-of-heart mazes inspired by spooky TV shows and films like Stranger Things, Halloween 4, and Poltergeist.
Halloween Horror Nights, September 14 to November 3, starting at $63 per ticket.
FOR ADULTS: Blood Manor in New York City
At Blood Manor, the New York City's go-to haunted house, actors and animatronics get you screaming through 5,000 square feet of frights. Pass through room after room of deranged scenes: an operating room gone wrong, a demented slaughter house, and so on. (It certainly spooked Jimmy Fallon and Kevin Hart.) If that's not enough for you, snag a ticket to a "lights-out" night on November 2 or 3, and you'll head into the pitch dark armed only with one glowstick per group.
Blood Manor, October 5 to November 3, starting at $35 per ticket.
FOR ADULTS: Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream in Virginia
Think you can outsmart the actors behind the masks? Busch Gardens' creepy circus will prove you wrong. If you pride yourself on reacting well under pressure, try the timed "escape room" experiences, where your problem-solving skills are put to the test as you and your group sort out clues to break out of a locked room.
Howl-O-Scream, September 15 to October 28, starting at $60 per ticket.
FOR KIDS: Legoland's Brick-or-Treat in Florida and California
Kids can go on a special LEGO-themed trick-or-treating crawl, meet Halloween-themed LEGO characters, and take part in costumed fun at the Legoland Resort's Brick-or-Treat days. Each night ends with a ghostly show and a fireworks display.
Brick-or-Treat, October 6-31, starting at $75 per ticket.
FOR KIDS: Cedar Point's Great Pumpkin Fest in Ohio
In the fall, Cedar Point's Camp Snoopy becomes Camp Spooky! Kids (or those not quite ready for haunted house-level scares) can get their kicks at the park's Great Pumpkin Fest every Saturday and Sunday, where they'll find a pint-sized hay bale maze, a crafting corner, and the Great Pumpkin Parade, complete will all their favorite Peanuts characters.
The Great Pumpkin Fest, September 15 to October 28, starting from $44 per ticket.
FOR KIDS: The Count's Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place in Pennsylvania
Halloween has come to Sesame Place! All of your kids' favorite characters will be on hand (and in costume!), ready to take pictures, sign autographs, and guide you along on all kinds of not-so-spooky adventures. Watch as they take to the street in colorful floats at the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade at every afternoon - or stay for the nighttime, illuminated version of the same parade - or join them as you dig into a buffet-style fall feast at The Count's Halloween Party on October 27 and 28, hosted by none other than The Count, Elmo, Zoe, and Cookie Monster!
The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, September 22 to October 28, starting at $45 per ticket.
FOR KIDS: Hersheypark in the Dark in Pennsylvania
Come for the chocolate and stay for all the Halloween happenings. Visitors ages 12 and under can follow trick-or-treat trails through Hersheypark to - what else? - collect candy. The last stop on the trail, ZooAmerica, features the Creatures of the Night program, where experts chat about the zoo's nocturnal residents, from bats to wolves. If you're in the mood for thrills, ride any of the park's 13 roller coasters, three of which turn off their lights for the park's last hour until closing.
Hershey Park in the Dark, weekends October 19 to November 4, starting at $24 per adult ticket, children 2 and under are free.
FOR KIDS: Great Wolf Lodge's Howl-O-Ween
Take a break between cannonballs or floating down this waterpark's lazy rivers for family-friendly spooktacular attractions found at all 14 of the locations. Be sure to pack your costume and join other guests at the Monster Bash Dance Party, held every night!
Howl-O-Ween, October 1-31, starting at $199 per night, water park admission and Howl-O-Ween activities included with an overnight stay with promo code: HOWL (subject to availability).
Enter if you dare...