Our family loves visiting theme parks at Halloween. Season décor, treats, and festivities make an already magical theme park da even more memorable. Today I’ve compiled an ultimate guide to theme parks at Halloween time. All the parks I’m sharing either offer family-friendly spooks during the day, or terrifying chills at night! Many even offer both. I’ve gathered the details and links for you so you can find some fun theme parks to explore at Halloween in your area!
theme park brands that go all out at Halloween
Six Flags parks all across the country participate in Fright Fest. The fun thing about this event is that you don’t need a separate ticket to attend. You can still enjoy spooky, seasonal fun during the day, then once the sun starts to go down things get a lot creepier. To walk through any of the haunted maze attractions you’ll need a Fright Fest ticket. However, you can still enjoy the entertainment and scare zones at night without one. There are also kid-friendly activities during the day you little ones will love!
| Read: Which Six Flags Park in California is Best? |
Most Cedar Fair parks (of which Knott’s Berry Farm and California’s Great America are part of) participate in Halloween time fun. Each park will call it a different name but the basic idea is the same. During the day you can enjoy fun for kiddos and festive decorations. Then at night you can scream to your heart’s content during a separate, ticketed event. Knott’s Scary Farm is what I grew up going to every year and I loved it!
| Read: Knott’s Berry Farm with Kids |
Disney parks are a popular choice for not-so-scary Halloween fun. Parks on both coasts offer after-hours events that sell out quickly. But did you know that every Disney park in the world celebrates spooky season? Whether you are looking for decadent desserts or a special event party you’ll be able to have a fiendishly fun time with Mickey and friends.
In my opinion, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights are the most terrifying of these offerings. I have been a few times over the years and it’s obvious that they’re in the movie business–the haunted mazes and scare zones almost seem too real. Each of the Universal Studios locations worldwide offers this separate ticketed event. Keep in mind though that Islands of Adventure in Orlando does not participate and has normal hours so if you have a park hopper ticket you can switch between the two.
| Read: Printable California Theme Park Bucket List |
Sea World and Busch Gardens Spooktacular is kid-friendly Halloween fun during the day. Then at nighttime Howl-O-Scream takes over the parks with scare zones and coaster rides in the dark. The nighttime event is a separate ticketed event and both levels of fright happen at all of their locations across the country.
| Read: The Ultimate Guide to Legoland California |
Legoland offers Brick-O-Treat which is a completely kid-friendly, after-hours event that requires a separate ticket. Other than Disney this is the only offering that boasts a family-friendly experience from beginning to end. Every Legoland park across the world offers some form of Halloween festivities, though some have a different name from the celebration in the United States.
other theme parks with spooky fun at Halloween
- Scarywood Haunted Nights at Silverwood Theme Park
- Hersheypark Halloween
- Hallo-Fun at Knoebels
- Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City
- Harvest Festival at Dollywood
Do you have a favorite theme park to visit during Halloween?
