Scaredy-Parks

Guide to 2012 Halloween Events at North American Theme Parks and Amusement Parks

By Arthur Levine, About.com Guide

Disney's HalloweenTime at Disneyland.

Disney. Used with permission.

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Knott's Berry Farm is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt. Before Knott's pioneered the concept, most seasonal parks shut down soon after Labor Day and ignored Halloween altogether. Now, however, virtually every park has haunted mazes, themed shows, and other scary stuff in the weeks leading up to the holiday. Along with the blood-curdling screams from coaster riders, parks elicit screams with actual blood. (Well, not "actual" blood, but you know what I mean.) Discover where to find spooky Halloween fun at theme parks.

The guide is arranged alphabetically by U.S. state and ends with Canada. This page includes parks in U.S. states from Arkansas to Massachusetts.

The next page includes parks in Minnesota to Oklahoma.

The final page includes parks in Pennsylvania to Utah, plus Canada.

ARKANSAS

Magic Springs
Hot Springs (near Little Rock), AR
Magic Screams
Cost: Included in park admission
2012 info: Haunted houses will include the clown-themed The Last Laugh and Paradox. Other details not available at time of publication. Past events have included a haunted Wild West Trail, a trick-or-treat trail, a Creature Feature show, and spooky hayride, plus a scare-free zone for younger kids that has offered pumpkin painting and other activities.

For more info: Magic Screams official page.

CALIFORNIA

2012 Halloween Events at California Theme Parks.
Includes listings for Knott's Scary Farm at Knott's Berry Farm, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Disney's HalloweenTime and Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party at Disneyland Resort, Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Brick-or-Treat at Legoland California, Halloween Haunt and Snoopy's Costume Party at Great America, and Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld San Diego.

COLORADO

Elitch Gardens, Denver, CO
FrightFest

Cost: Included in admission.

2012 info: Even though it's no longer part of the Six Flags family, Elitch Gardens continues to use the name FrightFest for its Halloween event. Elitch will offer two haunted houses, The Suffering and Blood Bath. The park will also offer seven live shows. Those brace enough to give the Wheel of Misfortune a spin will end up eating live bugs. Now THAT's entertainment! Younger kids can get some sweets at Elitch's Trick-or-Treat Trail and enjoy other daytime toned-down activities.

For more info: FrightFest official page.

CONNECTICUT

Lake Compounce
Bristol (near Hartford), CT
Haunted Graveyard
Cost: Passes available for rides, Halloween event, or combo passes for both.

2012 info: There will be a bunch of haunted houses, trails, and, scare zones to explore, including, of course, a haunted graveyard. Among the scares are Zombie Forest, Mayan Temple, and the ever-popular Slaughter House. Best of all, brave souls get to sample Boulder Dash, one of my picks for the top wooden coasters, in the deep, dark night. Now that's scary. Lake Compounce donates a portion of the proceeds to an organization that supports diabetes research.

For more info: Haunted Graveyard official site

FLORIDA

2012 Halloween Events at Florida Theme Parks.
Includes info about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, and SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular.

GEORGIA

Six Flags Over Georgia
Austell (near Atlanta), GA
Fright Fest

More info: Six Flags Over Georgia Fright Fest official page.

Wild Adventures
Valdosta (near the Florida border)
Terror in the Wild and Kid-O-Ween
Cost: Included in admission.

2012 info: For Terror in the Wild, haunted atractions will include Mr. Swilley's Field of Screams and Ashkra - Plague of the Witch as well as Ghost Train, a scary ride aboard the park's Safari Train. Kid-O-Ween offers toned-down family fun such as a hay maze, a coloring mural, and a Count Rockula Dance Party. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. Trick-or-treating will be available.

More info at the Terror in the Wild site.

IDAHO

Silverwood
Athol
Scarywood
Cost: $24.99 to $34.99 at gate, depending on day. Reduced price for season pass holders. Reduced advance passes available at Scarywood site.

2012 info: Haunts include 3-Dimentia (a 3D attraction), Blood Bayou, and Terror Canyon Trail an outdoor scare experience. The park's train ride is transformed into the ZombieWood Express. The wooden coaster Timber Terror runs backwards during Scarywood.

More info at the Scarywood site.

ILLINOIS

Santa's Village Azoosment Park
East Dundee
Harvest Feast

2012 info: The park includes low-scare activities, such as a costume contest, trick-or-treating, and Santa's Spooky Adventure. The nighttime event, The Nightmare from North Street, is intended for older guests, and includes a haunted house and Terrifying Trail.

More info at the Harvest Feast page.

Six Flags Great America
Gurnee (near Chicago and Milwaukee), IL
Fright Fest

More info: Six Flags Great America Fright Fest official page.

INDIANA

Holiday World
Santa Claus (yes, that is the actual name of the town)
Happy Halloween Weekends

2012 info: Amazingly, the holiday-themed park, which includes a Halloween land, has never had a Halloween event -- until this year. The debut of the low-scare event will include two corn mazes (the park is in corn country, after all), the maze Holidog's 3D Halloween Adventure, a hay-bale maze, tractor rides, and a magic show.

More info at the Holiday World official site.