Until 1972, the year that Knott's Berry Farm transformed its Southern California park into Knott's Scary Farm, parks didn't embrace Halloween. Most generally shut their gates soon after Labor Day. Now, however, virtually every park has jumped on the hay wagon with elaborate haunted houses, shows, and other Halloween hoopla. Discover where to find spooky fun in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
Scaredy-Parks 2009
Busch Entertainment. Used with permission.
Virtually every theme park jumps on the hay wagon each fall with elaborate haunted houses, shows, and other Halloween hoopla. Discover where to find spooky fun in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando, 2009. Used with permission.
The theme for Universal Orlando's 19th annual Halloween Horror Nights is "Ripped from the Silver Screen," and will include homages to the horror staples Saw and Chucky as well as the remake of the Universal classic film, The Wolfman. Awooo! The park, which arguably has staged the world's best Halloween event over the past few years, is promising new haunted houses, new scare zones, and new live shows. Other characters, including Universal's Frankenstein and Dracula, will join the funereal festivities as well.
Knott's Scary Farm Haunt and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Hollywood
Knotts Berry Farm. Used with permission.
Zombies and bizarro monsters lurk behind every sagebrush in Knott's three scare zones and 13 (oooh, even the number is scary!) mazes. And the creepy characters from Saw will also loom large on the famous Universal Studios Backlot Tram Tour, which is re-dubbed Terror Tram: Live Or Die for Halloween Horror Nights.
Six Flags Fright Fests
Six Flags. Used with permission.
Fear is a big part of Six Flags' appeal. Ultimately, it's all about fun. But that sense of apprehension we get when we stare up at one of Six Flags' diabolical roller coasters, and the feeling of mastery we experience when we disembark one of the beasts fulfill some primal urge lurking deep within our psyches. The Six Flags parks provide safe havens for us to conquer our demons. And at Halloween time, the Fright Fest events at Six Flags parks give us even more demons to conquer.
More Florida Halloween Theme Park Events
Walt Disney World. Used with permission.
Universal Orlando is not the only place in Florida to find scary Halloween fun. There's also Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular.
More California Halloween Theme Park Events
Disney. Used with permission.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Knott's Berry Farm are not the only parks in California to find scary Halloween fun. There's also Six Flags Fright Fest, Disney's HalloweenTime, and other Halloween events at Legoland, California's Great America, and SeaWorld San Diego.
The Best Haunted Attractions
Arthur Levine, 2004. Licensed to About.com.
Roller coasters get most of the glory, carousels get plenty of PR spin, and whirling rides get lots of...dizzy passengers and the occasional visit from a clean-up crew. But haunted attractions, also known as spooky rides or by the industry term, dark rides, have been, and continue to be, an integral part of the theme park and amusement park experience as well. In honor of the Halloween season, I've pulled together a list of the Best Haunted Attractions. These classic and modern-day rides keep the Halloween spirit alive (or is that dead?) and well throughout the year.
