Let’s get spooky! Celebrating Halloween at theme parks this autumn

Halloween is approaching, but if you're heading to a U.S. theme park before All Hallows' Eve, the festivities are already underway.

At Disney World, Legoland, and various other U.S. theme parks, beloved characters don eerie costumes. Jack-o'-lanterns pop up in every nook, and in some parks, chainsaw-wielding fiends are perfecting their stealthy scares.

Fear not — it's not just haunted houses and spooky surprises. Below, we’ve compiled the Halloween fun and frights happening at major theme parks across the U.S.

Walt Disney World

During the day, you can embrace the Halloween spirit surrounded by Mickey pumpkins and autumn wreaths adorning Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. However, the true spooky excitement unfolds in the evening during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Guests are encouraged to dress up (and Mickey and his pals will be in costumes too); enjoy a Halloween-themed parade, stage show, and fireworks; trick-or-treat throughout the park; savor themed snacks; and experience attractions like Mad Tea Party and Space Mountain with festive Halloween enhancements. Rare characters, such as the Seven Dwarfs and Jack and Sally from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," can also be met, who are not available during daytime hours.

The event runs on select nights from Aug. 9 to Oct. 31 and requires a separate ticket. Although the festivities commence at 7 p.m., guests can access the park starting at 4 p.m. for a few rides before the Halloween fun officially kicks off.

Legoland

Legoland parks in Florida, California, and New York host Halloween celebrations designed for preschoolers and their families. The highlight: it's all included with your standard admission ticket.

During Brick-or-Treat, children can trick-or-treat around the park, participate in a monster dance party, enjoy themed snacks, and ride The Dragon coaster featuring a monster music soundtrack.

Each park offers unique attractions. For instance, Legoland Florida introduced a new "Monster Skytacular" show featuring drones and fireworks this year, while Legoland California enhanced its Brick-or-Treat event with an interactive "prehistoric pumpkin patch" experience.

In Florida and California, Brick-or-Treat occurs on Saturdays and Sundays throughout October until Oct. 27. In New York, the event is available every Friday to Sunday in October, along with Monday, Oct. 14 and Monday, Oct. 21.

Universal Orlando Resort

Featuring 10 haunted houses and five outdoor scare zones, Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights is not for the timid. The event is not advisable for children under 13. It includes popular attractions like "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" and "Insidious," along with original experiences such as Slaughter Sinema 2, where horror films spring to life.

If you prefer a gentle introduction, consider taking a lights-on "Behind the Screams" tour of the haunted houses during the day, and browse for Halloween souvenirs and treats at the seasonal Tribute Store. Be sure to exit the park before the event starts if you wish to avoid encountering the ghouls and goblins that roam the streets after dark.

The event takes place on select nights from Aug. 30 to Nov. 3, requiring a separate ticket. To make the most of your experience, you can buy a Halloween Horror Nights Express pass to skip the lines, opt for an "R.I.P. Tour," or acquire a "Stay and Scream" pass, which grants you early access to the park before it opens to other guests. If you hold a daytime ticket or an annual pass, you can also enjoy early entry and be among the first to experience the haunted houses when they open for the evening.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood offers its own version of Halloween Horror Nights, which differs in several ways from the Orlando event, featuring unique houses. Hollywood includes attractions not found in Orlando, such as one themed around "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and an original house titled "Dead Exposure: Death Valley," filled with an overwhelming number of radioactive zombies.

Distinct to Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights is the "Terror Tram," a chilling rendition of the park's iconic Studio Tour, along with a show named "The Purge: Dangerous Waters," which takes place at the "WaterWorld" stunt show venue.

The event runs on select nights from Sept. 5 to Nov. 3, requiring a separate ticket. Along with the Universal Express pass and R.I.P. Tour, guests can enhance their experience with a special "Halloween Horror Nights After 2 p.m." pass, granting park access after 2 p.m. and allowing them to stay into the evening, or an Early Access Ticket that permits entry to select houses up to 1.5 hours before the event officially begins.

Disneyland

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort encompasses both theme parks and features events for both day and night. This is especially beneficial, as tickets for the after-hours Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure tend to sell out almost immediately upon release.

Although this year's Oogie Boogie Bash is sold out, for those fortunate enough to have obtained tickets or those planning for next year, the event showcases Disney's notorious villains. The immersive trick-or-treat trail through Disney California Adventure features themed stops with characters like Dr. Facilier from "The Princess and the Frog," Cruella de Vil from "101 Dalmatians," and, of course, Oogie Boogie from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The event also includes a parade, a stage show featuring Mickey and Minnie, and much more.

Even if you don't have party tickets, you can still experience Halloween excitement at Disneyland. Mickey, Minnie, and all their friends are dressed in festive costumes, and there’s a "spook-tacular" fireworks show on select nights.

Frontierland also hosts a Dia de los Muertos celebration, while the Haunted Mansion receives a whimsical "The Nightmare Before Christmas" transformation. During the day at Disney California Adventure, you can enjoy the "Radiator Screams" revamp of the "Cars"-themed Radiator Springs area, meet characters from "Coco" at Paradise Gardens, and experience the "Monsters After Dark" overlay on Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout.

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens

SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio, along with Busch Gardens locations in Williamsburg, Virginia and Tampa Bay, Florida, host two distinctly different Halloween celebrations: the family-friendly daytime Spooktacular and the more ominous Howl-O-Scream after dark.

Spooktacular activities feature a trick-or-treat trail, a dance party, a costume contest, and opportunities to meet characters. In contrast, Howl-O-Scream offers chilling haunted houses, outdoor scare zones, live entertainment, and even scare-actors that may appear unexpectedly throughout the park.

Spooktacular is included with park admission, whereas Howl-O-Scream requires a separate ticket. Both events occur on select nights in September and October.

Dollywood

Halloween at Dollywood brings vibrant foliage, seasonal treats, and an abundance of pumpkins. Over 12,000 glowing pumpkins illuminate the park during the Great Pumpkin LumiNights, part of Dollywood's annual Harvest Festival, running through Oct. 28 this year.

Some pumpkins are crafted into larger-than-life sculptures, including Dolly's guitar, a massive spider, and a towering 40-foot pumpkin tree, while others are intricately carved to depict butterflies, frogs, and various creatures.

The event also showcases treats infused with apple, pumpkin, and maple, alongside beloved country dishes like smoked sausage macaroni and cheese and pulled pork sandwiches with pumpkin barbecue sauce.

Dollywood's Harvest Festival is included with standard park admission.

Holiday World

With areas dedicated to various holidays — including Halloween — Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana essentially celebrates the spooky season year-round. However, it truly enhances the festivities during Happy Halloween Weekends in September and October.

This family-friendly event features trick-or-treating, G-rated haunted houses, corn mazes, hayrides, live entertainment, and other spooky delights. In recent years, the park has introduced a Halloween-themed drone show titled "Halloween in the Sky" on select nights throughout the event.

Admission to Happy Halloween Weekends is included with your regular daytime ticket purchase.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, opts for a festive Harvest Festival instead of scary haunted houses, featuring artisans crafting items from moccasins to hand-painted turkey feathers, chuck wagon cooking demonstrations, pumpkin-spice treats, and enormous pumpkins weighing up to 1,400 pounds (that’s a lot of pie!).

As day turns to night, thousands of glowing pumpkins illuminate the park during Pumpkins in the City. Some rides remain open into the evening, offering a thrilling nighttime experience. You can also watch a master pumpkin carver create stunning designs right before your eyes.

All activities during the Harvest Festival are included with regular admission to Silver Dollar City, and the event runs through Oct. 26.

Knott's Berry Farm

On select nights from Sept. 19 to Nov. 2, California's Knott's Berry Farm transforms into Knott's Scary Farm, featuring original haunted houses like the eerie "Widows" and "Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman," along with outdoor scare zones, a thrilling show with daredevil carnival acts, and a tribute to the iconic scream queen, Elvira.

One of the most unique attractions at Knott's Scary Farm is the "Halloween Hootenanny" overlay of the Timber Mountain Log Ride. We won’t spoil the surprises, but expect a few spooky thrills before you make your splash down.

Due to the event's intense nature, Knott's Scary Farm is not advised for children under 13. This is a separately ticketed event with various fun add-ons, including a "Boo-fet" meal with monster photo ops, a lights-on tour, and a "Very Important Monster" tour offering skip-the-line access and additional perks.

Kids can still join in the spooky fun during Knott's Spooky Farm, which runs during regular park hours on Thursdays from Sept. 26 to Oct. 31, plus Columbus Day. Families can enjoy trick-or-treating, games, spooky storytelling, a pumpkin patch, and more.

Six Flags

Six Flags parks nationwide kick off the spooky season with haunted houses, outdoor scare zones, and thrilling rides in the dark during Fright Fest. This event occurs on select nights throughout September and October.

Many locations also host a family-friendly Kids Boo Fest during the daytime, featuring costumes and trick-or-treating in a more playful atmosphere. Admission to Kids Boo Fest is included with park entry, while Fright Fest requires a separate ticket.

Hersheypark

A giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup with vampire fangs may not scream "scary," but it perfectly captures the essence of Hersheypark's sweet and spooky Hersheypark Halloween event. Enjoy a dance party with Hersheypark characters, trick-or-treating, and thrilling coaster rides in the dark.

For those seeking a scarier experience, Hersheypark presents Dark Nights, featuring five haunted houses and three outdoor scare zones. Guests can purchase Hersheypark tickets to enjoy all-day rides and stay for Dark Nights in the evening, or opt for an "After Dark" ticket for access starting at 5:30 p.m.

Both events occur on weekends from Sept. 13 to Nov. 3, as well as on Halloween night. Hersheypark Halloween runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Dark Nights kicks off each evening at 6 p.m. and wraps up an hour after the park closes.

Bottom line

Whether you're craving sugary delights or thrilling scares, there's a theme park hosting the perfect Halloween event for you this fall. Some parks even offer both, catering to both daytime visitors and nighttime adventurers.

Most events require a separate ticket, so if you're planning to join in the fun, make sure you have the right ticket for the type of thrills you seek.