Amusement Park News

Spooky chills and thrills await amusement park guests as Halloween season rapidly approaches—or in some cases, has already begun.

At Castle Park in Riverside, California, this year's Castle Dark runs Fridays through Sundays until November 1 with three new mazes: Feary Tales, a spooky twist on classic fairytales; Midnight Manor, a haunted mansion; and Containment Breach, a science experiment gone wrong. The park also features scare zones, a new live show titled Echoes from the Grave, and an after-dark party under a big top tent with a live DJ and festive food and drinks. Families can enjoy a Día de los Muertos celebration from noon to 5:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through November 2, which includes trick-or-treating, live performances, and kid-friendly activities.

In West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Kennywood has launched its Phantom Fall Fest, introducing a new haunted house called Detached, set in a terrifying toy store run by the sinister Puppet Master and filled with deranged dolls and marionettes.



Also in Pennsylvania, Hersheypark brings back Halloween and Dark Nights for eight weekends through November 2. The event includes five haunted houses—among them the new Kill ‘N Fill Garage—and four scare zones, including Path of Shadows: Coven's Curse. Guests can also enjoy around 50 attractions such as the new Shaq-A-Licious Laff Trakk, along with dark coaster rides, Hershey's Trick-or-Treat Trail, the Halloween Tasting Pass, and the Avenue of the Afterlife, which features themed food and entertainment.

Back in California, Knott's Berry Farm, now operating under Six Flags, offers two new haunted houses: one set in an abandoned zoo tied to military experiments, and another centered on Bloody Mary, queen of urban myths. They join eight returning mazes, five scare zones, and three live shows running through November 1.

The returning mazes include: Widows, Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman, Chilling Chambers, Cinema Slasher, Room 13, The Grimoire, Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind, and Origins: The Curse of Calico. This will be the final year for The Grimoire and Mesmer. Entertainment highlights include a comedy and stunt show, a circus sideshow, and a magic performance.



Universal Orlando celebrates its 34th year of Halloween Horror Nights with expanded theming, lighting, audio, and more live characters. Featured mazes include Friday the 13th, Fallout, and Terrifier, showcasing the slasher Art the Clown. Working with Horror Inc., the Friday the 13th maze draws from all the films and will appear at both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, complete with multiple versions of Jason Voorhees.

Other new attractions include El Artista: A Spanish Haunting, where ghosts and demons torment artists, and original mazes such as Dollhouse: Let's Play Dead, Hatchet & Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters, and Gölkin: Monsters of the North. Each incorporates advanced video and effects technology.

San Diego's SeaWorld is offering two seasonal events: the family-friendly daytime Spooktacular, and the fifth annual Howl-O-Scream in the evenings. “We're packing in more scares per square foot—from sinister speakeasies to pulse-pounding haunted houses,” says park vice president Kira Langue.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are once again bringing back Halloween Time with themed décor, ride overlays, and the ever-popular Oogie Boogie Bash.



Nearby, Anaheim's Adventure City hosts a walk-through Trick-or-Treat Street with free candy and trinkets. Young guests can also enjoy the Cosmic Vortex Tunnel, a Halloween-themed Express Train, a light show, and a Spooktacular Dance Party.

In Valencia, Six Flags Magic Mountain continues its annual Fright Fest with haunted mazes, scare zones, and thrill rides in the dark.

More family fun is planned at Legoland California in Carlsbad, as well as at Legoland parks in New York and Florida, where the Brick or Treat Monster Party takes over. “It's one of the largest kid-friendly Halloween celebrations in the country,” says Julie Estrada, communications director for parent company Merlin Entertainments.



In Tennessee, Dollywood hosts the Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights 2025, offering artisan crafts, seasonal food, music, and more than 12,000 illuminated pumpkins. A Pumpkin Tree centerpiece and the Harvest Festival Tasting Pass make the celebration especially festive.



At Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, Happy Halloween Weekends bring themed shows, décor, and even dinosaurs. Highlights include a dino corn maze, a drone show, Kitty's Candy Farm, live music, and Halloween snacks.

Wild Waves in Puyallup, Washington is presenting Fright Fest 2025, where monsters emerge nightly from 6 p.m. Attractions include the Chamber of Souls, Black Hallow Woods, and multiple scare zones. Guests can also experience a Trail of Terrors and dark ride attractions. During the day, the park transforms into Booville, offering trick-or-treating, face painting, and kid-friendly entertainment. Seasonal treats like candied apples, fudge, and “elephant ears with a ghoulish makeover” add to the fun.



Finally, Silverwood in Athol, Idaho is running Scarywood from October 3 through November 2. The event features ten scare zones, five haunted attractions, roaming monsters, and the park's rides after dark.