Attention, ghosts and ghouls! It’s that time of year again to grab your sweaters, pumpkins, and pumpkin spice since Halloween has finally come to some of the most exciting theme parks across the nation. While popular destinations like Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Disneyland always offer thrilling Halloween festivities, there may be a park closer to home offering spine-tingling experiences.

If you’re eager to experience spooky thrills, enjoy your favorite rides, indulge in seasonal treats, and create unforgettable Halloween memories, consider visiting your local amusement park. These parks often have lower admission prices compared to the major national venues, and their Halloween celebrations are typically included with regular tickets, not requiring a separate admission fee. Continue reading to discover my top picks for regional theme parks to consider this Halloween.

1. Halloween at LEGOLAND

With three LEGOLAND locations across the United States, this theme park is a delightful destination for families with young kids. Each park features its own Brick-or-Treat celebration with a lively Monster Party theme. Entry to Brick-or-Treat is included with standard day tickets, ensuring that you won’t miss any of the fun.

▶ LEGOLAND Florida

The festivities kick off on September 13 and continue on September 14, 21, and 28, plus every Thursday and Friday throughout October. At LEGOLAND Florida, families can meet beloved LEGO Monsters for photographs, join in a dance at the V.I.M. Dance Party led by Lord Vampyre, and enjoy Halloween-themed snacks. I’m particularly excited about the Halloween transformation of the Disco Party Coaster, which features spooky songs and festive lights. As night falls, don’t miss the Monster Skytacular, a spectacular new show showcasing drones and fireworks.

▶ LEGOLAND California

At LEGOLAND California, the Halloween fun starts on September 14, continues on September 21 and 28, and then runs on weekends in October. With your park admission, families can take pictures with LEGO Monsters, enjoy two Halloween-themed shows, and even trick-or-treat around the park. Additionally, there are three seasonal variations on popular rides. For example, The Great Monster Chase 4D Movie features tweens attempting to join a monster party, while The Dragon Coaster transforms into the Disco Dragon Coaster, and the Adventurer’s Club becomes the Wacky Witch Trail.

▶ LEGOLAND New York

The celebrations also take place at LEGOLAND New York, where Brick-or-Treat is held daily throughout October. Guests can trick-or-treat in designated areas of the park—costumes encouraged! There are frightful entertainments like the Operation Monster Squad show, where participants can learn the ins and outs of being a monster. Similar to other LEGOLAND parks, the Dragon Coaster gets a Halloween makeover here as well.

2. Busch Gardens’ Halloween Festivities

For adults seeking thrilling Halloween experiences, Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida, or Williamsburg, Virginia, offers the Howl-O-Scream event. This gathering caters to a mature audience and features intense elements like gore and violence.

▶ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Howl-O-Scream takes place on select nights from September 6 to November 2, running from 7:00 pm until closing time at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This highlight of the Halloween season is a special ticketed event, covering access to five haunted houses, eight scare zones, roaming frights, and popular attractions within the park. A standout new haunted house this year is Shadows of Wonderland, presenting a twisted version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

▶ Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Join the frights at Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg on select nights starting September 6 until November 3. The event is included with your park entry and begins at 6:00 pm. This year, two of the five haunted houses that will scare visitors are brand new: Clown Town and Monster Manor. Additionally,  Prepare yourself for an exciting experience with six scare zones and four themed shows. If you enjoy early mornings, you might want to take part in the Fiends Frenzy 5k, a family-friendly event.

3. Halloween Celebrations at Dollywood

Put on your sparkling attire and a cowboy hat while you indulge in some delicious cinnamon bread, as the Harvest Festival returns to Dollywood. This event runs daily from September 9 to October 28 and is included in your park admission. As you enter, the delightful aromas of apple and pumpkin treats will greet you. Once night falls, experience Great Pumpkin LumiNights, illuminated by 12,000 carved pumpkins.

4. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

Major holidays, including Halloween, Christmas, and the 4th of July, are celebrated year-round at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. However, in fall, the Halloween festivities are especially lively. Enjoy Happy Halloween Weekends from September 21 to October 27, featuring corn mazes, hayrides, live shows, and trick-or-treating for a family-friendly experience.

5. Halloween Festival at Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City’s Harvest Festival is running this Halloween from September 13 to October 26. It’s a family-friendly celebration filled with traditional fun, featuring artisans and craftsmen showcasing woodworking skills and artwork, a chuck wagon cook-off at the Cowboy Camp, and even the opportunity to see giant pumpkins. As night descends, the Pumpkins in the City display illuminates the pathways, accompanied by lively dance parties throughout the park.

6. Halloween Celebrations at Knott’s Berry Farm

Every autumn, Knott’s Berry Farm bustles with two Halloween themes. The first is the kid-friendly Knott’s Spooky Farm, perfect for families with younger children, and is included with regular park admission. This daytime party runs from September 26 to Halloween Day, Thursday through Sunday. Kids will enjoy trick-or-treating along with festive decorations throughout the park.

For adults seeking thrills, Knott’s Scary Farm offers more spine-chilling entertainment on select nights from September 19 to November 2, which requires a separate admission fee. With 50 years of expertise in Halloween haunts, Knott’s creates a fantastic spooky atmosphere complete with 10 haunted mazes, thrilling shows, over 1,000 monsters lurking about, and five eerie scare zones.

7. Hersheypark’s Spooktacular Halloween Season

Hersheypark will transform into a Halloween wonderland from September 13 to November 3. Children 12 and under can trick-or-treat at 13 different candy stations, while families can groove at the Hershey Character Glow Dance Party. No visit to Hersheypark is complete without experiencing the rides, especially at night when select roller coasters operate in complete darkness during the last hour of operations.

Throughout the Halloween season, Hersheypark also introduces Dark Nights. Access to this spooky atmosphere is included with the standard park admission, though it may not be suitable for young children. Dark Nights features five haunted houses, including the harrowing Estate of Evil with 13 terrifying rooms, alongside three scare zones where you can witness what lies in the shadows.

Halloween is approaching, and these local theme parks are gearing up for a season full of spooky activities this autumn, originally featured on FamilyVacationist.com.

More from FamilyVacationist:

• A comprehensive guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World in Orlando
• What you should know about Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights
• The top 10 theme parks in Orlando suitable for all ages and interests

The opinions shared in this piece reflect the author’s views and may not align with those of YSL News. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are part of Vacationist Media LLC. Following the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation approach, we evaluate and choose family vacation concepts, destinations, all-inclusive resorts, and traditional family vacations that cater to every age group. TourScoop specializes in organized group tours, provider reviews, travel itineraries, and gear recommendations.