In the month of October every year, theme parks around the world have extended opening hours to host Halloween Fright Nights, where you can go on the rides in the dark.
If you fancy scaring the pants off yourself and your mates, book your advance ticket for a fright night at a theme park. It is such a fantastic thrill going on the rollercoasters during the day, and even more of an adrenalin rush in the dark at night.
October brings you theme park fright nights and scarefests. Most require advance bookings, even if you are a season ticket holder. Towards the end of the month and into November, you will also get fireworks displays as well.
UK Theme Park Halloween Fright Nights
- Alton Towers Scarefest [3] - 17th October to 1st November 2009.
For real terror this Halloween, look no further than the Alton Towers Resort Scarefest! Be confronted by live terror as a chilling combination of indoor and outdoor scare attractions ensure those willing to be frightened this Halloween don't leave feeling scared - they'll leave terrified!
- Thorpe Park Fright Night [4] - Monday 12th October - Sunday 1st November.
Fright Nights is back and even more terrifying than ever between 12 October - 1 November 2009, transforming THORPE PARK into a world of twisted insanity!
Dare to Face Your Fears on the ultimate test as SAW - The Ride comes alive! And for the ultimate horror experience brave the terrifying live action horror mazes The Curse, Se7en, The Asylum, and Hellgate.
If that's not enough for you, experience exhilarating rides in the dark and take on the 'Unholy Trinity' of Stealth, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno in the pitch black of night.
Due to the extreme popularity of this event, Fright Nights is STRICTLY ADVANCE BOOK ONLY.
- Chessington Halloween Hocus Pocus [5] - 23rd October to 1st November, 10am - 8pm
The whole family can enjoy spooky entertainment this Halloween as wicked witches and naughty Goblins take over the Park! New for 2009 "The Black Forest Haunt", escape from Transylvania if you dare! Plus a mythical Fiery Faun will be weaving enchanting tales of his homeland using magic and fire to delight the younger members of your family. With rides in the dark and the chance to get up close and personal with the Zoo's spiders, snakes and glow-in-the-dark scorpions there's so much fun to be had it's scary!
U.S. Theme Park Halloween Fright Nights
- Disneyland (Anaheim): Halloween Time [6] with Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams fireworks show. Through Nov. 1.
- Magic Kingdom (Orlando, Fla.): Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party [7] with Boo-to-You parade and Happy HalloWishes fireworks show. Through Nov. 1.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Halloween Horror Nights [8] with scare zones, live shows and haunted mazes, including the "Saw" maze. Oct. 2 to Oct 31.
- Universal Studios Florida (Orlando): Halloween Horror Nights [9] with scare zones, live shows and haunted mazes, including the "Wolfman" maze. Oct. 1 to Oct 31.
- Six Flags: Fright Fest [10] with mazes, scare zones, nighttime rides and shows at the chain's amusement parks across the United States including Six Flags Magic Mountain [11] (Valencia) and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom [12] (Vallejo, Calif.). Weekends through Nov. 1.
- SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Orlando: Halloween Spooktacular [13] with animal shows and trick-or-treating for children. Weekends through Nov. 1.
- Legoland (Carlsbad, Calif.): Brick-or-Treat [14] with live shows and trick-or-treating for children. Saturdays in October.
- Knott's Berry Farm (Buena Park): Halloween Haunt [15] with 13 haunted mazes, four scare zones and seven shows. Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 31.
- Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio): HalloWeekends [16] with haunted houses, five scare zones and eight shows. Weekends through Nov. 1.
- Kings Dominion (Doswell, Va.): Halloween Haunt [17] with nine haunted mazes, five scare zones and four shows. Weekends through Oct. 31.
- Kings Island (Cincinnati, Ohio): Halloween Haunt [18] with 13 haunted attractions. Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 31.
- Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.): Scarowinds [19] with haunted rides, mazes and scare zones. Weekends through Oct. 31.
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Florida): Howl-O-Scream [20] with seven haunted houses, four scare zones and two shows. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through Oct. 31.
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia): Howl-O-Scream [21] with six haunted mazes, seven scare zones and six shows. Weekends through Nov. 1.
- SeaWorld San Antonio: Howl-O-Scream [22] with haunted attractions, shows and scare zones. Weekends through Oct. 31 (and Oct. 12).
- Hersheypark (Hershey, Pa.): Hersheypark in the Dark [23] with rethemed rides and live shows. Weekends through Oct. 31.
- Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.): National Gospel and Harvest Celebration [24] with gospel music and harvest foods and crafts. Oct. 2 to Oct 31.
- Kennywood (West Mifflin, Pa.): Phantom Fright Nights [25] with six haunted attractions and four scare zones. Friday and Saturday nights in October.
- Darien Lake (Darien Center, N.Y.): FrightFest [26] with a haunted house and tram tour. Weekends through Oct. 18.
