Theme parks around the world have devised some positively devilish ways to keep the Halloween spirit alive— or in this case, undead—in 2023. This year, look forward to haunted houses, nighttime coaster rides, pumpkin-spiced treats, and sprawling scare zones with creepy creatures lurking behind every dark corner. Don’t be a jerk-o-lantern: grab a friend and make a reservation in advance! Here are 10 theme parks Halloween events around the world that are just dying for you to pay them a visit this spooky season:
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World
When: Dates TBA
Disney’s annual Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party event returns in 2023 with spectacular firework shows, Mickey’s Boo-To-You parade, a cadaver barbershop quartet, and a Hocus Pocus Villan Spelltacular featuring the Sanderson sisters at the Cinderella Castle stage.
At Magic Kingdom, adults and children can wear costumes, a perk typically reserved only for those under the age of 13. Mickey and Minnie may float by in a Halloween-themed cavalcade or, on select days, guests can get a glimpse of baddies like Maleficent, Jafar, or Jack Skellington.
All four parks are offering specialty Halloween treats, including a Headless Horsemen drink that looks like, well, blood, and plenty of (friendlier looking) pumpkin spice goodies.
Expert Tip: Download the My Disney Experience app before you visit so you can check ride wait times and mobile order all those dastardly delicious Halloween treats.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida
When: Select nights September 1nd to October 31st, 2023
Universal Studios Orlando is home to a months-long Halloween event called Halloween Horror Nights: home to 10 haunted houses, 5 scare zones, 2 live shows, and unlimited Halloween-themed treats and entertainment.
New this year is a haunted house inspired by musical genius The Weekend and the chance to get caught up in an epic duel between The Wolf Man, Dracula and the Mummy. A returning favorite is the HHN Tribute Store with rooms themed to some of their most nightmare-inducing characters. There’s Jack the Clown, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the ghost with the most – Beetlejuice. It’s essentially a haunted house without the scare actors. Instead of frights, you can get Halloween merchandise and ghastly goodies like beating-heart sour gummies.
Expert Tip: Make sure rides like Revenge of the Mummy and Skull Island: Reign of Kong are on your itinerary to up your trip’s scare factor.
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
When: Thursdays – Sundays, September 8th to October 31st, 2023
Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream is celebrating its 23rd anniversary this year and returns with full force, taking over the entire park with haunted houses, scare zones, sinister shows and more.
In addition to haunted houses, Howl-O-Scream will utilize 10 large, open-air scare zones including “The Junkyard” and “Deadly Toys.” There’s also an outdoor stage show with the Dr. Freakenstein (just don’t ask where he got his degree). The park’s most popular thrill rides stay open for the after-hours event and there’s a large selection of merchandise and themed food booths.
Expert Tip: The blood and gore at this Halloween event is not intended for children, so plan on leaving the kids at home.
Brick-or-Treat Halloween Event at LEGOLAND
When: Every Saturday in October, 2023
If you plan on celebrating spooky season with your little ghouls and goblins in tow, LEGOLAND Florida’s Brick or Treat event may be more their speed. This daytime Halloween event is included with regular park admission, so families can trick-or-treat between rides or stop and take in a family-friendly stage show when it’s time for a break.
Guests of all ages can wear costumes and snap selfies with quirky LEGO characters like Rockin’ Frankenstein, Mummy, and Lord Vampyre. There’s even large, elaborate LEGO models like a pumpkin, ghost, and hearse on display throughout the park.
Expert Tip: LEGOLAND’S onsite hotels keep families close to the action and let kids keep the fun going with themed rooms, nightly entertainment, and a variety of LEGO activities.
Fright Fest Halloween Event at Six Flags St. Louis
When: Select nights, September 22nd to October 29, 2023
While the sun is safely shining in the sky, Six Flags St. Louis Fright Fest is more mild than wild. There’s slightly spooky storytelling, a trick-or-treat trail for kids and, and scare actors will break out in dance on the 13th minute of every hour.
But when the sun sets and the moon illuminates the night sky, vampires, clowns, and other creepy creatures will emerge from their lairs to deliver screams and scares. The park stays open late during Fright Fest nights so guests can experience Six Flags’ coasters in total darkness.
Expert Tip: Fright Fest Halloween Events take place at other Six Flags locations across the country, including in Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, and Maryland.
Disney Halloween Festival at Disneyland Paris
When: October 1st to November 5th, 2023
At Disneyland Paris, guests can feel the spirit of Halloween as soon as they step through the gates. The entire park gets a spooky makeover, ghoulish goodies take over the food and drink menus, and creepy music flows throughout the park.
Disney friends – and fiends – are lurking around every corner, laying in wait to give hugs and snap selfies. Fearless visitors can join the grim grinning ghosts of Phantom Manor or “drop in” to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, two scream-inducing attractions that are available all year long. And don’t miss the big return of Mickey’s Halloween Celebration parade! Look forward to Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best.
Expert Tip: The Halloween events span both Disneyland Paris parks so you’ll need to purchase a “2 Park” ticket to see it all.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan
When: Dates TBA
The Great Horror returns to Universal Studios Japan in 2022! For the first time in three years, Halloween Horror Nights is back in full swing featuring a nightmarish Street Zombie event with projection mapping, a survival horror maze, and the famous Zombie de Dance party where everyone — including visitors— are encouraged to dance with their whole body.
During the day, kids can trick-or-treat around the park, watch favorite characters from Hello Kitty and The Peanuts dance through the streets, and take photos with costumed characters from Minions and Sesame Street. Kids at heart can take in the Universal Monster Live Rock and Roll Show and meet performers like Dracula and Werewolf after the show.
The entire park will be decked out for Halloween and there’s a huge selection of limited-time food and merchandise offerings, too.
Expert Tip: Save room in your suitcase for the one-of-a-kind Halloween merchandise featuring Chucky, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Snoopy, and more!
Fright Nights at Thorpe Park
When: October 6th to October 31st, 2023
Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights Fearstival tests the limits of exactly how much horror visitors can handle in one night. Not only do they have the UK’s fastest coaster and the world’s first ten-looping coaster, they also have a coaster based on the seriously twisted “Saw” films – and you can ride all of them in the “dead” of night.
Included with regular admission are five terrifying scare zones, a theatre showing short horror films, and a wide range of one-of-a-kind Halloween events for 2022. For an additional fee, guests can also experience two live scare mazes.
Expert Tip: It may not be very comforting to sleep in the mouth of a shark after a night of scares, but the Thorpe Shark Cabins offer a unique hotel experience just steps from the park.
Hersheypark Halloween Event at Hersheypark
When: Select weekends, September 15th to October 29th, 2023
It doesn’t get much cuter than a Hershey Kiss and a Reese’s Cup dressed up in costume, but the chocolatey fun at Hersheypark Halloween doesn’t stop there. The trick-or-treat trail winds through the park, with 13 stops along the way.
Guests can experience some of Hersheypark’s most exciting rides with a pitch-black twist and, for the first time ever, ride the new Candymonium hypercoaster at night. There’s also plenty of speciality pumpkin spice sweets, fall comfort foods, and, of course, chocolate treats to enjoy.
Expert Tip: Admission to ZooAmerica is included with Hersheypark in the Dark. Guests can view animals in a nocturnal setting and even see them enjoying pumpkin-themed treats.
Halloween Events at Shanghai Disneyland Park
When: Dates TBA
During the month of October, Shanghai Disneyland summons a spooky transformation with decorations throughout the park, costumed characters on parade floats, Halloween events, trick-or-treat stops, and dreadfully delicious themed menu items.
Guests who prefer to be part of the fun rather than watching from the sidelines can boogie with Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at the “This Is Halloween” Dance Party or sing along with Miguel from “Coco” over at Adventure Isle.
Expert Tip: Though the fun starts October 5, the Halloween Days of Spook-tacular on October 30 and 31 are the best days to visit for maximum spooky season enjoyment. The park is throwing in a few extra surprises, including live DJ’s and a Halloween fireworks show.