The days are getting shorter, the air is turning crisp, and the region’s amusement parks are trading summer thrills for something a little more spooky. From haunted mazes based on blockbuster horror franchises to trick-or-treat trails for the little ones, parks within driving distance of Washington, DC are rolling out ambitious Halloween lineups this fall. Here is what to expect at four popular destinations.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Located in Williamsburg, Virginia — about three hours south of Washington — Busch Gardens runs two Halloween events on select dates through Nov. 1: a family-friendly daytime program called Halloween Spooktacular and an after-dark experience called Howl-O-Scream.
By day, Halloween Spooktacular runs Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 19 through Nov. 1, keeping things fun and fear-free. Centered in the Sesame Street Forest of Fun and designed for children ages 9 and under, the daytime event invites kids to come in costume and enjoy a full afternoon of themed activities. Children can trick-or-treat through the Wild Reserve, navigate a hay maze and take on a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. Family-friendly rides run throughout the day, and the entertainment lineup includes two Sesame Street-themed shows — Countdown to Halloween and the interactive Monster Mayhem Game Show — along with the Furry Friends Halloween Dance Party. The full Sesame Street cast appears in Halloween costume for photos and meet-and-greets. Halloween Spooktacular is included with standard park admission.
After dark, Howl-O-Scream takes over on select nights from Sept. 11 through Nov. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. each evening. The nighttime event features five haunted houses, five open-air scare zones called Terror-Tories, four sinister shows and nighttime rides on 10 world-class coasters — all included with park admission.
Each haunted house follows its own storyline, pulling guests through dark corridors and elaborately staged sets designed to deliver scares at every turn. The headline addition for 2026 is Anaconda: Dead on Arrival, a new house that sends guests through the sunken remains of a doomed vessel. Returning houses continue to round out a lineup built around atmospheric dread and immersive storytelling. The five Terror-Tories spread the frights across the park, ensuring there is no safe ground between attractions.
Four sinister shows round out the evening, from theatrical musical productions to high-energy stunt spectacles — all designed to keep the adrenaline going between haunts. For thrill seekers, Busch Gardens’ 10 world-class coasters take on a different character after dark, offering a ride experience that feels distinctly separate from the daytime version. Howl-O-Scream is not recommended for young children, and the park advises parental discretion for guests visiting after 6 p.m.
A chaperone policy also applies during the event.
Hersheypark
A scenic drive north into Pennsylvania leads to Hersheypark, where the park runs two complementary Halloween programs across eight weekends through Nov. 1: a family-friendly daytime experience built around the Hershey brand, and an after-dark haunt called Dark Nights presented by Reese’s and Kit Kat.
By day, Hersheypark Halloween is built for families. Children 12 and under can collect candy at 14 stops along the Hershey’s Trick Or Treat Trail, which winds from Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction through Treatville in The Boardwalk region. The park’s 50-plus rides stay open throughout the day, and Hershey Characters — dressed in Halloween costumes — are available for meet-and-greets at scheduled stops across the park. New this year, the Monster Meet & Shriek inside the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre runs daily from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., giving guests of all ages a chance to pose for photos with the monsters of Dark Nights. Starting Oct. 16, Creatures of the Night brings another family-friendly option to ZooAmerica, with flashlight-guided explorations of the 11-acre zoo on select Friday through Sunday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m.
After dark, Dark Nights presented by Reese’s and Kit Kat marks its fifth anniversary with five haunted houses, five scare zones and a full slate of nighttime thrills, beginning at 6 p.m. each operating night. Haunted houses include Kill ‘N Fill Garage, Estate of Evil, Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir, Haunted Coal Mine and Twisted Carnevil. On the scare zone front, Reese’s Depot Of Doom is new for 2026 — a fog-drenched freight yard where shadowy trespassers lurk among abandoned boxcars — joining four returning zones spread throughout the park.
For thrill seekers, the after-dark experience goes beyond the haunted houses. During the final hour of operation each night, the lights go out on select coasters — including Candymonium, Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat’s Revenge. Laff Trakk runs lights-out all day long on every operating date.
All Hersheypark Halloween experiences are included with park admission or a 2026 Season Pass. Single-day tickets start at $56.99, with a Family 4-Pack available at $55 per person, which includes free parking.
Kings Dominion
Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia — the closest of the four parks to Washington — brings back Halloween Haunt presented by Snickers on select dates from Sept. 18 through Nov. 1. The park runs two distinct events depending on the hour: a family-friendly daytime celebration called Tricks and Treats, and an adults-oriented nighttime haunt after dark.
By day, Tricks and Treats (select dates Sept. 19 through Nov. 1) keeps things light. Kids can collect candy along the Trick-or-Treat Trail, decorate pumpkins at Patch’s Pumpkin Patch, craft custom masks at Mask Makers Mash and test their taste buds at the BeanBoozled challenge. Costume contests at the Peanuts Playhouse award prizes in multiple categories, while the Skelebration Dance Party keeps younger guests moving through the afternoon. New this year, the Witch Sisters — three mischievous characters bringing seasonal comedy and magic to the park — make their daytime debut as part of the lineup.
After dark, Halloween Haunt takes over on select nights through Nov. 1. The nighttime lineup includes six haunted mazes, five scare zones, and five live shows. Each evening kicks off with Blood Reign, a ceremony at the Grand Bandstand where Queen Majesty summons her monsters to officially open the event.
The headline addition is DIABLO: The Infernal Path, a new haunted maze inspired by Blizzard Entertainment’s video game franchise, debuting during the series’ 30th anniversary. Guests navigate cursed cathedrals and ancient rituals while facing iconic demons — Diablo, Lilith, Mephisto and Baal — in what the park bills as a first-of-its-kind attraction.
Returning mazes include CornStalkers: Blood Harvest, set in fog-drenched cornfields haunted by the sinister Whitlock family; F.E.A.R., presented by Skittles, where otherworldly entities feed on human terror inside an abandoned factory; GrimmWoods, presented by M&Ms, which warps classic fairy tales into something far darker; Blood on the Bayou, pulling guests through a cursed Louisiana swamp; and Trick or Treat, presented by Snickers, set inside Hemlock House, a refuge for witches across history. Five scare zones — including the carnivalesque Cleaver Brothers Carnival, the fog-drenched Masquerade and the cursed Pumpkin Eater — keep the terror alive between mazes.
A separate Haunted Attractions Pass is required to access the mazes, starting at $10 per night or $49 for an all-season pass. Halloween Haunt is not recommended for children under 13.
Four new live shows round out the nighttime entertainment. Wake the Dead is a music-and-dance murder mystery where guests help determine who killed Franklin Earl Anderson Rochester. Heads Will Roll puts a fog-soaked royal court of singers and dancers on stage in a theatrical Halloween spectacular. Skeleton Crew delivers high-energy stunt work and acrobatics, while Sink the Jerk takes a lighter approach — a carnival dunk tank where guests are encouraged to silence a loud-mouthed performer.
Halloween Haunt is not recommended for children under 13, and a chaperone policy requires guests 17 and under to be accompanied by an adult 21 or older.
Six Flags Great Adventure
Located in Jackson, New Jersey — about two and a half hours from Washington — Six Flags Great Adventure runs two Halloween events on select dates through Nov. 1: a family-friendly daytime program called Kids Boo Fest and an after-dark experience called Fright Fest presented by Snickers.
By day, Kids Boo Fest keeps things age-appropriate and scare-free. Children 12 and under can collect candy during Trick or Treatin’ with Boo, while live entertainment includes Beatrix n Treats, a singing and dancing witch act; Boo’s Bash, a family dance party; and Witch’s Brew, a storytelling show led by a resident sorceress.
After dark, Fright Fest takes over on select nights. The nighttime event features eight haunted mazes, five scare zones and a full slate of live shows. Four mazes are new for 2026. JASON: Blood Reign drops guests into the woods surrounding a cursed summer camp, pulling directly from the “Friday the 13th” franchise. Final Destination: Death’s Playground adapts the New Line Cinema horror series into a maze where calculated catastrophes unfold at every turn. Twisted Holidays warps familiar seasonal traditions into something sinister, and Deadwood Cabin sets guests inside the killing ground of a family of serial killers. Returning mazes include The Conjuring Universe, Army of the Dead, Asylum, Big Top Terror and The Witch’s Reflection.
Five scare zones cover the park, including the clown-filled CarnEvil on the Boardwalk, zombie-occupied Exile Canyon, Plaza De La Muerte, the pirate-themed Curse of Blackbeard’s Bounty and The Bloody Fountain. Live entertainment includes the returning rock and dance show Dead Man’s Party, the cirque-style acrobatics of Unleashed, the dramatic ceremonial opening known as The Awakening, high-energy percussion from Blade Drummers and the twisted sideshow spectacle Freak Show.
Access to the haunted mazes requires a separate Haunted Attractions Pass in addition to standard park admission. Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13.
Plan Your Visit
Each park includes its Halloween event with regular admission or a season pass, making a fall visit an easy add-on to a weekend getaway. Dates fill quickly on peak October weekends, so buy tickets early and check each park’s calendar for operating hours before you go.
