The first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party of the year happened August 9. In Orlando, Universal Studios debuted this years’ Halloween Horror Nights mazes earlier than ever before on August 30th.
Halloween dominates as one of the year’s most popular holidays. According to the National Retail Federation, 73% of respondents intended to participate in Halloween-related activities in 2023. Between costumes, candy, and decorations, people spend more than $12-billion.
While many families keep the festivities close to home with parties and trick-or-treating, others turn to a growing trend of Halloween tourism.
Traveling out of town to experience Halloween-related events impacts attractions nationwide. Event ticketing company Passage surveyed more than 1,000 haunt-style attractions in the United States and Canada. In their findings, most attractions anticipated a significant increase in attendance from 2022 to 2023. In 2022, the average attendance hit between 1,000 to 5,000 attendees. More than a third expected to see between 5,000 and 10,000 attendees in 2023.
On a larger scale, the rise in popularity of Halloween events extends to the nation’s theme parks. As the summer season comes to a close, theme parks, large and small, host Halloween parties that both entertain and frighten guests of all ages.
Major industry players like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort lead the charge regarding overall attendance, but regional theme parks also offer memorable experiences. As experts point out, these smaller regional parks rank high as a top pick for destinations to consider this fall.
Dialing up Fear Factor Nationwide
Admission to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights varies daily — from $83 per person on weekdays to $123 for Fridays and Saturdays — and does not include pricey add-ons like Express Pass or V.I.P. tours. Alternate options exist if Halloween fans want ultimate thrills without paying top dollar.
Busch Gardens Tampa, less than two hours from Orlando, hosts its annual Howl-O-Scream event, one of its most attended experiences of the season. Mikkel Woodruff, editor of Sometimes Home, recommends Howl-O-Scream for those who love “being frightened in the haunted houses and at various scare zones throughout the park.”
Across the country in Southern California, thrill seekers enjoy Universal Studios Hollywood’s version of Halloween Horror Nights, priced similarly to its Orlando counterpart. One hour south of Los Angeles, Halloween enthusiasts will find Knott’s Berry Farm, whose annual Knott’s Scary Farm remains a local favorite.
Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit and bestselling author of Disneyland Secrets, highlights Knott’s Scary Farm as an excellent regional Halloween event. He notes that Knott’s Scary Farm’s offerings “are quite a step up in fear factor from Oogie Boogie Bash’s Disney villains just down the road.”
Locals attend Knott’s Scary Farm in droves due to its family-friendly appeal. “They offer a ‘no-bo’ necklace, which calls out to scarers throughout the parks that you want to be spared from scary surprises while walking around,” says Doyle.
Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, further away from the central theme park markets, gives guests an intense Halloween experience, says Scott McConkey, founder of Miles with McConkey. He adds, “The park has scare zones, spooky live entertainment, and hundreds of costumed creatures hiding throughout all areas of the park to frighten guests.”
Family-Friendly Haunts
While some of America’s regional theme parks induce high-pitched screams, others focus on eliciting laughter from attendees. Family-friendly Halloween events occur annually at theme parks nationwide.
McConkey recommends families visit Legoland this Halloween. With locations in Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California, and Goshen, New York, Legoland increases the scare factor by one degree with its Brick-or-Treat event. “No one is spooked, but everyone has a memorable time,” says McConkey. Offerings include seasonal entertainment and shows, trick-or-treating around the park, and holiday theming on the Disco Dragon Coaster.
For families looking for autumnal vibes with a dash of Halloween, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, host similar Harvest Festivals from September through late October. During these festivals, fall-inspired food and beverage items appear on menus throughout the park, and thousands of illuminated carved pumpkins completely transform the atmosphere into a family-friendly, not-so-scary outing.
Whether travelers this fall want smiles or screams, regional parks offer various activities that appease all thrill levels. McConkey applauds regional parks for going above and beyond each year, adding, “It allows people nationwide to partake in and enjoy themed entertainment, despite not being able to necessarily make it to major theme parks. This makes autumn a time to look forward to.”
McConkey says Halloween’s biggest fans benefit the most from regional theme parks investing more into the season. “Halloween events tend to start earlier and end later every year.” A prolonged season “maximizes their popularity and gives guests the opportunity to join in on more fun!” A more extended Halloween season also means more opportunities to experience multiple theme parks’ offerings.
