YOUR GUIDE TO HAUNTS AT LOCAL PARKS
Greetings, lovers of horror. Want to be scared this Halloween? Well, fear not (well, OK, fear a bit) because here’s a roundup of popular theme park haunts going on in Southern California. And note that these could sell out, so grab those tickets now. Most haunts run until Oct. 31. Check AAA for discounts. And also check the requirements for masks, vaccinations and such.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Fright Fest 2021 returns in Valencia with six haunted mazes, eight scare zones (two new) and three live shows (also two new). Unlike other parks’ Halloween events, Fright Fest is included with daily park admission. Customers pay an extra $30-$50 for a Fright Pass to access the mazes. Day trippers can enjoy the scare zones and coasters without paying for the Fright Pass (which means large crowds). “Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising” is one of the most popular mazes. Tickets start at $45. sixflags. com/magicmountain
Universal Studios Hollywood
Halloween Horror Nights, which aficionados of scares generally consider to be the best of the local theme park haunts, runs through Oct. 31. It includes new and returning mazes such as The Haunting of Hill House, The Walking Dead and The Bride of Frankenstein. The Terror Tram is also back. Tickets start at $69. Not recommended for children under 13. halloweenhorrornights.com.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Scary Farm, the region’s first Halloween event, returns with eight haunted mazes, five scare zones and six live shows. The only new maze is Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind, in which hypnotist Mesmer hosts an insane world with sideshow acts gone wrong underneath a traveling carnival tent. There’s also a new scare zone called Gore-ing 20’s which features Prohibition-era bootleggers, ghostly revelers, a jazz era band and a secret password to reach the underworld. This scare zone is near Knott’s Bear-y Tales dark ride. Prices start at $50.
Knott’s Spooky Farm, for younger children, is included with the price of regular admission. It runs daytime only Saturdays and Sundays. Day tickets start at $54 online, but check with AAA for discounts. knotts.com
Disneyland Resort
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort includes elaborate decorations, carved pumpkins, specially costumed characters, transformation of the Haunted Mansion into the Haunted Mansion Holiday, Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark and a “Halloween Screams” show. Note that you need a reservation to enter the theme parks but not Downtown Disney, which is also festively decorated. Theme park ticket prices start at $114 for adults weekdays. Disneyland.com
Oogie Boogie Bash is back at Disney California Adventure as an after-hours, separately ticketed event. People can dress up in costumes, trick-or-treat and enjoy the decorations, food and, of course, merchandise. At this writing, tickets were sold out, so find a friend who bought some and horn in or put it on your calendar to buy next August. disneyland.com
SeaWorld San Diego
Howl-O-Scream, the park’s first foray into scary Halloween events, offers three haunted houses, six scare zones and a live show. The show, “Vampire Circus,” got rave reviews from our reviewer, although the premiere outing for the other Halloween attractions here does not match other haunts’. Our reviewer also praised the food, including a Bloody Lucy Slider, Brain Bites and Nightmare Mac & Cheese. SeaWorld continues to offer the more family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular for younger kids on weekends through Oct. 31, included with regular park admission. seaworld.com/san-diego