Holidays
Halloween 2026 across the coaster parks: haunt nights and family days
The 2026 Halloween calendar spans separate-ticket haunts, four Six Flags Fright Fests with paid maze access, and family daytime programs. These events serve different ages and budgets, so the date and ticket combination matter as much as the park.
Confirmed · Checked October 2026
Checked September 26, 2026 against the official 2026 event pages for Six Flags Magic Mountain, Over Texas, Great Adventure and Great America. Dates, admission rules and daytime programs appear in their linked event records with source URLs. Magic Mountain date, admission and timing cross-references were rechecked October 9, 2026 against https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/events/fright-fest and the date-specific calendar payload for https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/park-hours?date=2026-10-15. The other parks were not reverified in this update.
Your options, by resort
Both coasts do this differently, and the right answer depends on which one you are going to.
Southern California
- Knott's Scary Farm — Knott's Scary Farm is the oldest big haunt in the country — running since 1973 — and still among the best: dozens of mazes, scare zones through the real Ghost Town, and a separately-ticketed night event that transforms the whole park.
- Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Diego — Howl-O-Scream is SeaWorld San Diego's separately-ticketed Halloween night: produced haunted houses, scare zones and coasters running after dark across the marine park. The San Diego edition is the smallest of the three SeaWorld haunts and the most atmosphere-per-acre — the bay-side park turns genuinely eerie.
- Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain — Six Flags Magic Mountain runs Fright Fest on select nights through November 1, 2026, including the final weekend. Park admission or a valid pass covers the general event; haunted mazes require a Haunted Attractions Pass unless the selected bundle explicitly includes both. Maze Express and ordinary ride Fast Lane are separate products.
- Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND California — Brick-or-Treat is LEGOLAND California's daytime, family-focused Halloween event on 12 select dates in 2026, with costumes, LEGO monsters, treat activities and shows. It is included with a dated park ticket; some annual-pass tiers need a paid event ticket.
- Tricks and Treats at Six Flags Magic Mountain — Tricks and Treats at Six Flags Magic Mountain is the park’s daytime, family-focused Halloween event in 2026. It offers costumes, treats and shows before the more intense Fright Fest program after dark. Check the park calendar because the announced range includes only scheduled event days.
Texas
- Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas — Six Flags Over Texas runs Fright Fest on select nights through November 1, 2026. Park admission covers most nighttime scare zones and shows; haunted mazes and Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit scare zone require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass. The park also offers Tricks and Treats for families during the day.
- Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld San Antonio — Howl-O-Scream is SeaWorld San Antonio's Halloween night, included with park admission on select dates: haunted houses, scare zones, shows and rides after dark. It begins at 7 p.m. and is intended for mature audiences.
- Tricks and Treats at Six Flags Over Texas — Tricks and Treats at Six Flags Over Texas is the park’s daytime, family-focused Halloween event in 2026. It offers costumes, treats and shows before the more intense Fright Fest program after dark. Check the park calendar because the announced range includes only scheduled event days.
Orlando
- Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando — Howl-O-Scream is SeaWorld Orlando's separately-ticketed Halloween night: produced haunted houses, scare zones and coasters running after dark across the marine park. The Orlando edition is the biggest of the three and a genuine third pole in the city's Halloween season alongside the Disney and Universal events.
New Jersey
- Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure — Six Flags Great Adventure runs Fright Fest on select nights through November 1, 2026. Park admission covers the nighttime scare zones and shows; haunted mazes require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass. The park also offers Kids Boo Fest for families during the day.
- Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure — Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure is the park’s daytime, family-focused Halloween event in 2026. It offers costumes, treats and shows before the more intense Fright Fest program after dark. Check the park calendar because the announced range includes only scheduled event days.
Chicago
- Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America — Six Flags Great America runs Fright Fest on select nights through November 1, 2026. Park admission covers the nighttime scare zones and shows; haunted mazes require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass. The park also offers Kids Boo Fest for families during the day.
- Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great America — Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great America is the park’s daytime, family-focused Halloween event in 2026. It offers costumes, treats and shows before the more intense Fright Fest program after dark. Check the park calendar because the announced range includes only scheduled event days.
What admission covers
The four Six Flags Fright Fests run with regular park admission or an eligible pass on scheduled nights. A Haunted Attractions Pass is required for their mazes. Six Flags Over Texas also requires that pass for the new Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit scare zone. At Magic Mountain, a bundle can explicitly include park admission and maze access; maze Express is a separate queue upgrade unless included, and ordinary ride Fast Lane does not establish maze coverage.
Knott’s Scary Farm and SeaWorld's Orlando and San Diego Howl-O-Scream events sell separate evening tickets. SeaWorld San Antonio includes Howl-O-Scream with park admission on scheduled dates. If mazes are your main goal, include the Six Flags maze pass when comparing costs.
Family daytime and evening scares
Magic Mountain and Over Texas run Tricks and Treats; Great Adventure and Great America run Kids Boo Fest. These are daytime activities with treat trails and family entertainment on scheduled dates.
Six Flags does not recommend Fright Fest for children under 13; that is age guidance rather than a stated prohibition. On Magic Mountain’s checked October 15 calendar, Unleashed is at 6:30 p.m. and the Fright Fest event block is 7–11 p.m.; the opening scaremony does not promise all mazes open at 6:30. Check the official app for individual times and the separate daytime event schedule.
Use the actual 2026 calendar
Magic Mountain Fright Fest runs September 18 through November 1 on specified nights, including several Thursdays in October. Over Texas begins September 11, Great Adventure September 18 and Great America September 19; all four end November 1 on select nights.
The date range does not mean daily operation. Check the official park calendar for the exact date, closing time, showtime, maze availability and ride closures before making a plan.
Magic Mountain’s official calendar, checked October 9, schedules Thursday, October 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. PDT and lists October 14 closed. Selected Thursday Fright Fest nights include October 15. Consult the event guide for the admission and evening timing distinctions; re-entry is not permitted after 9 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
Which Halloween event is best for young kids?
Daytime options include Tricks and Treats at Magic Mountain and Over Texas, Kids Boo Fest at Great Adventure and Great America, and Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND California. Confirm each park’s date-specific schedule.
Are Six Flags Fright Fest mazes included?
No. In 2026 the four Six Flags parks on this site require a Haunted Attractions Pass for maze entry. General admission covers each park's included scare zones and shows on scheduled nights, but Six Flags Over Texas also requires the pass for Doc Varnum’s Hybrid Hell Pit scare zone. Check the selected park's terms.
When do the 2026 Fright Fests run?
Magic Mountain and Great Adventure begin September 18, Over Texas begins September 11 and Great America begins September 19. All four list November 1 as the last date, but operate only on select nights in between.
Is a Halloween date range an operating calendar?
No. A start and end date bracket select event days or nights. Consult the official park calendar for your exact date, especially when planning a Thursday, a weekday or a trip with young children.
The permanent version of all this
Height requirements, ride mechanics, accessibility detail, and permanent dining live on our evergreen guide, our year-round sister site. They do not change with the season, so we do not repeat them here.