When to go
October brings daytime family Halloween events and nighttime haunts on park-specific dates. Weekend demand is often high; some haunts also run on weekdays.
October offers the widest Halloween selection, with family events by day and haunts on selected nights. Check the date and ticket rules.
Expected — not yet announced · Checked July 2026
Crowd and cost shapes describe multi-year patterns across the ten parks rather than a forecast for any single year. Weather figures are climate normals for each region and do not decay; the Texas figures blend the DFW and San Antonio areas, and the Southern California figures blend the coastal and inland valleys.
High crowds
Climate normals for each resort. These are averages over a long reference period, not a forecast — the only figures on this site that do not decay.
| Resort | Avg high | Avg low | Rain days | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California (LA basin to San Diego) | 79°F | 58°F | 2 | Climate normals, not a forecast. |
| Orlando (and Winter Haven) | 84°F | 65°F | 8 | Climate normals, not a forecast. |
| Texas (DFW and San Antonio) | 80°F | 56°F | 5 | Climate normals, not a forecast. |
| New Jersey (Jackson) | 67°F | 45°F | 7 | Climate normals, not a forecast. |
| Chicago (Gurnee) | 63°F | 44°F | 10 | Climate normals, not a forecast. |
High cost
Each of these has its own page with pricing, strategy, and a verdict.
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Separate ticket
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.
Confirmed
Separate ticket
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.
Confirmed
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Separate ticket
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.
Confirmed
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Seasonal overlay
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.
ConfirmedWith eligible admission
Weekday visits and haunt Saturdays can have different demand, but a weekday is not a guarantee of short queues or even an open park. Magic Mountain schedules Fright Fest on selected October Thursdays; check the exact park calendar before planning a daytime visit or an evening event.
The northern parks add holiday-season hours late in the month; Great America's October weekends are among the best atmosphere days on this site.
Magic Mountain’s selected Thursday Fright Fest dates have their own park and event hours. A closed Wednesday does not establish Thursday’s schedule. Use the Magic Mountain Fright Fest guide and official date-specific calendar, then confirm individual attraction times in the app.
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.