By Michael Balderston
Looking to make this Halloween something special? Add bigger thrills and chills to all Hallow’s Eve by visiting any of these amusement parks, redesigned to scare the pants right off you. Whether you make it a midnight run or a getaway weekend, here are six parks that are doing Halloween right.
Kings Dominion – Halloween Haunt (1 hour, 30 min. away)
16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, 23047
Take a ride down 95 to Kings Dominion’s Halloween Haunt. Featuring live shows like “Eternal Jamnation: Lost Souls & Skeleton Crew,” nine mazes, six scare zones and all of the park’s classic roller coasters, Halloween Haunt will have you screaming. Or bring the tykes to Planet Spooky during the day on Saturday and Sundays. Get ticket info here.
Six Flags – Fright Fest Presented by Snickers (1 hour away)
13710 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Md. 20721
Experience “thrills by day” and “fright by night” at Six Flags America’s Fright Fest in Maryland. Kid themed attractions fill the park during the day, including the all new Monster Mash Bash, Kids Halloween Dance Party, and Theater of Magic: Starring Joe Romano. When the sun goes down, the park transforms with attractions like the new Necroville, Voodoo Curse and The Awakening. Get ticket info here.
Busch Gardens – Howl-O-Scream (2 hours, 30 min. away)
1 Busch Gardens Blvd., Williamsburg, 23185
Busch Garden’s has been taken over by the cursed, turning its usual countries into brand new Terror-Tories, including Demon Street, Ports of Skull, Ripper Row, Vampire Point and Wendigo Woods. Howl-O-Scream runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 12 – Oct. 26. Get ticket info here.
Kennywood Park – Phantom Fright Nights (4 hours away)
4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin, Pa. 15122
Kennywood Park takes their Phantom Fright Nights so seriously they recommend that children under 13 don’t come. Attractions include BioFear, Dark Shadows Maze and Haunted Noah’s Ark as well as all their popular rides… but completely blacked out so you can’t see what’s coming until it’s too late. Get ticket info here.
Hershey Park – Hershey Park in the Dark (2 hours, 30 min. away)
100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pa. 17033
Head up to Hershey Park where all the Halloween candy comes from. Attractions include their Trick-or-Treat Adventure for kids 12 and younger and Creatures of the Night at ZooAmerica. Hershey’s rides are also getting a Halloween makeover, as track lights on coasters Lightning Racer, Wildcat and Comet will be turned off after 9 p.m. for a dark ride. Get ticket info here.
Idlewild – HallowBoo (3 hours, 30 min. away)
2574 U.S. 30, Ligonier, Pa. 15658
The kid friendly HallowBoo at Idlewild runs every weekend leading up to Halloween from noon to 6 p.m. Kids can trick-or-treat through Story Book Forest, ride the HallowBoo Express Railroad or get lost in the Corn-Fusing Hay Maze. The park also will feature a number of live musical shows. Get ticket info here.
