Each time my 3-year-old sees the commercial for Six Flags’ annual Fright Fest she runs for cover. Needless to say, we won’t be driving to the Illinois amusement park to take in the Halloween festivities this year. But, if you have older children who live for all things creepy and chilling then you might consider visiting some of the many Halloween-themed spooktacular events taking place around the country.
Here’s a small sample of some the scream-inducing offerings:
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Halloween at Universal Studios theme parks is sure to send chills up your spine. This year the Orlando park celebrates the 17th anniversary of Halloween Horror Nights, which began as a one-weekend event with one haunted house. Today, it is one of the largest, most elaborate Halloween events in the country. Each night, the Universal parks in Hollywood and Orlando are transformed with haunted houses and shows, “themed scare-zones” and hundreds of actors.
And, this year both Universal Studios parks are raising the scare factor. The parks are bringing the legendary horror film series, “Friday the 13th,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” to life. The event includes guest encounters with actors portraying Freddy Krueger, Jason and Leatherface. It is important to note that the parks are making it clear that the event is not suitable for children under 12.
In Orlando, the themed nights will take place Sept. 28-29 through Oct. 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 24-28, and Oct.31-Nov. 3. Meanwhile, the Hollywood park, which also features the horror sets from Hollywood history, a new Backlot Terror Tram Tour, and mazes themed on “Nightmare” and “Chainsaw,” will offer the themed nights on Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28 and 31.
SIX FLAGS FRIGHT FEST
From October 6th through the 28th, Six Flags Great America is hosting its annual Fright Fest. During the Halloween season the 100-acre theme park is over run with creepy creatures, ghosts, and ghouls. Thousands of props, facades, decorations and special effects are used to turn the park into a haunted harbor of fun for serious fright seekers. Even the rides get into the spirit of the holiday. For example, the park’s largest wooden roller coaster gets decked out with a massive spider web and the four-story spider that calls it home can be seen from the interstate. (Whenever we drive by the park we know Fright Fest is under way because the huge inflatable spider is clinging to the side of the roller coaster.) You can buy your tickets for Fright Fest online, print them at home and head straight for the gate.
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