- Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA
- Dates: September 27-30, October 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, and 24-31
- For more info, go to the Knott's Scary Farm overview.
Halloween Horror Nights
- Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, CA
- Dates: October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26-28, and 31.
- Cost: Separate admission: $29 to $41 in advance and $51 at the gate.
- For more info: 1-800-UNIVERSAL
- Official Halloween Horror Nights Web site. Presale tickets are available online.
As with Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, the Hollywood park will incorporate the theme (cue the spooky music) Carnival of Carnage, and will feature a creepy carnival overlay. And as in Florida, the big news is that some of the biggest horror movie characters will be participating in the mayhem this year.
If you thought you saw the last of Freddy vs. Jason, think again. While the horror film mainstays may have ripped each other to shreds in their 2003 movie, they are set to appear together again, live (er, well at least in person) at Halloween Horror Nights. And, as if that's not enough cutlery wielding, chainsaw-loving Leatherface will join the fracas as well. The terrifying triumvirate will wreak their havoc as the result of a partnership between Universal's U.S. theme parks and New Line Cinema, home of the Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Friday the 13 film franchises. The three horror icons will each get his own haunted house.
Universal Hollywood will also take guests onto its famous backlot via the Terror Tram. Details weren't available when I wrote this in mid-September, but last year guests exited the trams and could visit the original Psycho house and the set of the apocalyptic "War of the Worlds" to raise the dread quotient. The park also transformed its attractions for the Halloween mayhem, including Jurassic Park--in the Dark, and offered Halloween-themed shows. It's likely that there will be similar features this year.
Many of the park's regular rides, such as the particularly timely Revenge of the Mummy, will be open for the event.
More CA Halloween Events
The next page has info about Six Flags Fright Fest, Disney's HalloweenTime, and other events.
