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Guide to 2007 Halloween Events at North American Theme Parks and Amusement Parks

By Arthur Levine, About.com

Disney's HalloweenTime at Disneyland.

Disney 2007. Used with permission.
Oct 22 2007
Until 1972, the year that Knott's Berry Farm transformed its Southern California park into Knott's Scary Farm, parks didn't embrace Halloween. Most generally shut their gates soon after Labor Day. Now, however, virtually every park has jumped on the hay wagon with elaborate haunted houses, shows, and other Halloween hoopla. Discover where to find spooky fun in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

The guide is arranged alphabetically by U.S. state and ends with Canada. This page includes Halloween events at parks in U.S. states from Arkansas to Nevada.

The next page includes New Jersey to Utah, plus Canada.

ARKANSAS

Magic Springs
Hot Springs (near Little Rock), AR
Magic Screams
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, September 29 to October 28.
Cost: Included in park admission
Attractions include a haunted house, a haunted Wild West Trail, a trick-or-treat trail, and spooky hayride. A scare-free zone for younger kids offers pumpkin painting and other activities.

CALIFORNIA

2007 Halloween Events at California Theme Parks.
Includes listings for Knott's Scary Farm at Knott's Berry Farm, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Disney's HalloweenTime and Mickey's Halloween Treat at Disneyland Resort, Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Brick-or-Treat at Legoland California, Nick or Treat at Great America, and Scarecrow Alley and Halloween Treasure Hunt at Gilroy Gardens.

COLORADO

Elitch Gardens, Denver, CO
Fright Fest

  • Dates: Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 19-21, 26-28
  • Cost: Included in admission.
Even though it's no longer part of the Six Flags family, Elitch Gardens will continue to use the name Fright Fest for its Halloween event. Each evening, the event will kick off with a Haunted Processional. Elitch Gardens will offer two haunted houses: the serial killer-themed Brutal Planet and the horror film-themed Screams. The park will also present "Test Your Fear," a Fear Factor-type gross-out competition that will challenge guests to encounter bugs, snakes, and the like. Younger kids can get some sweets at Elitch's Trick-or-Treat Trail.

CONNECTICUT

Lake Compounce
Bristol (near Hartford), CT
Haunted Graveyard
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Sept. 28 to Oct. 28, plus Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Cost: Combo admission rate for both rides and The Haunted Graveyard is $27.95 and $20.95 for children under 12. Rides-only or Haunted Graveyard-only passes are available as well..
For more info: Haunted Graveyard site

There will be a total of ten haunted houses, trails, and, of course, a haunted graveyard. Best of all, brave souls get to sample Boulder Dash, my pick for the top woodie coaster, in the deep, dark night. Now that's scary. Lake Compounce donates a portion of the proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

FLORIDA

2007 Halloween Events at Florida Theme Parks.
Includes info about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular, and Cypress Gardens Phobia.

GEORGIA

Six Flags Over Georgia
Austell (near Atlanta), GA
Fright Fest
Get info at the Six Flags Fright Fests 2007 Guide.

Wild Adventures
Valdosta (near the Florida border)
Phobia
Dates: September 28-30, October 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28, and 31.
Cost: Included in admission. Extra cost for "Phobia Express" front-of-the-line pass.

Haunted atractions include The Black Forest: No Trespassing and Pirates of the Dead 3-D. The park will also feature the themed simulator ride, Elvira?s Superstition. Shows include The Bumpkin Patch and Bad Bob the Bone Butcher. Friendly Frights is for younger kids and includes trick-or-treating.

ILLINOIS

Six Flags Great America
Gurnee (near Chicago and Milwaukee), IL
Fright Fest
Get info at the Six Flags Fright Fests 2007 Guide.

KENTUCKY

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Louisville, KY
Fright Fest
Get info at the Six Flags Fright Fests 2007 Guide.

MARYLAND

Six Flags America
Mitchellville (near Washington, D.C.), MD
Fright Fest
Get info at the Six Flags Fright Fests 2007 Guide.

MASSACHUSETTS

Six Flags New England
Agawam (near Springfield, MA and Hartford, CT), MA
Fright Fest
Get info at the Six Flags Fright Fests 2007 Guide.

MINNESOTA

Valleyfair
Shakopee (near the Twin Cities), MN
Halloween Haunt at ValleySCARE
Dates: Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 26-31
Cost: $35.95 all day, $25.95 starlight pass (for early evening admission), $11.95 for kids and seniors.
For more info: ValleySCARE site

Haunted houses include Carnage at Crimson Isle and CarnEvil. The park will also feature Blood Creek Cemetery, a haunted zone. Shows include Ritual of Fire and Dr. Dementia, The Twisted Mystic. For younger kids, the park will offer trick-or-treating and other scare-free activities.

MISSOURI

Six Flags St. Louis
Eureka (near...come on, you know what city it's near), MO
Fright Fest
Get info at the Six Flags Fright Fests 2007 Guide.

Worlds of Fun
Kansas City, MO
Halloween Haunt
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 28, plus Oct. 25, 29, 30, and 31.
Cost (includes rides): $38.95. Junior and seniors are $11.95. Special twilight (after 3 p.m.) and late-night discounts available. Non-weekend days are $17.95.

Among the seven haunted houses will be BloodShed, CarnEvil, and Camp Gonnagitcha Witchahatchet (don't you just love the names?). Shows include Jack's Rip Roaring Improv and Sideshow Freaks. For younger kids, the park offers Magical House on Boo Hill, a not-so-haunted house, Trick-or-Treat Town, and other activites and shows. The park also features Fright Feast, an all-you-can-eat buffet.

NEVADA

Adventuredome Theme Park (at Circus Circus)
Las Vegas, NV
Fright Dome
Dates: Oct. 5-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-31
Cost: $32.95 general admission, $44.95 for Fast Pass line pass.

Haunted houses include Killer Clowns in 3D and Fright Dome Wax Museum inside the Cavern of the Living Dead. Other attractions include Haunted 4D FX Theater, freak shows, and the themed simulator rides, Elvira's Superstition and Draculas Haunted Castle.

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