As October rolls in and the nights start to feel a little darker, California theme parks begin to transform into haunted playgrounds. Whether you’re a horror fanatic or just here for the seasonal vibes, there’s no shortage of Halloween events across the state. But with so many options, one question comes up every year: which theme park really does Halloween the best?
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights always feels like stepping onto a blockbuster movie set, which makes sense since Universal is a live working studio. The haunted houses here are the absolute best, with incredible, movie-quality sets and the special effects, as well as the atmosphere and sound design? They nailed it. It’s the event for anyone who loves horror films, as they feature big-name franchises like The Exorcist or Stranger Things. The trade-off is that it’s usually the most expensive (OVER 100 DOLLARS), most crowded (5 hour lines…), and mostly just focused on just the houses, but the high production value and attention to detail makes every scare zone and even queue experience both bearable and memorable.
My dad stated that this is where it all started, when theme park horror events became popularized: Knott’s Scary Farm. What I love most about here is the sheer number of performers; there are monsters everywhere, especially in the massive, fog-filled scare zones. The overall atmosphere feels more gothic and classic-horror compared to Universal’s movie themes. Their mazes are consistently high-quality and they offer a great mix of unique, original concepts along with classic haunts, all at a generally more approachable price point than the bigger studio events.
Six Flag’s Fright Fest is the event I choose when I want to balance scares with pure, high-speed thrills. My personal experience included riding the park’s biggest, most terrifying roller coasters in total darkness. The haunted attractions are solid, offering a good mix of intense, over-the-top mazes and lively, actor-filled scare zones. It generally feels more like a traditional theme park Halloween party, focused on a high energy level and lots of coasters. I didn’t visit many of the haunted houses in this one, so forgive me if my judgement is skewed in the final ranking.
Finally, Seaworld’s Howl-O-Scream offers a surprisingly intense and theatrical fright experience, which is great for a newer competitor in the scene. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the scare zones and houses which sometimes weave in the park’s sea-life themes in a twisted way, and they have some fantastic, elaborate stage shows and themed bars. Like Six Flags, you also get the added bonus of riding some of their great coasters in the dark, but the overall atmosphere was a lot more calm, likely due to the fact that there were more children there and the rides were more mellow.
For my final ranking, Universal Studio’s Horror Nights come out on top, with their top-tier jumpscares, unmatched production and special effects, and overall atmosphere. The crowds could definitely be shorter and the prices would do good to stop charging as much as a new set of organs, but it’s #1 in all other aspects. Next up is Knott’s Scary Farm, the original (according to my dad) which is a lot more affordable and unique, then Six Flag’s Fright Fest (I’ve only been there once, it was mostly just rides, which you can get with a normal, cheaper Six Flags pass), then SeaWorld, which would be #1 if I was still a kid.
In the end, it really depends on what kind of Halloween you’re after. Want to be immersed into a horror movie? Go to Universal. Prefer unique, creative scares on a budget? Knott’s is your place. If you want to scream on a roller coaster, head to Six Flags. And if you’re just looking for a fun Halloween night out with your kids or younger cousins, SeaWorld has you covered.