Celebrate Spooky Season with these Top 7 Halloween Events in the US

Posted on September 11, 2025

Children and adults enjoying Halloween themed attractions, characters, and performances at an outdoor amusement park with colorful costumes and festive decorations

Can you feel the Halloween spirit creeping in? The Halloween season has officially kicked off, and there's no better way to celebrate the spooks and scares than doing it at the top US attractions. Known for thrilling rides, interactive experiences, and iconic characters, most theme parks in the US also wow people with their grand Halloween celebrations.

If you’re on the hunt for cool spots to celebrate Halloween, you’re in for a treat! This list has some of the most exciting Halloween events happening across the U.S. Make your Halloween vacation extra special and truly unforgettable with these spooky events and the ultimate Halloween vibes spread across America. Are you ready to discover the best Halloween experiences this 2025? Keep reading.

What makes a Halloween event extraordinary?

An unforgettable Halloween celebration should be as imaginative as it is unique. Halloween fun is supposed to be enjoyed by both kids and adults. Despite the spooky and bone-chilling nature of the event, it should showcase an artistic vibe with lots of colors and unique elements. Amusement parks generally celebrate the holiday with Halloween parades, costume contests, live music, haunted house tours, and eerie shows and performances.

7 of the Best Halloween Events in the US in 2025

Three-panel image showing fireworks over a castle, a stage performance at a theme park, and a person walking through an underground tunnel in a Halloween costume event.

1. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Walt Disney World®)

🗓️ August 15 to October 31.

Starting the list with the not-so-scary favorite of Disney lovers, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one of the biggest Halloween events among theme parks in the U.S. Step into the spooky world of Halloween magic, filled with giant pumpkin displays and lots of trick-or-treating along the way. Taking place at Magic Kingdom© Park, this event features adorable costume parties, meet-and-greet opportunities with Disney characters, fancy firework displays, and a limited-time Halloween menu. Here are some Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party highlights you should not miss:

  • Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade

  • Disney's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular

  • Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

  • Halloween-themed food and drinks

  • All-new Not-So-Scary Halloween Party merchandise collection.

  • Ghost tours at Holiday Mansion

Get your discount tickets for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and let your loved ones experience Halloween the Disney World way.

2. Halloween Horror Nights (Universal Parks)

People walking into a Halloween event with red lighting and a stage that reads Halloween Horror Nights

🗓️ Orlando: August 29 to November 2 | Los Angeles (Hollywood): Select nights from September 4 to November 2.

If you love haunted places and tours, Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights are for you. This annual event features terrifying haunted houses and scare zones inspired by horror franchises, taking fear to new heights compared to Disney parks. It's not recommended for kids. Check out this year's highlights—they're better than 2024's!

  • 10 terrifying haunted houses inspired by your favorite horror films.

  • Scare zones so horrifying, you gotta prepare your nerves before entering the gates.

  • Halloween-themed food, cocktails, and merchandise.

This is an extremely popular event, so make sure to get your Halloween Horror Nights tickets now!

3. Knott's Scary Farm (Knott's Berry Farm)

Assorted Halloween themed desserts and costumes featuring a sinister clown, creepy carnival performers, and a dark character with a hat and dark background

🗓️ September 18 to November 1.

Knott's Berry Farm is one of the best places to visit for thrill rides and attractions. But when it comes to Halloween events and activities, Knott's Berry Farm doesn't play. As an answer to Universal's horror extravaganza, the park has Knott's Scary Farm. Events like Knott's Scary Farm amaze us with its mind-blowing transformation from a kid-friendly theme park to a place of terror and spine-tingling experiences. The park offers various Halloween activities, but if you want to explore the darkest nightmares, here’s what to expect:

  • New frightening mazes

  • Bone-chilling scare zones

  • Halloween-themed food and merchandise

  • Scary Farm history exhibit and art show.

Secure your Knott's Scary Farm tickets now for the ultimate Halloween experience.

4. Howl-O-Scream (SeaWorld Parks)

A collage featuring a skull with food, a scientist in a lab, and a theater performance with dancers and musicians.

🗓️ Orlando: Sept 5 - Nov 1 | San Antonio: Select Dates: Sept. 12 - Nov. 2 | San Diego: Select Dates: Sept. 12 - Nov. 1.

Known for wonderful sea animals, marine mascots, and puppets, you won't even think that SeaWorld Parks can do events related to horror. Howl-O-Scream proves your perception wrong, though, because it's one of the animal theme parks to do Halloween in the United States. Happening in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego, SeaWorld fanatics can expect the following:

  • Zombie-filled haunted houses

  • Terror-tories swarmed with marine monsters

  • Horror-themed food and beverages

  • Nightmare-dusted rides and attractions

SeaWorld parks in San Antonio and San Diego will also be celebrating the festival of the dead (Dia de Los Muertos) on November 1 and 2. Swing by the nearest SeaWorld park for a spectacular fall experience.

5. Brick-or-Treat (LEGOLAND Parks)

Children dressed in colorful Halloween costumes, including a girl as a bee, witch, and fairy, enjoying a fun amusement park ride and activities.

🗓️ California: Select Dates: Sept. 20 - Nov. 1 | Florida: Select Dates Sept. 20 - Nov. 2 | New York: October 2 - November 2.

For other parks, there are Halloween festivals. But for LEGOLAND parks, there's Brick-or-Treat. Easily one of the most beloved Halloween events in the U.S, Brick-or-Treat features family-friendly activities available in California, Florida, and New York. From the fan-favorite costume parties to interactive Halloween shows and lessons, and more, Brick-or-Treat is the perfect adventure to bond with your family this fall. Stoked about this bricktastic celebration? Get your discounted LEGOLAND tickets now and don't miss these exciting activities.

  • V.I.M Dance Party

  • Monster Meet-and-Greet Hub

  • The Great Monster Chase 4D movie

  • Limited-time Monster Menu

  • Halloween-themed rides

6. The Count's Halloween Spooktacular (Sesame Place)

Children enjoying an amusement park, with sesame street characters waving and posing for photos.

🗓️ Select Dates: September 14 - November 3

Get ready for some Halloween fun with your favorite Muppets at Sesame Place's The Count’s Halloween! The park will turn into a Halloween wonderland perfect for families, where you can go trick-or-treating at Big Bird’s Beach, catch some Halloween shows, and check out the Sesame Street Halloween Parade. Excited to celebrate the spooky season, Sesame Street style? Here are some of the highlights you don't want to miss.

  • Furry Friends Halloween Dance Party

  • Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-Ween Radio Show

  • Sesame Street Character Photo Opportunities

  • Annual Halloween parade featuring 10 amazing floats

  • Halloween Storytime

Have fun with the Sesame Street gang this fall. Get your Sesame Place San Diego discount tickets now!

7. HaGLOWeen (San Diego Zoo)

Three children in colorful costumes and characters dancing in a festive Halloween display with pumpkins, costumes, and glowing decorations.

🗓️ Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October

Like most zoos and animal parks, San Diego Zoo surprises people with a terrific twist on spooky season. HaGLOWeen is a unique Halloween event that showcases the glow and charm of every species. Filled with glittering and shimmering splashes of color, HaGLOWeen is the perfect fall celebration for animal-loving families. San Diego Zoo will be lit in neon shades after dark, featuring energetic performances and activities that both adults and kids will love. Swing by San Diego Zoo this Halloween season for highlights that include the following:

  • Boo Crew: Zoo Characters Meet-and-Greet and photo opportunities.

  • Spooky Revue

  • The Glow-Go’s

  • The Spider’s W.E.B

  • Boolahoops

  • Dr. Zoolittle's Tricks & Treats

  • Python Path

What are you waiting for? Go grab your San Diego Zoo discount tickets now for wild and wonderful Halloween experiences!

Embrace the thrills and chills of Halloween in 2025!

People enjoying a Halloween event at Funex with a performer in a spooky clown costume and colorful lighting at night

Ready for some spooktacular experiences this fall? We hope that this guide to the best Halloween events in the US will help you choose the best activities for you and your loved ones. From fancy trick-or-treating to costume parties and scare fests, these US theme parks will blow your mind with unique and unforgettable experiences this spooky season.

Purchase your discounted theme park tickets in advance, as popular events can sell out quickly. Treat yourself and your loved ones to a fantastic Halloween celebration, FunExplorers!