Theme Park Haunts and Amusement Park Halloween Fun for Kids Near Philly: Sesame Place Halloween, Six Flags Fright Fest, and More

Celebrate Silly, Not-Too-Spooky Fun At The Count's Halloween Spooktacular At Sesame Place. Photo courtesy of Sesame Place
Celebrate Silly, Not-Too-Spooky Fun At The Count's Halloween Spooktacular At Sesame Place. Photo courtesy of Sesame Place
10/8/23 - By Lori McManus

Summertime visits to an amusement park often mean dealing with long lines and sweating through your sunscreen. Fortunately, many parks around the Philadelphia area extend their seasons into the cooler fall months with Halloween-themed attractions. This can be a fantastic off-peak day trip for thrill-seeking families looking to enjoy a Halloween experience beyond the local parades and festivals. Several of Philadelphia's theme parks have kid-friendly attractions during the day, then transform into frightening tween-and-above entertainment zones at night. There are often trick-or-treat opportunities and costume contests at these Philadelphia-area theme parks, so children (and even some adults) can gather candy goodies and show off their Halloween disguises. If your family is seeking some over-the-top Halloween fun ranging anywhere from silly to downright scary, check our list of amusement parks sure to provide excitement.  

Looking for more Halloween fun? Don't forget to check out our Halloween Guide and our Top Free Halloween Events round-up for Halloween fun that won't break the bank.

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The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular — Langhorne, PA

Saturdays & Sundays, September 16 – November 5, 2023
Sesame Place certainly knows how to take the fear out of what can sometimes be a scary holiday for little ones. Kids are invited to wear their costumes and take part in special events such as Abby Cadabby’s Magical Halloween Maze, the Not-So-Spooky Hayride, and The Count’s Unhaunted Castle. Halloween themed shows, Sesame characters dressed in costumes, the Neighborhood Street Party Parade, and plenty of rides are ready for families to enjoy.

Theme Park Haunts and Amusement Park Halloween Fun for Kids Near Philly: Sesame Place Halloween, Six Flags Fright Fest, and More: Hersheys Chocolate World.
Trick or Treat at Hersheys Chocolate World. Photo courtesy of Hersheypark

Hershey Park Halloween — Hershey, PA

Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, September 15 – October 29, 2023
No other theme park does candy quite the way Hershey Park does, so of course the “sweetest place on Earth” hosts a fantastic Trick-or-Treat Adventure for kids 12 and under. Children in costumes can wander down Trick-or-Treat Trail, stopping at various stations to pick up small goodies along the way. During Hershey Park Dark Nights, guests can experience the park’s many already frightening roller coasters, attractions, and entertainment specially themed for Halloween. Advanced tickets are required!

Theme Park Haunts and Amusement Park Halloween Fun for Kids Near Philly: Sesame Place Halloween, Six Flags Fright Fest, and More: Dutch Wonderland's Happy Hauntings
Meet your favorite characters at Happy Hauntings at Dutch Wonderland. 

Dutch Wonderland's Happy Hauntings — Lancaster, PA

Saturdays & Sundays, September 30 – October 29, 2023
Dutch Wonderland is transformed into a non-scary Halloween adventure-land, making it a wonderful destination for little ones. Happy Hauntings features more than 30 rides, costume contests, live entertainment, and a Trick-or-Treasure Trail. Kids receive a bag at the trail entrance and can follow along a kingdom of fun adventures, collecting treats as they go. The 2023 season features many new attactions, like a bubble dance party. 

Great Pumpkin Fest at Dorney Park — Allentown, PA

Saturdays & Sundays, September 16 – October 29, 2023
Great Pumpkin Fest offers super-sized one-of-a-kind Halloween events for kids throughout the park! Around every hay bale, you can catch toe-tapping live entertainment and grab a comfy seat to kick back and take it all in. Families of all ages will find activities, games, play zones, costume contests, dance parties, and more! 

Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt — Allentown, PA

Fridays and Saturdays, September 15 – October 28, 2023
At night, Halloween Haunt (for guests 13 and older) takes over the park. The terrifying attractions include creature-filled mazes, Dorney’s signature thrill rides in the dark, a chamber of horrors wax museum, and scary live shows. This is definitely for those who are not afraid of a few tricks in the night! Halloween Haunt is the perfect fall outing for tweens and teens 13+ as it features dozens of terrifying scare zones, haunted mazes, and more that transform Dorney Park into a spooktastic park.

Knoebels Hallo-Fun — Elysburg, PA

Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, October 6 – October 29, 2023
Despite being about two hours from Philadelphia, Knoebels Family Resort attracts many visitors from the area. A Halloween theme takes over this traditional family-friendly amusement park in October. They have gentle haunts, scary attractions, and treats to suit everyone’s taste. There are even special treat stops for children 12 and under in costume. The rides, food, games, character breakfast, and attractions feature the spirit and décor of the Halloween season. 

Six Flags' Boo Fest — Jackson, NJ

Weekends from September 16 – October 29, 2023
A Trick or Treat Trail, kid-friendly haunted house, festive treats, and special family shows make Boo Fest the kid-friendly alternative to Six Flags' Fright Fest. Try out book bingo or listen to a witch's tale. 

DiggerFest — Berlin, NJ

Saturdays & Sundays, September 23 – November 26, 2023
DiggerFest occurs each weekend throughout the fall. The fall festival, which is included in the cost of admission, features haunted hayrides, carnival games, live music, and a parade. Weekends are full of fall fun, with pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and pumpkin launching!

October Fun at Storybook Land — Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Thursdays through Sundays, October 4 – 28, 2023
Storybook Land takes on a Halloween theme with hayrides, pumpkin decorating, a hay maze, and the classic Storybook rides. During the final weekend of October, kids can experience Trick-or-Treat Weekend in addition to the Halloween fun. Children are encouraged to wear costumes and can collect treats at more than 20 stations in the amusement park with their free treat bags.

Writer Hillary Moses Mohaupt contributed to the 2023 update.

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