From local destinations to regional family hot spots, many of your favorite theme parks open their doors each fall to let the spooks, ghouls, and frights in!
Shown in order of distance from Dulles Airport…
Kings Dominion
Doswell, VA ∙ Approx 95 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 18-Nov 1, 2026
Halloween Haunt
Nightmares come alive, and ghostly creatures await you this year at Kings Dominion! On select days, the park’s infamous evening Halloween Haunt will be the place for horror, hair-raising rides, and frightening attractions! Get lost in one of the many mazes or spooked in a scare zone before or after the park becomes engulfed in fog and darkness!
Sept 19-Nov 1, 2026
Tricks and Treats
Guests of all ages will enjoy all that Kings Dominion offers during their scare-free Tricks and Treats event! This daytime celebration wraps up before sunset, and the Haunt scares set up, with a Trick-or-Treat Trail, a costume contest at the Peanuts Playhouse, seasonal treats, live entertainment, and family rides. Running select dates from September 19-November 1, 2026.
Hersheypark
Hershey, PA ∙ Approx 125 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 12-Nov 1, 2026
Hersheypark Halloween
On select days this fall, join Hersheypark for your favorite rides and coasters, a chocolatey trick-or-treat adventure during Hershey’s Character Glow Dance Party, a walk on the wild side at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, frightfully delicious food, and more! Plus, Dark Nights sweeps the park after 6 pm, with five haunted houses and five scare zones for the brave.
Dutch Wonderland
Lancaster, PA ∙ Approx 140 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 19-Oct 31, 2026
Happy Hauntings
The Kingdom for Kids keeps the “happy” in Happy Hauntings, making this one of the gentlest Halloween celebrations in the region. Little ones can follow the trick-or-treat trail, dance through foggy bubble parties, and snack their way around the park, all with the rides still running and not a scare in sight. Open weekends from September 19-October 31, 2026.
Busch Gardens
Williamsburg, VA ∙ Approx 170 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 11-Nov 1, 2026
Howl-O-Scream
Howl-O-Scream takes over the entire park with haunted houses, Terror-Tories, and sinister shows, with unsuspecting horrors awaiting their victims at every turn. Plus, test your thrill threshold with world-class coasters at night, offering a completely different ride experience!
Sept 19-Nov 1, 2026
Halloween Spooktacular
Celebrate not-too-spooky family fun during the day at Busch Gardens Sesame Street Forest of Fun! Kids can dress up for a costume parade and enjoy trick-or-treating through the Wild Reserve. Family-friendly festivities include a hay maze, unique activities, and special photo opportunities. Open Saturdays and Sundays from September 19-November 1, 2026.
Diggerland USA
West Berlin, NJ ∙ Approx 170 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 26-Nov 15, 2026
Diggerfest
North America’s only construction-themed adventure park is filled with fall escapades every year! Diggerland USA, your favorite destination featuring life-sized construction equipment, celebrates the season with fire truck rides, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, a parade of machines, carnival games and mazes, and bonfires with s’mores. Diggerfest runs weekends from September 26-November 15, 2026, and it’s included with general admission.
Knoebels
Elysburg, PA ∙ Approx 175 miles from Dulles Airport
Oct 9-31, 2026
Hallo-Fun
America’s largest free-admission amusement park throws a Halloween party that stays family-friendly from start to finish. Hallo-Fun fills October Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with seasonal rides, live entertainment, and fall treats, and the Boo Crew adds extra pre-opening activities on weekend mornings. Since there’s no gate fee, you only pay for the rides you want.
Idlewild & SoakZone
Ligonier, PA ∙ Approx 185 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 12-Oct 31, 2026
HallowBOO!
It’s the Idlewild families already love, with a happy Halloween twist. Trick-or-treat your way through Story Book Forest, ride rethemed attractions, and wander a maze or two, all under the fall foliage of the Laurel Highlands. This is the longest HallowBOO! in park history, running weekends from September 12-October 31, 2026.
Sesame Place
Langhorne, PA ∙ Approx 190 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 19-Nov 1, 2026
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
At Sesame Place, wear your favorite costume and celebrate Halloween with your favorite crew from Sesame Street! On select dates, the park will be transformed into a family-friendly Halloween haven, featuring trick-or-treating in Big Bird’s Beach, the Sesame Street Halloween Parade, dance parties, a Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, themed shows, and unique photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends in costume. Included with admission.
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson, NJ ∙ Approx 200 miles from Dulles Airport
Sept 18-Nov 1, 2026
Fright Fest
After dark, Great Adventure hands the park over to haunted mazes, scare zones, and live shows, with coasters running under the fog. Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13, and a chaperone policy kicks in after 4 pm, requiring guests 15 and under to be accompanied by an adult 21 or older. Running select nights from September 18-November 1, 2026.
Sept 12-Nov 1, 2026
Kids Boo Fest
The daytime counterpart, and the one to pick for younger visitors. Kids Boo Fest brings costumes, trick-or-treating, and not-so-spooky activities to the park on select days from September 12-November 1, 2026, wrapping up before the Fright Fest crew clocks in.
Disclaimer: Event details are curated from public sources and subject to change. Verify all information via the provided links before attending.
