As the Halloween season approaches, amusement parks come alive with fright and delight. While scary attractions can be intimidating, they are also sources of blood-pumping adrenaline and terror. This will guide you through the thrills and fun amusement parks, including jump scares, mazes, and more!

Over this past week, MECA students have filled out a poll on which Halloween amusement park event they enjoyed the most from a nice day at Disneyland to a night full of jumpscares at Knotts Scary Farm. While each of the parks students got to choose from had their appeal,  the favorite was ultimately Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights.

Disneyland- Oogie Boogie Bash

Have you ever been so eager to buy something, you have to sit down, hunched at your computer hoping to get a ticket? Well, that’s what it’s like trying to get one to Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash.  While this is the most pricey event to attend with starting ticket prices of $134, not including the actual park ticket, it is also the most family-friendly. This event begins at 6 pm but anyone with a ticket to the park is permitted to enter at 3 pm. It is a great place to spend quality time with your family, including many opportunities for photos and meeting your favorite Disney characters!

Six Flags- Fright Fest

Fright Fest is a must-visit for thrill-seekers looking for an adrenaline-pumping experience. It is home to a spine-chilling array of zombies, clowns, and countless other terrifying creatures that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. For an entire 30 nights, visitors can experience themselves in the heart-pounding excitement of spine-tingling rides on the Grand Carousel and the Streamin’ Demon, adding an extra layer of thrill to the overall experience. The event prides itself on offering and range of haunted houses, including the bone-chilling Skull Manor and the hair-raising Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon, each designed to scare you when most vulnerable. Additionally, the heart-pounding mazes, such as the unforgettable Midnight Mansion, are meticulously crafted to provide an unparalleled scare experience. With every square inch of land having its monstrous surprises, Fright Fest promises an unforgettable and unparalleled scare experience for all who dare to enter. Whether you’re a fan of haunted houses, spine-tingling rides, or immersive mazes, Fright Fest is the ultimate destination for those seeking an exhilarating and unforgettable scare.

Knotts Berry Farm- Knotts Scary Farm

Knott’s Berry Farm, known for its rollercoaster rides and delicious food, has its own annual Halloween event, Knotts Scary Farm. From September 19th – November 2nd, it has mazes, haunted attractions, and thousands of monsters lurking in the fog. Jasmine Arce, freshman, had lots of fun in the haunted festivities, she loves the horror of things but with “a fear of clowns”.  “I love Knotts Scary Farm with their Halloween stuff, I love horror!” Knott’s has two new mazes, Widows, with spiders chasing you and getting caught in the webs, then Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman, with its dark and scary maze to behold the Boogeyman’s darkness.

Universal Studios- Halloween Horror Nights

A well-known amusement park full of fun fun rides and delicious treats has its  Halloween Horror Nights from September 5, 2024, to November 3rd. This year, they had mazes from movies like A Quiet Place, all the way to Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  This did end up being MECA students’ general favorite. “I liked it because I thought the scare zones were very interesting,” described freshman Hailey Huizar. She also commented on how the Terror Tram, featuring ‘serial killers’ running at guests with raging chainsaws going, was “particularly scary”. 

Though Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights did turn out to be the favorite amongst the MECA students, that doesn’t mean the other horror nights weren’t just as terrifying. With only two months left of this Spooky Season, don’t forget to celebrate the way you feel most comfortable, whether that be with a nice Pumpkin Spice Latte, or watching your favorite horror movies!