The thrills (and chills) of October: a guide to Halloween theme park celebrations
- daimlermkoch
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
By: Gabriela Martinez, Valley Life Editor, and Rosemary Villalonga, Opinion Editor
When Robert Burns penned his 1786 poem “Halloween,” he likely would not have imagined that today’s students would be waiting in hourlong lines and pay up to $200 for a chance to get spooked.
Universal Studios Hollywood has hosted their annual Halloween Horror Nights since 1991. Valley College student and “scare actor” Aidian Vasquez said that the adrenaline from this experience creates a “good bond with friends.” With general admission prices starting at approximately $85, Halloween Horror Nights guarantees a night full of haunted houses, scare zones and rides.
“I like the thrill a lot,” Brian Sorian, a maze host at Universal Studios and a cinematography major at Valley College, said. “It's always been a party.”
Universal Studios Hollywood does not publicly disclose the amount of attendees each year.
The theme of each haunted house at Universal Studios changes every year, providing new adventures.
“It's fun to see the way that they decorate it,” Valley College student and frequent Horror Nights visitor Abby Chatalyan said. This year, inspirations come from Five Nights at Freddy’s, Terrifier, Fallout and more.
Many guests wear the Halloween merch sold by the park and inspired by these haunted houses. Costumes are also allowed as long as they follow the guidelines by avoiding graphic, offensive and realistic costumes. Wearing comfortable themed attire allows for a night full of fun, Halloween spirit.
The Oxford English dictionary defines October 31st as the eve of all hallows, over time developing the name “Halloween”. This name was a combination of the Scottish words “hallow” which translated to “saint” or “holy person” and “een” which translated to “evening”. It wasn't until Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns merged both words in his 1786 poem, “Halloween” that ultimately made the name of this holiday official.
Six Flags Magic Mountain also offers their take on a night full of terror with Fright Fest, which has been around since the 1990s.
A ticket with the Haunted Attractions Pass ranges from $65 to $109. For an additional $18.99, kids can receive a “No Boo Necklace,” which claims to reduce the likelihood of being scared inside the scare zones. Add-ons like this are set to ensure everyone has an enjoyable time.
Valley College student Haley Wierschem said the feeling “was a fun-scared.” Six Flags Magic Mountain does not disclose the amount of attendees each year.
Additionally, Knott’s Scary Farm is an alternative classic, with mazes and scare zones themed to the lands of the park. The longest-running Halloween theme park event in Southern California, Scary Farm sells tickets ranging from $64 to $89. They also feature special discounted tickets for military members and first responders.
The holiday is also celebrated by Disneyland who’s been hosting the Main Street Pumpkin Festival since 2006. The park redecorates the Haunted Mansion to the film The Nightmare Before Christmas and puts on special Halloween fireworks. Disneyland ticket prices in October range from $140 to $200. Meanwhile, Disney California Adventure Park offers Oogie Boogie Bash, an evening event where fans can collect candy and meet their favorite Disney villains. Tickets are hard to come by, though, and the event capacity is very limited. The Disneyland Resort does not disclose how many people attend each year.
Visitors to each of these Southern California events can celebrate Halloween and kick off autumn while enjoying themed food, haunted rides and spooky mazes with friends and family.
Which Halloween event are you going to visit?
Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest
Knott's Scary Farm
Disney's California Adventure Oogie Boogie Bash
A Purge character swings their bat on the Universal Studios Terror Tram attraction on the night of Oct. 2, 2025. (Matthew Mejia for the Valley Star.)