The 25th year of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights opened on September 18, with group ticketing available for 20 or more. This year, the number of elaborate haunted houses increased to nine. Experiences include scenes from the Insidious film series, werewolves from An American Werewolf in London, and experiences inspired by the fifth season of AMC’s The Walking Dead. During the event, the streets of Universal Studios Florida are transformed into five unique zones filled with actors. The experience runs for 30 select nights through November 1.
A version of the event—similar in structure but with its own unique features—also returns to Universal Studios Hollywood on the same set of dates in Los Angeles.
Ten Thirty One Productions is back for the seventh year with its Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, bringing an experience known as Boogeyman to Griffith Park’s old abandoned zoo. This year features an entirely new ride and scare zones, including claustrophobic spaces, darkness, and creepy character interaction. A private wagon is available for as many as 30.
Brand new for this year, Ten Thirty One is also bringing a version of the experience to New York, with the New York Haunted Hayride at Randall’s Island. Both experiences kicked off on October 2. Ticketing is available for groups at both general admission and V.I.P. levels.Â
The national House of Torment brand has brought the concept to Chicago for the first time this year, with two attractions—known as the Abandoned and Contagium—in one location. In its inaugural year, the setup will employ about 150 people, including 75 actors. Special effects artists Evan Hedges and Kevon Ward from Syfy’s Face Off are among those behind the wild attractions, costumes, makeup, and animatronic effects. Several pricing options are available for groups of from 15 to more than 100. The House of Torment Chicago runs through November 7.Â
Escape Room L.A. launched two new rooms for the season. CreepLA, which launched October 9 and runs through Halloween, is an interactive experience for groups of six or more that takes over a haunted warehouse in the arts district. The second experience, known as the Theatre, launches on October 18: Guests enter through the stage door of an old haunted theater, where they have one hour to look for clues and attempt to get out. Group ticketing is available.
Queen of the Night is a multisensory surrealist dinner show that takes place at the Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel in New York. The interactive show, created by Randy Weiner of Sleep No More, includes performances along with food and drinks. For two Halloween incarnations on October 29 and 31, guests are encouraged to dress in costume to participate in a secret post-show experience with the executive pastry chef. (However, the creepy, fetish-like nature of the show gives it a Halloween vibe year-round.) Group ticketing is available; the venue seats 275 or holds 500 for receptions.
Skybar at Mondrian in Los Angeles will celebrate Halloween this year with Return to Gotham, a two-night event that will see digital projections wrap the exterior of the Sunset Strip hotel. Although the venue will have more of a party vibe, the space will be fully tricked out like a movie set and include experiential and immersive environments inspired by the fictional city of Gotham and its inhabitants. Theme areas will include Selina Kyle’s apartment, the Penguin’s lair (with actual falling snow), and the Joker’s playground. Various packages are available for groups of as many as 12.
