Halloween isn’t just for little kids… teenagers and adults love this haunting season too. So whether you’re a big kid looking for some bone-chilling fun, or an adult looking for a fun night out, we’ve got a list of Halloween events from cute to terrifying. This years guide stretches beyond the Ambler area so we could give you our top picks of all that is happening this Halloween season…these are worth the trip!
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Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride |1835 Middletown Rd
Glen Mills | Now through October | Opens at 6pm
For 28 years, the Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farm has been scaring its visitors with amazing props, digital FX, great actors and extraordinary professional makeup. The Hayride has been featured several times on the Travel Channel and has been rated as the Number 1 Haunted Attraction in America by Hauntworld Magazine, USA Today and many other national publications. The Haunted Hayride is a 25 minute, action packed, heart pounding ride through the dark forest of Arasapha Farm, located just outside of Philadelphia PA, and is filled with huge, detailed sets, giant monsters and more pyrotechnics than a Kiss concert.
The Bates Motel is a high startle, high action haunted attraction and not recommended for children under 8 or people with heart conditions.
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Boo at the Zoo | Elmwood Park Zoo | Norristown | 1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown | Weekends from 12-3pm now through October 28th
Boo at the Zoo, presented by Einstein Medical Center Montgomery returns on Saturday, October 13. Bring the little ones for a fun-filled evening for princesses, ghosts and superheroes of all ages. Come dressed in your creative costume and enter our costume contest. Don’t forget your trick-or-treat bag, as treat stations will be located throughout the zoo.
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Candlelight Ghost Tours at Fort Mifflin | Fort Mifflin and Hog Island Roads
Philadelphia | October 19,20,31 | 7-10pm
No decorations. No hype. Just, you, a few candles, and REAL Ghosts! Experience Fort Mifflin after hours on our popular candlelight walking tours through the site.
Tours on Oct 12, 13, 19 & 20 depart every half hour from 7:00pm to 10:00pm and last approximately 1 hour. Tours on Oct 31 will run from 6:30-8:30pm. Tours take place rain or dry, so please make sure you wear comfortable & appropriate footwear.
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Chestnut Hill Witches and Wizards Weekend | Chestnut Hill | October 19th and 20th
The Chestnut Hill Business District introduces a celebration of all things mystical and enchanted during the ALL NEW Witches & Wizards festival weekend. With two days of magical possibilities, October 19 & 20, Witches & Wizards ushers in a new fall tradition that mixes one-part spooky thrills, one-part ghosts of wizards-past, and one-part family fun for an action-packed weekend in the charming urban village.
Kicking off with the revamped Brews & Broomsticks Pub Crawl on Friday, October 19 and continuing with a day full of family-friendly programming on Saturday, October 20 – the inaugural Witches & Wizards weekend promises spooktacular entertainment and activities in a whimsical community setting. After all, there’s always magic in Chestnut Hill!
Click here for the latest lineup of events and activities: chestnuthillpa.com/events/witches-wizards
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Dorney Park HAUNT | Friday and Saturdays Through October 27th | starting at 6pm
Dorney Park transforms into Halloween Haunt featuring haunted mazes, scare zones, rides and monsters prowling the park. What you can see will scare you. What you can’t see will Haunt you. (Halloween Haunt is not recommended for children ages 13 or younger.)
HAUNT kicks-off every night with the Overloads Show in Hydra Plaza at 7:00 PM and HAUNT Attractions do not open until 7:30 PM each night
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Eastern State Penitentiary-Terror Behind the Walls | 22nd Street & Fairmount Ave.,Philadelphia | Now through October
Terror Behind The Walls consistently ranked among the top haunted attractions in the nation, is located inside the massive, castle-like walls of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To celebrate its 2018 season of scares, Terror Behind the Walls unveils a newly revamped attraction: Infirmary.
Terror Behind the Walls runs on select evenings from September 21 through November 10, 2018. Tickets for Terror Behind the Walls are on sale now at TerrorBehindTheWalls.com. Buying online is always the cheapest and most convenient way to purchase Terror Behind the Walls tickets. Visitors save time and money, and purchasing in advance is the only way to guarantee entry to the event. For more information about Terror Behind the Walls, the public can visit TerrorBehindTheWalls.com.
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Fright Factory | 2200 S. Swanson St, Philadelphia | Now through October | 7:30pm
Fright Factory is a High Scare haunted house featured on the Travel Channel as one of the scariest haunted attractions in America within a 110+ year old building in South Philadelphia.
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Ghost Tour of the Haunted USS Olympia | Chestnut St at S 5th St, Philadelphia | October 26th and 27th | 8pm
Join us for a unique and memorable evening aboard the haunted battleship Olympia! From the time of the ship’s commission in 1895, sailors said it was cursed, and over 100 years later, ghost hunters (such as Sci-Fi’s Ghost Hunters and the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures) are still drawn to her haunting legacy. Inside the hulking exterior, you’ll discover a beautiful, labyrinthine interior filled with reports of disappearing apparitions, ghostly voices, and other unexplained paranormal activity. This 75-90 minute Ghost Tour will lead you through the creepy nooks and crannies of three decks, including the captain’s cabins, the galley, the sick bay, and the spot where the ship’s most famous ghost, “Gunner” Johnson, appears.
$19 per person (ages 12 & up only). To purchase tickets, call 215-413-1997 or book now >
Tickets are limited and advanced ticket purchase is required. A portion of proceeds benefits the Independence Seaport Museum. Please note: Guests must be able to climb steep stairs. Historic ships are not wheelchair accessible. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
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Ghosts of the Mansion Tour Of Philadelphia |Signers’ Garden at 5th and Chestnut Sts | Oct.20,26,27 + Nov. 3
Push aside the cobwebs of haunted Philadelphia and step inside a haunted Society Hill mansion for ghostly tales of mystery and intrigue! This special Ghost Tour begins outside, with visits to the Strangers Burial Ground and other haunted hotspots, and ends with an indoor tour of the Powel House, a colonial-era mansion in Society Hill. The Powel House has a long history of being haunted, with strange and unexplainable experiences reported for over 70 years. The 75-90 minute tour includes the use of EMF meters (electromagnetic field meters) for the curious ghost hunter.
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The GLOW-A Jack O’lantern Experience | West Fairmount Park| 5201 Parkside Avenue,Philadelphia | Now through October 28th
This October, be dazzled by the magic of THE GLOW, an enchanting and unforgettable pumpkin wonderland featuring over 5,000 hand-carved Jack O’ Lanterns! THE GLOW features an enchanting and unforgettable wonderland of more than 5,000 hand carved, illuminated pumpkins transformed into beautiful landscapes, iconic figures and larger than life jack o’ lantern structures. Stroll down Jack’s Lane with a fall beverage and marvel at the amazing details created by our talented artists! These glowing gourds are the perfect backdrop for a few fall photos too, so grab your camera and GLOW with us!
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Halloween Costume Party at the Haunted Wyndham Hotel | Gypsy Blu | Ambler | October 20 | 9pm-1am
Come dressed to impress. Awards will be given for the best costume!Tickets are $25 per person & may be purchased at the restaurant or online at Eventbrite. Doors open at 8:30 PM.
We will have light appetizers available along with a live DJ and photo booth area.
This is a 21+ event.
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Halloween Parade and Extravaganza | Ambler Theater | October 27th | 11am-2pm
Bring your ghost and goblins out for trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, entertainment, kid friendly activities and yummy treats all provided by Ambler business.
The theater lobby is the hub of activity – when you check in there you can partake in the activities right away, or choose to go on the Halloween walk to participating businesses.
Prizes for best costumes in various categories will be awarded at various times
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Haunting Of Elks Lodge #714 | Bridgeport, Pa | 494 Ford Street | Friday and Saturday nights in October | 7pm-11pm.
Our Scare Squad welcomes you to the 2018 Haunting of Elks Lodge 714.
The building you will enter was built in 1900 and is home to many strange and unusual happenings; including an exorcism of the building itself. In addition to creaky stairs, cold drafts and unexplained noises during the day; at night our haunted house is one of the scariest haunts in Montgomery County.
Now in the hands of the non-profit Elks, each October they transform this historic place into a unique Halloween experience. Each year we overhaul our entire haunted house so visitors experience a new haunting year after year.
Located in the heart of Montgomery County, we would love to give you a tour of our basement. Enter, if you dare!
Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children.
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Hayrides at Prophecy Creek Park | 205 West Skippack Pike | October 19th and 20th | 6pm
Join us for Hayrides at Prophecy Creek Park! Hay wagons take passengers to the upper field for a bonfire, a spooky storyteller, and a witch serving up hot cider out of a cauldron! A fun, festive, family event!
Glow necklaces are provided by the Whitpain Township Police Department on a first come, first served basis.
Chick-fil-A Plymouth Meeting Mall will be selling food and beverage items at entrance!
Stay at the bonfire for as long or as short as you’d like – wagons pick-up passengers every 10-15 minutes.
Last wagon leaves the parking lot at 8:45pm. Last wagon leaves the bonfire at 9pm.
$8 per person 12+
$5 for children 3-11
FREE for children 2 and under
CASH ONLY!
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Merrymead Farm Harvest Days |Merrymead Farm | 222 S. Valley Forge Road, Lansdale | Saturdays from 11am – 5pm and Sundays from 12pm – 5pm
- 5-Acre Day Cornfield Maze
- Weekday Cornstalk Tunnel
- Weekday Hayrides
- Evening Hayrides
- 5-Acre Moonlight Cornfield Maze
- Weekend Harvest Day Activites
For more information about tickets and activities, go to our Events Calendar and select the day you are looking to join us! or Select a link below to print our October calendars!
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Morris Arboretum Scarecrow Walk | Morris Arboretum | 100 E. Northwestern Ave.Philadelphia, PA 19118 | Saturdays through October 31st
Walk through Oak Alee at Morris Arboretum to see more than 30 scarecrows lining the path. This year’s theme is “A Moment in Time”- and you will have a chance to vote for your favorite scarecrow on display.
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Sleep With The Ghosts – A Haunted Fort Mifflin Event | Fort Mifflin and Hog Island Roads, Philadelphia | October 27th 7pm- October 28th
Spend the night if you dare! Actual sleep is optional during our overnight paranormal investigation, where you get to explore the buildings, myths and legends behind the Fort’s permanent residents! Coffee and light refreshments provided for those who survive the night!
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Sleepy Hollow Haunted Acres | Newtown, Pa | 881 Highland Road Newtown PA 18940 | 14 nights in October from 7-10pm ( see dates here)
At Sleepy Hollow Haunted Acres we have three of the best haunted attractions in the Philadelphia area. We are close to New Jersey and located in the center of Bucks County. Ride the SLEEPY HOLLOW HAYRIDE on a mile and a quarter trip through acres of dark woods and fields. Explore the old Malfate Manor also known as THE HOUSE IN THE HOLLOW, quite possibly the most haunted house in Bucks County. Dare to venture into the FIELD OF FRIGHT. Gather with family and friends by the warmth and safety of the BONFIRES with LIVE MUSIC.
REFRESHMENTS are available or you may bring your own but please respect our family friendly policy of NO ALCOHOL.
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SOUL CRAWL Haunted Halloween History Tour at Laurel Hill Cemetery |3822 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia| October 19th and 20th and Mischief Night | 7pm
Laurel Hill Cemetery’s classic Halloween flashlight tours have become a mainstay of the season. Experience the enchanting art and landscape after dark, as an experienced tour guide leads you along winding, dimly-lit pathways. The extended nighttime walking tours will focus on the cemetery’s rich history, and of course, some of the liveliest spirits buried within. Tours will last approximately two hours, and will be followed by seasonal refreshments and cocktails aside blazing fire pits. This year, students from Jefferson University’s industrial design department will illuminate a selection of monuments for visitors to enjoy throughout the tour.
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South Street Fall PumpkinFest | Headhouse Square, Philadelphia | October 27th | 12-5pm
The South Street Headhouse District has plenty of tricks and treats for children and adults of all ages during the neighborhood’s annual Halloween festivities. On Saturday, October 27, 2018, from Noon to 5:00pm, Fall PumpkinFest returns to Headhouse Square (2nd and Lombard) with circus performances, horse and wagon hay rides, live music, crafts for kids, seasonal bites, Pumpkin Putt-Putt golf, a straw bale maze, face painting and costume contests.
New this year, there will be a pumpkin pie eating contest and a jack o’ lantern contest.
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Spooky Films at The Ambler Theater | Ambler |October 18th, 2oth, 28th, 31st
Local Haunts, Casper, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Evil Dead 2
See the spooky movie line-up here.
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Tricks and Treats at Pennsbury Manor | 400 Pennsbury Memorial Road
Morrisville, PA |October 28th | 1-4pm
Join us for our 9th annual FREE daytime trick or treating at Pennsbury Manor. Enjoy an afternoon of festive family-friendly Halloween fun mixed with Pennsylvania history. Children can come dressed in their Halloween costumes for some trick-or-treating, games, and 17th century demonstrations. We are partnering up again with the Teal Pumpkin Project to bring non-food games and trick-or-treating stations for those with food allergies.
The Trial of Margaret Mattson will be held during the event. It is 1684, Margaret Mattson has been accused by her neighbors of witchcraft. William Penn will preside over the trial. Will she be found guilt or innocent? You decide!
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Valley Of Fear | Feasterville, Pa | Phoenix Sport Club 301 W. Bristol Rd | Sept., Oct., Nov.| 6:45-9:30pm
America’s Most Horrifiying Woods! 4 Haunted Attractions,The Original Haunted Hayride, The Facility, Operation Z Escape Adventure, Scary Tales Forest Walk