PENNSYLVANIA - In a state as old and historic as Pennsylvania, Halloween isn't just a holiday—it's a high-stakes season. With its haunted battlefields, centuries-old cities, and deep, dark woods, the Keystone State is a natural backdrop for some of the most frightful and festive experiences in the country.
Whether you're looking for a world-class haunted house that will leave you screaming or a charming, pumpkin-filled festival for the whole family, Pennsylvania has it all. Here’s a guide to the best Halloween activities across the state.
For the Thrill-Seekers: Top Haunted Attractions
These are the legendary haunts that horror fans travel for, designed for one purpose: to terrify you.
- Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia): This is the quintessential Philly Halloween experience. Set inside the crumbling, real-life Gothic fortress of a former prison, Halloween Nights is a massive festival of fright. It features multiple walk-through haunted houses, themed bars, live performances, and the unparalleled creepiness of the prison's cellblocks.
- Halloween House Center City - Rain or shine, this meticulously crafted celebration of all things spooky offers an incredibly convenient escape from unpredictable October weather. With locations easily accessible for both urban dwellers and suburban families, guests can immerse themselves in glowing cauldrons and vampire lairs knowing they won't be chased by aggressive monsters.
- ScareHouse (Pittsburgh): Consistently ranked as one of "America's Scariest Halloween Attractions," ScareHouse in Pittsburgh is a high-tech, high-intensity, and artfully designed haunted house. It's known for its incredible set design, terrifying actors, and a relentless sense of dread.
- Field of Screams (Mountville): Located in Lancaster County, this is one of America's premier "scream parks." Field of Screams offers four high-intensity attractions in one place: the Haunted Hayride, the Den of Darkness, the Frightmare Asylum, and the Nocturnal Wasteland, all packed with jump-scares and incredible special effects.
- Pennhurst Asylum (Spring City): Set on the grounds of a real, notoriously haunted former asylum, Pennhurst is an intense experience that blurs the line between a traditional haunted house and a real-life paranormal hotspot. The sheer scale and grim history of the location make it one of the most frightening attractions in the state.
For the Whole Family: Fall Festivals & Fun
If you prefer pumpkins and hot cider over panic and dread, these festive events are perfect for all ages.
- Hersheypark Dark Nights & Halloween (Hershey): Hersheypark offers the best of both worlds. By day, it's a family-friendly "Hersheypark Halloween" with trick-or-treating for kids, festive decorations, and rollercoasters. At night, the park transforms into "Dark Nights," unleashing haunted houses and scare zones for a teen- and adult-friendly thrill.
- Halloween on the Hill (Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia): This historic neighborhood becomes a Halloween dream all October long. It features the incredible Scarecrow Walk at the Morris Arboretum and the Woodmere Art Museum’s Straw Maze, culminating in a beloved community Pet Parade and Trick-or-Treating on the Hill event for families.
- Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards (Media): A Delaware County institution, Linvilla Orchards is the epicenter of fall. "Pumpkinland" features a massive display of pumpkins, kid-friendly hayrides, a corn maze, and an apple cannon. It's the perfect daytime fall experience.
- Happy Hauntings at Kennywood (Pittsburgh): This beloved amusement park offers a family-focused Halloween event with kid-friendly rides, trick-or-treating, and festive entertainment, all without the intense scares.
- Hallowboo! at Knoebels (Elysburg): America's largest free-admission amusement park gets a Halloween makeover. Hallowboo! offers gentle frights, themed treats, and a chance to ride the park's classic attractions surrounded by festive, spooky decorations.
For the History Buffs: Real Haunts & Ghost Tours
If you believe the scariest things are the real things, these historic tours are for you.
- Ghost Tours of Gettysburg: Walk the streets and battlefields of one of the most haunted places in America. Numerous walking tours guide you by lantern-light through the town, sharing documented stories of paranormal encounters and lingering spirits from the Civil War.
- Ghost Tour of Philadelphia: In a city as old as Philadelphia, every cobblestone street has a story. These walking tours take you through historic neighborhoods like Society Hill and Old City, sharing chilling tales of graveyard spirits, Revolutionary War ghosts, and the city's haunted past.
- Ghost Tours of New Hope: This charming (and famously haunted) Bucks County town is the perfect setting for a spooky stroll. Tours explore the historic inns, ghostly canal paths, and legends of the town's permanent spectral residents.
