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.
- 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.
