{"id":256,"date":"2008-10-02T12:59:25","date_gmt":"2008-10-02T17:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/10\/top-us-haunted-houses-halloween-events\/"},"modified":"2017-03-28T18:31:34","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T23:31:34","slug":"top-us-haunted-houses-halloween-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/10\/top-us-haunted-houses-halloween-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Top U.S. haunted houses, Halloween events"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Halloweentravel\"<\/a>
\nNo longer just for the little monsters, Halloween has evolved into an event for everyone — and a great excuse to hit the road for a fun and\/or frightening adventure. Here’s a look at some of the top Halloween events from coast to coast.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Key West Fantasy Fest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once a slow period for Key West hotels<\/a><\/strong> and other businesses, October is sizzling in the southernmost U.S. city thanks to Fantasy Fest<\/a><\/strong>,
\nwhich runs October 17 to 26. Loosely linked to Halloween, it’s a series
\nof over-the-top parades, performances and parties, including the Wild
\nand Kinky Luau, the Pet Masquerade and Parade, the Pirate Wenches in
\nParadise contest, Sloppy Joe’s 25th annual Toga Party, the Pimp and Ho
\nParty and, well, you get the idea.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Universal Orlando — Halloween Horror Nights<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for some serious Florida frights, check out Halloween Horror Nights<\/a><\/strong> at Universal Orlando<\/a><\/strong>, which continues through November 1. Described by
\none critic as “the country’s best Halloween event,” it includes haunted
\nhouses, live shows and “scare zones” featuring an assortment of
\nmonsters and maniacs wandering darkened studio streets as Bloody Mary
\nbrings frightening urban legends to life.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Universal Hollywood — Halloween Horror Nights<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the other coast, our friend Freddy Krueger is loose on the backlot
\nat Universal Studios Hollywood. Halloween Horror Nights<\/a><\/strong> frights include
\na Backlot Terror Tram, a Nightmare on Elm Street maze, new scare zones,
\nand another maze featuring killers from the new film “The Strangers.”
\nIt continues through November 1.<\/p>\n

\u2022 West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval<\/strong><\/p>\n

For a different kind of Halloween adventure, head to West Hollywood for Carnaval 2008<\/a><\/strong>.
\nThe city hosts a series of events — including a Drag Race and Beauty
\nPageant and Doggy Costume Conest on October 26 — that culminate on
\nOctober 31 with a giant costume party along Santa Monica Boulevard from
\n6 to 11 p.m. Some 300,000 revelers are expected at the party, which
\ndescribes itself as the world’s largest adult, outdoor Halloween event.
\nTip: Don’t take the kids to this one.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Village Halloween Parade<\/strong><\/p>\n

New York City’s Village Halloween Parade<\/a><\/strong> touts itself as the country’s
\nlargest, “most wildly creative” participatory event. Indeed, millions
\nare expected to join 50 bands, hundreds of puppets, some 60,000
\nelaborately costumed marchers and muchmore at the parade, which runs
\nalong 6th Avenue from Spring Street to 21st Street starting at 7 p.m.
\non October 31.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Terror Behind the Walls<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most inherently creepy events may be Terror Behind the Walls<\/a><\/strong>, now in its 18th year at the abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary<\/strong> in Philadelphia<\/a><\/strong>.
\n“Terror,” which runs through November 2, features 140 actors,
\nanimatronic props, digital sound effects and Hollywood-caliber costumes
\nand makeup. But the star is the aging, 11-acre gothic prison, a
\nNational Historic Landmark that is said to be haunted. Reservations are
\nrecommended.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bates Motel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twenty miles west of Philadelphia, you can check into the “Psycho”-inspired Bates Motel Haunted House<\/a><\/strong>, promising what it calls the “most incredible display of terror and mayhem” this side of Hollywood (not recommended for kids under 8 or people with heart conditions). If you can handle it, the frights continue with the Haunted Hayride, a 25-minute ride through a haunted forest at Arasapha Farm.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Salem, Massachusetts — Haunted Happenings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Salem, Massachusetts, near Boston could make a good case for being one of the world’s Halloween capitals. And throughout October it offers up Haunted Happenings<\/a><\/strong>, a series of alternately disturbing and historic events highlighting its enduring association with witchcraft. Among the highlights is “Spiritways: A Night in Besieged Salem Village,” described as a terrifying, full-immersion visit to the Salem of the infamous “afflicted girls” (not recommended for young children). At “Cry Innocent: the People vs. Bridget Bishop,” audience members are on a 1692 jury as Bridget Bishop is brought up on witchcraft charges. Visitors also can check out the popular Salem Witch Museum<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2022 San Francisco Halloween Festival<\/strong><\/p>\n

San Francisco’s hosting what it calls an all-inclusive, all-ages festival<\/a><\/strong> in the parking lot of AT&T Ballpark from 4 p.m. to midnight. It will include a haunted house, a food pavilion, classic horror movies, music, performance art and more. The festival says the streets surrounding Lot A will be transformed into a “safe and fun Halloween wonderland” featuring ghosts, zombies, black cats, drag queens and a whole lot more.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Krewe of Boo, New Orleans<\/strong><\/p>\n

The obvious go-to destination during Mardi Gras season, New Orleans’
\nis making a move to become a Halloween hot spot with its inaugural Krewe of Boo<\/a><\/strong>
\nParade on October 31. The Uptown event — featuring 22 floats and
\nhundreds of costumed characters along St. Charles Avenue and Canal
\nStreet — promises a family-friendly parade mixing Halloween-style fun
\nwith New Orleans tradition. Following the parade is the Halloween
\nCostume Expose, which is expected to attract several thousand
\npartygoers.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n