Eastern State Penitentiary’s Halloween Nights Returns With 5 Haunted Houses, Tours, Themed Bars & More
Labor Day Weekend is the unofficial end of summer which means, fall is here and with fall comes haunted houses. Yes, spooky season is neigh and one of Philly’s most popular haunted attractions is making their return this month.
On Friday September 22nd, Eastern State Penitentiary’s Halloween Nights makes its return. If you haven’t been or just need a refresher, Halloween Nights consists of five unique haunted houses within Eastern State. In addition guests will also get to experience tours, themed bars and lounges, camp fires with s’mores, live performances, and much more.
General admission is $39 for single tickets and $35 for group tickets. Tickets are sold by half-hour entry times. When purchasing online, be sure to select your preferred date and time. Additional entry times may be added on some nights based on demand.
The schedule for Halloween Nights will be September 22nd, 23rd, September 29th, 30th, then after October 5th it will be open every day except Tuesdays up until Halloween week where it will be open the 29th-31st. The official last day will be November 11th.
Here’s what to expect from each attraction:
Haunted Houses
Big Top Terror: Step out of the center ring and head backstage through the carnival grounds where menacing performers will do anything it takes to carve out their moment in the spotlight. You’d better hope fortune is on your side tonight…
What to Expect: Walk a winding, one-way path through the indoor and outdoor backstage areas of a twisted carnival. Get ready for show-stopping imagery, jump scares, and special effects like fog machines, strobe lights, and loud noises.
Machine Shop: Hidden away from the world is a long-forgotten machine shop. Evil pervades this space – an evil with one mind but with many bodies. Will you survive or will you become just another cog in the machine?
What to Expect: Walk a one-way path through this high-startle, high-intensity haunted house. Encounter menacing shop workers, eager for you to join their crew. Jump scares, intense imagery, and effects like strobe lights, fog machines, and loud noises.
Nightmares: As sleep paralysis sets in, there’s no escaping the terrors that lurk in the shadows. Mr. Sandman conjures up a menagerie of frightening personalities all dead set on trapping you in your worst nightmares… forever.
What to Expect: Walk a winding, one-way path through your worst nightmare. Encounter menacing creatures in the most diabolical dream-like scenes. Contains unsettling imagery, jump scares, and special effects like fog machines, strobe lights & loud noises.
The Crypt: Wade through the mist and into the lair of an ancient vampire clan. The creatures that live within require a sacrifice. Watch your step or the queen and her bloodthirsty minions might mark you as their next offering.
What to Expect: Walk a one-way path through this high-startle, high-intensity haunted house. Watch out for the ancient, hungry vampires who roam these halls. Jump scares, intense imagery, and effects like strobe lights, fog machines, and loud noises.
Delirium: 3D Haunted House. Take a mind-altering trip through a murky neon jungle where nothing is quite as it seems. Menacing camouflaged creatures emerge from their hiding places as the world you thought you knew shrinks away.
What to Expect: Walk a one-way path through this high-startle, high-intensity haunted house. Watch out for the ancient, hungry vampires who roam these halls. Jump scares, intense imagery, and effects like strobe lights, fog machines, and loud noises.
Bars/Lounges
Bizarre Bar: Carnival-Themed Bar. Fresh off their final performance, join the carnival crew for a round of drinks and some lively merriment. Acrobats, magicians, and balloon artists… you never know what you’ll find in the shadow of the carnival tent.
What to Expect: Grab some carnival-themed treats and light fare plus beer and themed cocktails/mocktails at this outdoor bar as you enjoy the spectacle of live circus performances. Open to all ages. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol.
The Bloodline Lounge: Vampire-Themed Cocktail Lounge. Come on in… these vampires won’t bite… but they will sing, dance, and showcase their many talents, all while you enjoy a delectable cocktail or mocktail and their delightful company.
What to Expect: Settle in at this indoor / outdoor bar and lounge and enjoy a variety of live performances throughout the evening. Cocktails and mocktails available for purchase. Open to all ages. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol.
Pumpkin Plaza: Halloween-Themed Bar & Dance Performance. The party starts here! Enjoy electric live dance performances by The Boogie Monsters and show off some moves of your own. Pumpkin Plaza is also the perfect selfie spot, featuring hay bales, skeletons and pumpkins.
What to Expect: Grab a cocktail, mocktail, beer, or some sweet treats and dance along to the music in this outdoor courtyard. Live choreographed dance performances take place every 30 minutes.
The Fair Chance Beer Garden: Beer Garden & Museum Programming. Soak in the night air. Enjoy a Triple Bottom beer and Down North Pizza. Learn about Eastern State’s history and the impact of prisons today. One complimentary drink or treat included for VIP Admission ticket holders.
What to Expect: Located outdoors on the historic baseball field. Relax at a picnic table & enjoy food and drinks. Then, explore the Highlights Audio Tour & exhibits The Big Graph and Prisons Today. Open to all ages. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol.
Other Attractions
S’mores and Love: Campfire Ghost Stories. After a long day nothing beats gathering around the fire. Roast some s’mores and listen close. Flickering projections light up the night with terrifying tales, and our cadre of camp counselors share some ghost stories of their own.
What to Expect: Step into an outdoor courtyard and grab a seat near a fire pit. Chilling tales are projected onto the penitentiary’s stone walls. Throughout the evening, live performers share classic ghost stories. S’mores kits available for purchase.
Hospital Flashlight Tours: 20-Minute Guide-Led Flashlight Walking Tour. $12. At the door only. Learn more about Eastern State’s medical history. Visit the Operating Room & other fascinating spaces.
What to Expect: Turn on your souvenir flashlight and follow an Eastern State educator into the dark. They’ll guide you on a one-way walk down the Hospital Block and lead a tour about Eastern State’s medical history, making connections to prisons today.
Kaleidoscope Hall: Immersive Walkthrough. Journey into a realm of shifting shapes and dazzling light. Watch this rainbow world unfold before your eyes as vivid hues illuminate picturesque crumbling walls and vaulted ceilings.
What to Expect: Walk through Eastern State’s most picturesque cellblock as projections light up the walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling, highlighting the impressive architecture with vibrant colors.
