The 2019 Guide to the Best Halloween Attractions in Philly!
The 2019 Guide to the Best Halloween Attractions in Philly!
As soon as October 1st hits, it’s all about Halloween season. Philly is the perfect city to indulge in all thinks scary and spooky. The old historical homes and brick streets create an unmatched ambience for haunting night. Whether you’re looking for a ghost walks, cemetery tours or a classic haunted house we have it all. Even if you dare to venture outside of the city, there are lots of haunted attractions near Philly that are only a short drive away. From insane asylums to ghostly cornfields, you can find the perfect Halloween attraction in Philly on this list. So if you are feeling brave scroll down to see our 2019 guide to the best Halloween attractions in Philly!
PHILADELPHIA
2nd Sanctuary
2040 Christian St. | 267-406-6080
2nd Sanctuary is a new multi-sensory, multi-space experience from Brian Sanders and his
acclaimed JUNK troupe. Located in an abandoned 19 th -century Victorian church, 2nd Sanctuary includes
five experiences: Virtual Reality, a live performance, an urban labyrinth, a themed escape room, and a
Zombie Disco. 2nd Sanctuary, available only in Philadelphia, is a new fall sensation beyond the typical
Halloween gore and surprises.
Ghost Ship
Race St. Pier | North Columbus Blvd. at Race Street
Inspired by the nuanced and complex history of the Delaware River in the 1700s, Biangle Studio created the site specific, three-dimensional light and water-based public art installation Ghost Ship. The 18th-century ship appears on the Philadelphia Waterfront as Ghost Ship for the month of October to shine a light on the shared history of the Delaware River, and reflect on its role in shaping Philadelphia today.
Terror Behind the Walls
2027 Fairmount Ave. | 215.236-3300
Terror Behind the Walls is located inside the massive castle-like walls of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA. Now in its 22nd year, Terror Behind the Walls is consistently ranked among the top haunted attractions in the country. This is one of the most popular haunted attractions in the region. Eastern State being is already a creepy tourist destination, add ghost and goblins and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
Haunted Circus Mansion
6452 Greene St. | 215-849-1991
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (6452 Greene Street) presents frights and feats during the debut of Haunted Circus Mansion, running every Saturday through October 27, 2018. Come out and explore the dark and spooky paths inside one of Mt. Airy’s most mysterious and grand 100-year old properties. By day, the former home of St. Madeleine Sophie Church in West Mt. Airy is filled with laughter and joy of circus students learning a new skill. By night, when the sun goes down, the spirits come alive and enchant the dark hallways, cavernous classrooms and long-forgotten secret spaces. Get ready for a night of haunting and enchantment during this one-of-a-kind experience.
Fright Factory
38 Jackson St | [email protected]
Located inside a 25,000-square-foot building located in South Philadelphia, The Fright Factory is haunted house in every sense of the word. You and your friends must make your way through corridors running, crawling, stumbling as ghost and goblins pop out from every direction. Don’t be surprised if members of your party start disappearing into the darkness.
Grim Philly Twilight Tour
6th & Market | (856) 829-3100
Voted Best City Tour each year since inception and the only tour out of over a hundred featured on Anthony Bourdain’s “The Layover” on Travel Chanel- Grim Philly has amassed a cult following with educational but gritty adults only tours on serial killers; vampires, sex, aphrodisiacs, ghost hunting, grave robbing, gangsters, 1920’s speakeasies, pirates, the Jersey Devil, and other darker subjects. Though Grim guides have each their own style and areas of expertise- tours are raw, uncensored and unabridged- and not suitable for children, or those of prudish disposition. Grim Philly has 9 tours in all- including walking, tavern, and boat tours.
Spirit of 76 Ghost Tour
4th & Chestnut | 215.525.1776
One Part History, Two Parts Haunt!™ Visit more than 20 scary sites to hear Philadelphia’s haunted facts and folklore. Experience Philadelphia’s monuments by moonlight. Travel the cobblestone streets of Old City to hear chilling stories about the Spirits of ’76, featuring Haunted Facts – Hear stories about the Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, who used to reside in Philadelphia and learn about Leo Callahan, the only prisoner to escape from Eastern State Penitentiary and never be captured. Haunted Folklore – Learn about the legendary ghosts that inhabit Independence Hall, the spirits of Carpenters’ Hall from a first person encounter, the dancing statue of Benjamin Franklin at Library Hall and paranormal Pine Street happenings. Haunted Movie Sets – See famous film locations from big screen thrillers such as The Sixth Sense, Shooter, National Treasure and more!
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia
5th & Chestnut | 215.413.1997
Discover the secrests hidden in the shadows of America’s most historic and most haunted city! Join the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia for a candlelight stroll along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where mysterious tales of ghostly spirits, haunted houses and eerie graveyards lurk in the night!
Haunted River Cruise
Independence Seaport Museum 211 S. Columbus Blvd | 215.413.8655
Climb aboard with ISM and Patriot Harbor Lines for a cruise where you’re spellbound in Delaware River legends of pirate ghosts, the Jersey Devil and other “Phantoms of the River.” Our very own pirate narrator will dredge up the darkest of tales while we cruise this haunted river. This 1.5 hour cruise includes approximately 1 hour of story telling. Drinks available for purchase during the cruise.
Boo at the Zoo Overnights
Philadelphia Zoo 3400 W. Girard
Boo at the Zoo! Overnighters can beat the crowds and access premium parking with an arrival the night before! Also featured at Boo at the Zoo overnights are spooky crafts and activities, designed to the children about extinct species.
During Boo at the Zoo, guests are encouraged to put on their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat while visiting our creepy, crawly creatures!
Halloween at Franklin Square
200 North 6th St. | 215.629-4026
Enjoy mini-golf and being spooked? Be sure to check out Franklin Square as the Philly mini golf is transformed into spooky fun for the season with fog, lights, music, and surprises.
Laurel Hill Cemetery
3822 Ridge Ave | 215.228.8200
Behold the return of Laurel Hill Cemetery’s annual Halloween flashlight tours of yore. No longer featuring the actors, the program will return to its roots as extended nighttime walking tours of the cemetery, focusing on its rich history, and covering its enchanting art and landscape. Tours will last approximately two hours, and will be followed by complimentary cookies and cider aside blazing fire pits. Bring your own flashlights.
PHILADELPHIA REGION
Pennhurst Asylum
Church St. & Bridge Rd., Spring City, PA 19475 | 855-HAUNT-00
The Pennhurst Haunted attraction includes the Pennhurst Asylum, a hospital themed walk thru attraction featuring many items and artifacts that were part of the original State School. Located on the upper floors of the old Administration building, which dates to 1908, this attraction features a combination of high tech animatronics, digital sound and motivated actors, as well as fine detail and realism. We have added lots of new props, and made many changes for the upcoming season.
Bates Motel
1835 Middletown Rd., Glen Mills, PA | 610-459-0647
For over 20 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 now been rated as the Number 1 Haunted Attraction in America by Haunteworld 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.
HorrorFest At Shady Brook’s Farm
931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA | 215.968.1670
In a dark corner of Eastern Pennsylvania, awaits Bucks County’s most haunted farmland, Shady Brook Farms has spent decades sowing fear, now reap the terror lying in its fields at HorrorFest. HorrorFest features four thrilling attractions: the Hayride or Horror, Barn of Horror. 3-D Alien Encounter, and Carnage Corn Maze. Can you handle the harvest?
Ride to the Witches House at Linvilla Orchards
137 W Knowlton Rd, Media, PA | 610) 876-7116
Linvilla Orchard’s famous Hayride to the Witch’s House is a hayride to visit the friendly Witch in the woods. The witch tells stories and jokes and gives all of the kids a treat. The hayride ends at a campfire where we provide a sample of our apple cider and marshmallows to roast.
This hayride is especially for young children up to age 10 or 11. This is not a Haunted Hayride! Parents are welcome and encouraged to join their children on the ride. Hayrides to the friendly Witch’s House are only $10 per person!
The hayride departs from Pumpkinland and lasts approximately 15-20 minutes. You can get on a ride anytime between the hours listed above. We operate many haywagons at the same time during our peak hours.
Sleep With the Ghosts
Ft. Mifflin 82 Ft. Mifflin Rd. | 215.685.4167
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!
Haunted House in the Hollow
881 Highland Rd. Newtown, PA | 215.860.6855
Malfate Manor built in 1888 near Newtown is considered by some to be the most haunted house in Bucks County. Commonly referred to by neighborhood children as “the house in the hollow” it has long thought to be haunted by the spirits of some of the members of the Malfate family and their staff who met untimely deaths within its walls. After the Malfate’s demise, the mansion was used as a hotel for some time. Later it serves as a funeral parlor and finally an asylum. IN each case unexplained problems caused the enterprises to fail with the house becoming abandoned in the early 1906’s.
Night of Terror
448 Lincoln Mill Rd., Mullica Hill, NJ | 856.223.1669
This spot offers 6 scary attractions in 1 awesome location.
Slaughter Cave-Step into the dark, sinister cave and explore, but beware, this cave is anything but abandoned. The tunnels echo with deafening screams, the walls wet and warm with blood. This cave is home to one of the most twisted families in New Jersey- a family you won’t soon forget.
3D Fun House-This bizarre house is packed with sinister, bloodthirsty clowns, who have lots of tricks up their blood-drenched sleeves.
Zombie Mayem-With more ghouls than ever inhabiting this pitch black haven, you will have to push yourself if you plan to make it out alive. You must use all of your senses to try and escape the evil zombies, who are just waiting to rip you apart limb from limb and devour you.
Ride of Terror-The Ride of Terror haunted hayride navigates through the terrifying 25 acres of mayhem and torture. Creatures of all sorts are waiting to attack at every twist and turn throughout this 25 minute ride of terror.
Cornfield Maze-The trails through the corn field make absolutely no sense and seem to wonder aimlessly branching off in different directions. As you continue to make your way an uneasy feeling starts to overwhelm your senses and the sensation that someone is stalking you.
Frozen Tundra– Can you make it through the narrow passages of this frozen wasteland in the ice heart of the Yeti’s domain. Pass through the foggy unknown and cross the longest vortex tunnel in the land.
The Valley of Fear
301 W. Bristol Rd. Feasterville, PA | 215.942.9787
This haunted attractions has 4 spooky adventures.
Haunted Hayride-Ride through America’s most horrifying woods, called “one of the best we have ever been on” including a graveyard they called “absolutely amazing.” you’ll see why we were recently named Hayride Of The Year, Original Haunted Hayride will top all others!
Scary Tales- Travel back in time were all your childhood failytales come to life in a feindishly freaky way!Scarytales haunted forest trail If you are brave enough, you can finish up your night at ScaryTales.
Zombie Escape Maze-Zombies continue to infiltrate the Valley of Fear in the continuing aftermath of the devastating fire that destroyed the Zombie Research and Control Center. Military and Medical Personnel have been virtually powerless in controlling the outbreak and panic has risen to new heights.
Operation Z- Your mission is to march ON FOOT to remote forest outposts with multiple firing positions to destroy the Zombie hoards. Helping you navigate your way through the wastelands will be soldiers from Unit Z.E.R.O (Zombie Eradication and Removal Organization).
Shocktoberfest
94 Park Ave. Sinking Spring, PA | 610.777.6388
This nationally recognized Halloween attractions features 6 awesome adventures.
Zombie Revenge Hayride- Take a tour with the Zombie Safari Company. It’s the Zombie version of Jurassic Park. Now you can join the security team to insure the safety of the passengers. Be warned, there is an area of the tour where the Zombies are particularly restless and if you choose this option, you’ll be given a gun to protect fellow passengers.
Zombie Night Run-You will be given a flag football belt that represents your Brain, Heart, and Entrails. Run for your life through the hayride trails that are filled with Zombies that will try to eat your vital organs (capture your flags).
The Unknown-Created by Professor Strangeways and his dedicated assistant Malinda Montague, your journey into the Unknown will overwhelm your senses! Themed in Steampunk, you’ll encounter various fears and phobias augmented through the use of advance audio and 3D video technology. This haunted house is like no other in the world! But be warned, it is said the creators will stop at nothing to better understand what scares you!
Prison of the Dead Escape-Take a tour through the now condemned Willow Glen State Penitentiary a.k.a Prison of the Dead. This massive 50,000 square foot mega haunted house is one of the largest in the East Coast! The facility was closed when they discovered the inhumane torture of the prisoners.
The Zombie Experience-You will be transformed into a Zombie, taken to the Prison then stationed throughout the Prison where your instincts will take over infecting Visitors with the living dead virus.
The Monster Midway-More than just a haunted house, Shocktoberfest is a 27 acre Screampark loaded with activities for the whole night. Play games, enjoy some delicious food such as fresh cut French Fries, Funnel Cakes, Burgers, Pizza and Steak Sandwiches. And did we mention we have REAL restrooms!! No porta-potties here. But beware of the Scare Zones as there is no safe place at Shocktoberfest!!!
BONUS The Zombie Mudrun-The Zombie Mud Run is the most amazing, heart pounding, adrenaline producing mud run you’ve ever experienced! The race course is complete with natural and man-made obstacles. To add an extra degree of challenge (and fun), we have added Zombies! You may sign up as a Human or a Zombie. The Humans run the race with a flag football belt. These three flags represent your vital organs. Zombies are stationed along the race course trying to eat your vital organs (capture your flags). If you finish the race with one or more of your flags, you survive. If Zombies capture all of your flags, you are infected with the living dead virus (or at least don’t win the race). Whether you survive or get infected, you are guaranteed to have a great time at the all-day Human Salvation Party!
Field of Screams
191 College Ave. Mountville, PA | 717.285.7748
This highly rated haunted attraction has 6 scary and creepy adventures.
Haunted Hayride-The Haunted Hayride is one of the first, and best, in the World. And every year, the new scares and new scenes constantly improve the terror of the wagon ride deep into the cornfield. The chilling characters and hideous scenes will make your heart pound and your hair stand on end. The sounds of the cold cornfield will surround you and once you board this tractor-pulled wagon, there’s no turning back!
Den of Darkness- The Den of Darkness is one of America’s original Haunted Houses and it just keeps getting more hauntingly horrifying which each passing year.The Den of Darkness is a 3 story building that was built in the early 1800’s and then converted into a farmhouse. The dark and mysterious past of the Den began when the Murter family moved in.
Frightmare Asylum-Home to some of the most criminally insane and disturbed patients, the Frightmare Asylum is one of the most terrifying and frightening haunted houses in the world. The Applegate Mental Asylum was shut down and abandoned in the 1900’s after more than a hundred years of operation, but the deranged doctors, nightmarish nurses, and disturbed inmates have remained to haunt the only place they’ve known. They show no mercy to visitors and enjoy the chance to mutilate new bodies.
Nocturnal Wasteland-The demented masterminds that have brought you the Haunted Hayride, the Den of Darkness, and The Frightmare Asylum have unleashed their fury to create the most intense and extreme attraction of all. Unlike anything that you have ever experienced, your tour through the Nocturnal Wasteland will be one that will leave you gripping on to your friends and gasping for air.
Field of Screams Entertainment Area-At Field of Screams, we offer unique entertainment every night we are open. The entertainment schedule and entertainment area are always full of fun and exciting additional activities, including bands, competitions, games, and prizes. Best of all, this extra entertainment is FREE with the purchase of a ticket to any of our 4 haunted attractions.
The Zombie Run-Experience the thrills of being chased by bloodthirsty zombies under the stars on this 5K course through Field of Screams!!! You will be immersed in professionally illuminated movie-quality scenes while running through mud, crawling over obstacles, jumping through fire, and so much more! This takes The Zombie Fun Run to a whole new level. Will you survive the Zombie Apocalypse?
Scream Mountain
757 Spring Mount Road | 610.287.7900
Haunted Hay Ride
Beware of the Quarrymen who still roam the mountain, waiting to exact revenge on the unknown strangers who destroyed them. IT’S NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE MOUNTAIN AFTER DARK…BEWARE!
NO RESERVATIONS NECESSARY UNLESS YOU HAVE A GROUP OF 20 OR MORE. TICKETS ON SALE AT 6:30 – LIFT STARTS AND FIRST WAGON GO ABOUT 7PM!
The Heart of Darkness Haunted Combo Tour go up the chairlift in the dark and get ready to brave the Haunted Woods Walk! Then follow your guides to cargo net to begin the Canopy Tour in darkness (4 zips, 3 challenges, 1 rappel, 1 cargo net climb). After your heart pumping Canopy Tour you’ll embark on the terrifying Haunted Hay Ride!
Winding Brook Farm
3014 Bristol Road Warrington, PA | 215-343-8880
Corn Walk of Horror
The Corn Walk of Horror is a pre-determined trail through corn and hay. There are hauntings along these paths that may catch you off guard and have you wondering where you can turn to get away from the blood curdling screams and intimidating darkness. Just when you think you are nearing the end, another frightening villain finds you.
Haunted Hay Maze
Try your skill in our Haunted Hay Maze. The evening intensifies this attraction. Who (or what?) is following you? Will you be trapped in the Hay Maze so you can’t find your way out? Oh no! Did you get stuck in another “Dead” end?
Night Chills Haunted Hay Ride
The thrill of Night Chills on a dark autumn evening! We strive to give you an extraordinary haunted hayride. Starting off serene and winding your way into the “Gates of Hell”. Our woods have been transformed to include many of the spectacular creatures that are in your nightmares! You are trapped in the wagon! You cannot escape! Will your driver bring you back safely? Or will you end up being forever stuck in the chills of the night?
