Top Halloween Haunts

Haunted houses, hayrides and parties, oh my! It’s almost time for Halloween in one of the most-haunted places regions in the country and its about to get spooky.

Here are a few of our top picks for Halloween frights and fun in the area (in no particular order):

Terror Behind the Walls

Dates: September 21 – November 3
Location: Fairmount, Philadelphia

When it comes to haunted houses, you don’t get much scarier then Terror Behind the Walls at the Eastern State Penitentiary. Rated the top haunted house in the country by AOL, the historic, abandoned (and most likely haunted) prison is the backdrop for a high-tech haunted house with over 200 performers and Hollywood-style special effects. Click here for more.

The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular

Dates: September 29 – October 28
Location: Sesame Place

Sesame Place gets even more fun during The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular. Wander through two not-too-spooky themed mazes, a character hayride, three Halloween shows and pose for a photo with your favorite Sesame Street friends dressed in their Halloween costumes. (weekends, September 24-October 30).

Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tour

Dates: Daily through October
Location: Philadelphia

The 75-minute Spirits of ‘76 Ghost Tour winds walkers down a spine-chilling path of cobblestone streets to visit Historic Philadelphia’s 20 most haunted attractions such as Carpenters’ Hall, Old Pine Street Church and Cemetery and the Benjamin Rush House. Actor Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster on “The Munster” will be greeting guests on October 9 and October 23. Reservations are recommended.

Halloween at Franklin Square

Dates: Through October
Location: Philadelphia

The perfectly picturesque Franklin Square gets a creepy overhaul when the 18-hole golf course transforms into Spooky Mini Golf with eerie lights, music and surprises at dusk (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October). Families can pick and paint their own pumpkins (October 22-23), celebrate during the inaugural PumpkinFest (October 29) or show off their costumes on the Trick-Or-Treat Trail (October 29-30).

Fright Factory

Dates: Weekends in October
Location: Philadelphia

Three terrifying attractions (iChem Industrials, The Asylum, and Undercroft Cementary) await you as you stumble, run or crawl through this house of horrors. With every turn of the corner, be sure to keep a lookout for your friends… because they may vanish in the darkness.

Halloween at Laurel Hill Cemetery

Dates: The month of October
Location: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia

October marks a month of spooky events at historic Laurel Hill Cemetery. During the Halloween Flashlight Tours (October 26-27, 30), visitors will wind through a maze of gravestones and sculptures scattered throughout the elaborate Victorian-era cemetery and meet some restless spirits along the way.

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia

Dates: Ongoing
Location: Philadelphia

When night falls, the secrets of America’s most historic and most supernatural city are revealed in the shadows on The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, a candlelight walk through Independence National Historical Park and Society Hill. Reservations required.

Bates Motel

Dates: September 28-30, October 5-7 & October 12 – November 4
Location: Glen Mills, Pa.

The Bates Motel at Arasapha Farm in Glen Mills is said to be one of America’s scariest haunts according to the Travel Channel. Once you’ve had the daylights scared out of you in the namesake-haunted house, venture out on a heart-pounding hayride and a zombie-filled corn maze.

Valley Of Fear

Dates: September 28-29, October 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-31 & November 2-3
Location: Feasterville, Pa.

Ghouls and goblins stalk visitors on the grounds of this Bucks County thrill-fest. Ride deep into the woods on the Original Haunted Hayride, wander around the dark maze of the Valley of Fear or head into two haunted houses.

HorrorFest

Dates: Weekends in October
Location: Yardley, Pa.

The restless souls said to haunt Shady Brook Farm are ready to scare guests during HorrorFest. Four frightening attractions make up this Halloween destination; the Barn of Horror, Hayride of Horror, Deadtime Stories and Alien Invasion (in 3D!).

Pennhurst Asylum

Dates:Fridays through Sundays September 21 – October 14, Thursdays through Sundays October 18-28, November 2-4
Location:Spring City, PA

The reportedly haunted Pennhurst Asylum opened its doors for the first time last year as a haunted attraction. This year, the tour areas include: “The Pennhurst Haunted Attraction,” a hospital themed attraction; the “Dungeon of Lost Souls,” a new labyrinth of old cells and halls; “The Tunnel Terror,” a tour underneath the grounds; and “Ghost Hunt,” a self-guided, flashlight tour through what is believed to be the most active building at Pennhurst.