Halloween at California Theme Parks – Fun for Kids and Teens

Okay, parents, hold on to your witches’ hats, because Halloween falls on a Friday this year. That’s right; there’s no school the next day, so our lame old “Time to go home, have to get up early in the morning” line will fall on deaf ears. Or, more precisely, sugared-up ears.

If the drug stores and supermarkets are any indication, celebrating Halloween is at least a month-long event – if not longer. Theme parks are no exception, of course. In fact, many of California’s theme parks start with the scary celebration of Halloween as soon as school starts in September.

California Theme Parks’ Halloween Events and Parties

Disneyland - The price of admission is no longer the scariest thing about Disneyland (though it’s still high on the list). Halloween Time at Disneyland is a gigantic annual event, running this year from September 26 to November 2. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and its star, Jack Skellington, really get to come out from the shadow of all those princesses every Fall. The Haunted Mansion has been transformed into what can only be described as a Halloween extravaganza in the past; we can assume that the same will hold true this year. It’s a little bit scary, with a few critters that pop out unexpected, but getting startled is part of the fun at Disneyland this time of year.

Also, at Disney’s California Adventure Park, there is special trick-or-treating at Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party. There’s the usual rides and attractions, plus games and live music, all with Disney characters wandering around doing their thing. This is a different deal than the Disneyland Theme Park across the street; buy tickets in advance because Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat party is very, very popular.

Universal Studios Hollywood - Leave your young children at home, or stick to the safety of Disneyland. Universal definitely skews older; in fact, my 8-year old flatly refused to go into Universal’s Haunted House, and that was the right decision. Seriously. I was a little bugged out myself! Halloween Horror Nights are sell-out events every year at Universal and this year, the theme park celebrates Halloween Fridays and Saturdays up through November 1. The Nightmare on Elm Street is Universal’s theme for Halloween (since they own the movie rights to that illustrious series), so you know that it’s less about the candy, and more about the scares. There is a “Terror Tram,” mazes, “Scare Zones” and live shows. Expect other Universal Studios characters to make an unexpected appearance or two: Leatherface and Jason – from the Halloween B movies, of course – are really scary guys. It’s a lot of fun for teens.

Knott’s Berry Farm - Every year, Knott’s Berry Farm has a child-friendly Halloween Treasure Hunt, and renames itself Knott’s Scary Farm (get it?) for the duration. Knott’s Berry Farm uses Snoopy as a character – hardly a terrifying personality, unless you’re the Red Baron. The Halloween Treasure Hunt at Camp Spooky is pirate-themed, with amusing pirate talk and searches for pirate treasure. Older kids will have more fun at the Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween “Walk in, freak out” Haunt. This Halloween Haunt is actually the world’s first Halloween amusement part event, believe it or not, and now it’s the largest Halloween event in any theme park.

Legoland California - This is one Halloween event that is really best suited for younger children. My older kids are “over” Legoland, but they sure loved it a couple of years ago. Held annually on October weekends, the family theme park offers a safe trick-or-treating environment during the day, and at night Legoland has Brick-or-Treat Party Nights with rides open late and child-friendly live performers. The Halloween Nighttime Celebration, as its called, has Halloween costume contests; contest winners get a family four-packs of Legoland California Membership Plus passes.

These are family-friendly California theme parks that my kids have enjoyed for years. With Halloween being probably the most child-oriented holiday in our country, I can’t think of a better time to have a family trip to a theme park and have a great time.