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Tag: Haunted House

  • What To Know About Selling a Haunted House

    Selling a property with a paranormal reputation or dark history requires careful navigation of legal requirements, market realities, and buyer psychology. Properties classified as “stigmatized” (those psychologically impacted by events like alleged hauntings, deaths, or criminal activity) present unique challenges that differ fundamentally from standard real estate transactions. This guide provides actionable strategies for sellers facing disclosure dilemmas, pricing questions, and marketing concerns.

    Understanding stigmatized properties such as haunted houses

    The National Association of Realtors defines a stigmatized property as one that has been “psychologically impacted by an event which occurred, or was suspected to have occurred, on the property, such event being one that has no physical impact of any kind.” These properties remain structurally sound but carry reputational burdens that can affect marketability and value.

    Common stigmatizing factors include:

    • Alleged paranormal activity or hauntings
    • Deaths on the property (murder, suicide, natural causes)
    • Previous criminal activity (drug operations, gang violence)
    • Association with notorious individuals or events
    • Proximity to environmental hazards or undesirable locations

    Are haunted houses hard to sell?

    The difficulty of selling a haunted or stigmatized property depends on multiple factors, including the stigma’s notoriety, local market conditions, and pricing strategy. Research indicates that stigmatized properties sell for 3% less and spend more time on the market than other homes. However, the impact varies considerably based on the type and publicity of the stigma.

    Yet demand can remain strong under certain conditions. A 2023 Zillow survey found that more than two-thirds of prospective buyers (67%) say they could be convinced to buy a haunted house if it had appealing features, were in the right location, were more affordable or for another reason. This suggests that in competitive markets or with significant price adjustments, stigmatized properties can still attract serious buyers.

    Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics found that stigmatized properties sell for an average of 3% below market value and take 45% longer to sell. These statistics provide a realistic baseline for seller expectations.

    Disclosing a ‘haunting’: State rules and legal gray areas

    Disclosure requirements for haunted or stigmatized properties vary significantly by jurisdiction, creating a complex legal landscape for sellers. The principle of “caveat emptor” (buyer beware) still prevails in most states, but exceptions exist that can expose sellers to legal liability if they fail to disclose appropriately.

    Which states require haunted house disclosure?

    Only four states (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Minnesota) specifically address paranormal activity in their real estate disclosure laws. 

    In New Jersey, a seller must truthfully tell a buyer that their property is haunted if asked. Massachusetts and Minnesota include paranormal or supernatural activity as “psychologically affected” attributes that generally do not require disclosure unless directly questioned.

    Death disclosure requirements differ from haunting disclosure:

    • California requires sellers to disclose deaths on the property within three years
    • Alaska requires disclosure of deaths within one year
    • South Dakota requires disclosure of homicides on the property
    • Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and South Carolina require sellers to disclose deaths only if asked

    Most other states follow a buyer-beware approach with no mandatory disclosure requirements for deaths beyond recent timeframes or hauntings. However, public stigma(when the stigma is known to a wide selection of the population and any reasonable person can be expected to know of it)must always be disclosed in almost all American jurisdictions.

    Err on the side of disclosure

    Despite limited legal requirements in most jurisdictions, transparent disclosure serves multiple strategic purposes. 

    • First, it protects sellers from future lawsuits alleging fraudulent misrepresentation or material fact concealment. 
    • Second, it builds trust with serious buyers who appreciate honesty. 
    • Third, it helps identify the right buyer, someone who either doesn’t mind the stigma or actively seeks it.

    Many real estate agents recommend disclosure when a haunting is “open and notorious,” meaning multiple sightings have occurred and neighbors are aware. Documentation strategies include:

    • Maintaining written records of all known history and events
    • Including disclosure language in purchase agreements
    • Providing buyers with brochures detailing relevant information
    • Responding truthfully to all direct buyer questions, even in non-disclosure states
    • Consulting legal counsel before withholding any potentially material information

    Build the right team: Agent and attorney

    Successfully selling a stigmatized property requires professional expertise. Engage a listing agent experienced with unusual properties who can remain calm under media scrutiny and buyer skepticism. Your agent should understand local disclosure laws, have established media management protocols, and possess negotiation skills for handling lowball offers.

    Equally important is retaining real estate legal counsel to:

    • Review state-specific disclosure obligations
    • Draft protective contract language
    • Advise on liability mitigation strategies
    • Handle potential buyer disputes
    • Ensure compliance with local regulations

    How do realtors sell haunted houses?

    Experienced agents employ specific tactics for stigmatized properties:

    Audience targeting: 

    • Identify niche buyers, including paranormal enthusiasts, investors seeking discounted properties, buyers who value location over history, and individuals unfazed by superstition. 
    • Some buyers actively seek haunted properties for tourism potential or personal interest.

    Messaging strategy: 

    • Frame the property’s unique appeal without sensationalism. 
    • Emphasize structural soundness, location benefits, and price value while acknowledging the stigma matter-of-factly. 
    • Avoid language that could be interpreted as either concealment or exploitation.

    Media management: 

    • Prepare responses for potential media interest, especially with high-profile stigmas.
    • Control the narrative by providing factual information while maintaining client privacy.
    • Restrict photography of sensitive areas if appropriate.

    Negotiation posture: 

    • Anticipate below-market offers and prepare counter-strategies. 
    • Document comparable sales of both stigmatized and standard properties. 
    • Be ready to justify pricing with appraisal data and market analysis.

    Due diligence support: 

    • Facilitate buyer research by providing property history documentation, police reports (if applicable), and neighborhood context. 
    • Transparency accelerates qualified buyer decision-making.

    Pricing, positioning, and target buyer strategy

    Pricing stigmatized properties requires balancing market reality with seller expectations. Begin with a professional appraisal that accounts for the stigma’s impact. Research comparable sales of both stigmatized and standard properties in your area. Consider these positioning strategies:

    • Price 5-15% below comparable properties initially to attract attention
    • Avoid overpricing, which extends time on market and compounds stigma
    • Emphasize offsetting features like location, renovations, or unique architecture
    • Target investors who view stigma as a negotiable discount rather than a deal-breaker
    • Market to niche audiences through paranormal interest groups and specialty listings

    Avoiding lowball offers: 

    • Set a realistic price floor based on appraisal data. 
    • Prepare documentation showing value beyond the stigma. 
    • Consider multiple smaller price reductions rather than one dramatic drop, which signals desperation. 
    • Reject insultingly low offers firmly to establish boundaries.

    Should you list around Halloween? Pros and cons

    Halloween timing presents both opportunities and risks for haunted property listings.

    Pros:

    • Increased media attention and public interest in paranormal topics
    • Potential viral marketing through seasonal news coverage
    • Alignment with niche buyer search patterns
    • Opportunity to frame property as unique rather than problematic
    • Potential for attracting paranormal enthusiasts actively house-hunting during this season

    Cons:

    • Risk of sensationalism that damages long-term marketability
    • Attracting unqualified “curiosity seeker” traffic rather than serious buyers
    • Possibility of offensive media coverage that compounds stigma
    • Potential neighborhood pushback against publicity
    • May signal desperation or gimmickry to serious investors

    Most experienced agents recommend timing listings based on local market conditions rather than seasonal gimmicks. If listing in autumn, downplay Halloween connections while capitalizing on general market activity.

    Step-by-step: How to sell a haunted house without fear

    Step 1: Legal consultation 

    • Consult a real estate attorney to understand your state’s disclosure obligations. 
    • Review the property’s history and document all known events. 
    • Determine disclosure strategy before listing.

    Step 2: Professional property assessment 

    • Order an appraisal that accounts for stigma impact. 
    • Conduct necessary repairs to ensure physical condition exceeds expectations. 
    • Consider pre-listing inspection to identify and address any physical issues.

    Step 3: Agent selection 

    • Interview agents with experience in challenging properties. 
    • Verify their comfort level with media attention and unconventional marketing. 
    • Confirm their understanding of local disclosure laws.

    Step 4: Disclosure documentation 

    • Prepare written disclosure statements covering all known history. 
    • Include documentation in purchase agreements. 
    • Create an FAQ sheet for prospective buyers addressing common concerns.

    Step 5: Strategic pricing 

    • Set price based on appraisal, comparable sales data, and realistic stigma discount. 
    • Build in room for negotiating without overpricing. 
    • Prepare justification for pricing decisions.

    Step 6: Targeted marketing 

    • List the property with an honest, non-sensational description. 
    • Consider niche platforms for unique properties. 
    • Leverage social media and paranormal interest communities appropriately. 
    • Manage media inquiries with prepared statements.

    Step 7: Buyer qualification 

    • Screen buyers for genuine interest versus curiosity. 
    • Provide comprehensive property history to serious prospects. 
    • Facilitate buyer due diligence with documentation and neighbor introductions.

    Step 8: Negotiation and closing 

    • Respond to offers with documented value justification. 
    • Maintain firm boundaries on unacceptable lowball offers. 
    • Ensure all disclosure documentation is included in closing paperwork. 
    • Work with a title company familiar with stigmatized property considerations.

    How to tell if a house is ‘haunted’ before selling

    • Review ownership history for any documented incidents
    • Survey neighbors about property reputation in the community
    • Search online for address mentions in news articles or paranormal databases
    • Check property against sex offender registries and crime maps
    • Document any personal experiences or tenant reports
    • Consult previous owners about their experiences if possible
    • Review police reports for the address through Freedom of Information requests

    Managing perceptions: 

    • Sellers discovering a previously unknown stigma should immediately consult legal counsel about disclosure obligations. 

    Resources and listings for haunted/unique properties

    Several niche platforms and strategies help connect stigmatized properties with appropriate buyers:

    Target specialized marketing channels:

    • DiedInHouse.com provides death history reports and connects sellers with interested buyers
    • Haunted house listings on specialty real estate blogs
    • Paranormal interest group forums and social media communities
    • Historic property registries that may list notable homes
    • Local ghost tour companies that maintain lists of reputed haunted locations

    Marketing to enthusiasts:

    • Paranormal investigation societies seeking research locations
    • Bed-and-breakfast operators interested in unique draws
    • History buffs attracted to properties with compelling stories
    • Investors specializing in distressed or unusual properties
    • Film and television location scouts seeking atmospheric settings

    Industry resources:

    • State-specific disclosure requirement databases
    • Real estate attorneys specializing in disclosure issues
    • Appraisers experienced with stigmatized property valuation
    • Professional organizations for unique property specialists

    Selling a haunted or stigmatized property requires strategic planning, legal compliance, and realistic expectations. While these properties present measurable challenges, including longer marketing periods and reduced valuations, they remain viable with appropriate disclosure, pricing, and professional representation. Sellers who work with experienced agents, consult legal counsel, maintain transparency with buyers, and price properties realistically can successfully complete transactions while minimizing legal risk.

    The key is viewing stigma not as an insurmountable obstacle but as one factor among many in property valuation, one that affects some buyers significantly while mattering little to others. By identifying and targeting the right buyer segment while providing comprehensive documentation and honest disclosure, sellers can achieve satisfactory outcomes even with challenging property histories.

    FAQs on selling a haunted house

    Are haunted houses hard to sell?

    Haunted and stigmatized houses present measurable challenges but remain sellable with appropriate strategies. Research shows these properties sell for approximately 3% less than comparable homes and spend more time on the market. However, a 2023 study found that 52 percent of people surveyed said they’d be up for buying a supposedly haunted house, demonstrating significant buyer willingness when price and features align.

    Success factors include: transparent disclosure, building buyer trust, realistic pricing reflecting stigma impact, experienced agent representation, strong physical property condition, desirable location offsetting reputation concerns, and targeted marketing to appropriate buyer segments. Properties with minor or local stigmas sell more easily than those with national notoriety.

    What is the most common reason a property fails to sell?

    While overpricing remains the primary reason any property fails to sell, stigmatized properties face additional challenges. For haunted houses specifically, common failure factors include:

    Pricing issues: Refusing to acknowledge stigma impact on value, pricing at comparable non-stigmatized property levels, or making insufficient adjustments despite extended time on market.

    Disclosure problems: Withholding known stigma information that buyers later discover, creating trust issues that derail transactions. Alternatively, over-emphasizing stigma in marketing can unnecessarily amplify concerns.

    Presentation failures: Allowing physical property conditions to deteriorate, which compounds psychological stigma concerns. Buyers need confidence that physical aspects exceed standards to compensate for psychological factors.

    Poor marketing strategy: Targeting the general buyer population instead of identifying niche buyers likely to value the property. Ineffective agents unfamiliar with stigmatized property sales may lack appropriate negotiation and positioning skills.

    Unrealistic seller expectations: Refusing to accept market realities regarding stigma impact, declining all offers without counter-proposals, or demanding pricing that data doesn’t support.

    How do realtors sell haunted houses?

    Professional realtors employ specialized tactics for stigmatized properties. Experienced agents develop comprehensive marketing strategies that acknowledge the property’s history while emphasizing its positive attributes. They identify and target specific buyer segments most likely to proceed despite, or because of, the stigma.

    Key tactics include thorough upfront disclosure to avoid later transaction failures, strategic pricing based on stigma-adjusted valuations, extensive buyer qualification to focus on serious prospects, media management protocols for high-profile properties, and negotiation approaches addressing stigma-based price concerns. Successful agents maintain extensive networks, including paranormal enthusiasts, investors seeking discounted properties, and buyers prioritizing location over history.

    They also provide comprehensive documentation supporting buyer due diligence, facilitate neighbor conversations to verify or contextualize property history, and work closely with legal counsel to ensure disclosure compliance. The most effective agents reframe stigmatized properties as unique opportunities rather than problem listings, matching properties with buyers who specifically value their distinctive characteristics.

    Rebecca Green

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  • This Upper Marlboro home might be the most haunted one in Maryland (if you believe in ghosts) – WTOP News

    It’s a property that dates back hundreds of years, and in that time, it’s seen its fair share of untimely deaths. But does that mean Maryland’s Linville Manor is the most haunted house there is?

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    Inside Maryland’s most haunted manor, according to paranormal investigators

    It’s a property that dates back hundreds of years, and in that time, it’s seen its fair share of untimely deaths. But does that mean Linville Manor in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is the most haunted house there is?

    The original home was built in the early 1700s, though a massive fire in 1849 destroyed the original structure. Up until the 1950s, it was owned by the Bowie family (you may have heard about the city north of Upper Marlboro named after them), who rebuilt the home in the same spot, building on the same foundation and same brick-walled basement where the original home stood.

    In 2018, the home was bought out of foreclosure auction by a man named Winn Brewer.

    Although the structure needed a substantial amount of work, he saw the building’s potential and went all in on trying to fix it up.

    “All I knew was, it was a great real estate deal,” Brewer said. “Let’s see if we can make it an event space, maybe a wedding venue. And very quickly, the ghost kind of decided, ‘not quite so much.’”

    Brewer admits to always being interested in history and at least amused by ghost stories growing up. Then, guests renting the house out through short-term rental apps and people who bill themselves as ghost hunters and paranormal experts started visiting and having their own experiences.

    “So in every single room of this house, there is activity,” Brewer said, as he began a guided tour of the home. “Everything you see in a ghost show happens here. Mists, orbs, unexplained lights, responses, knocks, voices in distant rooms, footsteps, moving furniture.”

    In all, Brewer and his friends said they think there’s at least 10 ghosts, including a cat, that haunt the property. He said what really stirred things up was rehab work he did in the basement to replace the boiler system.

    “Many paranormal folks, researchers, will tell you that if you disturb the foundation of the home, there’s a good chance you might have paranormal activity to follow,” he said.

    While the basement saw substantial renovations when new owners bought the home in the ’50s, Brewer said the bricks that make up the walls date back to 1717, and some of them are still charred by the fatal fire that was sparked in 1849.

    “I had this renovation done, we removed the radiator, and at that point, a whole different vibe came over the house,” Brewer said.

    “We started hearing footsteps up and down from the basement over and over again. There is an uncomfortable feeling across the house, almost like a very heavy vibe. And even guests that were staying would report this feeling … one group even left a recorder down here, and they heard just very aggressive breathing.”

    Maryland’s most haunted

    That’s when Brewer called a man named Rob Gutro, a medium who investigates paranormal activity. The two have also teamed up to write a book about the home. 

    “What we found was quite a number of — quite a number of ghosts that inhabit the property,” Gutro said. “I ran into a woman that was apparently one of the burn victims from the 1849 fire in the backyard. That’s before we even got in the door.”

    Inside, he said, there were five more ghosts in the front hallway as soon as he walked in.

    All in all, some of the ghosts are believed to be victims of the fire. Another is a 3-year-old girl named Lily, and who — if you believe in ghosts — was perhaps photographed at least once by one of Brewer’s friends.

    In the ballroom, which was added to the home in the ’50s, Brewer said someone, or something, keeps moving a chair into a specific spot facing out to the backyard.

    “Airbnb guests would say, ‘Hey, I thought that, you didn’t come into this space when we rent it,’” Brewer said. “I’d say ‘I wasn’t down there.’ I would think that maybe a kid or someone had moved it. But it happened time and time again.”

    He later found out a former resident of the home liked to sit in front of the window to watch trains go by when he got sick. In one of the upstairs bedrooms, a room that historically was where women gave birth, Brewer said no matter how neatly made the bed is, one side always looks like someone had laid in it.

    It started during the pandemic, and Brewer said he later found out another former owner of the home died in that room, too.

    “People will now report … if they slept on this side of the bed, they would hear someone get into the bed beside them at night,” he said, pointing to the other side of the bed. “If they sleep over there, it feels like somebody sits on them in the middle of the night.”

    When morning comes, Brewer said people report feeling someone caressing their arms or their cheeks, likening it to a mother’s touch.

    “The midwives of this house were extremely good at what they did, and other notable families in the area would actually bring the pregnant mothers here to have their births because the midwives were so well-known,” Brewer said. “So we don’t know if we have the ghost of a midwife. We don’t know if we have the ghost of this expectant mother trying to induce the labor, but people will see a woman in white pacing.”

    There’s also been the sound of people slamming doors, walking down steps or standing in front of people laying in bed — especially if it’s a woman sleeping there. But both Brewer and Gutro have come to believe when that happens, it’s not because a ghost is trying to scare anyone.

    “We’ve described to guests, like, ‘Hey, if you’re experiencing anything intense like this, it might just be because a ghost is kind of fond of you, like you’re bringing back some kind of happy memory,’” Brewer said.

    “We’ve, in fact, since had guests that, once they acknowledge something’s going on, they’ll have a conversation with the ghost, and the room just sort of settles, and he almost becomes like a helper to them in some way.”

    “In some rooms where there were traumatic things that happened, or there were emotional things that happened, people who tend to be sensitive and emotionally sensitive tend to have more of a sense of what happened in a particular room,” Gutro said.

    Lifting the spirits

    While touring the house on Wednesday, Brewer walked the upstairs rooms with an EMF detector, a device used to measure unseen electromagnetic fields in the rooms. If none of the lights were blinking, or only one or two green lights were blinking, it was no big deal.

    There were a few instances where the lights would blink into the yellow, orange and red lines, though, even as the reader laid on a bed six feet away from anyone. In the world of the paranormal, it’s supposed to indicate the presence of a ghost, even if you can’t see it.

    The activity inside the home really kicks up in the middle of the night — 1:11 a.m. to be exact.

    “The ghosts have told ghost hunters, paranormal investigators, that they actually congregate in the lounge around 1:11 to not only remember their past lives, but to talk about the people who are in the house that day,” Brewer said.

    Ultimately, the experience wasn’t as spooky as when a reporter from The Washington Post visited a few years back, though it was also a briefer experience.

    “There have been countless people who have stayed there, and many of them have had their own interactions,” Gutro said. “So you don’t have to be sensitive, you don’t have to be a medium or a paranormal investigator. You just have to stay there, and you may meet one of the earthbound ghosts that linger there.”

    Brewer stays in an apartment he had built on the side of the home. He said he’s communicated to the ghosts that it’s a “no ghost zone” on the property, and that they aren’t welcomed there.

    The spirits seem to abide by his rule, according to Brewer. But if they’re there, they’re at least cooperative, he said.

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    John Domen

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  • A look inside The Octagon, one of Washington D.C.’s oldest – and most haunted – homes

    The White House may be the most well-known home in Washington D.C., but just blocks away from the presidential mansion sits a lesser known home with its own piece of U.S. history.  

    The Octagon is an approximately 10,000 square foot home designed by William Thornton, who served as the first architect of the U.S. Capitol. The building sits at the corner of New York Avenue NW and 18th Street NW in Washington, D.C., and was completed in 1801. 

    Built as a second residence for Virginia’s prominent Tayloe family who were friends of George Washington, the more than 200-year old building gets its name from the shape of the main room at the main entrance. Amanda Ferrario is the manager of the house, which now doubles as a museum and event space. It’s owned and maintained by the Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), which purchased the property in 1902.

    “The Octagon name comes from this room that we’re standing in,” Ferrario told CBS News during a tour of the home. “In order to build a circular room, you make the structure out of an octagonal shape and then builds it in with various building materials to give this nice smooth circle,” she added. 

    Ferrario says the epicenter of the house was in the basement, where several enslaved people lived and worked mostly out of sight of the wealthy occupants.  

    “(The basement) is the absolute epicenter of all of the activity,” Ferrario said. “Not only for the enslaved who would live and work here, they were sleeping here. They were working here around the clock, but also in order to operate a house of this caliber,” she added.

    The Octagon also served as a home for one of America’s early first families. President James Madison and his wife, Dolley Madison, temporarily relocated to the home after the British burned down the White House in 1814. Ferrario says the rent for the temporary stay was about $6,000 for their 6-month stay. She also noted the specific reason why the British did not destroy the prominent home. 

    “But during this time, Mr. Tayloe was quite savvy, and invited a French ambassador to stay here. He knew that if there was a French flag flying, no one’s going to touch this house,” Ferrario said. “And it was spared, and rightfully so, because in preparation for the British coming. And Dolley Madison did send over a few of her items that meant a lot to her, so that they would be extra protected.”

    President Madison used the residence to conduct official business including signing the Treaty of Ghent which ended the War of 1812. He signed the document in the home’s circular office, Ferrario told CBS News.

    Dolley Madison brought cherished items from the White House including curtains, silverware and her pet bird.  The former first lady would go on to host what became known as “squeezes” in the first floor sitting room. The events were gatherings of Washington’s elite at the time. 

    Over the years, The Octagon was transformed for different uses including a Catholic school for girls, a federal office building and later as tenement housing. 

    Its storied past includes spooky and unexplained events reported by guests throughout the building’s lifetime. Doors opening, lights flickering and security alarms going off without any explanation have been common occurrences in the building.  

    “We have an ongoing, I guess it’s kind of an ongoing joke with our security monitoring company, that if the security monitors go off on the second or third floor, everything is okay. It’s just our friends playing.” 

    Ferrario also says Jackie Kennedy Onassis — then known as Jackie Bouvier — may have had her own chilling experience in the home when she was working for a local newspaper. 

    “She wrote about a time when she came through to the Octagon and she was standing right where you’re standing,” Ferrario explained to CBS News. “And she felt the overwhelming presence and a smell of lilac, which is equated to Dolley (Madison). And what she said was, it was like a former first lady looking over the shoulder of a future first lady.”

    The building is currently undergoing renovations to become a prominent and cohesive part of the new headquarters for the AIA later this year. The house will also play a part in America’s 250th Independence celebration after receiving a National Park Service grant for restoration efforts.  

    Jennifer Calvert Hall serves as the Executive Director of the Architects Foundation. She hopes future visitors gain a sense of reverence for the architecture of America’s early history. 

    “I want them to have this sense of that moment in time where our founding, sort of the people who founded the United States of America, were interested in very progressive ideas, and that those progressive ideas were reflected in its architecture. I want them to feel that,” Calvert Hall said. 

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  • Things to do in Denver this weekend, Oct. 17-19

    By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite

    Pumpkins, witches and ghosts, oh my!

    This weekend is full of Halloween and fall events, ranging from an Adulti-Verse Howl-O-Ween Meow Wolf and Boo at the Denver Zoo to a Witch Paddle at Chatfield Reservoir, a pumpkin festival at Four Mile Historic Park and Fall Fest along Tennyson Street. There are also a handful of haunted houses worth checking out.

    If you’re looking to get out of Denver, Colorado Springs is hosting the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival and a Witches, Warlocks & Ghouls Ride through the Springs’ downtown area.

    Whatever you do, make it a great weekend!

    Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.

    Worth the Trip

    Saturday: *Witches, Warlocks & Ghouls Ride. Through downtown Colorado Springs. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Donation-based.

    Saturday and Sunday: First Annual Laurel Fest. Stages throughout Fort Collins. 5:30-11:30 p.m. (Saturday) and 2-8:15 p.m. (Sunday). $45.

    All weekend: Autumnfest Train. Georgetown Loop Railroad, Devil’s Gate Depot, 646 Loop Drive, Georgetown, and Silver Plume Depot, 825 Railroad Ave., Silver Plume. 10 a.m.-3:50 p.m. Free (children ages 12 months and under), $34 (children ages 1-10), $40 (guests ages 11 and older). Advanced registration required.

    All weekend: *Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. Colorado College, 825 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, or online. Times vary. $25 (Saturday after dark), $50 (opening night), $65 (Saturday or Sunday), $75 (five films), $300 (full festival pass).

    Friday, Oct. 17

    Just for fun

    Whale of a Used Book Sale. Jeffco Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover.

    Cowork with Denver Girlies. HomeDog, 1710 S. Broadway. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $23.18

    *Clock Tower Self-Guided Tours. Denver Clocktower, 1601 Arapahoe St. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free (children ages 5 and under), $8 (Historic Denver and Molly Brown House Museum members), $10 (general public).

    Adulti-Verse Howl-O-Ween. Meow Wolf, 1338 1st St. 5-9 p.m. Free (Portal Pass holders), $46-$61.

    Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo: Denver. Sheraton Denver Tech Center, 7007 S. Clinton St., Greenwood Village. 6-9 p.m. Free.

    Flashlight Tours: After Hours Mystery. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 6:30 p.m. $10 (members, children ages 12 and under), $12 (non-members, children ages 12 and under), $15 (members, adults), $18 (non-members, adults). Advance registration recommended.

    *Ghosts in the Gardens – Open Air Scare. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 5:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. $29-$34. Advanced registration required.

    Denver Clayroom Grand Opening. 1553 Platte St., Unit C100. 6-10 p.m. No cover.

    Fright Fest. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, 2000 Elitch Circle. 6-10 p.m. $49.99 (in advance, additional $40 for Haunt Pass Ticket).

    13th Floor Haunted House. 3400 E. 52nd Ave. 7-11:45 p.m. Starting at $36.99.

    The Frightmare Compound Haunted House. 10798 Yukon St., Westminster. 6:30 p.m.-midnight. Starting at $41.99.

    Kids and family

    *Nick’s Fall Fest. Nick’s Garden Center & Farm Market, 2001 S. Chambers Road, Aurora. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free (entry). All ages.

    *Corn Maze. Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $10-$12 (children ages 3-15), $16-$18 (seniors ages 65 and older), $18-$20 (adults). Advanced registration required.

    Spiders Around the World. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members, children ages 1 and under), $12.45 (children ages 2-12), $15.45 (seniors), $17.45 (adults). Advance registration recommended. All ages.

    *Boo at the Zoo. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, 2300 Steele St. 4:30-9 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $18.90-21 (youth), $25.20-$28 (adults and seniors). All ages.

    *Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. 6:30-10:30 p.m. $12.99 (children ages 3-12), $22.99 (guests ages 13 and older). All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    Michael Yo. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. $25-$30.

    Cult of Cthulhu. Ratio Beer Works – Overland, 2030 S. Cherokee St. 7:30 p.m. $27.50 (general admission), $38.50 (VIP).

    Nice Work If You Can Get It. Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. 7:30 p.m. $55-$79.

    JR De Guzman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:55 p.m. $32-$42. 

    *Spooky Cinema in The Sky: The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Halcyon, 245 Columbine St. 8 p.m. $25 (includes popcorn, access to pool and film screening). Advanced registration recommended.

    The Roast of Halloween. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 9:15 p.m. $18.

    Art, culture, and media

    Xochimilco: Works by Eduardo Robledo Romero. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under and members), $11.75 (children ages 3-15 and students), $12.25 (seniors ages 65 and older, military members), $16 (adults).

    38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).

    The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).

    Confluence of Nature: Nancy Hemenway Barton. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults). 

    Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$28.52.

    Eat and drink

    *Huerta Urbana Farmers Market. Focus Points Family Resource Center, 2501 E. 48th Ave. 2-5 p.m. No cover.

    Music and nightlife

    Boulder Roots Music Fest. Various venues throughout Boulder. 9 a.m.-11 p.m. $20 (late night), $57 (three-day pass for students), $82 (single day) $123-$220 (three-day pass).

    *Music in the Gardens. 17th Street Community Gardens, 1945 17th St. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

    *Parcels. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    LTG. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $30.63.

    LANCO. The Grizzly Rose, 5450 N. Valley Highway. 8 p.m. $30.05.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Saturday, Oct. 18

    Just for fun

    *International Archaeology Day. Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre Lower South Lot 2, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. No cover. All ages.

    *Market in the Park. The Aurora Highlands, 23730 E. 41st Ave., Aurora. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover. All ages.

    *Pumpkin Harvest Festival 2025. Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (ages 3 and under), $15 (ages 4-12), $25 (adults).

    Whale of a Used Book Sale. Jeffco Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. No cover.

    YMCA Community Craft Fair. University Hills YMCA, 3901 E. Yale Ave. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.

    *Tennyson Fall Fest. Along Tennyson Street from West 41st to West 43rd avenues. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free (includes pet parade, live music and more than 100 vendors).

    *Fall Carnival. RMMA Terminal and Patio, 11755 Airport Way, Broomfield. 10 a.m.-midnight. Free.

    Bridal Bash. Flatiron Crossings, 1 W. Flatiron Crossing Drive, Broomfield. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

    Mimosa Class – Pumpkin Field Painting Class. Sipping N’ Painting Highland, 1331 W. 38th Ave. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $32.65.

    *The Northfield Street Fairs, Handmade Harvest Festival. 1234 Main St. and along Main Street from 46th to 48th avenues. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.

    Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo: Denver. Sheraton Denver Tech Center, 7007 S. Clinton St., Greenwood Village. Noon-6 p.m. Free.

    *Urban Market. Wynkoop Plaza at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. Noon-6 p.m. No cover.

    *Westy Fest. Westminster City Park, 10455 N. Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster. Noon-8 p.m. Free.

    Fright Fest. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, 2000 Elitch Circle. Noon-10 p.m. $49.99 (in advance, additional $40 for Haunt Pass Ticket).

    Flashlight Tours: After Hours Mystery. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $10 (members, children ages 12 and under), $12 (non-members, children ages 12 and under), $15 (members, adults), $18 (non-members, adults). Advance registration recommended.

    Keep Indies Alive: A Petals & Pages Party. Petals & Pages of Denver, 956 Santa Fe Drive. 6-8 p.m. Pay what you can.

    13th Floor Haunted House. 3400 E. 52nd Ave. 6-11:45 p.m. Starting at $36.99.

    *Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. 6:30-11 p.m. $12.99 (children ages 3-12), $22.99 (guests ages 13 and older).

    The Frightmare Compound Haunted House. 10798 Yukon St., Westminster. 6:30 p.m.-midnight. Starting at $41.99.

    *Ghosts in the Gardens – Open Air Scare. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 8:45 p.m. $29-$34. Advanced registration required.

    Kids and family

    *Nick’s Fall Fest. Nick’s Garden Center & Farm Market, 2001 S. Chambers Road, Aurora. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free (entry). All ages.

    Bug-A-Boo Trick-Or-Treating and Spiders Around the World. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members, children ages 1 and under), $12.45 (children ages 2-12), $15.45 (seniors), $17.45 (adults). Advance registration recommended.

    *Corn Maze. Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $10-$12 (children ages 3-15), $16-$18 (seniors ages 65 and older), $18-$20 (adults). Advanced registration required.

    The Rock and Roll Playhouse plays Music of The Beatles + More for Kids. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 11 a.m. $28.82.

    Treat Street. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Event Center, 25690 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $10 (in advance), $12 (day of). All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    Nice Work If You Can Get It. Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $47-$79.

    SchoolHouse Rock. Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora. 2 p.m. $17-$42.

    Michael Yo. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $25-$30.

    Cult of Cthulhu. Ratio Beer Works – Overland, 2030 S. Cherokee St. 7:30 p.m. $27.50 (general admission), $38.50 (VIP).

    JR De Guzman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:55 p.m. $32-$42.

    Art, culture, and media

    Xochimilco: Works by Eduardo Robledo Romero. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under and members), $11.75 (children ages 3-15 and students), $12.25 (seniors ages 65 and older, military members), $16 (adults).

    38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).

    The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).

    Confluence of Nature: Nancy Hemenway Barton. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults). 

    Flatstock: An Exhibition of Contemporary Poster Art. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. Noon-5 p.m. No cover.

    Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$28.52.

    Eat and drink

    *City Park Farmers Market. City Park Esplanade, 2551 E. Colfax Ave. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

    *Golden FestiFall. Parfet Park, 719 10th St., Golden. 1-4 p.m. Free (children ages 5 and under), $15 (ages 6-12), $20 (non-alcohol/food ticket only), $40 (all assess, includes 25 beer sampling tickets).

    Music and nightlife

    Boulder Roots Music Fest. Various venues throughout Boulder. 11 a.m.-10:45 p.m. $20 (late night), $57 (three-day pass for students), $82 (single day) $123-$220 (three-day pass).

    *Rezz. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 6 p.m. Prices vary.

    SG Lewis. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 8 p.m. $49.95.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Sports and fitness

    Rainforest Yoga. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 7:45 a.m. $15 (member), $18 (non-member). Advance registration required.

    *2025 Witch Paddle. Chatfield State Park Swimbeach, 11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, Littleton. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. $65.

    *Colorado Avalanche vs. Boston Bruins. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on ATL or KTVD. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    *Colorado Rapids vs. Los Angeles FC. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City. Watch on Apple TV. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Sunday, Oct. 19

    Just for fun 

    *Fall Festival featuring Creepy Crawlies Around the Rock. Festival Park, 300 Second St., Castle Rock. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

    The Hobby Source Grand Re-Opening Celebration. The Hobby Source, 4242 S. Broadway, Englewood. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.

    *Cloud 9 Fallfest. Cloud 9 Park, 4116 E. 9th Ave. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. No cover.

    Fall Family Fun Day and Whale of a Used Book Sale. Jeffco Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. No cover.

    *Larimer Square BAZAAR. Larimer Square, 1430 Larimer St. Noon-1 p.m. No cover.

    *Painted Planes & Pumpkins. Wings Over the Rockies – Exploration of Flight, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood. Noon-4 p.m. Free (children ages 3 and under), $10.95 (guests ages 65 and older, military and veterans), $12.95 (ages 17-64).

    Denver Bridal & Wedding Expo. National Western Complex, 4655 N. Humboldt St. Noon-5 p.m. Free (when registered in advance), $10 (at the door).

    *Urban Market. Wynkoop Plaza at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St. Noon-6 p.m. No cover.

    Pop Culture Art & Cosplay Expo: Denver. Sheraton Denver Tech Center, 7007 S. Clinton St., Greenwood Village. Noon-6 p.m. Free.

    Fright Fest. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, 2000 Elitch Circle. Noon-9 p.m. $49.99 (in advance, additional $40 for Haunt Pass Ticket).

    Over The Moon Disco Workshop. Poka Lola, 1850 Wazee St. 1-3 p.m. $65 (includes materials and one cocktails).

    *Ghosts in the Gardens – Open Air Scare. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 5:45 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. $29-$34.

    Flashlight Tours: After Hours Mystery. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 6 p.m. $10 (members, children ages 12 and under), $12 (non-members, children ages 12 and under), $15 (members, adults), $18 (non-members, adults). Advance registration recommended.

    13th Floor Haunted House. 3400 E. 52nd Ave. 6-9:45 p.m. Starting at $32.99.

    Cult of Cthulhu: The Summoning – A Halloween Party. Fiction Beer Co., 7101 E. Colfax Ave. 6-9 p.m. $40.

    *Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $12.99 (children ages 3-12), $22.99 (guests ages 13 and older).

    The Frightmare Compound Haunted House. 10798 Yukon St., Westminster. 7-10 p.m. Starting at $36.99.

    Kids and family

    *Pumpkin Harvest Festival 2025. Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (ages 3 and under), $15 (ages 4-12), $25 (adults). All ages.

    Bug-A-Boo Trick-Or-Treating and Spiders Around the World . Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members, children ages 1 and under), $12.45 (children ages 2-12), $15.45 (seniors), $17.45 (adults). Advance registration recommended.

    *Corn Maze. Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $10-$12 (children ages 3-15), $16-$18 (seniors ages 65 and older), $18-$20 (adults). Advanced registration required.

    *Nick’s Fall Fest. Nick’s Garden Center & Farm Market, 2001 S. Chambers Road, Aurora. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (entry). All ages.

    *Red Rocks Children’s Book Launch. Red Rocks Trading Post, 17900 Trading Post Road, Morrison. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover. All ages.

    Treat Street. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Event Center, 25690 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under), $10 (in advance), $12 (day of). All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    Nice Work If You Can Get It. Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. $47-$67.

    Michael Yo. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. $15-$20.

    Zac Maas. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $14.

    Art, culture, and media

    Xochimilco: Works by Eduardo Robledo Romero. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (children ages 2 and under and members), $11.75 (children ages 3-15 and students), $12.25 (seniors ages 65 and older, military members), $16 (adults).

    Confluence of Nature: Nancy Hemenway Barton. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults). 

    38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).

    The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future. History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 18 and under), $15 (adults).

    Flatstock: An Exhibition of Contemporary Poster Art. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. Noon-5 p.m. No cover.

    Eat and drink

    *South Pearl Farmers Market. 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street between Iowa and Arkansas. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. No cover.

    Drag Queen Bingo Brunch. Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St., Suite 100. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.

    Music and nightlife

    Boulder Roots Music Fest. Various venues throughout Boulder. 11 a.m.-6:15 p.m. $20 (late night), $57 (three-day pass for students), $82 (single day) $123-$220 (three-day pass).

    4th Annual Fortissimo Benefit Show. The Local Drive at Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora. Noon-2 p.m. Free.

    *Rezz. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 5 p.m. Prices vary.

    Patrick Wolf. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 7:30 p.m. $36.82.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Sports and fitness

    *F1 Race & F1 Movie Viewing Party. McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee St. Noon-8 p.m. Free (general admission), $175 (VIP).

    Denver Broncos Watch Party. Number Thirty Eight, 3560 Chestnut Place. 2 p.m. No cover.

    *New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos. Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. Watch on CBS. 2:05 p.m. Prices vary.

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  • Looking for a scare? Haunted trails and theater thrills await in Lorton – WTOP News

    This Halloween festival at the Workhouse Haunted Experience in Lorton offers two eerie walking trails, a blackout adventure, laser tag and a haunted courtyard with a live DJ.

    Performers of the Halloween festival at the the Workhouse Haunted Experience in Lorton, Virginia.(WTOP/Mike Murillo)

    The Smithsonian museums may be closed due to the government shutdown, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of things to do around the D.C. area.

    If you’re looking for a scare, look no further than the Workhouse Haunted Experience in Lorton, Virginia, where your nightmares come true.

    “This year, we decided to mix it up a little bit and make it more of a Halloween festival vibe,” said Joseph Wallen, director of performing arts at the Workhouse Arts Center.

    The festival will include two walking trails, a seated blackout experience and laser tag.

    While monsters don’t normally come out in the day, they’re already preparing for your arrival.
    Your journey will take you through a carnival run by clowns — and we’re not talking the funny kind.

    “Each of our actors that work each scene, they understand the character that they are, and they understand how they’re contributing to the story experience and to the atmosphere as we go through,” Wallen said.

    Then it’s into the apocalypse, where survival is the goal, but the monsters have other plans.

    Wallen said there is also a haunted courtyard with a DJ, which is best for those who may not be looking for a scare.

    “I hope they … share some laughs and some screams with their family and friends. Because, to me, that’s what life is ultimately, really about,” Wallen said.

    Inside the Workhouse theater, “Evil Dead: The Musical” is splashing audiences with campy horror and laughs.

    “One of the things that is fun for this show in particular is we do have splash zone seating. Without too much of a spoiler, the show does involve chain saws and shotguns, all simulated, but liquids are flying,” Wallen said.

    The heart-stopping festival runs on weekends through Nov. 2.

    Tickets range from $20-$55, with upgraded passes available for laser tag and blackout experiences. For tickets and details, visit their website.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Mike Murillo

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  • Orlando Halloween events and activities guide 2025

    Spooky season is creeping up. Below is a list of Halloween events and activities in Orlando for those who enjoy a good scare.Explore spooky scare trails, haunted houses, Halloween theme park events, and even a few to die for dining options. Halloween events in OrlandoEola Pets costume contest and pet paradeCheck in for the 6th annual pet costume contest presented by Thornton Park District and She Sells Orlando begins at 6 p.m., and the first 50 people in line will snag a free goodie bag full of treats.When: Saturday, Oct. 11Where: 431 E. Central Blvd. (In the circle in front of World Of Beer Downtown Orlando) Cost: Free Trick or Treat Safe Zone – Orange County History CenterEnjoy trick-or-treating throughout the History Center and the Orlando Public Library, along with a scavenger hunt, creepy crafts, candy, games, and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.When: Sunday, Oct. 12 (1 p.m. –3 p.m)Where: Orlando Public Library 101 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801Cost: FreeGatorland’s Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins*Gatorland, the “Alligator Capital of the World,” is bringing back its popular Gators, Ghosts and Goblins Halloween event for a seventh year in a row. The daytime, family friendly event is included with park admission.When: Select Dates Oct. 11-26Where: 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail. Orlando, FL. 32837 Cost: Tickets starting at $21.99Orlando Family Stage presents Goosebumps the MusicalThe 75-minute Goosebumps musical has catchy songs, spooky fun surprises. The show is perfect for elementary students, families, and anyone who grew up with the books.When: Showtimes available on Saturday and Sunday until Nov. 2 and Monday, Oct. 13.Where: 1001 E Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803Cost: $20 – $48Adult Halloween Party – OSC after DarkSee the Orlando Science Center transformed for Halloween, all while enjoying a night of thrilling activities and grown-up fun. Costumes are encouraged. Ages 21+ only. When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.Where: 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803Cost: $35 for OSC members and Young Professionals for OSC, $40 early bird, $50 general admission. ICEBAR After Dark SpecialShow a 2025 Halloween Horror Nights ticket for $10 off standard ICEBAR entry. 21+ only. Spooky seasonal cocktails are available for a limited time. When: Monday- Wednesday open – midnight. Thursday and Sunday till 1 a.m.. Friday and Saturday till 2 a.m.Where: 8967 International Drive. Orlando, FL. 32819Cost: Entry for ICEBAR starts at $15 (Additional package options available) Scare trails and ghost tours in OrlandoOrlando Haunts Ghost ToursOrlando Haunts invites guests to explore the haunted history of Orlando with two guided tour options: the Ghosts and Ghouls tour or the “Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl.”When: NightlyCost: Tickets start at $25A Petrified Forest Scream ParkA Petrified Forest offers three scare trails, an escape ride, immersive theater and laser tag. Get the big scares without the big price tag. When: Starts Oct. 3Where: 1360 E Altamonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701Cost: Tickets range from $34.98 – $59.98 (Additional add-ons available for purchase) Mortem Manor – Year-Round Haunted HouseNamed one of the scariest haunted houses in America by the Travel Channel, Martem Manor features live actors, animatronics and state-of-the-art special effects. The haunted house in Kissimmee is open year-round just outside Orlando.When: Open year-roundWhere: 5770 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, FL 34746Cost: Tickets start at $21.19 Spooky dining in OrlandoMangoni’s Italian Market Halloween menuStep inside Haunted Mangoni Italian Market Pizza. The Winter Garden restaurant is offering a spooky experience in October, featuring creepy cocktails, eerie decor, and Halloween-themed food items. When: through Oct. 31Where: 251 Tremaine St., Winter Garden, FL 34787Reservations suggested.Helena’s Phantom of Helena Halloween pop-up The Phantom of Helena has turned the usual Mediterranean vibes of Helena Modern Riviera in ICON park into something way more mysterious and romantic. When: October 2025Where: 8441 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819Reservations suggestedHalloween events in Orlando theme parksHalloween Horror Nights 2025Enter 10 haunted houses inspired by popular horror movies and TV series. This year’s latest additions include: “Terrifier,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” and “Fallout.” When: Aug. 29 – Nov. 2Where: 6000 Universal Blvd. Orlando, FL 32819Cost: Tickets start at $95.99Hall-O-Scream SeaWorld OrlandoNow in its 5th year, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando unleashes a new wave of screams with unexpected horrors lurking around every corner.When: Now until Nov 1Where: 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL. 32821Cost: Starting at $50.99Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween The Magic Kingdom in Orlando transforms into a not-so-scary Halloween experience. Safe for the little ones, witness a masquerade of characters and a few faces from the Haunted Mansion. Bring your trick-or-treat bag and gather goodies from land to land.When: Now until Oct. 31 (Select nights) 7 p.m. to midnightWhere: Magic Kingdom 1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830Cost: Tickets start at $119 (SOLD OUT)

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    Spooky season is creeping up. Below is a list of Halloween events and activities in Orlando for those who enjoy a good scare.

    Explore spooky scare trails, haunted houses, Halloween theme park events, and even a few to die for dining options.

    Halloween events in Orlando

    Eola Pets costume contest and pet parade

    Check in for the 6th annual pet costume contest presented by Thornton Park District and She Sells Orlando begins at 6 p.m., and the first 50 people in line will snag a free goodie bag full of treats.

    When: Saturday, Oct. 11

    Where: 431 E. Central Blvd. (In the circle in front of World Of Beer Downtown Orlando)

    Cost: Free

    Trick or Treat Safe Zone – Orange County History Center

    Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the History Center and the Orlando Public Library, along with a scavenger hunt, creepy crafts, candy, games, and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

    When: Sunday, Oct. 12 (1 p.m. –3 p.m)

    Where: Orlando Public Library 101 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801

    Cost: Free

    Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins*

    Gatorland, the “Alligator Capital of the World,” is bringing back its popular Gators, Ghosts and Goblins Halloween event for a seventh year in a row. The daytime, family friendly event is included with park admission.

    When: Select Dates Oct. 11-26

    Where: 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail. Orlando, FL. 32837

    Cost: Tickets starting at $21.99

    Orlando Family Stage presents Goosebumps the Musical

    The 75-minute Goosebumps musical has catchy songs, spooky fun surprises. The show is perfect for elementary students, families, and anyone who grew up with the books.

    When: Showtimes available on Saturday and Sunday until Nov. 2 and Monday, Oct. 13.

    Where: 1001 E Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803

    Cost: $20 – $48

    Adult Halloween Party – OSC after Dark

    See the Orlando Science Center transformed for Halloween, all while enjoying a night of thrilling activities and grown-up fun. Costumes are encouraged. Ages 21+ only.

    When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
    Where: 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803
    Cost: $35 for OSC members and Young Professionals for OSC, $40 early bird, $50 general admission.

    ICEBAR After Dark Special

    Show a 2025 Halloween Horror Nights ticket for $10 off standard ICEBAR entry. 21+ only. Spooky seasonal cocktails are available for a limited time.

    When: Monday- Wednesday open – midnight. Thursday and Sunday till 1 a.m.. Friday and Saturday till 2 a.m.

    Where: 8967 International Drive. Orlando, FL. 32819

    Cost: Entry for ICEBAR starts at $15 (Additional package options available)

    Scare trails and ghost tours in Orlando

    Orlando Haunts Ghost Tours

    Orlando Haunts invites guests to explore the haunted history of Orlando with two guided tour options: the Ghosts and Ghouls tour or the “Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl.”

    When: Nightly
    Cost: Tickets start at $25

    A Petrified Forest Scream Park

    A Petrified Forest offers three scare trails, an escape ride, immersive theater and laser tag. Get the big scares without the big price tag.

    When: Starts Oct. 3
    Where: 1360 E Altamonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
    Cost: Tickets range from $34.98 – $59.98 (Additional add-ons available for purchase)

    Mortem Manor – Year-Round Haunted House

    Named one of the scariest haunted houses in America by the Travel Channel, Martem Manor features live actors, animatronics and state-of-the-art special effects. The haunted house in Kissimmee is open year-round just outside Orlando.

    When: Open year-round
    Where: 5770 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, FL 34746
    Cost: Tickets start at $21.19

    Spooky dining in Orlando

    Mangoni’s Italian Market Halloween menu

    Step inside Haunted Mangoni Italian Market Pizza. The Winter Garden restaurant is offering a spooky experience in October, featuring creepy cocktails, eerie decor, and Halloween-themed food items.

    When: through Oct. 31

    Where: 251 Tremaine St., Winter Garden, FL 34787

    Reservations suggested.

    Helena’s Phantom of Helena Halloween pop-up

    The Phantom of Helena has turned the usual Mediterranean vibes of Helena Modern Riviera in ICON park into something way more mysterious and romantic.

    When: October 2025

    Where: 8441 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819

    Reservations suggested

    Halloween events in Orlando theme parks

    Halloween Horror Nights 2025

    Enter 10 haunted houses inspired by popular horror movies and TV series. This year’s latest additions include: “Terrifier,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” and “Fallout.”

    When: Aug. 29 – Nov. 2

    Where: 6000 Universal Blvd. Orlando, FL 32819

    Cost: Tickets start at $95.99

    Hall-O-Scream SeaWorld Orlando

    Now in its 5th year, Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando unleashes a new wave of screams with unexpected horrors lurking around every corner.

    When: Now until Nov 1

    Where: 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL. 32821

    Cost: Starting at $50.99

    Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween

    The Magic Kingdom in Orlando transforms into a not-so-scary Halloween experience. Safe for the little ones, witness a masquerade of characters and a few faces from the Haunted Mansion. Bring your trick-or-treat bag and gather goodies from land to land.

    When: Now until Oct. 31 (Select nights) 7 p.m. to midnight

    Where: Magic Kingdom 1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

    Cost: Tickets start at $119 (SOLD OUT)

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  • Step Into The House Of Quiet By Kiersten White If You Dare

    It’s no secret that we at THP love a good Gothic fantasy. And with Halloween in our sights, our reading list is only going to get spookier from here. Kiersten White’s new novel, The House of Quiet, fits the creepy, haunted house vibe we know you’ve been needing.

    The House of Quiet follows Birdie, a maid who infiltrates the House of Quiet in search of her sister. Rumor has it that the House of Quiet is where children go to be treated for having terrible, supernatural powers. But who knows where they go afterward?

    It’s eerie, atmospheric, and an edge-of-your-seat Gothic fantasy. Here are three of our favorite things about The House of Quiet by Kiersten White!

    The House of Quiet by Kiersten White
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: The House Of Quiet

    Content warnings: death, gore, violence, attempted murder, stabbing, bodies, forced captivity, serious injury

    Summary: In the middle of a deadly bog sits the House of Quiet. It’s a place for children whose Procedure triggered powers too terrible to be lived with—their last hope for treatment. No one knows how they’re healed or where they go afterward.

    Birdie has begged, bargained, and blackmailed her way inside as a maid, determined to find her missing sister, Magpie. But what she discovers is more mysteries. Instead of the destitute children who undergo the Procedure in hopes of social advancement, the house brims with aristocratic teens wielding strange powers they never should have been burdened with.

    Though Birdie wants to ignore them, she can’t help being drawn to stoic and silent Forest, charmed by clever River, and concerned for the youngest residents. And with fellow maid Minnow keeping tabs on everything Birdie does, danger is everywhere.

    In her desperate search for Magpie, Birdie unearths terrifying threats and devastating truths, forcing her to confront just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save her own sister. Because in the House of Quiet, if you find what’s lurking beneath . . . you lose everything.

    Unravel the mystery. Ignite the rebellion.

    Every Character Has A Role

    It may seem that some of the characters have too many screws loose to play a significant part in the plot. Or that they’re spoiled rich kids who shouldn’t complain about their situation. But no character goes wasted in The House of Quiet. From characters who take an early exit like Sky and Rabbit to the ones who never seem to be in their right mind like Nimbus and Lake, everyone pulls their weight in helping Birdie uncover the secrets of the House of Quiet.

    Birdie And Forest

    Even amidst the unknown horrors and unsettling energy in The House of Quiet, there is still room for some romance! We especially love the progression between Birdie and Forest. Forest usually keeps to himself and doesn’t utter a single word, the reason for which Birdie will later find out. Luckily, Birdie talks enough for the both of them while also sitting peacefully in each other’s company. Forest fiercely protects her from harm, and we also learn about their deeper history.

    The Ultimate Revenge

    Another one of our favorite things about The House of Quiet is the extremely justified, revenge-filled ending. Once Birdie and the rest of the residents find the heart of the house, the sinister plot all starts coming together. Why do rich families really send their children to the House of Quiet? What happens to all the residents after receiving the so-called treatment? All the adults who have kept this house running get their karma returned to them in the end.

    An atmospheric, eerie, and edge-of-your-seat Gothic fantasy, Kiersten White’s The House of Quiet deserves to be your next spooky read!

    The House of Quiet by Kiersten White comes out September 9th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    Have we lured you into reading Kiersten White’s new novel, The House of Quiet? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIERSTEN WHITE:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Julie Dam

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  • Sneak Peek: The Astro at Tower City, Opening Tuesday, April 23rd

    Sneak Peek: The Astro at Tower City, Opening Tuesday, April 23rd

    click to enlarge

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    After sitting empty for the past seven years, the former Hard Rock Cafe location in Tower City will soon welcome guests once again. On Tuesday, April 23rd, The Astro (230 W. Huron Rd.) will open in that space, and Scene has an exclusive sneak peek.

    The Astro comes from the collective minds of Andre Scott, Ryan Gullatt, Christopher Thomas and Jeremiah Burks – the team behind the Haunted House restaurant in Cleveland Heights. If you’ve visited that restaurant since it opened in 2021, then you know you can expect over-the-top energy, artwork and creativity.

    As the owners explain it, they were approached by Bedrock, who asked them if they could duplicate the success of Haunted House downtown at Tower City.

    “They said they liked what we were doing at the Haunted House restaurant and asked if we’d do it down there,” Gullatt told Scene. “We were never going to do another Haunted House in the state, though we’re opening one in Atlanta. We want to try and keep it a tourist attraction.”

    Lucky for the Bedrock folks, they had another idea up their sleeves.

    “I’m a fan of sci-fi movies, so just imagine any movie or cartoon that has to do with space and all that nostalgia,” Gullatt adds. “We want people to be surprised and blown away. If you love sci-fi movies, this experience will do the same thing we do with horror movies at the Haunted House.”

    There still is a little bit of work left to do, but already mural artists Isaiah Williams and Derek Walker have brightened up the property with iconic imagery. There is room for nearly 200 guests on two levels, including a 30-seat “Men in Black” bar featuring bartenders dressed as characters from that movie.

    “At The Astro, every bite and sip is a nod to the classics that shaped our imaginations – from Star Wars to Star Trek, and beyond,” says Scott. “Our menu is a galaxy of flavors, each dish ingeniously named after beloved characters, ships, and planets from the cinematic universe we cherish.”

    Like its spooky sibling in the Heights, The Astro sports a menu filled with nods to cinema. There’s the Stranger Things (mini lobster rolls), T-1000 (loaded tots), Blue Beetle (blue cheese burger), Spacley’s Seafood Pie (seafood pot pie), and the signature Astro Alfredo.

    The restaurant will serve dinner and weekend brunch.

    click to enlarge The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd. - Douglas Trattner

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    click to enlarge The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd. - Douglas Trattner

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    click to enlarge The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd. - Douglas Trattner

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    click to enlarge The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd. - Douglas Trattner

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    click to enlarge The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd. - Douglas Trattner

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    click to enlarge The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd. - Douglas Trattner

    Douglas Trattner

    The Astro to open at Tower City on April 23rd.

    Subscribe to Cleveland Scene newsletters.

    Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

    Douglas Trattner

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  • Lincoln Mill Haunted House will host a spooky St. Patrick’s Day experience

    Lincoln Mill Haunted House will host a spooky St. Patrick’s Day experience

    One Philly haunted house venue is continuing its year-round programming with a St. Patrick’s Day-themed attraction. Get ready to reach A St. Paddy’s Nightmare at the end of the rainbow.

    Lincoln Mill Haunted House, located on 4100 Main Street in Manayunk, is hosting its first St. Patrick’s Day event. Those on weekend bar crawls can get some unique St. Paddy’s scares for one night only on Saturday, March 16.

    Expect Lincoln Mill to have a new green hue, with over 30 “scare-actors” dressing up as Celtic mythology characters like leprechauns, banshees and goblins to give you some proper frights. The characters will be part of a new storyline.

    “Saint Patrick’s day has a long history in Philadelphia dating back to 1771 where many Irish immigrants migrated to America,” said Lincoln Mill Haunted House co-founder Jared Bilsak. “Many Irish immigrants worked in the textile mills and we thought it would be interesting to tell a story about the mill owner’s fear of their uprising.”

    Before St. Paddy’s Nightmare, Lincoln Mill also hosted a “Viktor’s Valentine” haunted experience last month for Valentine’s Day, depicting a twisted love story. The venue has done haunts themed on Christmas and the fall season as well, adding more to the “Legend of Lincoln Mill.”

    “The Lincoln Mill story is continuing to evolve and we use our off-season events to tell different parts of this story,” said Bilsak. “In A St. Paddy’s Nightmare, the mill owner has nightmares of his workers turning against him.”

    Anyone still looking for St. Patrick’s Day activities well after the March 10 parade and before St. Patrick’s Day proper on March 17 can get tickets for A St. Paddy’s Nightmare online. Tickets are limited, and attendees will choose one of three time slots to enter the attraction.

    A St. Paddy’s Nightmare

    Saturday, March 16

    7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Tickets $32

    Lincoln Mill Haunted House

    4100 Main St., Philadelphia, PA 19127

    Chris Compendio

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  • The Haunted Attraction Network Celebrates 61 Days of Haunted Houses With New Season of Its Annual Hauntathon

    The Haunted Attraction Network Celebrates 61 Days of Haunted Houses With New Season of Its Annual Hauntathon

    The Haunted Attraction Network’s Annual Hauntathon series returns, showcasing Haunted Houses daily from Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2023.


    LOS ANGELES, August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Prepare for a spine-tingling Halloween season with the Haunted Attraction Network’s “Hauntathon,” a 61-day celebration of haunted attractions from Sept. 1 – Oct. 31. Tune in for the largest celebration of haunted houses anywhere, featuring videos, podcasts, and VIP in-person experiences.

    The Haunted Attraction Network has gathered 13 ghoulish partners to bring viewers to 61+ haunted attractions worldwide. Hauntathon will explore some of the world’s best and most mysterious haunted attractions, from the classic to the cutting-edge.

    What does it take to scare people? You’ll find out. Haunters, those people who create haunted attractions, work year-round to hone their craft. However, few guests get to see more than a handful. In this year’s Hauntathon, viewers will get an inside look at the creative process behind some of the world’s most famous haunted attractions.

    “We’re excited to bring viewers to some of the most unique and creative haunted attractions in the world,” said Haunted Attraction Network founder Philip Hernandez. “We have a real balance of theme park, independent, and home haunts this year.”

    This year’s title sponsor is Gantom Lighting & Controls, which manufactures the world’s smallest intelligent spotlights for theme parks. Additional support is from Hauntpay and Froggy’s Fog. 

    Content Partners:
    Attractions Magazine, Creepy Kingdom, Freaks of HHN, HaunTopic Radio, Kevin Heimbach, Muse TV, OMNI Adventures, Scare Track, Sharp Productions, That Halloween Podcast, The Horror of Being Emily, The Scare Factor, Nick Pagliochini. 

    Details
    Visit www.hauntedattractionnetwork.com

    Featured Theme Parks

    • Dark Nights at Hersheypark
    • Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
    • Halloween Horror Nights Japan
    • Halloween Horror Nights Orlando
    • Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort
    • Hong Kong Disneyland
    • Howl-O-Scream Tampa
    • Howl-O-Scream Orlando
    • Howl-O-Scream San Diego
    • Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney’s California Adventure
    • Six Flags Fright Fest

    Featured Haunted Houses include:

    • Bayville Scream Park (Long Island, NY)
    • DARK at Fort Edmonton Park (Edmonton, Canada)
    • Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX)
    • Deadmonton (Edmonton, Canada)
    • Doncaster Fear Factory (Doncaster, UK)
    • Doom Haunted Attraction (Idaho Falls, ID)
    • Evil Intentions (Elgin, IL)
    • Fear Factory (Salt Lake City, UT)
    • Field of Screams (Mountville, PA)
    • Hanna Haunted Acres (Indianapolis, IN)
    • Haunted Overload (Lee, NH)
    • Hundred Acres Manor (Pittsburgh, PA)
    • Hush Haunted Attraction (Westland, MI)
    • Lake Hickory Haunts (Hickory, NC)
    • Markoff’s Haunted Forest (Dickerson, MD)
    • Mortem Manor (Kissimmee, FL)
    • Nightmares on the Rogue (Medford, OR)
    • Reaper’s Revenge (Scranton, PA)
    • Sacramento Scream Park (Sacramento, CA)
    • Scarehouse (Pittsburgh, PA)
    • Shaqtoberfest (Long Beach, CA)
    • Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (Plant City, FL)
    • Stanley Haus (Aliso Viejo, CA)
    • Spooky World (Warrington, UK)
    • Terror in the Corn (Denver, CO)
    • Terror Isle (Lee, NH)
    • Terror Roulette (South Barrington, IL)
    • Terror Vault (San Francisco, CA)
    • The Vault of Souls (Tampa, FL)
    • Wicker Manor (Denver, CO)
    • Woods of Terror (Greensboro, NC)

    Source: Haunted Attraction Network

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  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

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  • Danger, Death, and Disgust: Why You Just Can’t Look Away

    Danger, Death, and Disgust: Why You Just Can’t Look Away

    Oct. 24, 2022 — Halloween Ends? Yeah, sure. Like that’ll happen.

    The market for horror remains robust 44 years after the original Halloween movie premiered. Part of the reason (besides Michael Myers’s charm) is that we humans appear to be hard-wired to enjoy getting scared.

    Whatever happens in Halloween Ends, the latest entry in the long-running film series, you’ll leave the theater with a sense of relief and satisfaction. You had fun and survived. It feels good.

    And you and most of the rest of the world will do it again and again – go to other movies, play scary video games, listen to true-crime podcasts, read Stephen King books, visit haunted houses. A survey by the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark found that 55% of Americans enjoy scary media, and 90% had dipped into the horror world at least once in the past year.

    Our penchant for fear dates back millennia. But new research is testing the theory that indulging in morbid curiosity and scary play can help us build psychological resilience, overcome phobias, and deal with genuine scares. So far, the answer is yes.

    When you scare yourself on purpose, you’re “learning your limits and learning a bit of self-reliance in the face of feelings of danger or fear or anxiety,” says Coltan Scrivner, PhD, a researcher at the Fear Lab and the author of several papers on horror.

    Our fascination extends to real life, however conflicted we may feel. “When we pass by a car accident or see a gruesome photo, our minds are compelled to attend to it and gather information,” Scrivner says. “This is the essence of morbid curiosity.”

    Greg Siegle, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, says it makes evolutionary sense. “It behooves us to pay attention to possibly threatening things. We learn very quickly, and we encode them deeply.” 

    For example: Roadkill reminds us to look both ways before crossing the street.

    This field of science seems like a bloody good time. Researchers visit haunted-house attractions and interview visitors. They show scary movies to wired-up viewers and check heart rate, eye movement, brain activity, and other measures of arousal. 

    Zombies even play a role. In a pilot experiment, Siegle and colleague Margee Kerr, PhD, a sociologist at the University of Pittsburgh, put actors in costumes and makeup for a virtual-reality film of zombies on a train. Subjects in VR goggles “enter” the train car to find zombies, but at the end, the actors strip away the makeup and everyone has a laugh.

    It’s a 21st-century reboot of exposure therapy, the 70-year-old technique in which patients are exposed to something that makes them anxious until they can deal with it. “The problem with exposure therapy is that it’s horrible,” Siegle says. “People drop out rather than be exposed to their fears. What if we made it fun?”

    Everyday moviegoers are doing a “home-brewed method” of exposure therapy, Scrivner says. “Morbidly curious horror fans spend time sitting with those feelings in a playful context,” he says. “They have a bit more experience feeling afraid or feeling anxious, and learn how to regulate those feelings.”

    The benefits are becoming clear.

    You’ll Become More Resilient

    Scrivner and others grabbed a chance to indirectly test this theory during the pandemic. It turned out that horror fans showed “greater preparedness for and psychological resilience” about the pandemic, they wrote in a 2021 study. They found that “exposure to frightening fictions” can help people “practice effective coping strategies that can be beneficial in real-world situations.”

    Our inborn fondness for play-acted fear and surprise can be seen in peekaboo with a baby, or hide-and-seek and playing tag with young children. “They’re out to get you, or you have to run from them,” Scrivner says. “To a kid, that’s a pretty scary concept.”

    Scrivner cites the work of Helen Dodd, PhD, a child psychologist in the U.K. who found that children who engage in risky, thrilling play “tend to have kind of an inoculation against anxiety in adolescence.”

    “It’s young kids listening to scary stories, riding their bikes too fast, climbing up too high in trees, teenagers watching horror movies or listening to true crime stories,” says Mathias Clasen, PhD, director of the Fear Lab and author of A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror Movies.

    “The idea is that they’ve played with fear, or played with scary instances, played with anxiety, and presumably built some tools for dealing with those feelings,” he says.

    You’ll Feel Better

    Scary media is fun because it allows people “to engage with difficult feelings like anxiety or fear in a safe and playful setting,” Scrivner says. “You can draw your attention away from your cycle of rumination.” And you’re in control: You can turn the sound down and the lights up, cover your eyes, and know it’ll end in 90 minutes.

    Scrivner, Clasen, and others examined three types of horror fans in a 2022 paper. Adrenaline Junkies seek maximum stimulation and feel great during the excitement. White Knucklers tolerate the fear but enjoy learning something about themselves. And Dark Copers get the mood boost and the self-enlightenment. 

    Some people find horror an excellent head-clearing experience, says Kerr, author of Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear. In her research, people who go through a haunted-house attraction show “a global decrease in brainwave activity.” 

     

    That’s a positive thing in this context. Their mood was boosted, they felt more confident, and they were able to “shut down or turn down inner thoughts,” she says. “This gives an idea as to why people like to experience these scary activities.” When our sympathetic nervous system is amped up, and hormones and neurotransmitters surge, it can lead to a euphoria akin to a runner’s high. “Also the feeling of achieving something – ‘We’re still alive!’” 

    Kerr and Siegle co-authored a paper in the journal Emotion subtitled “Why we like to be scared.” It said the improved mood was especially notable among “tired, bored, or stressed” people.

    Siegle points out that it’s hard to tell the difference, physiologically, between “high positive” and “high negative emotion.” (“High-fear faces and orgasm faces” often look the same, he says.)

    “So what if we crave these high-arousal experiences?” says Siegle. “That’s what puts us in a flow state. That’s what makes us giddy. We could get it through some ecstatic positive emotion – like dancing with a partner you love. Or we could get it with a haunted house.” 

    Or a crime scene photo or a graphic medical show. “Disgust is an emotion that raises arousal,” Siegle says.

    People seem to find a personal “sweet spot” for their frightening and morbid experiences: not too scary, not too boring, Scrivner says. (Makers of adaptive video games use research from the Fear Lab to calibrate a game’s fright factor.)

    The closer you can get to your sweet spot, the more you’ll get out of the experience, Scrivner says. “You want something that puts you near your limit, so you can test the waters.”

    You’ll Get to Know Yourself Better

    “Surviving” a haunted house or horror movie helps you become more attuned to your body, the researchers say. Part of that, Clasen says, is improving your “interoception” skills – perceiving and understanding bodily responses like a racing heart or sweaty palms. An anxious person feels that happening and becomes more anxious. Triggering those responses in a safe setting – like on your couch – may help break that cycle.

    Scary films indeed are triggering. When scientists showed people horror movies and measured brain activity with functional MRI, their “threat response network” lit up as though they were in danger, a study in Neuroimage showed.

    You may even gain insight into your personality. Scrivner has a fun quiz on his site to measure morbid curiosity. The questions cover four domains: the minds of dangerous people, the paranormal, body violation, and violence. You’re asked to rate your level of agreement with such statements as: 

    1. I am curious about the minds of violent people. 

    2. I think the supernatural is an interesting topic.

    3. If a head transplant was possible, I would want to watch the procedure.

    4. If I lived in ancient Rome, I would be interested in attending a gladiatorial fight.

    A strong “yes” to all of those, according to Scrivner, means you’ll probably score well above average for morbid curiosity. Statistically, you’re “a little more likely to have elevated levels of traits like openness to experience, rebelliousness, and anxiety.”

    That’s right – “Morbidly curious people are somewhat more likely to be higher in anxiety,” Scrivner says. “A core aspect of anxiety is vigilance toward threats. Events or situations that pique our morbid curiosity are often threatening events or situations we can safely explore.”

    It’s important to note that that strong agreement “doesn’t mean that there is something pathological or unhealthy about their curiosity.”

    Horror fans aren’t sickos, in other words. “There are people who score really high in empathy and in compassion who also love torture porn and slasher movies,” Scrivner says. The movie Hostel, for one grim and graphic example, contains several scenes that focus on the victims’ suffering, not the sadist’s pleasure. “That’s a very powerful tool causing you to empathize with the victim,” he says. 

    At the very least, Kerr says, a voluntary scary experience can stir self-reflection, feelings of growth and competency, and that can improve our “cognitive flexibility.” That flexibility helps us regulate our emotions and spurs us to engage with other people and new experiences – all of which promote well-being, she says. 

    And though you’re not likely to face zombies, “Maybe you get better at handling a job interview, or a presentation at your company, or a date,” Clasen says.

    That boost in emotion-regulating ability comes up in a 2016 paper in the scholarly journal Preternature (peer-reviewed articles about spooky stuff). The paper, titled “Grotesque Gaming: The Monstrous in Online Worlds,” examined “how players enjoy landscapes of the monstrous and the grotesque in order to engage with and tentatively conquer our inner fears and anxieties.”

    “It is our human nature to be attracted to the horrific and obtain pleasure from encountering it, because this is how we gain a partial and temporary victory over ourselves,” the paper said.

    “That these games exist shows that we need horror.” 

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  • Danger, Death, and Disgust: Why You Just Can’t Look Away

    Danger, Death, and Disgust: Why You Just Can’t Look Away

    Oct. 24, 2022 — Halloween Ends? Yeah, sure. Like that’ll happen.

    The market for horror remains robust 44 years after the original Halloween movie premiered. Part of the reason (besides Michael Myers’s charm) is that we humans appear to be hard-wired to enjoy getting scared.

    Whatever happens in Halloween Ends, the latest entry in the long-running film series, you’ll leave the theater with a sense of relief and satisfaction. You had fun and survived. It feels good.

    And you and most of the rest of the world will do it again and again – go to other movies, play scary video games, listen to true-crime podcasts, read Stephen King books, visit haunted houses. A survey by the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark found that 55% of Americans enjoy scary media, and 90% had dipped into the horror world at least once in the past year.

    Our penchant for fear dates back millennia. But new research is testing the theory that indulging in morbid curiosity and scary play can help us build psychological resilience, overcome phobias, and deal with genuine scares. So far, the answer is yes.

    When you scare yourself on purpose, you’re “learning your limits and learning a bit of self-reliance in the face of feelings of danger or fear or anxiety,” says Coltan Scrivner, PhD, a researcher at the Fear Lab and the author of several papers on horror.

    Our fascination extends to real life, however conflicted we may feel. “When we pass by a car accident or see a gruesome photo, our minds are compelled to attend to it and gather information,” Scrivner says. “This is the essence of morbid curiosity.”

    Greg Siegle, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, says it makes evolutionary sense. “It behooves us to pay attention to possibly threatening things. We learn very quickly, and we encode them deeply.” 

    For example: Roadkill reminds us to look both ways before crossing the street.

    This field of science seems like a bloody good time. Researchers visit haunted-house attractions and interview visitors. They show scary movies to wired-up viewers and check heart rate, eye movement, brain activity, and other measures of arousal. 

    Zombies even play a role. In a pilot experiment, Siegle and colleague Margee Kerr, PhD, a sociologist at the University of Pittsburgh, put actors in costumes and makeup for a virtual-reality film of zombies on a train. Subjects in VR goggles “enter” the train car to find zombies, but at the end, the actors strip away the makeup and everyone has a laugh.

    It’s a 21st-century reboot of exposure therapy, the 70-year-old technique in which patients are exposed to something that makes them anxious until they can deal with it. “The problem with exposure therapy is that it’s horrible,” Siegle says. “People drop out rather than be exposed to their fears. What if we made it fun?”

    Everyday moviegoers are doing a “home-brewed method” of exposure therapy, Scrivner says. “Morbidly curious horror fans spend time sitting with those feelings in a playful context,” he says. “They have a bit more experience feeling afraid or feeling anxious, and learn how to regulate those feelings.”

    The benefits are becoming clear.

    You’ll Become More Resilient

    Scrivner and others grabbed a chance to indirectly test this theory during the pandemic. It turned out that horror fans showed “greater preparedness for and psychological resilience” about the pandemic, they wrote in a 2021 study. They found that “exposure to frightening fictions” can help people “practice effective coping strategies that can be beneficial in real-world situations.”

    Our inborn fondness for play-acted fear and surprise can be seen in peekaboo with a baby, or hide-and-seek and playing tag with young children. “They’re out to get you, or you have to run from them,” Scrivner says. “To a kid, that’s a pretty scary concept.”

    Scrivner cites the work of Helen Dodd, PhD, a child psychologist in the U.K. who found that children who engage in risky, thrilling play “tend to have kind of an inoculation against anxiety in adolescence.”

    “It’s young kids listening to scary stories, riding their bikes too fast, climbing up too high in trees, teenagers watching horror movies or listening to true crime stories,” says Mathias Clasen, PhD, director of the Fear Lab and author of A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror Movies.

    “The idea is that they’ve played with fear, or played with scary instances, played with anxiety, and presumably built some tools for dealing with those feelings,” he says.

    You’ll Feel Better

    Scary media is fun because it allows people “to engage with difficult feelings like anxiety or fear in a safe and playful setting,” Scrivner says. “You can draw your attention away from your cycle of rumination.” And you’re in control: You can turn the sound down and the lights up, cover your eyes, and know it’ll end in 90 minutes.

    Scrivner, Clasen, and others examined three types of horror fans in a 2022 paper. Adrenaline Junkies seek maximum stimulation and feel great during the excitement. White Knucklers tolerate the fear but enjoy learning something about themselves. And Dark Copers get the mood boost and the self-enlightenment. 

    Some people find horror an excellent head-clearing experience, says Kerr, author of Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear. In her research, people who go through a haunted-house attraction show “a global decrease in brainwave activity.” 

     

    That’s a positive thing in this context. Their mood was boosted, they felt more confident, and they were able to “shut down or turn down inner thoughts,” she says. “This gives an idea as to why people like to experience these scary activities.” When our sympathetic nervous system is amped up, and hormones and neurotransmitters surge, it can lead to a euphoria akin to a runner’s high. “Also the feeling of achieving something – ‘We’re still alive!’” 

    Kerr and Siegle co-authored a paper in the journal Emotion subtitled “Why we like to be scared.” It said the improved mood was especially notable among “tired, bored, or stressed” people.

    Siegle points out that it’s hard to tell the difference, physiologically, between “high positive” and “high negative emotion.” (“High-fear faces and orgasm faces” often look the same, he says.)

    “So what if we crave these high-arousal experiences?” says Siegle. “That’s what puts us in a flow state. That’s what makes us giddy. We could get it through some ecstatic positive emotion – like dancing with a partner you love. Or we could get it with a haunted house.” 

    Or a crime scene photo or a graphic medical show. “Disgust is an emotion that raises arousal,” Siegle says.

    People seem to find a personal “sweet spot” for their frightening and morbid experiences: not too scary, not too boring, Scrivner says. (Makers of adaptive video games use research from the Fear Lab to calibrate a game’s fright factor.)

    The closer you can get to your sweet spot, the more you’ll get out of the experience, Scrivner says. “You want something that puts you near your limit, so you can test the waters.”

    You’ll Get to Know Yourself Better

    “Surviving” a haunted house or horror movie helps you become more attuned to your body, the researchers say. Part of that, Clasen says, is improving your “interoception” skills – perceiving and understanding bodily responses like a racing heart or sweaty palms. An anxious person feels that happening and becomes more anxious. Triggering those responses in a safe setting – like on your couch – may help break that cycle.

    Scary films indeed are triggering. When scientists showed people horror movies and measured brain activity with functional MRI, their “threat response network” lit up as though they were in danger, a study in Neuroimage showed.

    You may even gain insight into your personality. Scrivner has a fun quiz on his site to measure morbid curiosity. The questions cover four domains: the minds of dangerous people, the paranormal, body violation, and violence. You’re asked to rate your level of agreement with such statements as: 

    1. I am curious about the minds of violent people. 

    2. I think the supernatural is an interesting topic.

    3. If a head transplant was possible, I would want to watch the procedure.

    4. If I lived in ancient Rome, I would be interested in attending a gladiatorial fight.

    A strong “yes” to all of those, according to Scrivner, means you’ll probably score well above average for morbid curiosity. Statistically, you’re “a little more likely to have elevated levels of traits like openness to experience, rebelliousness, and anxiety.”

    That’s right – “Morbidly curious people are somewhat more likely to be higher in anxiety,” Scrivner says. “A core aspect of anxiety is vigilance toward threats. Events or situations that pique our morbid curiosity are often threatening events or situations we can safely explore.”

    It’s important to note that that strong agreement “doesn’t mean that there is something pathological or unhealthy about their curiosity.”

    Horror fans aren’t sickos, in other words. “There are people who score really high in empathy and in compassion who also love torture porn and slasher movies,” Scrivner says. The movie Hostel, for one grim and graphic example, contains several scenes that focus on the victims’ suffering, not the sadist’s pleasure. “That’s a very powerful tool causing you to empathize with the victim,” he says. 

    At the very least, Kerr says, a voluntary scary experience can stir self-reflection, feelings of growth and competency, and that can improve our “cognitive flexibility.” That flexibility helps us regulate our emotions and spurs us to engage with other people and new experiences – all of which promote well-being, she says. 

    And though you’re not likely to face zombies, “Maybe you get better at handling a job interview, or a presentation at your company, or a date,” Clasen says.

    That boost in emotion-regulating ability comes up in a 2016 paper in the scholarly journal Preternature (peer-reviewed articles about spooky stuff). The paper, titled “Grotesque Gaming: The Monstrous in Online Worlds,” examined “how players enjoy landscapes of the monstrous and the grotesque in order to engage with and tentatively conquer our inner fears and anxieties.”

    “It is our human nature to be attracted to the horrific and obtain pleasure from encountering it, because this is how we gain a partial and temporary victory over ourselves,” the paper said.

    “That these games exist shows that we need horror.” 

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  • HAA Features 2022 Top Haunts – the Top Haunted Attractions to See This Year

    HAA Features 2022 Top Haunts – the Top Haunted Attractions to See This Year

    Press Release
    –

    Sep 6, 2022


    AUSTIN, Texas, September 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Soon the leaves will be falling, the temperatures dropping and the screams of excitement rising as Haunted House Season and Halloween are upon us. Each year the Haunted Attraction Association (HAA), the only official association in the haunt industry, names the “Top Haunted Attractions” across the country. To be designated, attractions must be recognized as a member of HAA while also satisfying a list of 10 criteria related to the mission of HAA – to protect customers, promote haunted attractions, and educate industry experts.

    “The most important aspect of our jobs is prioritizing visitor safety,” said HAA President Spencer Terry. “The Top Haunts certification rewards those attractions that have been in operation for at least 10 years and are not only leaders in delivering some of the best attractions in the business, but also in setting the bar high for best practices in safety.” 

    We encourage people to attend this group of awesome attractions, and for the media to promote their safety and recognition. Look for a haunt near year at the below link or directly in the following list of Top Haunts.

    Here is the list of the official 2022 “HAA Top Haunted Attractions,” which can also be found here.

     
     
    Akron Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory Akron, OH https://www.hauntedschoolhouse.com
    Creepy Hollow Haunted House Rosharon, TX www.Creepyhollowhauntedhouse.com
    Dark Hour Haunted House Plano, TX www.darkhourhauntedhouse.com
    Factory Of Terror Canton, OH https://fotohio.com
    Fear Factory Salt Lake City, UT www.fearfactoryslc.com
    Fear Fair Seymour, IN www.FearFair.com
    Fear Farm Glendale, AZ www.fearfarm.com
    Field of Screams Mountville, PA https://fieldofscreams.com
    Field of Screams MT Victor, MT www.fieldofscreamsmt.com
    Fright Nights West Palm Beach, FL www.myfrightnights.com
    Fright Nights WV Daniels, WV www.FrightNightsWV.com
    Frightland Middletown, DE www.Frightland.com
    Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park Palermo, NY www.frightmarefarms.net
    Ghostly Manor Sandusky, OH https://www.ghostlymanor.com/ghostly-manor-haunted-house
    Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, PA www.HalloweenNights.org
    Haunted Hollow Rockwood, PZ www.hauntedhollow.net
    Haunted Hotel – Louisville Louisville, KY https://www.hauntedhotelky.com
    Haunted Hunt Club Farm Virginia Beach, VA https://hauntedhuntclubfarm.com
    Headless Horseman Ulster Park, NY https://headlesshorseman.com
    Hobb’s Grove Sanger, CA https://www.hobbsgrove.com
    House of Torment Austin, TX www.houseoftorment.com
    Hundred Acres Manor Pittsburgh, PA https://www.hundredacresmanor.com
    Hysterium Haunted Asylum Fort Wayne, IN www.Hysterium.com
    Legends of Fear Shelton, CT https://www.legendsoffear.com/index.html
    Los Angeles Haunted Hayride Los Angeles, CA www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com
    Nashville Nightmare Nashville, TN www.nashvillenightmare.com
    New Orleans Nightmare New Orleans, LA www.neworleansnightmare.com
    Niles Scream Park Niles, MI www.haunted.org
    Pennhurst Spring City, PA https://pennhurstasylum.com
    Reapers Revenge Scranton, PA https://reapersrevenge.com
    Scarehouse Pittsburgh, PA https://www.scarehouse.com
    Shocktoberfest Sinking Spring, PA https://www.shocktoberfest.com
    Sinister Tombs Haunted House Eastview, KY http://www.sinistertombs.com
    Spook Hollow ILL Marquette Heights, Il http://spook-hollow.com
    Spooky Ranch Columbia Station, OH www.spookyranch.com
    Stillwell Manor Anderson, IN https://stillwellmanor.com
    Terror in the Corn Erie, CO https://terrorinthecorn.com
    Terror on the Fox Appleton, WI www.terroronthefox.com
    The Dent Schoolhouse Cincinnati, OH www.frightsite.com
    The Devil’s Attic Louisville, KY http://thedevilsattic.com/darknessfalls
    The Haunted Farm Hendersonville, NC https://nchauntedfarm.com
    The Haunted Hydro Fremont, OH www.HauntedHydro.com
    13th Floor Haunted House Chicago Chicago, IL https://13thfloorchicago.com
    13th Floor Haunted House Denver Denver, CO https://www.13thfloorhauntedhouse.com
    13th Floor Haunted House Phoenix Phoenix, AZ www.13thflooraz.com
    13th Floor Haunted House San Antonio San Antonio, TX www.13thfloorsanantonio.com
    USS Nightmare Newport, KY www.ussnightmare.com
    Wiard’s Orchards’ Night Terrors Ypsilanti, MI https://www.hauntedhousemichigan.com
    Woods of Terror Greensboro, NC www.woodsofterror.com

    About The Haunted Attraction Association

    The Haunted Attraction Association, the only official association in the haunt industry, serves as the voice of the haunted attraction industry. Our mission is to promote our worldwide network of haunted attractions including Haunted Houses, Haunted Hayrides, Scream Parks, Mega-Haunts, Halloween Festivals, Haunted Outdoor Trails, Corn Mazes, and Amusement Park Halloween Events. Our goal is to protect our customers through education and networking of our members. Visit www.hauntedattractionassociation.com or call 616-439-4220.  

    Like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hauntedattractionassociation and follow HAA on Twitter to see the Official Halloween Countdown at https://twitter.com/HAAHaunts.

    Contact: Spencer Terry 
    HAA President
    spencer@fearfactoryslc.com

    Source: Haunted Attraction Association

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