Halloween season is finally here! Which means endless ways to celebrate being a horror fan. Horror movie marathons, local haunts, traditional Halloween fare, and so much more fills the entire month of October. But what if you really want to go big and do something a little outside of the norm? We’ve got you covered. Here are 7 unique events tailor-made for the horror fan worth visiting this Halloween season.
Orlando and Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights
This one is an obvious choice, as this annual Halloween event at Universal Studios theme parks has been going on strong since the ‘90s. There scare zones and haunted attractions are always top notch when it comes to production design, and at least half of the houses are based on familiar horror films and series. This year brings houses and scare zones based on Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Stranger Things, Poltergeist, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Trick ‘R Treat, and more. All of this sounds like heaven on earth for the horror fan. Details and tickets can be found here.
Salem, Massachusetts – Salem Horror Fest (October 4-14)
There are horror film fests, and then there are horror film fests set in the historic city of Salem smack in the middle of Halloween season. It doesn’t get much spookier than that. Aside from special screenings of new and repertory horror films like 2018’s Halloween or the 30th-anniversary screening of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, there’s a number of celebrity guests and unique events like taking a Zombiecise class with Linnea Quigley. And if you get tired of festival activities, there’s always the town’s witchy history to explore.
Evans City, Pennsylvania – Night of the Living Dead 50th Anniversary Celebration (October 5-7)
George A. Romero altered the collective perception of the zombie film forever with the release of Night of the Living Dead on October 1, 1968, and the classic turns 50 this year. That makes this particular event extra special, set in the same place where Romero shot his classic film. In addition to screening the film in the very same theater where it premiered 50 years ago, fans can rub elbows with many actors from the original film, take guided tours of the filming locations, and much more. More information on the Living Dead Weekend can be found here.
Pasadena, California – Halloween: 40 Years of Terror (October 12-14)
John Carpenter’s beloved slasher classic turns 40 this year, and you can celebrate by attending a convention commemorating all things Halloween. The guest list is downright massive, and the panels cover everything from the original 1978 film to Rob Zombie’s remake. But one of the more unique events is that of the Hallowed Grounds Bus Tour, which is a 5-6-hour tour that visits filming locations from Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and more.
Burkittsville, Maryland – The Blair Witch Experience (October 13-14)
This annual, nonprofit event returns for another Halloween season, offering up another chance for fans to visit all of the locations for the filming of The Blair Witch Project and retrace the steps of the ill-fated film crew that crossed paths with the Blair Witch. Other unique events, hiking, giveaways, and a screening of the film in the Patapsco State Park around the campfire are just some of the activities happening, and the event concludes Sunday with a visit to the Rustin Parr house ruins. Creepy.
Estes Park, Colorado – The Shining Ball (October 20)
The infamously haunted Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King notoriously wrote The Shining, has a number of Halloween themed events throughout the month, but for the horror fan the biggest is that of their annual Shining Ball. A two-floor extravaganza themed and featured after the film, complete with themed characters, the Shining Ball will make you feel right at home. You’ve always been the caretaker. For info on both the Shining Ball and other October events, visit the Stanley Hotel.
Santa Rosa, California – Scream Comes Home (October 26-27)
This once-in-a-lifetime screening and fan gathering of Wes Craven’s Scream takes place at the actual house used in the final showdown between Sidney Prescott and the Ghostface killer. There’s a ton of offerings available, from overnight stays to day trips. Special guests, a bus tour that makes stops at various filming locations from the movie, photo ops, a breakfast brunch at Stu’s house, merchandise, and of course, a special screening right outside of the house makes this a can’t miss event for Scream fans.