It’s finally Halloween season and with it, comes parties. Your coworker or cousin might be throwing a fun Halloween bash in their basement, but it won’t compare to the extravagant festivities going on at your local southern California theme park. Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, and Knott’s Berry Farm’s annual Scary Farm offer uncanny attractions, “spooktacular” shows, and terrifyingly tasty treats. To ensure the scariest part of your Halloween isn’t choosing which party to attend, I’m laying out the top reasons to visit each and helping you decide which Halloween hoedown is right for you.
Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash is a party for all ages. Oogie Boogie Bash takes over Disney California Adventure (DCA) and lasts from 6 pm to 11 pm. Your ticket will also provide you early entry into the park at 3 pm, meaning the party lasts five hours, but your time in the park can total up to eight hours. For the price of $129 to $179 a person depending on the day, you are granted admission into DCA, unlimited downloads of your professionally taken photos on Disney PhotoPass, and as much candy as you can carry! You’ll find rare character sightings across the park like Coco’s Ernesto de la Cruz, Encancto’s Bruno, and of course, The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Oogie Boogie. Additionally, you’ll be able to view the exclusive entertainment of the Frightfully Fun Parade and Mickey’s Trick and Treat show, featuring Mickey Mouse and friends telling spooky Halloween tales. In terms of attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout is the only ride having undergone a significant Halloween-themed overlay. In the temporarily renamed Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, you’ll help the beloved raccoon Rocket and his heroic friends rescue Groot from an intergalactic fortress as unearthly monsters do everything they can to stop you. Another perk of this eerie affair is the much lower than normal wait times on rides given the party’s limited admission. So, even though Radiator Springs Racers disappointingly doesn’t have a ghostly overlay, you can find solace in the fact that you won’t have to wait the usual three hours for a three-minute car ride.
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is for true anxiety aficionados. Leave the kids at home and visit one of the eight uniquely themed haunted houses across the park. These haunted houses range in theming from Halloween/Michael Myers to Universal’s historic monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man. Believe it or not, even The Weeknd makes an appearance. Yes, you read that right. Singer The Weeknd has his own haunted house at HHN. Inspired by his 2020 album After Hours, this menacing manor features botched plastic surgery patients, including The Weeknd himself, chasing you around with scissors and syringes in an attempt to give you a sinister makeover. All the park’s usual attractions are also open. A creepy overlay is applied to the beloved Studio Tour, now renamed the Terror Tram. You can find limited Halloween-themed treats at this party, including alcoholic drinks at The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare Bar. This bar’s highlight is the After Hours Nightmare, a tequila-based cocktail mixed with raspberry puree, peach and lime juices, and a syringe?! Don’t worry, it’s filled with grenadine. A ticket to the seven-hour long frightful festivities will set you back $72 to $102 depending on the day, and up to $499 if you opt for the R.I.P. tour to cut the lines, enjoy an all-you-can-eat feast, and cruise around in private trolly transportation.
Knott’s Scary Farm has the cheapest starting price of the three options, beginning at $59 and going up to $99. While 1,000 chilling creatures are roaming the transformed theme park, the most terrifying part of the night might be trying to choose from one of their scarily good-looking Halloween treats! Although your stomach might despise you for it, your tastebuds will thank you for trying The Chaos Cheeseburger Pizza filled with a disturbing number of toppings. The Ghoul’s Beer Cheese Mac & Cheese with Steak Bites also looks devilishly delicious. The most well-rethemed ride is the Timber Mountain Log Ride, now renamed the Timber Mountain Log Ride: Halloween Hootenanny. You’ll pass by witches, ghosts, and goblins in your tottering timber log. This petrifying party normally lasts seven hours, operating from 7 pm to 2 am.
There is no wrong answer when choosing among these three ghostly galas. Nonetheless, each serves a different audience. For couples, young families, and those not interested in the blood-curdling aspects of the holiday, Disney’s Oogie Boogie Bash is a perfect choice. With unlimited candy, exclusive character meet and greets, and low wait times on rides, anyone from young children to young-at-heart adults will have a blast. For the real creep connoisseurs, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is a must. Targeting a more mature audience, this spine-tingling shindig has a plethora of ways to make you scream. The haunted houses combined with iconic characters like Michael Myers and even The Weeknd will give you the nightmares and sleepless nights you desire. And finally, Knott’s Scary Farm is for the frugal fright fans on a budget. At only $59 per person, you can’t go wrong. The food looks delicious, the theming is lively (or should I say deadly,) and there is an overabundance of monsters lurking around the park waiting to spook you. Whichever party you chose, you’re sure to have a ghostly good time!