Get ready to scream—beyond the signature thrill rides—when you visit Halloween Horror Nights from early September through early November at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles County. In this series of incredibly popular scare-fest nights, the theme park turns into a haunted nightmare that will likely scare the willies out of most visitors.
For years, the thumping heart of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights had been found in its notorious mazes and haunted houses that recreated shriek-inducing moments from iconic horror films and television series. These days, the focus tends to be just on haunted houses. Visitors get to walk through eight movie-quality creepy domiciles that are populated with ghoulish, masked, or zombified actors, also known to dart out from darkened corners.
A few of the latest to join the lineup include haunted houses inspired by A Quiet Place and Ghostbusters, as well as the haunted house called “The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy,” curated by the Grammy-winning recording artist. Classic monster fans will love “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” featuring all-female creatures and a haunting soundtrack by Slash. Or check out the new haunted house “Dead Exposure: Death Valley,” populated by radioactive zombies.
Of course, the haunted houses aren’t the only attractions that will keep your fight-or-flight instincts firmly locked into overdrive. After your heart slows down from the fright of a haunted house tour, get it racing again on the Terror Tram or in a whole selection of scream-filled Scare Zones where various creatures lurk amid the streets of Universal Studios. This year’s tram has the theme “Enter the Blumhouse,” featuring characters from Blumhouse Production movies such as M3GAN and The Black Phone.
How to experience Halloween Horror Nights
Know before you go: Universal Studios Hollywood does not recommend Halloween Horror Nights for guests younger than 13. Yes—it’s that scary.
Also, keep in mind that Halloween Horror Nights is a separate-ticket event—it’s closed to guests who just came for the day—and admission begins at 7 p.m. There are a few ways to enhance your visit, though, starting with Universal Express passes that let you skip the lines for haunted houses or the VIP-style “I.P. Tour” that includes a guide and gourmet dinner. You can also book the Early Access Ticket that lets you start your evening at 5:30 p.m., or the “After 2PM Day/Night” ticket, which also includes daytime general admission to the park starting at 2 p.m.
If you want to freak out repeatedly during the Halloween season, consider getting the Frequent Fear Pass, where you can experience up to 33 nights on select dates, or the Ultimate Fear Pass, which is good for all event nights with no blackout dates.
Plan your trip
Shrieking your way through Halloween Horror Nights is just one way to celebrate the season in the Golden State. Check out these other Halloween events at California theme parks and more Halloween events and festivals across the state. Check out more holiday fun at Universal Studios Hollywood by planning your trip around other seasonal events throughout the year.