Halloween New England Top Picks for September 20th- 26th, 2018

We wait all year for this moment - the start of our favorite season!

Though the calendar reads September, devoted Halloween New England fans know the spirit of the Halloween season kicks off with the change in the temp, the turning color of the leaves, and the arrival of pumpkins at every local farm stand. Salem's Haunted Happenings Grand Parade is two weeks from today and haunt-fans across New England are thrilled to welcome the first weekend of haunt openings this weekend!

Halloween New England always has your back all season long with hundreds of upcoming events listed to help you stay on top of new Halloween experiences and alerted to new attractions. Tune in each Thursday for our Top Picks, highlights for the weekend, special events not to be missed, incredible contests, and other essential info to keep you on top of everything this Halloween. Our event calendars grow every year and you'll never find more Halloween events in a single place than at Halloween New England.

Our Family-Friendly Halloween Event Guides in several states will help you spot wonderful all-ages Halloween and pumpkin events for making memories and starting new traditions this year.

Earlier this month we posted on our blog about the one-of-a-kind experience we had during an off-season trip to the Pacific northwest to visit Ghost Ride Productions' horror prop shop.
We received a close-up look at the process of making the very Special FX horror props that we come across inside haunted houses all Halloween season long. In fact, it was such a close-up look that we participated in our first-ever lifecasting to become a full-size realistic horror prop! (Coming to a dark corner near you....)
We enjoyed touring their shop, getting to know their capable crew, seeing the jam-packed shelves holding dozens of molds responsible for making their incredible inventory--including our favorite Frank character!
If you haven't had a chance to read about Halloween New England's visit to Seattle to experience a lifecasting session for Ghost Ride Productions' new "Alexa" full size body prop, here's a quick link.

So many ways to celebrate Halloween, so little time to do it....that's why we start celebrating six weeks early--and so should you.

At this point in September, there is just a smattering of Halloween themed and seasonally inspired events. As we get closer to October 31st you'll see more highlighted events to consider across New England...and of course, we always have more listings--plus events in the future--listed on the website. To whet your appetite for the season, here are a few worthwhile events for this weekend.

With so much going on in Salem, MA October, it couldn't be a better time to check out the many tours and attractions the city has to offer. Salem Historical Tours is currently serving up five different daily walking tours every afternoon plus they add their Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour nightly starting in October. Look for tours on Salem Haunted History, Cemetery Tours, Salem Movie Site tours, a midday Ghost Tour and a Witchcraft Walk.  It's always wise to book early and they offer discounts when you book multiple tours during your visit to the Witch City.

For the best of Salem planning, bookmark the website and social media pages for Haunted Happenings Magazine for the most updated special local Salem events and new attractions.

This Saturday, September 22nd is also the 11th annual Salem Wicked Half Marathon and walkers are welcome too!

Some special events worth highlighting for costume-lovers include the Wizards Costume Contest and a Harry Potter Cosplay Contest and Snitch Hunt at the CT RenFaire this weekend.

More Harry Potter fun this Saturday at Escobar Farm in Portsmouth, RI for their annual Harry Potter Day festivities.

Bangor Maine area folks with an interest in learning FX Makeup will want to know about a special 8-week course at Queen City Arts called SPFX Makeup Class which is open for anyone ages 15 and older.

Theatre-lovers might like to know that Jekyll and Hyde the musical opens their run on Wednesday at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA and will feature Constantine Maroulis in the title roles. You'll have until October 7th to check it out. 

The Portland Players in Portland, ME are opening their musical production of the always hilarious and fun Little Shop of Horrors which runs September 21st through October 7th.

Vermont is hosting the biggest of the big pumpkin events this weekend with a Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in at Sam Mazza Farms.

Contests: Opening Weekend Giveaways, Ticket 4-packs,
 $25 towards Costume Merchandise, and Tickets Galore!

We've got nine contests live on Halloween New England by the end of today plus more coming on Monday! Find ALL the contests that you can enter here.

Enter to WIN a pair of tickets to Fear Town Haunted House in Seekonk, MA, win a four-pack of tickets to Barrrett's Haunted Mansion in Abington, MA, win a four-pack of tickets to 13th World haunted trail in Cumberland, RI, and another chance to win entry to the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload in Lee, NH.

Opening Weekend welcomes more winners! Enter to win Opening Weekend tickets from Ghost Ship Harbor in Quincy, MA and combo tickets (haunts + rides) for The Haunted Graveyard in Bristol, CT.
If you're looking to pick up some new additions for your Halloween Costume this year you will find a chance to win $25 towards merchandise at Costumania in West Lebanon, NH!

We're also running ticket contests for Vengeance in the Valley haunted hayride and haunted maize in Guilford, VT and you won't want to miss out on the chance to win admission to The Haunted Speakeasy which is the costume party of the season at The Bull Mansion in Worcester, MA!
Visit Halloween New England's home page for contest details and links for entering to win!

Recent Contest Winners: Congrats to Jason Avery and Stephanie Brown who won her way into the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload!

 Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Friday, September 21st

Barrett's Haunted Mansion (Abington, MA)

Scary Acres (Hope, RI) - Maze and Hayride

Marini Farm Corn MAze (MA) - non -haunted Maze

SpookyWorld - Trails and Hayride
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

Haunted Houses, Haunted Mazes, and Haunted Hayrides Opening Saturday, September 22nd

Fright Haven (CT)

FrightFest at Six Flags New England (MA)

The Ghoullog (NH)

Screeemfest at Canobie Lake (NH)

Cucumber Hill Farm Flashlight Corn Maze (RI) - non-Haunted
Click for the complete Opening Night Guide

We're thrilled to have teamed up again with the uber-talented The Pixel Perfection: After Dark whose incredibly creepy and inspiring haunt photos populate the guides again this year. As always, we know you love their photos...just please don't steal their photos! Why not just follow them on Facebook or Instagram or hire them to capture your Halloween attraction or event?

Halloween New England Top Picks for September 21st- 27th, 2017

We wait all year for this moment - the start of our favorite season!

It may still be September but the spirit of the Halloween season kicks in with the change in the temp, the turning color of the leaves, and the arrival of pumpkins at every local farm stand. Salem's Haunted Happenings is just two weeks away and haunt-fans are thrilled to welcome the arrival of haunted attractions who are on the cusp of opening their season for customers and fans.

Halloween New England has you covered all season long with upcoming events and we'll help you stay on top of new Halloween Attractions opening up. Tune in each Thursday for our Top Picks, highlights for the weekend, special events not to be missed, incredible contests, and other essential info to keep you on top of everything this Halloween. Our event calendars grow every year and you'll never find more Halloween events in a single place than at Halloween New England. We've even added Family-Friendly Halloween Event Guides to several states to help you find wonderful Halloween and pumpkin events suitable for everyone.

If you haven't had a chance to peek at what Halloween New England has been up to over the last 10 months, check out our 2017 Preview we posted earlier this week.

So many ways to celebrate Halloween, so little time to do it....that's why we start celebrating six weeks early--and so should you.

Top Event picks for the upcoming weekend:

At this point in September, there are just a handful of Halloween/seasonally inspired events. With each week closer to Halloween you'll see more highlighted events to consider...and of course, we always have more listings--plus events in the future--listed on the website. To whet your appetite for the season, here are a few worthwhile events for this weekend.

With so much going on in Salem, MA October, it is prime time to check out the many tours and attractions the city has to offer. Salem Historical Tours is currently serving up four different daily walking tours every afternoon plus they add their Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour nightly starting in October. It's always wise to book early and they offer discounts when you book multiple tours during your visit to the Witch City.
You can also get a head start on your Salem planning by checking out Haunted Happenings Magazine for the most updated special local Salem events and new attractions.
If you're in Salem this Friday, you might want to take in a screening of "Night of the Living Dead" which is showing at the Peabody Essex Museum.

If Horror flicks both classic and new are right up your alley, make a beeline for the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA where they've got over a dozen classic horror films being shown over the next six weeks, many with a midnight showing.

This Saturday, September 23rd is a midnight screening of "I Spit on Your Grave" (1978) and we would be remiss if we didn't declare outright that the Coolidge Corner Theatre also has the fluffiest, tastiest popcorn you will ever find at a cinema.

Theatre-lovers might enjoy a visit to Bridgeport, CT's Downtown Cabaret Theatre where their musical production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" opens this Friday and runs weekends through October 15th.
While you are in Connecticut on Sunday, you might want to assume your favorite Harry Potter character to enter the CT Renaissance Faire's Harry Potter Costume Contest (no age limit).

Vermont is hosting two big pumpkin events this weekend - check out the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in at Sam Mazza Farms on Saturday and Sunday is the day where trebuchets face off in a contest to fling pumpkins as far as they can across a large field at the annual Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival.

Contests: Be a Monster, VIP Nights, $20 towards Costumes, and Tickets Galore!

We've got five contests live on Halloween New England by the end of today plus two more added tomorrow! 

Enter to WIN a pair of Speed Pass tickets to Haunted Acres in Candia, NH, win a four-pack of tickets to 13th World haunted trail in Cumberland, RI,  win a four-pack of tickets to the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular in Providence, RI and enter to win a special VIP "Be a Monster for a Night" experience at Creeperum haunted house in Hamden, CT! 

If you're looking to pick up some new additions for your Halloween Costume this year you will find a chance to win $20 towards merchandise at Costumania in West Lebanon, NH!

Before the weekend arrives you'll also find a new contest for Fear Town tickets in Seekonk, MA and another chance to win entry to the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload in Lee, NH.  Visit Halloween New England's home page for contest details.

Congrats to Craig Miranda, Michael McDonald, and Sabrina Desy who won tickets to 13th World haunted trail, Bianca Burgos and Joe Turner won a four-pack of tickets to the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular, and Emilee Orsi won her way into the special invite-only night at Haunted Overload, a and Julia Baranowski won the Art of Sketch art print! We're still waiting to hear from more winners who have been contacted so if you've entered and haven't checked your email--do so soon!

We're thrilled to have teamed up again with New England's own uber-talented The Pixel Perfection: After Dark whose incredibly creepy and inspiring haunt photos populate the guides again this year. As always, we know you love their photos...just please don't steal their photos! Why not just follow them on Facebook instead or hire them to capture your Halloween attraction or event?

Haunted Houses and Night Corn Mazes opening Thursday, September 21st:

Devil's Playground (NH)

Haunted Houses, Haunted Hayrides, and Night Mazes opening Friday, September 22nd:

Barrett's Haunted Mansion (MA)

Marini Farm Corn Maze (MA) – non-haunted Flashlight Corn Maze

SpookyWorld (NH) 

Haunted Houses, Trails, and Night Mazes opening Saturday, September 23rd:

Fright Haven (CT) 

FrightFest at Six Flags New England (MA)

The Ghoullog (NH)

Coppal House Farm (NH) – non-haunted Flashlight Corn Maze

If you are looking make the most of your October weekends and you love to plan ahead, check out which haunted attractions will be open on an off-peak night. Find out who'll be waiting in the dark for you in our Guide to Haunted Attractions Open on Sunday Nights.

*as always, if the weather is lousy it's wise to double check that the event is open as some may close for inclement weather

We're thrilled to have teamed up again with New England's own uber-talented The Pixel Perfection: After Dark whose incredibly creepy and inspiring haunt photos populate the guides again this year. As always, we know you love their photos...just please don't steal their photos! Why not just follow them on Facebook instead or hire them to capture your Halloween attraction or event?

Halloween New England Top Picks for October 1st - 7th, 2015

We've waited 11 months for the return of October but at last our favorite month is here!
Halloween New England has you covered all month long with upcoming events and we'll help you stay on top of new Halloween Attractions opening up.

Top Event picks for the upcoming week:

Salem's Haunted Happenings kicks off today with the popular Grand Parade is Thursday, Oct. 1st. Details here.

With so much going on in Salem over the next month, consider checking out Haunted Happenings Magazine or, better yet, download their app for the most updated calendar.

If you'll be in Salem over the next month, check out Salem Historical Tours who offers multiple tours daily to fit any time you're in the Witch City.

The return of The Day of the Dead Scavenger Hunt is coming up this Sunday, October 4th in Taunton, MA. A full-day of clues, puzzles, and costumes-if-you-wish is a family-friendly adventure and tickets are going fast.We'll be there ourselves! Day of the Dead Scavenger Hunt details.

Hartford CT's Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours will be happening throughout the month starting Friday, October 2nd so buy your tickets early to get your preferred date.

This Thursday, October 1st also marks the return of the month-long Jack-o'-lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. We've been running a series of contests to win tickets to this event so visit Halloween New England to enter for a chance to check out this event "on us".

The annual Jack-o-lantern Spectacular is a pumpkin festival featuring a jaw-dropping number of jack-o-lanterns and it is open every night in October through Nov. 1st. You'll be treated to a breathtaking display of carved pumpkins and pumpkin displays, It's a perfect way to spend a crisp fall evening. Details here.

We've got three contests right now on Halloween New England. Enter to WIN a pair of tickets to Amity Road Horror haunted trail in Bethany, CT, Haunted Overload haunted trail in Lee, NH, Haunted Acres in Candia, NH and the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI. Visit Halloween New England's home page for contest details.

Congrats to Kendra LaTorraca who won the tickets to The Amity Road Horror, Jennifer Christie won the all-inclusive Day of the Dead Scavenger Hunt tickets,  Julia Young and Caley Cook won four-pack of tickets to the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular, and Kevin Heim and Michaela Costa won tickets to Salem's Gallows Hill Witchcraft and Ghost Experience!

Where is Halloween New England headed this weekend?

We had some local haunted hayrides circled for this weekend but with some wet weather at the end of the week, we are staying flexible in case there are some weather cancellations. We'll let you know where we end up!
No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, we'll know we'll be participating in The Day of the Dead Scavenger Hunt and Party in the Pines in Taunton, MA all day Sunday--join us!

Last weekend we returned to Fright Fest at Six Flags New England for their opening weekend. The weather was crisp and the spirits were high across the whole park. Let there be no doubt, everyone was in the mood for Halloween!

If you are looking ahead to plan your October weekends but want to check out haunted attractions on an off-peak night, we have your Guide to Haunted Attractions Open on Sunday Nights.

Haunted houses, trails, haunted hayrides, and haunted corn mazes opening Friday, October 2nd:

Amity Road Horror (CT)

The Haunted Graveyard (CT)

Fright Kingdom  (NH)

Haunted Acres (NH)

Mike's Maze (MA) - Flashlight and Haunted Corn Maze

Fear Town (MA)

Hysteria at Connors Farm (MA) – Trail and non-haunted Flashlight Corn Maze

13 Nights at Jiminy Peak (MA)

Century Hayride and Spooky Walk (MA)

The 7-1-5 Haunted House (MA)

Witch's Woods  (MA) - House and Haunted Hayride

Monster Mash Scream Park (MA) - Haunted Hayride

Hanson's Farm Haunted Hayride

Davis Farmland MegaMaze (MA) –Haunted Corn Maze

Marini Farm (MA) – non-haunted Flashlight Corn Maze

Factory of Terror Fall River (MA)

Ghoulie Manor (MA)

Fright Fest at Six Flags New England (MA)

Demented FX (MA)

Haunted Labyrinth (RI)

Field of Screams (RI) - Trail and Haunted Hayride

Scary Acres (RI) – Haunted Corn Maze and Haunted Hayride

Haunted Hill (RI)

Trails to Terror (RI) – Trail and Haunted Hayride

Haunted Tunnel at Slater Park (RI)

Halloween New England's Top Picks for October 1st - 7th, 2014

We've waited 334 days for the return of October but it was well worth it! Halloween New England has you covered all month long with upcoming events and we'll help you stay on top of new Halloween Attractions opening up.

Top event picks for the upcoming week:

Salem's Haunted Happenings kicks off today but the popular Grand Parade is Thursday, Oct. 2nd. Details here.

The Salem Witch Museum is also hosting The Penguin Book of Witches Book Party on Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 7:00pm. The event is free but RSVP is required.  Details here.

This Thursday, Oct. 2nd also marks the return of the month-long Jack-o'-lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

This evening festival is open every night in October through Nov. 2nd. You'll be treated to a breathtaking display of carved pumpkins and a perfect way to spend a crisp fall evening. Details here.

Stay tuned for more contests to win tickets to the Jack-o'-lantern Spectacular.

One of our very favorite daytime pumpkin festivals is coming up Saturday Oct 4th (rain date: Oct 5th)--check out Milford, CT's Pumpkins on the Pier Festival. Read up on why it's a memorable event worth your time, festival tips included. Details here.

If you're up north this weekend, swing by the Pumpkin Festival at DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee, NH on Saturday and Sunday, Oct 4th & 5th. Details here.

We've got a contest running right now to WIN a pair of tickets to see Haunted Acres in Candia, NH. Visit Halloween New England to enter the contest (ends Friday 10/3).

Congrats to Eric Grenier who won the tickets to see The Amity Road Horror!

Where is Halloween New England headed this weekend?

Halloween New England is swinging down to Connecticut to check out The Only Scream in Town in North Haven, CT and The Amity Road Horror in Bethany, CT. If we can, we'll try to make it to Trail of Terror in Wallingford, CT as well. Dare us to fit in three haunts in an evening? We'll let you know if we managed to do it! 

We're looking to pop over to Fright Fest at Six Flags New England on Sunday. We had a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour there last weekend to see how they've adapted their park to their Halloween festivities. With all the extra attractions, performances, and new twists on the rides we couldn't fit in everything we wanted to see so we're headed back for more!

The following haunted houses, trails, haunted hayrides
and haunted corn mazes open this Friday, October 3rd:

The Amity Road Horror  (CT)

Haunted Acres  (NH)

Haunted Hill   (RI)

Dark Manor   (CT)

Nightmare on Wolcott Street  (CT)

The Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce (CT)

Trail of Terror  (CT)

Haunted Maze at Sherman Farm (NH)

Fright Kingdom  (NH)

The Dark Crop Haunted Corn Maze (NH)

Fear Town  (MA)

Witch's Woods (MA)

Vengeance in the Valley Haunted Maze & Hayride  (VT)

Dead North - Farmland of Terror Maze (VT)

The Gauntlet at Harvest Hill Farms Haunted Hayride and Flashlight Maze (ME)

Salem's Gallows Hill Witchcraft and Ghost Experience Offers Thrills this October

Halloween New England recently took a jaunt up to Salem, MA for dinner and a show. Our trip was an impromptu one and really, we never need much of an excuse to pop in to one of our favorite cities in Massachusetts.

Gallows Hill Museum in Salem, MA

After a wonderful meal at Tavern on the Square we took a short 3 minute walk up the street to Gallows Hill for the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience.

We met up with owner Erik Rodenhiser, a Salem native, owner of the theatre space, and creative mind behind the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience.
He welcomed us and shared a bit about the history of the theatre as we waited for a large group to arrive. The theatre is the home base for the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience as well as a number of tours and special events including the Ghosts and Legends Trolley (October only). 

The gift shop with Gallows Hill tees

The main lobby doubles as a small gift shop and a visual display of different memorabilia related to Salem’s history and traditions. Set between two open rooms, the museum features photos, short videos, and a number of plaques showcasing the important people and timeline of Salem’s Witch Trials.

There was plenty of posted material explaining aspects of the Witch Trials and debunking myths about witchcraft, especially as it is practiced in modern day Salem.

The museum, which is only open before and after scheduled shows, was a nice, clearly presented educational diversion while we waited to take our seats. We both noticed how spotlessly clean and well-taken care of the whole theatre was—a testament to the care Erik gives to the space and attention paid to the complete customer experience.

Nine women who figure prominently
in the Witch Trial history timeline

Outside of October, the theatre opens just for booked groups. The night we attended there was a large group that was kind enough to allow us to tag along.

Being the end of summer, it was no surprise that the group turned out to be about sixty middle-school aged campers! The moment they arrived en masse the level of energy in the lobby reached a buzz of epic levels—it was truly something to behold! We could overhear some of the preteens who were nervous about seeing the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience—they didn’t know what to expect and were anxious about what was to come.
The counselors were very reassuring to the kids but we knew that there were a number of audience members who were headed in already feeling jumpy. As it happened, you couldn’t ask for a better audience.  

As much as we tried to read up on the Experience, we couldn’t quite get a handle on what exactly we were about to see. We had imagined it would be somewhat like Disney’s The Hall of Presidents show—interesting, but more about sitting in your seat listen to a historical presentation.

Some audience members are seated
right in the center of the action.

It turns out “Experience” is really the right way to describe this evening—and it is nothing like the Hall of Presidents which frankly I think is a good thing. 

With only two performers handling all responsibilities onstage and backstage, it is a non-stop ride of storytelling, startling surprises, interactive props, costumes, smells, sensations, (did I feel something on the back of my neck or did I imagine it? I still honestly don’t know…), scares, and laughs from start to finish.

It is the kind of performance that you cannot help but become a part of -- yet not in get-up-on-stage kind of participatory way which will certainly come as a relief to some. It would be impossible at any age to simply sit back aloofly during a show like this. From the moment the lights turned down for the show it was a whirlwind of fun right to the end.

The show is a careful choreography of special effects, costumes, story-telling, diversions, exhilarating surprises/scares (depending on your perspective) with historical facts and local legends presented in a way to keep the story moving along at a swift pace. 

A creature in the Witchcraft and
Ghost Experience at Gallows Hill

The campers, we can’t resist mentioning, were completely hilarious. They weren’t obnoxious in the least (which I’ll admit we’d secretly feared being that the adults that night were roundly outnumbered) but instead the kids were just the right age to still get legitimately spooked.

They were the right mix of jumpy and fun. They clutched onto their friends at the slightest surprise and spontaneously shrieking—every single one of them—at a sudden special effect or unexpected noise.

It really was a treat to have enjoyed the show in their company and it added to the wonderful time we were already having. Their energy established the atmosphere right from the get go and made for a really memorable time.

There was a brief post-show Q&A which was equally fun, entertaining, and interesting. The length of the show typically runs just under 25 minutes and it felt like we’d only been there for 5—the time simply flew by.

So, you ask, what IS the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience?

Was a performance? Yes. Was it historical? Yes, mostly fact-based to move the story along, not as a re-enactment.
Was it scary? Yes, but in more of a surprising, thrilling way (see my notes below about age). Was it funny? Absolutely.
Was it predictable or cheesy? Not in the least!  Was it original? It definitely felt like we’d never seen a show like this before.

The spooky setting for the Experience 

The closest way to describe the performance is that it was interactive, exciting, surprising, and immersive in the way going to a haunted house would be yet this was NOT anything like a haunted house nor is it intended to be frightening. However, it will surprise you and make you jump—at any age. Just to be clear, you are not walking through anything. The only “conventional” part of this show is that you enjoy it as a proper audience member in a seat taking in the show on the stage.

Nothing about this show feels like it is catering to the lowest common denominator of tourist activities. It would be wholly unfair to lump it as “just another” way to spend your time in Salem. Instead, we’d like to emphasize how much we appreciated the effort to give the audience an original, fun, and memorable experience in a clean, well-kept space.

If you are headed to Salem this fall, book your tickets early to lock in a chance to see the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience at Gallows Hill. They also offer an opportunity for the nighttime Ghosts and Legends Trolley during October –with special combo ticket prices for attending the two events in the same evening.

Gallows Hill offers a Tales and Ales Tour and a "Grave Hopper Pass" which is a combo ticket to the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience and the Nightmare Gallery.

Tips for your visit to Gallows Hill

• Book your tickets EARLY for the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience and the Ghosts and Legends Trolley. These events are offered to the public in Salem in October only (and to booked groups year round). As you are not going to be the only one in the city looking for something memorable to do, don’t even think about taking your chances…just book in advance and early. 

• There’s a small gift shop where you can buy t-shirts and other small items.

• Arrive early so you can take in the museum portion of the lobby.

• There are two individual bathrooms so we could see there being a line at the last minute—arrive early if you need them.

• This show is a thrilling 25-minute sensory adventure without an intermission.

• Tickets available online.

Family Tips for your visit to Gallows Hill 

As we didn’t attend with children on that night, we debated over what the youngest age would be for a child to find this fun and at what age a child would be too scared to enjoy himself.

On every level the show is entertaining, well-paced, and full of historical facts and fun so a 6 or 7 year old wouldn’t be bored in in the least—neither would your middle schooler, as we witnessed first-hand. The content was suitable for kids but some kids are going to be upset by the sudden darkness while others will find everything exciting. We’ve seen older teens standing outside a haunted attraction and cry and this is not intended to be frightening in the way a haunted attraction is. It’s pure entertainment. One person’s scare is another person’s thrill so it really comes down to your child.

Our consensus is that 6-8 years old is probably about the youngest that would be ready for this show. Mostly it will depend on how sensitive your child is for your younger or older child is game. Will getting surprised be scary or fun for them? You decide.

• The Ghosts and Legends Trolley Tour and the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience are family friendly and suitable for kids.

• This is not designed as a “kids show” per se but it is certainly is intended to be a family-friendly one. The adults will enjoy it and, if you have kids in tow, they will have fun too.

• We think 7-8 years old is a suitable age to start bringing your child to the Witchcraft and Ghost Experience. If your child is frightened by surprises or even brief moments in the dark, they may not be ready for this yet. See our notes about age earlier.

• It’s a swift show that will hold your child’s attention the entire time. Even older kids and teens have a blast, as we witnessed. 

• There are two individual unisex bathrooms—they are large enough to comfortably fit more than one person if you are accompanying your child.

• If you are concerned about your child being too afraid to stay through the show, we suggest sitting at the very back of the theatre and leaving during an illuminated moment. If you sense your child is very nervous, perhaps hold off for now.