Halloween in Orlando: Horror, Haunts, and Happiness
No one does Halloween quite like Orlando.
From our outrageous theme park celebrations to our family-friendly festivals, there’s something for every goblin and ghoul to enjoy in Central Florida.
Whether you’re looking for frightful scares or ways to celebrate with your little ones, we’ve outlined our favorite Orlando Halloween events and activities to share with you and your boo’s.
Please note that the events in this blog are from 2024 and subject to change for the 2025 season. Check back a little closer to Halloween for updated dates and details.
Horror & Scares
If you’re someone who enjoys a good, gory thrill, Orlando is the perfect Halloween destination for you.
Here are some of the best scary Halloween attractions in Orlando.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando
Select Nights, Typically Early September through Early November
Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN, is Orlando’s biggest and most popular Halloween event, drawing millions of guests from around the world.
This scare-filled spectacular is separately ticketed from normal theme park admission.
Every year at HHN, you’ll be invited to explore ten themed haunted houses inspired by popular horror films and creatively twisted characters. Dare to wander through scare zones designed to give you the creeps and catch you off-guard.
There is also plenty of Halloween-themed food and beverages available for purchase, electrifying live entertainment, and exclusive HHN merch so you can brag to the world that you survived one of the most legendary haunted events – and lived to tell the tale.
Howl O’ Scream at SeaWorld Orlando
Select Nights, Typically Early September through Early November
Howl O’ Scream is an after-hours, separately ticketed theme park event targeting adults and centered around “chilling tales and eerie encounters.”
This annual fright-fest includes four haunted houses, three scream-worthy scare zones, access to SeaWorld’s best thrill rides, live shows, and more. There are also five themed bars throughout the event serving specialty liquid courage to help you face your fears.
Howl O’ Scream is an ideal option if you’re planning to attend with someone who isn’t looking forward to spending the night shrieking. They can purchase a “No Boo” necklace that wards off scare actors for a little extra peace of mind.
Haunting Nights
Select Nights, Typically Late September through October
By day, Leu Gardens is a botanical oasis.
At night, it’s a dark, winding jungle with spooky surprises lurking around every corner.
Of Leu Gardens’ two Halloween events, Haunting Nights is the one designed with scare-seeking teens and grownups in mind.
As you wander through the dimly lit gardens, you may encounter beasts like Bigfoot, soaring gargoyles, or a towering 12-foot spider.
While Haunting Nights will certainly get your heart racing, it isn’t a gory bloodbath like other Halloween experiences. Surprises and jump-scares are inevitable, but don’t expect a continuous barrage of horror around every corner.
Petrified Forest Scare Trail
Select Nights, Typically Early October through Early November
The Petrified Forest Scare Trail lures scare-seeking guests into the depths of the haunted woods, where spine-tingling masked observers are watching your every move.
With multiple trails offered every year, your admission ticket includes access to all of them – so you’re in for a night full of terror.
When you’re not fleeing through a fear-filled forest, you can enjoy food trucks, a DJ, laser tag, midway games, and more.
The trails completely change every year, so you’ll never encounter the same Petrified Forest experience two years in a row.
Family-Friendly
If you’re looking for ongoing Halloween celebrations that are ideal for pumpkins of all ages, here are some of the best family-friendly events in Orlando.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party
Select Nights, typically mid-August through October
The biggest family-friendly Halloween celebration in Orlando is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.
This epic Halloween party features the epic Boo-To-You parade with a masquerade of your favorite Disney characters in their fanciful Halloween costumes. After dark, the park comes alive with the incredible firework extravaganza, the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular.
Tickets to the event are pricey and sell out quickly. It is, however, a worthwhile investment if you want to take advantage of trick-or-treating, specialty treats, dance parties, and villainous live shows, all sprinkled with signature Disney magic.
Happy Frights
Select Nights, typically late September through October
Happy Frights is the family-friendly counterpart to Haunting Nights at the Leu Gardens.
Fun surprises lurk along the path through the Gardens as you explore 14 immersive Worlds, each with their own theming and fun characters.
You may bump into the Mad Hatter, hip-hop dancing aliens, clowns, and larger-than-life wildlife throughout the event. Dress in costume and trick-or-treat at stations set up along the way.
Halloween Spooktacular, SeaWorld Orlando
Select Days, typically late August to early November
The Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando is a daytime celebration perfect for families and children that is included in the cost of park admission.
Held on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the Halloween Spooktacular features trick-or-treating (with the purchase of a SeaWorld reusable trick-or-treat bag), a harvest maze, scarecrow dance party, mermaid meet-and-greet, and so much more.
Check out Elmo, The Count, and other beloved Sesame Street characters in their Halloween best during the parade in Sesame Street Land or gather around Big Bird’s nest to hear his favorite Halloween stories.
Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins
Select Dates in October
Gatorland’s Halloween celebration – Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins - is absolutely wild.
Take the kids to Swamp Ghost’s Monster Museum and learn macabre facts about Halloween and the paranormal. Then, head to the Cryptid Petting Zoo to meet Florida Bigfoot and Skunk Ape, two mythical monsters as native as the gators themselves.
The event also features trick-or-treating, animal meet-and-greets, pumpkin animal enrichment, live DJs, and more entertainment – all included in the price of admission!
Winter Garden Halloween Experience
Ongoing, Last Two Weeks of October
Downtown Winter Garden is a charming area with independent shops, popular restaurants, and the acclaimed Plant St. Market and Crooked Can Brewing Co.
For two weeks in October, Winter Garden hosts the Winter Garden Halloween Experience with variety of free, family-friendly activities including a hay maze, fall-themed photo locations, decorations, and extravagant Halloween displays.
On select nights, you can catch a Halloween light show projected onto city hall, entertainers roaming the streets, and other fall festivities.
Zoo Boo Bash at the Central Florida Zoo
Select Dates Mid to Late October
Halloween isn’t just for humans!
Zoo Boo Bash at the Central Florida Zoo is the perfect opportunity to put on your costumes and trick-or-treat in a safe, festive environment.
Enjoy fun games, decorations, a dance party led by a DJ, and trick-or-treat stations handing out conservation-friendly candy.
You may see animals playing with pumpkins as you walk through the zoo. Don’t forget to wish them a Happy Halloween!
Make Your Next Orlando Haunt a Rosen Inn
Whether you’re looking for scares or squeals of laughter, Orlando has something for everyone this Halloween.
When you need a comfortable place to recharge at the end of the day (or some blankets to hide under so the monsters can’t find you), there’s a Rosen Inn with the perfect room for you.
Our budget-friendly rooms are also kid-friendly and dog-friendly, so the entire family can celebrate the spooks of the season with you this year.
Check out our awesome amenities to see which Rosen Inn hotel best suits your boo crew.