Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary
Halloween event in historic penitentiary
7 haunted experiences in Philadelphia and nearby.
Philadelphia's haunted attractions open for the season, from the history-steeped frights of Eastern State Penitentiary to outdoor explorations in surrounding towns like Haddonfield.
For families seeking a scare, some events offer lighter thrills. If you want a more adult experience, other venues cater to that. Some are ticketed, while others are free to attend.
Trick-or-treat and explore the historic penitentiary with family-friendly activities.
Includes waived covers and drink specials across participating Philadelphia venues.
Cult classic film screening featuring a live shadowcast performance.
Search for unexplained energy using interactive EMF readers along the canal.
See all haunted houses, trails, and scare attractions in your area.
Extreme haunts require signed waivers and may include touching, restraint, isolation from your group, crawling, water, and verbal intensity far beyond a standard haunt. They're 18+ and always publish a consent framework with a safe word that instantly stops the experience. Read the full waiver before booking, go with a friend who's done one, and treat the safe word as zero-shame equipment.
Read the attraction's own scare rating first, then cross-check recent reviews for words like "touch," "extreme," or "family." A haunt that requires a waiver or offers a safe word is high intensity. Ones that advertise lights-on hours or kid matinees sit at the mild end. When a group is split, pick the middle rating and let braver members add an extreme attraction later.
Usually no, or only with heavy limits. Most haunts ban guest masks, face-covering makeup, prop weapons, and anything that could be mistaken for cast wardrobe, so staff can tell actors from visitors. Festive shirts and light face paint typically pass. Check the rules page before dressing up, because security will make you stash banned items in the car or a paid locker.