Family-Friendly Guide to Hersheypark Halloween 2025

It's the final weekend of the Halloween season at Hersheypark amusement park! Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights presented by Reese's and Kit Kat® runs through Nov. 2, 2025, with thrills both day and night. 

The USA TODAY  Top 10Best theme park Halloween event continues to offer kid-friendly rides, chocolatey trick-or-treat adventures, festive Hershey Character experiences and more for families as part of Hersheypark Halloween before the immersive haunt experience begins at 6 p.m. Guests with young ghosts and goblins can use this guide of family-friendly things to do at Hersheypark Halloween to help plan their last visits of the spooky season. 

1. Enjoy a Thrill on Attractions for All Ages

Hersheypark Halloween tickets include access to 50 rides, weather and maintenance permitting, with options for all Hershey height categories, from more than 40 kiddie and family rides to over a dozen thrilling coasters. 

Thrill seekers in the family are in for a real treat, as the lights go out for dark rides on Candymonium, Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat's Revenge during the last hour of Hersheypark Halloween operation. This is also the first Hersheypark Halloween season for Twizzlers Twisted Gravity, the World's Tallest Screamin' Swing, which features a special light package to get your nighttime adrenaline pumping. 

This weekend is also the last chance to get rides on select high-thrill coasters before they close for winter maintenance ahead of the 2026 operating season. Check out this list of the coasters that will give their final rides of the year on Nov. 2 and won't return until the start of Spring Weekends.

Please note that select kiddie and family rides may close by 5 p.m. before the start of Dark Nights. These attractions include Granny Bugs, Music Express, Pony Parade, Red Baron and Trailblazer. Guests can download the Hersheypark app for a map and real-time ride availability.

2. Take a Ride on the All-New Shaq-A-Licious Laff Trakk

New for 2025, fans of Laff Trakk indoor coaster can experience the ride like never before as it evolves into Shaq-A-Licious Laff Trakk for the Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights season. This unique partnership between Hersheypark and The Hershey Company's Shaq-A-Licious brand features glowing visuals, amped-up audio and immersive graphic displays that capture the candy’s playful spirit. The themed overlay of Laff Trakk includes graphics, lighting and enhanced audio-visual treatments, including curated voice-over provided by Shaquille O’Neal, marking the first-of-its-kind coaster overlay.

3. Go Trick-or-Treating (for Guests 12 and Under)

There’s no sweeter place to trick-or-treat than Hersheypark! Children 12 and under are invited to wear a Halloween costume* and enjoy 14 sweet stops on the Hershey's Trick Or Treat Trail. The Trail winds from Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction with four stops to Treatville at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark region with 10 candy stops, including an exclusive Shaq-A-Licious treat location.

Treatville is open at the start of each operating day until 8:30 p.m., including Halloween night on Friday, Oct. 31. The path begins at The Boardwalk main entrance across from Fallout Zone and Estate of Evil and winds throughout the water park with fun photo spots and a hay maze. 

A sweet surprise - all guests regardless of age can trick-or-treat through Treatville on Halloween, Oct. 31!

*Costume Policy

• All guests: Costumes that may cause confusion between the Dark Nights actors and guests are not permitted. Additionally, except as otherwise noted below, costumes are permitted on attractions provided they do not interfere with the restraint system, proper riding position, or cause a hazard to guests, employees, and/or the attraction. The loose articles policy for each attraction can be found under the “Additional Restrictions/Accessibility” link located on the information pages for each attraction on Hersheypark’s website, in the Rider Safety & Accessibility Guide, and on the Height Signs located at each attraction. Failure to adhere to the Hersheypark Costume Policy may result in the costume not being permitted or guest removal from the Park.
• Guests age 12 and under: Costumes and costume masks that provide unobstructed peripheral vision at all times with openings that allow the eyes to be fully seen may be worn. Costume masks are not allowed to be worn on any attractions. Having a fully painted face is permitted. This applies to guests who come to Hersheypark in makeup and also to guests who have their faces painted by the Park’s face painters.
• Guests age 13 and older: Costumes may be worn but must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, revealing, objectionable, violent, or otherwise disrupt the general safety of guests or employees. Costumes may not contain any props or accessories that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon. Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another guest. Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening. Costumes may not drag on the ground as they could be a trip hazard. Costume masks are not permitted, but guests may have up to half of their face painted provided that it does not alter their identity.

4. Dance with the Hershey Characters at Shake, Rattle and Glow: Monster Ball

Join the Hersheypark ghosts and ghouls for the time of their afterlives as they choose the Monster Of The Year at the third annual Shake, Rattle and Glow: Monster Ball. Hersh takes the mic and leads the creatures through a spooky pageant that includes three new musical sections. 

Shake, Rattle and Glow: Monster Ball is offered each day of Hersheypark Halloween inside the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre, with three times on Fridays and four times on Saturdays and Sundays. Showtimes on Fridays are 6, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Showtimes on Saturdays and Sundays are 4, 6, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

View our Guide to Family Entertainment for more details. 

5. Snap a Family Photo with the Hershey Characters

Hersheypark is the only amusement park where guests can snap selfies with Hershey Characters dressed in Halloween costumes. Sweet Greet opportunities at Hershey’s Hangout with Hershey Bar, Miss Kiss, Reese, Ice Breaker and Kit Kat are listed in the Hersheypark app. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos using #HersheyparkHalloween!

Explore other top photo spots throughout the Park, including the final curtain call for The Descent. 

6. Stroll Through Avenue of the Afterlife

For guests who want to experience Dark Nights thrills without any chills, there's no need to fear! Families can take a walk down the Avenue of the Afterlife, conveniently located in The Boardwalk. This scare-free zone is the place to dance and dine amongst the soulless who wander through the fog. Guests can purchase exclusive food, join a DJ dance party and watch wicked-fun street performances, including fire breathers and acrobats - all while skipping the scares! 

View our Avenue of the Afterlife Guide for showtimes and more details.

7. See Aquatic Animals at Our Friends From The Sea Show

Guests can see California sea lions and Atlantic harbor seals during the Our Friends From The Sea show in the Aquatheatre at 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Please note there are no shows on Fridays.

8. Satisfy Your Cravings with New Dining Experiences

Guests often come for the rides but stay for the sweets at Hersheypark, and Halloween is no different. Hersheypark offers a taste of fall with more than 50 limited-time treats, savory eats and cocktails available during Hersheypark Halloween. Instagram-worthy items include a Halloween-themed King Size Shake topped with baked goods, KILLbassa bowl, Fall Out Fries and so much more! 

View our 2025 Foodie Guide to Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights to eat your way through Hersheypark.

Guests can also sample some of the frightfully delicious food offerings available during Dark Nights with the Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass, which includes a choice of up to five specialty menu items from more than 30 food and beverage options throughout the Park, such as the Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles, Bee Sting Wings and more. The Tasting Pass is $37.95 plus tax and can be purchased online before a visit or at any Guest Services location throughout the Park. Please note that the last day to use the Tasting Pass is Nov. 2 - don't miss out on the hauntingly good eats!

Check out our Guide to the 2025 Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass.

9. Explore Dark Nights Haunted Houses and Scare Zones

If your family wants to give scare a try, the nightmare continues for Dark Nights in its fourth year with new, blood-curdling frights lurking about beginning nightly at 6 p.m. A Hersheypark Halloween ticket or 2025 Hersheypark Season Pass includes Dark Nights admission with five haunted houses and four spine-chilling scare zones that vary in intensity. 

New in 2025 is the Kill ‘N Fill Garage Haunted House. Fueled by evil, killers have taken over the abandoned Kill ’N Fill Garage, and what goes on behind the rusted chain link fence is sure to send sparks flying. Also new is Path of Shadows Coven's Curse, a scare zone featuring three mysterious witches. 

Some aspects of the experience may be too intense for children younger than 13. Parental discretion and guidance are advised. 

Explore the Haunt Guide to Dark Nights for more details.

10. Visit ZooAmerica for Creatures of The Night (Starting Oct. 3)

Guests should bring their flashlight and curiosity, because ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is getting in on the Halloween action as they celebrate the 45th anniversary of Creatures of the Night! The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this fall, with the Creatures Of The Night event running five weekends on Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1. The Halloween-themed experience from 6-9 p.m. is the only time of year that ZooAmerica is open after dark for visitors to explore the Zoo by flashlight to see their favorite nocturnal animals under the cover of nightfall and enjoy educational activities. 

View the Creatures Of The Night 2025 Guide for more details. 

ZooAmerica is included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark Halloween when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. Guests interested in visiting ZooAmerica before Hersheypark opens will have to purchase a separate Zoo admission here.

11. Book a Fall Getaway

Visitors looking to treat the family to a Halloween weekend in The Sweetest Place On Earth can book the perfect fall getaway at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark, with rates available online. 

The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge offers several Halloween packages, including a Dark Nights package featuring two nights of deluxe accommodations, a two-day Hersheypark ticket, breakfast each day, Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Passes and Dark Nights Haunted House Fast Track Passes for each guest. 

All guests of The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge or Hersheypark Camping Resort receive FREE Resort Benefits, including the best price on Hersheypark tickets, extra hours at the Park with Preview Plan, and free front-gate shuttle service to the all-new exclusive resort drop-off location. 

Great ticket deals, including a Family 4-Pack, are available on Hersheypark.com. Hersheypark Halloween tickets include 50 rides (weather and maintenance permitting), five Dark Nights haunted houses, four scare zones, thrilling dark ride opportunities and Halloween entertainment. 2025 Season Pass Holders enjoy unlimited visits to Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights as part of their year-long perks.