Where to stay in Pigeon Forge:
Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania
From now until November 2, Hersheypark is putting on its biggest Halloween event yet, Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights. During the day, families can enjoy more kid-friendly haunts with trick-or-treating, Hershey characters in Halloween costumes, and a fun stage show called Shake, Rattle, and Glow: Monster Ball. Then, as night falls, guests can enjoy the park’s more sinister side at Dark Nights, where five haunted houses and four scare zones await the brave. If you don’t like big scares, head next door to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park for a flashlight tour to spot animals lurking in the shadows. Everything at Hersheypark and ZooAmerica is included with your general park entry ticket.
Where to stay in Hershey:
Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina
On select nights from September 12 through November 2, guests can creep through the darkness at Carowinds’ Halloween iteration, Scarowinds, in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the evening event, you’ll be able to walk through scare zones and catch a show or two as part of your entry fee; the indoor and outdoor haunted mazes cost extra. For a real fright, buy an entry ticket to The Conjuring: Beyond Fear, where you’ll be dropped into scenes from The Conjuring movies and complete interactive puzzles. Think of it as a heart-pounding escape room that you’ll be dying to get out of.
Where to stay in Charlotte:
Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri
Silver Dollar City is celebrating the Harvest Festival from now through October 26. The 1880s-themed park is known for its coasters and lively entertainment. This year, 20,242 real pumpkins adorn the park and act as perfectly primed backdrops for family photos. Around the Silver Dollar City, you can catch master pumpkin carver, Barry Brown, hand-carving intricate designs into gourds—plus, see Buck Taylor from the hit TV show Yellowstone showcasing Western-inspired art. Then, once the sun goes down, Pumpkins in the City takes over the park with dance parties and photo ops in the Plaza, plus spooky (but still family-friendly) walks through Foggy Hollow.
Where to stay in Branson: