Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s time to get in the spirit of the season! No matter what your scare-factor comfort level is, the City of Philadelphia has you covered! There’s Halloween fun for everyone. Keep reading to discover ways to get spine-chilled (or maybe just a little!) in the city.
If you’re someone who LOVES to be scared, then Philly is the place to be! Typically, Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary is the talk of the town for scary season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, things look a little different this year, but don’t let that stop you! Eastern State Penitentiary Night Tours will replace Terror Behind the Walls this season. Hear the real voices and stories of people that inhabited and worked at the Penitentiary, accompanied by numerous films. The Fright Factory is another popular Philly attraction if you’re looking to scream this season!
Within the Greater Philadelphia area, you can find so many opportunities to continue shrieking and screaming all Halloween season long. The Bates Motel & Haunted Attractions is a well-acclaimed scene full of frights! A new attraction, “the Bates Psycho Path,” just opened this season, so be sure to check that out! Sleepy Hollow Haunted Acres is another popular outdoor scare location this season. Visitors may pursue two paths, The Hollow and The Field, this year!
Maybe ghost tours are more your thing. If so, be sure to check out Spooky Twilight Tours at the Betsy Ross House, Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tours, and Candlelight Ghost Tours at Fort Mifflin. All of the tours are infused with classic colonial Philly history and will be sure to satisfy your search for stories of spirits!
Looking for something a little less intense on the scare scale? There are plenty of opportunities for those as well in Philadelphia! October 29-November 1 is Halloween Weekend at Morris Arboretum. Explore lanterns, scarecrows, stories, games, and more here. Franklin Fright Weekend at the Franklin Institute (October 31-November 1) offers eye and heart dissections and more Halloween-themed science experiments. Head over to Franklin Square for Spooky Mini-Golf. Travel a little bit out of the city for screenings of Halloween movies at The Philly Drive-In Outside The Mann Center, or take a day to pick pumpkins at Linvilla Orchards.
Not on campus this semester? No problem! For virtual Halloween fun, we have a few ideas. The Penn Museum offers a virtual storytelling event called “Monsters, Myths, and Legends” on October 17 and 30.
Zoom can also be your friend for organizing a Halloween-get-together with friends that are near and far. Carve pumpkins with friends on Zoom, and turn it into a contest! Hold a Halloween movie marathon, a Halloween karaoke event, or a virtual costume contest. It’s hard to be away from friends during this time, but luckily we have tools to make that a bit easier!
Whatever you’re looking to do this Halloween season, there’s something for everyone in Philly virtually, or in-person! Happy Halloween!
