This Halloween the competition is fierce for the title of best haunted attraction in Southern California, and Los Angeles in particular. The key players this year for older children and adults are Knott”s, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain. Disneyland, Legoland and Seaworld San Diego are hosting haunted events that are suitable for all age groups.
Halloween Horror Nights® opened its 17-night run today at Universal Studios HollywoodSM with the annual presentation of the Eyegore Awards, honoring the horror genre’s top stars and creative artists. The 2010 “Halloween Horror Nights” event at Universal Studios Hollywood offers spine-chilling new mazes based upon the horror genre’s most compelling characters. Rob Zombie and other top artists collaborated with Universal Studios Hollywood in the creation of new mazes, “scare zones” and backlot experiences. Halloween Horror Nights’ mazes will include “A Nightmare On Elm Street™: Never Sleep Again,” “Friday the 13th™: Kill, Jason, Kill!,” Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D Zombievison” plus “Saw: Game On” and “Vampyre: Castle of the Undead.” Among the six “Scare Zones” is a new “La Llorona” experience, based upon the timeless Mexican legend.
Overnight hotel packages are also available to make planning a complete weekend experience easy.
Knott’s Berry’s Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm Haunt is the world’s largest Halloween celebration. Starting September 24 and running for 27 horrifying nights the typically family friendly theme park will transform itself for its willing victims into 160-acres of sheer terror. Knott’s Halloween Haunt continues to be the leader in theme park Halloween events offering a whopping 13 mazes, seven hair-raising shows, three horrific scare zones and 1,000 roaming monsters roaming throughout the entire park. Knott’s Halloween Haunt dates are September 24-26, September 30-Oct. 3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, 27-31, 2010. Event hours are 7pm – 1am; Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-2am.
Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is transformed from a “theme park” to a haunted “scream park” for Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS® beginning October 8 and running for four frightfully fun weekends through October 31. Fright Fest offers 12 days of terrifying haunted mazes, roaming zombies, the scariest clowns on the planet and new shows … leaving no tombstone unturned to bring the ultimate sensory overload for every range of fear. For the little monsters, a Trick or Treat Trail Presented by Walgreens, Scaryoke and Crafts in Bugs Bunny World round out the activities. October 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31.
SeaWorld San Diego
Seaworld Halloween Spooktacular where can kids meet some spooky and not-so-spooky animals, pose for pictures with mesmerizing mermaids and trick-or-treat among a sea-inspired atmosphere, which includes friendly sea princesses, octopuses and schools of fish? It’s all part of SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, where Halloween meets the sea this October. Kids are invited to come in costume and enjoy animal meet and greets, special Halloween shows and colorful costumed characters, from 1 to 6 p.m. the following weekends: Oct. 2–3, Oct. 9–10, Oct. 16–17, Oct. 23–24 and Oct. 30–31, 2010.
Queen Mary Dark Harbor
The ship’s crew have ensured this Long Beach Halloween tradition’s unforgettable and macabre makeover at the hands of fright masters long responsible for some of Southern California’s biggest scare-fests. More than 45,000 scares per hour await, along with 160 monsters and 20-foot tall flames. Three shipboard and two onshore mazes confuse and ensnare visitors, and although visitors will have every opportunity to turn back, the food, drink and entertainment inside will ensure leaving is unthinkable. 18 Nights Oct. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31
7:00 p.m. through the darkest hour of midnight
Thank you to California Destination Guide for the valuable information.
Universal City & Los Angeles 
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