If you are looking for a fall road trip that delivers serious chills, you need to head upstate.
Located at the base of the Adirondack Mountains in Queensbury, Great Escape Resort is officially in the middle of its Halloween season.
This massive 350-acre theme park has completely transformed for the month. Fright Fest is back, bringing terrifying haunted houses, scare zones, and brand-new live entertainment to the midways.
The park is running its seasonal programming every Saturday and Sunday through October 25, with a bonus day on Columbus Day, October 12.
Three chilling new live shows
The biggest addition to this year’s lineup is a heavy dose of ’90s nostalgia. When the sun goes down, monsters take over the park.
The evening Fright Fest scares begin at 5 p.m., bringing three fresh shows to life:
- PigFace: This blood-soaked mainstage horror show features a young girl’s dolls coming to life. Expect audience participation and a killer early ’90s hip-hop soundtrack. (Note: This production is not recommended for children 12 and under).
- Grunge Monsters: If you love classic alt-rock, head near Carousel Plaza. Singing and dancing monsters will perform early ’90s grunge hits in a live midway show.
- Weird Tales Story Hour: Haunting narration and eerie songs bring chilling stories to life under the night sky.
Haunted houses and roaming monsters
Of course, the classic scares are also back. You can test your courage in four haunted houses, including Nightmare, Skull Manor, CarnEVIL, and Hell Block VI.
If you just want to wander the park and ride the roller coasters, you still have to watch your back. There are three outdoor scare zones—Dead in the West, Dark Oaks Graveyard, and Sirens—where roaming creatures are waiting to jump out.
While Fright Fest entertainment, scare zones, and rides are included with your theme park admission, you will need to purchase an additional pass to enter the haunted houses.
Family-friendly fun during the day
If you have little ones, you do not have to skip the trip. Before the monsters come out at night, the park hosts Boo Fest from noon to 5 p.m.
Children ages 12 and under can enjoy a massive trick-or-treat trail in Buckaroo Junction, navigate a playful fall hay maze, and show off their outfits in a daily costume contest.
Count Dracula also hosts a “Monster Mash” dance celebration with his spooky friends.
If you want to make a full weekend out of it, the Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark is running its own Lodge Boo Fest through October 31.
You can enjoy year-round indoor waterpark play alongside Halloween dance parties, spooky stories by the fireplace, and trick-or-treating with roaming monsters.
📍 1172 State Route 9, Queensbury, NY
📅 Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25 (plus Oct. 12)
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