Every Halloween amusement parks across the US offer more than just rides as they transform into scary (and sometimes not-so-scary) masterpieces full of creepy characters and horrifying mazes. Over the past four weeks USA TODAY 10Best readers have been voting for their favorite amusement park for Halloween and the results are in!
The top 10 winners in the category Best Theme Park Halloween Event are:
- Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest - Valencia, Calif.
- Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest - Jackson, N.J.
- Fright Dome - Las Vegas
- Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt - Doswell, Va.
- Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights - Orlando
- HalloWeekends - Sandusky, Ohio
- Hersheypark In The Dark - Hershey, Pa.
- Phantom Fright Nights - Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights - Orlando
- Howl-O-Scream Williamsburg - Williamsburg, Va.
Other nominees included:Brick-or-Treat Halloween Party in Carlsbad, Calif.; Count's Halloween Spooktacular in Pennsylvania; Howl-O-Scream Tampa; Kings Island Halloween Haunt in Mason, Ohio; Knott's Scary Farm in Orange County, Calif. ; Mickey's Halloween Party in Orange County, Calif.; Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Orlando; Nightfall in Old Tuscon, Ariz.; SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular Orlando; SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular San Diego and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in Los Angeles.
10Best and USA TODAY extend their congratulations to all the winners.
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The Experts
Robert Niles
Robert Niles is the founder and editor of Read More
Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusement parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.
Robert Niles

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, an online consumers' guide to the world's leading theme and amusement parks, read by more than 400,000 people each month. It has been named the top theme park site on the Internet by Forbes and Travel + Leisure magazines and was a Webby Award finalist and winner of the Online Journalism Award, presented by the Online News Association and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Robert is a former Walt Disney World cast member and has worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and website editor for several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register.
A.D. Thompson
Amy Drew has spent nearly three decades as a... Read More
Amy Drew has spent nearly three decades as a professional writer and roughly half her life as a Floridian. The words, she has found, come easier with bare feet and rum. A roller coaster enthusiast, A.D. readily admits there is fun amid the madness of the theme parks, but has found there is magic, as well, in the outer-lying reaches of Mickey’s long shadow. She is delighted to share with you the spoils of her adopted city. Visit her colorful compendium at www.amydrewthompson.com.
A.D. Thompson

Amy Drew has spent nearly three decades as a professional writer and roughly half her life as a Floridian. The words, she has found, come easier with bare feet and rum. A roller coaster enthusiast, A.D. readily admits there is fun amid the madness of the theme parks, but has found there is magic, as well, in the outer-lying reaches of Mickey’s long shadow. She is delighted to share with you the spoils of her adopted city. Visit her colorful compendium at www.amydrewthompson.com.