Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween- 2026 Event Guide

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Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween is back-and this year it has more houses, more scares and admission is included in your park ticket!

Offering five houses, five amazing scare zones, themed food and beverages as well as merchandise, the creative team continues to take Dark Nights to the next level with storytelling and effects.

Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween 2026

Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween will begin on September 12,2026!

This years event hours are 5-10 p.m. on Friday, Saturdays 12-10 p.m. and and 12-9 p.m. on Sundays. Dark Nights haunt experiences begin each night at 6 p.m. and extend one hour after Park close – Fridays and Saturdays until 11 p.m. and Sundays until 10 p.m.

Your Hersheypark Halloween ticket includes entrance to all five Dark Nights haunted houses and five Scare Zones featuring all-new and evolved stories, as well as 50 family-friendly attractions and thrilling coasters, with lights-out rides on Wildcat’s Revenge  and other coasters. And get ready for limited-time cocktails, treats and savory eats exclusive to Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween.

2026 Dark Nights Haunted Houses

The nightmare continues, as darkness is sweeping over Hersheypark with blood-curdling frights lurking about.

• Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir – Auntie Mortem has a new partner and now features prime beef, but the secret to the specialty sausage is how it blends old family flavors with the fresh stock entering the back room. The blades are sharper, the floor is slicker, and the meat is fresher than ever.

• Haunted Coal Mine: –  Drip… drip… drip. Something dark is flooding the mine. Something new is crawling out of the black water. The mud is moving, and the mine is hungry for more than just oxygen. Escape before the murky waters drag you further down.

• Twisted Carnevil – The Hypnotist presides over the never-ending hall of illusions where greasepaint drips like blood. Punchlines echo through the dark, but with a jagged edge as he stitches together his most sinister act yet.

• Estate of Evil – A long-forgotten room has been discovered, and there’s a reason it has been sealed away for generations. Enter with caution; a collection of never-before-seen horrors awaits you, and it will leave you questioning what monster would curate these malevolent mementos.

• Kill “N” Fill Garage – The lights are back on at the Kill ‘N Fill Garage, but it’s not for a tune-up. The group of killers has returned, trading grease for blood and bringing reinforcements. Navigate the wreckage of the body shop and a gore-soaked car wash as the cries of bending metal drown out the screams. They aren’t fixing cars anymore; they’re stripping you for parts.

2026 Scare Zones

Each evening the midways and boardwalk area will transform into five scare zones!

• NEW Reese’s Depot Of Doom: Follow the fractured tracks of the Reese’s Depot Of Doom, but beware. The freight yard may look abandoned, but it comes alive at night with shadowy trespassers starving for company. Navigate the fog-drenched boxcars with caution. Will you escape the Depot, or will you be doomed forever?

• Fallout Zone – The green fog has yet to be contained. Chaos continues to rise, and the peak of destruction is still on the hazy horizon. Fight through the dense smog to unearth the souls that were left to survive the wreckage.

• Midway Of Misery – The Midway Of Misery remains under The Decayed Brigade’s regime. Escape beyond the fiery arches but stay alert, the creatures that lurk within are faster, fiercer and each spark and scrape brings louder screams. 

• Darkstone’s Hollow: Darkstone’s victory was a delusion. Jezebeth has returned to reclaim her throne, igniting a brutal battle in the shadows. Traitorous secrets are spilling, and the creatures are clashing. Choose your side wisely. The real war begins now.

• Path of Shadows: Coven’s Curse: The whispers have come to a roaring bubble. It’s true: the coven has grown. Prepare for all-new rituals and spells, but heed this warning: the newest converts hold an unimaginable darkness.

Food & Beverages

Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass

The Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass is back by popular demand! Designed to let guests sample ghoulish culinary creations, the pass is valid exclusively during Hersheypark Halloween operating hours.

The Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass is $39.99 and can be purchased online or in-person at Guest Services locations. New this year, Tasting Passes are digital only for guest convenience. Guests will receive a barcode via email that can be easily scanned five times.

Every Tasting Pass item is also available for individual purchase. Operating hours, locations and menu items remain subject to change and availability.

The Butcher Shop- Located in the Avenue Of The Afterlife (in front of The Inlet & The Island at Bayside Pier)

• Cheesecake Egg Rolls (NEW)
  • Deep-fried egg roll filled with cheesecake, served with a strawberry dipping sauce
• Pierogi Bowl (NEW)
  • Mini pierogies topped with smoked kielbasa, braised red cabbage, green garlic sour cream and onions
• Pork Dragon Noodle Cup (NEW)
  • Rice noodles with ground pork, cucumbers and peanuts, served cold
• Ranch Cheese Curds (NEW)
  • Crispy ranch cheese curds served with buffalo aioli
• Pulled Pork Slider
  • BBQ pulled pork and crunchy apple coleslaw served on a soft pretzel

Reactor Rations- Located in the Avenue of the Afterlife (at East Coast Burger Works)

• Avocado Egg Rolls (NEW)
  • Filled with avocado, black beans, corn, vegan chorizo and cream cheese; served with green chili ranch
• Brisket Cuban Sandwich (NEW)
  • Potato slider roll with smoked brisket, sliced ham, pickles, mustard aioli and Swiss cheese
• Spicy Peanut Wings (NEW)
  • Fried chicken wings tossed in a spicy peanut sauce, topped with chopped peanuts
• Cherry Boba Iced Tea (NEW)
  • Sweet iced tea with cherry boba
• Fall Out Fries
  • Sweet potato waffle fries topped with green chili carnitas, white cheddar cheese sauce, Pico de Gallo and sour cream

Afterlife Delights- Located in the Avenue Of The Afterlife (in front of The Inlet & The Island at Bayside Pier)

• Blackberry Mousse Cup (NEW)
  • Butter cookie base layered with blackberry mousse and blackberry sauce
• Tres Leches Cake (NEW)
  • Sponge cake soaked in a rich blend of three milks
• Taro Cold Brew (NEW)
  • Vanilla cold brew coffee topped with taro cold foam
• Churro Bites with Spiced Chocolate Sauce
  • Warm churro bites served with a spiced chocolate sauce

Dips of Decay-Located in Pioneer Frontier (near the entrance to Fahrenheit)

• Crab & Corn Dip with Fritos Corn Chips (NEW) – $8.99
  • Warm crab and corn dip served with Fritos
• S’mores Dip with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips (NEW) – $8.99
  • Chocolate dip with marshmallows and graham cracker crumb served with cinnamon sugar pita chips
• Buffalo Chicken Dip with Cool Ranch Doritos – $8.99
  • Warm buffalo chicken dip served with Cool Ranch Doritos
• Cheeseburger Dip with Tortilla Chips – $8.99
  • Warm cheeseburger dip served with tortilla chips

Berks Dogs of Doom-Located in Pioneer Frontier
Open until Dark Nights closing

• Birria Dog (NEW) 
  • Hot dog topped with birria beef, birria aioli and diced onions
• Jalapeño Dog (NEW) 
  • Hot dog topped with jalapeño popper dip
• Buffalo Dog
  • Hot dog topped with ranch seasoned chicken, buffalo cream cheese, celery and pickled onions
• Maple Pecan Blondie (NEW)
  • Topped with candied bacon
• Pomegranate Lemonade (NEW)
  • Lemonade with a syrup syringe

Dispatch Pizzeria in The Hollow-Located in The Hollow

After a visit to Darkstone’s Hollow, stop by Hollow Pizza for some dark and delicious grub, courtesy of the professor himself!

• Skillet Cookie (NEW)
  • Warm chocolate chip cookie skillet topped with vanilla ice cream
• Nashville Hot Chicken Flatbread (NEW)
  • Flatbread pizza brushed with a creamy garlic parm sauce, topped with shredded mozzarella, Nashville hot chicken, and housemade pickle relish
• Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Corn Dog Nuggets (RETURNING FAVORITE)
  • Corn dog nuggets tossed in hot honey and topped with crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Spirello Cottage- Located in Founder’s Way (across from Monorail)
Open until Dark Nights closing

• Spirellos –
  • Onion Fondue (NEW)
    • White cheese sauce, onion petals, diced pepperoni
  • Cheddar Bacon
  • Original
  • Pickle Dip
• Cinnamon Apple Cider (NEW)
  • Cinnamon apple cider with green apple boba
• Chocolate Potato Chip Crispy (NEW)

The Thirsty Ghost- Located in the Avenue Of The Afterlife (near 8-Cut Crust)

Quench your thirst for a tantalizing cocktail or brew at The Thirst Ghost, available only during Dark Nights. Cheers to the afterlife!

• Pizza Bombs –
  • House-made pizza dough stuffed with a three cheese blend and thick-cut pepperoni

Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor

Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor is inspired by Mr. Hershey’s early ventures in sweetness that came before his famous chocolate factory.

• Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Cups (NEW)
  • Fresh strawberries and house-made cheesecake topped with melted chocolate of your choice
• Cinnamon Sugar Blondie (NEW)
• Pumpkin Horchata (NEW)
  • Iced horchata with pumpkin cold foam
• Apple Fritters with Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Freshly fried apple fritters with powdered sugar and vanilla ice cream

Shorty’s Funnel Cake Trailer- Located in the Avenue Of The Afterlife (near 8-Cut Crust)
Open until Dark Nights closing

• Fried Eyeballs
  • Fried sandwich cookies topped with gummy eyeballs
• Peanut Butter Explosions
  • Fried peanut butter sandwich cookies topped with peanut butter sauce and marshmallow drizzle

Walking Taco Food Truck- Located in The Hollow

• Fritos Toffee Crunch Cookie (NEW)
• Spine-Chili Chicken Walking Taco
  • Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos topped with green chili chicken and your choice of Walking Taco toppings

Additional Seasonal Food and Beverage Offerings

Beyond the Tasting Pass lineup, the Hersheypark culinary team has crafted an array of limited-time, only-in-Hersheypark treats and drinks that are worth the trip alone this Halloween season. These unique offerings are not included with the Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass, each item can be bought individually during the event.

Simply Chocolate

Located in Founder’s Way

• Peanut Butter Cookie King Size Shake
  • Reese’s peanut butter King Size Shake topped with a jack-o-lantern peanut butter cookie
• Brownie Marshmallow King Size Shake
  • Chocolate King Size Shake topped with a brownie tombstone and marshmallow ghosts
• Pumpkin Roll King Size Shake
  • Pumpkin King Size Shake topped with a slice of housemade pumpkin roll

As the iconic King Size Shake celebrates its tenth birthday this year, the Birthday King Size Shake will remain available during Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights.

Spring Creek Smokehouse- Located in Pioneer Frontier

• BBQ Smoked Wings (NEW)
• Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Hash
• Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding (NEW)
• Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna Burnt Ends Sandwich (NEW)
• Turkey Leg (RETURNING FAVORITE)
• Chopped Brisket Sandwich

Park Cocktails

Guests ages 21 and older can enjoy a spine-chilling lineup of specialty cocktails.

• The Burning Cleaver
  • Ole Smoky Mango Habanero Whiskey, Pineapple Juice & Starry
• Calavara Margarita
  • El Jimador Silver Tequila & Owens Sparkling Margarita Mix
• Crimson Canary
  • Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Whiskey, Apple Schnapps, Cranberry Juice & Ginger Ale
• Pitstop Pick me Up
  • Chocolate Vodka, Owens Espresso Mix, topped with Cold Foam
• Type O Negative
  • Grey Whale Vodka & Owens Transfusion Mix

Discover Spirit’s Rooftop Bar

Hungry for more? Get a second helping at Spirit’s Rooftop Bar at The Chocolatier! Back for another spine-tingling season, this haunted rooftop experience offers breathtaking views perched high above Hershey’s Chocolatetown. Opening at 4:30 p.m. on all operating days for Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights, it’s the perfect spot to elevate your evening.

Hersheypark Halloween

If scares aren’t for your family you can still enjoy Hersheypark Halloween all season long. Families can experience Hersheypark Halloween with thrills on 50 rides and attractions.

For over 40 years, the fall season has meant sweet Halloween fun at Hersheypark. Guests of all ages can experience Hersheypark Halloween as they play by day and fright by night with the following family-friendly offerings:

• Thrills on more than 50 rides and attractions (weather and maintenance permitting)
• Dark rides on select coasters during the last hour of Hersheypark Halloween operation, plus lights-out rides on Laff Trakk indoor coaster during all Hersheypark Halloween operating hours
• Trick-or-treating with 14 stops (10 in Treatville region and four at Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction) for guests 12 and under
• Meet and greets with select Hershey Characters dressed in their Halloween costumes at Hershey’s Hangout and Reese’s Cuphouse during the day
• NEW Monster Meet & Shriek experience offered nightly in the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre venue to meet featured creatures from the haunted houses and scare zones
• Avenue of the Afterlife to dance, dine and celebrate the season with Hershey Characters (new location) and a crew of family-friendly creatures, plus see the Acro Duo and stilt walkers.

The original Creatures Of The Night flashlight tour will also return to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park for three weekends starting Oct. 16. The Halloween-themed, after-hours experience features a special nighttime flashlight tour and new themed activities included with admission. 

Tickets

Hersheypark Halloween admission includes access to the Dark Nights haunted houses and scare zones, more than 50 rides and attractions, Hersheypark Halloween entertainment and ZooAmerica when guests enter through Hersheypark during Park hours. Hersheypark Halloween pre-sale tickets are available now, starting at $36.99.

One-Day Any Day Halloween tickets are also available for $54.99, giving guests the flexibility to visit on any Hersheypark Halloween public operating day. Current 2026 Season Pass Holders can enjoy unlimited visits to Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights. 

Guests can get to the scares faster with Fast Track program, enhance their experience with Halloween Cabanas and enjoy limited-time food and beverages with the Hersheypark Halloween Tasting Pass – all available for purchase now.

Resorts of Hersheypark

During the Halloween season, guests can extend their stay in Hershey, Pa., at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark: The Hotel Hershey luxury accommodation, including The Villas at The Hotel Hershey experience, Hershey Lodge resort, Hersheypark Camping Resort campground and the all-new Hershey Inn & Suites. All guests receive Free Resort Benefits like free front gate shuttle service and Preview Plan hours. Overnight guests of Hershey Lodge receive exclusive access to Hershey’s Water Works at Hershey Lodge indoor pool complex. Hersheypark Halloween One-Day and Two-Day packages, and a Dark Nights Two-Night package are now available at www.Hersheypark.com/official-resorts/. 

Dark Nights and Hersheypark Halloween have become our favorite time of year to experience the park. The expansion of spooky season has amplified the park in a big way. Get your tickets now, to experience the thrills and chills of Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween.