Get some serious scares from Travel Agent's roundup of Halloween celebrations from around the globe. From Zombie Runs to Wizardry schools there are plenty of scary selections to choose from.
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Orlando
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights makes its 24th return this year with even more scares in store. On select dates between September 19 through November 1, visitors will be able to explore a range of haunted houses and ‘scare zones’ alongside viewing a range of shows in this completely transformed park. Experiences are inspired by a assortment of scary TV shows and movies, such as John Carpenter’s classic horror film, “Halloween”, AMC’s The Walking Dead, Alien v Predator, The Purge: Anarchy and Universal’s upcoming Dracula: Untold. Expect plenty of special effects makeup and prosthetic limbs as costumed actors run around the park trying to give guests the best scare.
For more information about Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, visit HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Orlando.
Universal isn’t the only park getting a Halloween makeover. Disney World resort will be undergoing a spooky transformation from September 12 through October 31, 2014. Disney will be hosting an after-hours Mickey's Halloween party where adults and kids are encouraged to dress up, trick-or-treat and enjoy the fireworks. Space Mountain will be offering its spooky Ghost Galaxy ride in Tomorrowland, whilst Jack Skellington will return to take over the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square. Visitors should also keep their eyes peeled for their favorite Disney characters in Halloween costume.
Book tickets at Disneyworld.disney.go.com
California
Travelers to the West Coast can check out Universal Hollywood’s own horror zone. The resort will feature some of the same displays as its Orlando counterpart including the new Halloween maze, "Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood" and scare zones based off of "The End of the Line," "From Dusk Till Dawn," and "Face Off: In the Flesh." Exclusive to Universal Hollywood is the all-new maze based on An American Werewolf in London. The attraction will feature locations like the movie’s ‘Slaughtered Lamb’ countryside pub and the foggy Yorkshire Moors.
Get tickets at HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood
Las Vegas
Las Vegas goes all out when it comes to celebrating Halloween with plenty of freaky festivities. The Las Vegas Zombie Run takes place at Sunset Park on October 26 and will see a fleet of zombies join the race. Families can enjoy HallOveen at Opportunity Village where visitors can hop aboard the Forest Express Ghost Train, ride an enchanted carousal and take part in the Halloween parade. Night owls will flock to the Hard Rock Hotel’s annual Fetish and Fantasy Ball, featuring a fashion show, dancers and a freak show. Djs performing this year include Mark Lewis, Scooter & LaVelle and DJ Reza.
Europe
UK bound? Check out the London Dungeon’s 'Home of Halloween,' as well as its new location on South Bank. The interactive experience has a spooky theme running from October 1 – November. Halloween cast member the Master of Tricks joins the show to guide visitors through the storytelling sets and 1000 years of London’s dark history. Expect to bump into fiendish characters such as Sweeney Todd, Jack the Ripper, Guy Fawkes and Henry VIII along the way. There will be a number of Halloween surprises in store as well as two thrilling rides.
Aspiring witches and wizards will flock to Ireland's Ashford Castle Halloween Wizard School. The 13th century castle, located in county Mayo, provides the perfect scary atmosphere to learn some magic. Guests start off with a family treasure hunt in the ‘Forbidden Forest’ followed by a "Chamber of Art" painting class and a Harry Potter movie night. Guests can also conjure up some goodies in the "House of Elves Little Helpers’ Cookery School."
The one-night package is priced at $690 per room, and the two-night package is priced at $1,309 per room. Both packages include breakfast, offer accommodations in a Deluxe Family Room and are based on two adults and two children (under 12 years old) sharing the room.
Whilst Halloween is not as commonly celebrated on the European continent as it is in the United States, the celebration is gaining momentum across the mainland. Visitors to France should head to the west-central city of Limoges. The area hosts an annual Halloween parade that usually attracts over 30,000 people. Expect the more traditional garb of ghosts and goblins, as a parade of creatures cross town carrying candlelit pumpkins.
Thought to be the inspiration behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is Burg Frankenstein in the Odenwald in Germany. Whilst what remains of the more than 1000 year old castle is in ruins, visitors flock to the site from October 24-November 9 for the castle’s Halloween party where ‘Frankenstein’ descends upon the property alongside 99 of his ghoulish buddies. There will be stage shows and a special children’s programs where kids can watch the behind the scenes process of the actors being made over into monsters.
Find out more information at frankenstein-halloween.de