OTL Seasonal Guide · United States
Fright on a Budget: 2026's Best Haunts, Mazes, and Pumpkin Patches Across America
Haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin trails, cemetery tours, and a few frights that keep going well into November. Here are the Fall and Halloween events worth leaving the couch for in 16 US cities, plus a few ways to stretch a spooky-season budget.
Spooky season is here. Your wallet is already nervous.
Every October, America collectively agrees to pay money to be chased through a cornfield.
It's a beautiful tradition.
This year, though, a lot of households are doing the math before they do the maze. Candy costs more. Gas costs more. Everything costs more.
But here's the thing about pumpkin patches, haunted houses, corn mazes, and fall festivals: many of them are small, local, family-run, or seasonal businesses that make most of their year in just a few weekends.
When you show up, you're not just buying a ticket.
You're buying the cider donut. The hayride. The ridiculous glow-in-the-dark skeleton keychain. You're keeping the lights on — or at least the strobe lights.
Not a fan of fake blood? We've got you covered too, with gentler fall plans like our Fall Theatre Preview and Fall 2026 Ticket Deals.
The Scariest Thing This October Might Be the Budget
Halloween is still a very big deal. It's just a slightly more careful big deal this year.
A 2026 LendingTree survey found that people celebrating Halloween expect to spend an average of $162, down about 16% from $192 last year. Six in ten celebrators say economic uncertainty is pushing them to skip at least some purchases.
NewsNation reported the same mood: families are trimming candy, costumes, and decorations as everyday costs keep climbing.
And yet, the National Retail Federation still expects total Halloween spending to hit a record $13.5 billion. People aren't quitting Halloween. They're just choosing it more carefully. (We've written about this before: fun-flation is real.)
That's where it gets tricky for the businesses behind the fun. Farms and haunts face higher fuel, electricity, insurance, labor, and supply costs too. One Florida pumpkin farm told Action News Jax it raised admission for the first time in six years because running the tractors simply costs more.
The Pumpkin Patch Plot Twist
Many seasonal attractions earn most of their annual income in about six weekends. A rainy Saturday or a slow Thursday can't be made up later. Every visitor really does count.
2026 Fall and Halloween Events by City
Below are paid fall and Halloween events in the US cities where OTL Seat Fillers is active. Dates shown are what's left of the season as of mid-October 2026.
Always check the official site before you go. Haunts sell out, farms close for weather, and some nights are timed-entry only. (Our guide to what to know before you go applies to haunted houses too.)
Good to Know
These are public events selected for this guide. Being listed here does not mean an event is an OTL Seat Fillers entertainment partner, and it does not mean OTL members receive invitations to it.
Jump to a city: Atlanta · Austin · Boston · Charlotte · Chicago · Denver · Los Angeles · Nashville · NYC · Portland · Raleigh · San Francisco · Seattle · St. Louis · South Florida · Tampa Bay
Missed Halloween? These Frights Keep Going
October 31 is not the end. It's more of an intermission.
Several events on this list stretch into November, and a few even reach the holidays:
- The Fear PDX in Portland runs select nights through Nov 29.
- Patterson Farm near Charlotte stays open through Nov 21.
- Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay stays open weekends through Nov 15.
- 13th Floor Denver runs through Nov 14, and Ken's Korny Corn Maze in Garner, NC, runs through Nov 14 too.
- Nashville Nightmare runs select nights through Nov 13.
- Winchester Mystery House hosts a one-night Friday the 13th Flashlight Tour on Nov 13.
- The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and Sweetfields Farm both run through Nov 8.
- 13th Floor Chicago and Brookdale Farms in St. Louis run through Nov 8.
- Blood Manor in Manhattan, Bayville Scream Park on Long Island, Dungeon of Doom near Chicago, Lake Hickory Haunts near Charlotte, and NETHERWORLD and Trail of Terror in Atlanta all run through Nov 7.
- Krampus at The Darkness in St. Louis brings the haunted house back for one holiday night on Dec 18.
Post-Halloween Bonus
Early November nights are often quieter, and some haunts drop prices after Halloween. Fewer crowds, shorter lines, same screams. Once the haunts close, it's officially time to check our 2026 Christmas Shows Preview.
Halloween and Haunted Events News Feed
Catch the latest Halloween news, haunted attraction openings, fall festival updates, and spooky-season stories below.
How to Do Spooky Season Without Scaring Your Bank Account
You can absolutely enjoy fall and Halloween on a budget. You just need a slightly sneakier plan.
Want even more ways to stretch the budget? Try our 20 smart strategies to save money on things to do, our guide to getting show tickets for free, and our roundups of teacher and military entertainment discounts.
Life Needs Intermission
Empty seats don't scream. Or buy caramel apples.
A haunted house with nobody in line is just a building with fog in it.
A pumpkin patch without families is just a field of very round vegetables.
Live entertainment needs people, and seasonal events need them most.
That's the same idea behind OTL Seat Fillers. In active OTL locations, members may receive private complimentary ticket invitations when entertainment partners have select seats to fill. Members show up, cheer, scream, and often spend on food, drinks, and merch while they're there.
Fuller rooms. Happier performers. Fewer lonely zombies.
Curious? Here's what OTL Seat Fillers is, and our list of 20 screen-free ways to reconnect with real life.
Explore OTL Seat FillersRun a Pumpkin Patch, Haunt, or Fall Festival?
If you have slower nights to fill, such as a weeknight, a rainy weekend, or the first nights of the season, OTL Seat Fillers may be able to help.
Seat filling is private, so your public ticket prices stay protected. You choose the dates and how many complimentary admissions to offer. Our members bring the energy and spend on concessions, drinks, pumpkins, and merch while they're there.
There is no cost to submit your event. Want the details first? Here's how seat filling works.
US Fall and Halloween Events: FAQs
Popular 2026 Halloween events in OTL cities include NETHERWORLD in Atlanta, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, The Darkness and Creepyworld in St. Louis, The Fear PDX in Portland, Nashville Nightmare, SCarowinds near Charlotte, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze outside New York City. Many cities also have smaller independent haunted houses, haunted trails, and farm attractions worth visiting.
Yes. Several events run into November in 2026, including The Fear PDX in Portland through November 29, Patterson Farm near Charlotte through November 21, Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay through November 15, 13th Floor Denver and Ken’s Korny Corn Maze through November 14, Nashville Nightmare through November 13, and Blood Manor in Manhattan and NETHERWORLD in Atlanta on select nights through November 7. The Darkness in St. Louis also hosts a Krampus event on December 18.
Prices vary widely. Some family farms charge $12 to $16 for admission, such as Cherry Place near Charlotte and Shelby Corn Maze. Many haunted houses range from about $20 to $50 for general admission, with fast pass and VIP upgrades costing more. Buying online, choosing weeknights, and visiting in early November can often lower the cost.
It depends on the survey. A 2026 LendingTree survey found that people celebrating Halloween expect to spend an average of $162, down about 16% from $192 in 2025, with many skipping some purchases because of economic uncertainty. The National Retail Federation still projects total Halloween spending of about $13.5 billion, which would be a record.
No. The events in this guide are public events selected for their seasonal appeal. Being listed does not mean an event is an OTL Seat Fillers entertainment partner or that OTL members receive invitations to it. OTL keeps its private seat filling partners confidential.
Yes. Seasonal events in active OTL locations can privately submit select dates for seat filling at no cost. Seat filling stays private to protect public ticket sales, and members often spend on food, drinks, and merchandise while they attend.
Fall is also theatre season. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, garden pumpkin displays, and family farm festivals offer plenty of non-scary fun. You can also explore fall theatre, seasonal ticket deals, and early holiday shows. OTL’s Fall Theatre Preview and Fall 2026 Ticket Deals guides are good places to start.
