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Beyond The Parks

10/30/2018

2018 Park Journey Halloween Awards

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Well, it's finally here. The end of the Haunt Season. 

Sad Face ... 


As a site, this was our fifth year covering Halloween and we've had an absolute blast. 



​Below are our site awards for 2018!! Some of these events still have some nights coming up this weekend so be sure to check them out if you haven't already. 

If you missed ANY of our Halloween Updates be sure to check them out.

Also this year, we opened up the voting to you, our loyal Park Journey readers. So you'll not only see our staff picks, but yours as well. 

Best Theme Park Haunt

Staff Pick - Knott's Scary Farm

With the addition of new mazes and the freshening up of some previous years mazes it was another banner year for the amazing Knott's Scary Farm. 

Reader Pick - Knott's Scary Farm
It was a clean sweep for the original Halloween Event, although Halloween Horror Nights Orlando and Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest did gather a tying second place vote. 

Check out our Knott's Scary Farm 2018 Review

Best Non Theme Park Haunt

Staff Pick - Queen Mary's Dark Harbor

This was a tough category as there were so many amazing Non Theme Park Events that could have claimed this spot. Very close second would be ... see below. 

Reader Pick - Tie: WB Horror Made Here and Queen Mary's Dark Harbor
In just it's second year, WB's Horror Made Here managed to tie one of the best and biggest events around, and for good reason. If it weren't for the readers calling this a tie, we may well have in our Staff Pick above. Congrats to WB and Dark Harbor. We hope you continue to duke it out for years to come. =) 

Check out our Queen Mary's Dark Harbor 2018 Review

Check out our WB Horror Made Here 2018 Review

Best Independent Halloween Event

Staff Pick - Ghost Train

Reader Pick - Ghost Train

Another clean sweep in our Independent Haunt Category!! Congrats to the Ghost Train which manages to not only be fun for all ages, but thrilling for even the most extreme Haunt fan. Coming in second place in our Readers pick was The 17th Door, which continues to grow each year. 

Best Year-to-Year upgrade of a maze location

Sewer of Lost Souls - Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain


We thought about opening this category up for the Reader Vote, but weren't quite sure how to word it. Basically, the maze that has been in this location the past few years, let's face it, kind of sucked. But not this year!! Totally revamped, no more black walls or vines everywhere, a truly unique and innovative maze was to be found. 

Best Family Friendly Halloween Event

Staff Pick - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom

​Reader Pick - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom 

It's really hard to top Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and for good reason. Unlike most family events, Magic Kingdom gets to use their park at night for their Family Halloween event vs having nights reserved for scary stuff. 

Check out our Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 Review
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Best Home Haunt

Staff Pick - Beware The Dark Realm

This was our second year visiting this haunt near Magic Mountain, and it won't be our last. Truly ambitious and thrilling, the team at this Haunt puts on a great event, for a great cause. 

Reader Pick - Backwoods 
So let's say you go to some imaginary "Haunt Graveyard" and get animatronics and sets that basically tells the history of Southern California Scary Events and put them all in your house. And then it all works in an amazing way. That's what Backwoods is and it's amazing. It's no wonder our Reader's picked this as their winner. 
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Best Maze

Staff Pick - Universal Monsters at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Truly the toughest category we had to figure out, this could have gone to any number of 5 or 6 mazes at 4 or 6 different events. But for thrills, fun, effects and talent, none was better than Universal Monsters

Reader Pick - Stranger Things at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
This was easily the most popular maze at two different parks 2500 miles away. Stranger Things is truly epic in every way and it's not hard to see why fans loved this maze. 

Best New Maze 

Tie: The Depths at Knott's Scary Farm and Sewer of Lost Souls at Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest


We typically exclude Halloween Horror Nights from this category as they don't tend to repeat mazes, but that's not to take away anything from these two amazing mazes. One (The Depths) a fantastic idea with a mix of great talent, technology and fun and the other (Sewer of Lost Souls) a true upgrade for Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest. 

Best Talent 

Staff Pick - Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain

The staff at Fright Fest has been together for years, has the freedom to hone their craft and create their own characters. And it shows. Despite some truly busy nights at the park this year, the staff was on top of their game all season. 

Reader Pick - Knott's Scary Farm
Ghost Town, Carnevil, The Hollows ... names synonymous with amazing scares. Throw in the all new Forsaken Lake and 9 mazes and it's not hard to see why the talent of this event always gets high marks. 

​Best Scare Zone

Vamp 85 at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando


We all agreed, this was the scare zone to beat this year, and it's not very hard to see why. Great talent, great atmosphere and a killer soundtrack. 

Special Runner Up to Holidayz in Hell at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, which we hope comes back as a fully realized maze in 2019. Especially the Thanksgiving part. 

Check out our Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando 2018 Review
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​Best Year to Year upgrade of an existing maze

Staff Pick - Paranormal Inc at Knott's Scary Farm

Reader Pick - Paranormal Inc at Knott's Scary Farm


This one wasn't even close, almost a clean sweep for Paranormal Inc. The new ending breathed new life into the maze and it's better than ever. Even with huge upgrades to some other mazes, none came close to having the impact of Paranormal Inc. 

Related Videos: 

Related Updates: +
  • Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2018 - Magic Kingdom
  • Winchester Mystery House Candlelight Tours 2018 
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest 2018
  • Halloween Horror Nights Universal Orlando 2018
  • Knott's Scary Farm 2018


If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

If you have any comments, please share them below

10/3/2018

Winchester Mystery House Halloween Candlelight Tours 2018

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Today we're headed to one of our very favorite places, the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Their Halloween Candlelight tours are back for 2018 and are better than ever. 

We were invited out to opening night of the event and Stephen has some great pics to share. 

Written by Stephen Harrington
You know it's going to be an awesome time when you show up here ... 
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Who builds this big Victorian style house in the middle of San Jose?
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The front door to Mrs. Winchester’s house.
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​The Winchester shooting gallery.
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Halloween food offerings. Winchester always treats us so well. 
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​Specialty drinks for the candlelight tour
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​Winchester Rifles 
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​Prices, ssooooooo worth it 
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Let's start our tour
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​You never know whose lurking in the shadows.
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Mrs. Winchester’s hay loft and Mrs. Winchester’s wheelchair. There's something in the shadows. 
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​Mrs. Winchester’s bedroom
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Amazing tour. Looking forward to what’s in store the rest of the season. 
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For more information on the Winchester House and their Halloween Candlelight tours, click here. Be sure to make a full day of it and do both daytime and nighttime tours. You will not be disappointed. 

Related Videos:

​Related Updates: 
  • Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival 2018
  • Legoland California Deep Sea Adventure Hard Hat Tour
  • Coasting With Culture: Adrenaline Peak at Oaks Park
  • EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival 2018
  • Holidays in Las Vegas and a Preview of MGM Life Rooms


​If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

If you have any comments, please share them below

9/15/2018

2018 Halloween Event Reviews, Updates and Info

​Looking for a review or information for a 2018 Halloween event? Well look no further. Below you will find reviews of Halloween events we have attended or are planning on attending and a list of all of the other events (scary and fun) that we've received information for. 

​We will be updating this as we receive information about additional events. ​
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Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party - Walt Disney World


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Winchester Mystery House Hallowe'en Candlelight Tours


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Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest


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Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Studios Hollywood

Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Orlando Resort



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Howl O Scream - Busch Gardens Tampa


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Knott's Scary Farm





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Queen Mary's Dark Harbor



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September 29th - Fright Fest - Six Flags Great Adventure


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September 29th - Halloween Haunt - Canada's Wonderland


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October 3rd - Warner Brothers Horror Made Here



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October 12th - Scarywood at Silverwood

Event InformationClick links to see event information
  • ​Boney Island - Griffith Park (Begins October 13) 
  • Boo at the Zoo - Los Angeles Zoo (Begins October 1) 
  • Brick or Treat - Legoland, CA (Begins September 29) 
  • ​Fright Fest - Six Flags Great Adventure (Begins September 15)
  • ​Fright Fest - Six Flags Magic Mountain (Begins September 15)
  • Ghost Train - LA Live Steamers Griffith Park (Begins October 13) 
  • Great Pumpkin Luminights - Dollywood (Begins September 28)
  • Halloween Haunt - California's Great America (Begins September 21)
  • Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood - Universal Studios Hollywood (Begins September 14)
  • Halloween Horror Nights Orlando - Universal Studios Florida (Begins September 14)​
  • Haunted Little Tokyo - Little Tokyo, Los Angeles (Begins October 5)​
  • Horror Made Here- Warner Brothers Studios (Begins September 5)
  • Howl-O-Scream - Busch Gardens Tampa (Begins September 21)
  • Halloween Spooktacular - SeaWorld Orlando (Begins September 22) 
  • ​Knott's Scary Farm (Begins September 20)
  • Knott's Spooky Farm (Begins September 29)
  • Nights of the Jack A Halloween Jack O' Lantern Experience (Begins October 11) 
  • Pageant of the Monsters (Begins October 26)
  • Queen Mary's Dark Harbor (Begins September 2)
  • Reign of Terror (Begins September 29)
  • Safari of Fun - Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Begins October 6) 
  • ​Wincchester Mystery House Hallowe'en Candlelight Tours  (Begins September 14)​
  • Zombie Joe's Underground Theater (Begins October 5)​

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