Six Flags Fright Fest 2025: Dates, Tickets, Rides & FAQs

Six Flags Fright Fest turns your worst nightmare into a real-life experience every fall, when select parks transform after dark into scream parks with haunted mazes, scare zones, and rides running until late. This year’s event runs from September 12 through November 9, 2025, depending on which park you visit. Here’s what you need to know before you buy your ticket.

Select Dates: September 13 – November 2, 2025 (Great America) · Presenting Sponsor: SNICKERS · Key Features: Haunted houses, scare zones, rides after dark · Parks Hosting: Great America, New England, Frontier City, Darien Lake

Multiple Six Flags parks host Fright Fest each fall, with event durations and start dates varying by location.

Is Fright Fest Discontinued?

Fright Fest is not discontinued overall, but the event has been canceled at one major location. Six Flags America has canceled its annual Fright Fest event, according to regional reports. The good news: the event remains ongoing at Great America, New England, Frontier City, Darien Lake, Discovery Kingdom, Great Adventure, Magic Mountain, and Over Georgia.

Six Flags America Cancellation

Six Flags America will not host Fright Fest in 2025. Visitors in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area who want to experience the event will need to travel to another park. Regional alternatives include Six Flags Great America in Illinois and Six Flags New England in Massachusetts.

Status at Other Parks

• Six Flags Great America: official event page confirms operating September 13 – November 2, 2025
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: official event page confirms operating September 20 – November 2, 2025
• Six Flags New England: official event page confirms Last Scare Weekend November 8–9, 2025
• Six Flags Frontier City: official event page confirms operating September 26 – October 31, 2025
• Six Flags Darien Lake: official event page confirms operating September 20 – October 25, 2025

The implication: Fright Fest is alive and well across the Six Flags portfolio, just not at every location. The event spans seven weeks at its longest-running parks, giving visitors plenty of chances to catch it.

Are Rides Available During Six Flags Fright Fest?

Yes — rides continue operating during Fright Fest at all parks. Thrilling rides operate under moonlight as part of the event experience, according to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. At Frontier City specifically, rides run after dark as the park transforms into a scream park as dusk descends. Families with younger children should aim for daytime rides before 6 p.m. at Discovery Kingdom, when the atmosphere is still suitable for all ages.

Rides at Great America

Great America runs its standard rides alongside Fright Fest programming. The park’s 34th annual Fright Fest includes scare zones like Forbidden Forest, Head Bangerz (new), Henchmen Alley, Los Muertos (new), Lost Souls, and Oddities Circus of Madness (new). Thrills and chills wait for you around every corner of Fright Fest.

General Ride Policies

• Most major rides remain open during Fright Fest evenings
• Ride availability may vary by specific night (select nights)
• Six Flags app provides real-time showtimes and wait times
• Daytime hours recommended for family-friendly experiences

The pattern: parks keep rides running as a core part of the event — you can scream on a roller coaster and in a haunted house in the same evening.

What Is Included in a Fright Fest Ticket?

Fright Fest is included with regular park admission at most locations, with some haunted houses requiring an upcharge. Season Passholders at New England receive Bring-A-Friend discounted tickets and in-park retail discounts. At Discovery Kingdom, general parking costs $40, with preferred parking at $50.

Haunted Attractions

• Haunted mazes and scare zones
• Ghoulish characters throughout the park
• Themed shows and entertainment
• At Discovery Kingdom: Fright Fest Extreme with haunts inspired by Saw, The Conjuring, Stranger Things, Army of the Dead, Trick ‘r Treat, Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• At Great America: Big Top Terror, SAW Legacy of Terror, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Conjuring Universe, The Estate at Wretched Meadows

Shows and Zones

• Scare zones scattered throughout each park
• Nightly entertainment programs
• Special food and beverage items (like Funnel Scream Cake with SNICKERS and Frightening Fanta Fizz)
• At Discovery Kingdom: Magic After Dark haunted magic show, AR experiences

The catch: not all attractions are included in base admission. Premium haunted houses and express passes may cost extra at some parks. Check your specific park’s website before visiting.

Can Scare Actors Touch You at Fright Fest?

Scare actors do not physically touch guests at Six Flags Fright Fest. This is standard policy at all Six Flags parks. Fright Night Terms and Conditions explicitly prohibit actor-to-guest physical contact. Actors are trained to create scares through proximity, sound, and surprise — not touch.

Actor Interaction Rules

• No physical contact between actors and guests
• Actors may approach from behind or around corners
• Haunted house rules prohibit touching or grabbing
• Guests can be asked to leave if they touch or harass actors

Terms and Conditions

Six Flags’ event policies are designed for guest safety. Fright Fest is an intensely scary Halloween event, and not recommended for children younger than 13 at New England. Parents with concerns should review park-specific guidelines before visiting.

The trade-off: actors create intense experiences without contact — meaning the fear comes from atmosphere and surprise, not physical interaction. If you’re uncomfortable with close-proximity scares, haunted houses may not be the right fit.

How Scary Is Six Flags Fright Fest?

Six Flags Fright Fest ranges from mildly spooky to intensely terrifying depending on which attractions you choose. Six Flags New England states that Fright Fest is “an intensely scary Halloween event and is not recommended for children younger than 13.” The event slogan — “All you fear is here” — sets expectations appropriately high.

Scariness Level

• Family zones and daytime events: suitable for most ages
• Standard scare zones: moderate intensity, recommended for teens and adults
• Extreme haunts (Discovery Kingdom Fright Fest Extreme): high intensity, graphic themes from horror franchises
• Haunted houses with franchise themes (Saw, Texas Chainsaw Massacre): extreme content, not for sensitive guests

Appropriateness for Families

• Kids Boo Fest suggested as family alternative at New England
• Daytime rides before 6 p.m. recommended for families at Discovery Kingdom
• Under-13 warning in place at multiple parks
• Parental discretion advised for pre-teens

The implication: Fright Fest is genuinely scary by design. If you’re bringing tweens, gauge their comfort with horror media first — what seems like fun to one family member may be traumatic for another.

“All you fear is here.”

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Event Promoter)

“A warning for the wary — Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS® is an intensely scary Halloween event and is not recommended for children younger than 13.”

Six Flags New England (Park Official)

Park-by-Park Comparison

Eight Six Flags parks host Fright Fest in 2025, with event durations ranging from about five to over seven weeks.

The pattern: Darien Lake and Frontier City have the shortest windows, while Great Adventure, Great America, and Over Georgia offer the longest runs. New England wins on total duration if you count the Last Scare Weekend extension.

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Frequently asked questions

For visitors planning a trip, the decision is straightforward: check your nearest park’s specific schedule, buy tickets online to avoid same-day price hikes, and arrive before gates reopen around 7 p.m. if you want to experience both daytime rides and the full haunted atmosphere after dark.