Fall is a great time to visit Kings Island for Halloween-themed fun.
Families of all ages can enjoy scare-free activities during the day at Tricks and Treats Fall Fest and older families can face their fears during Haunt at night.
I’m sharing tips for families who want to experience both during their visit.
This article is written in partnership with Kings Island as a Kings Island Ambassador.
Tricks and Treats Fall Fest
Tricks and Treats Fall Fest takes place in Planet Snoopy and focuses on fall fun and Halloween-themed festivities without the scare on Saturdays & Sundays, Sept. 24 – Oct. 29, 2023.
The perfect event for families with younger kids.
Kids can trick or treat with or without costumes at candy stops located throughout the Tricks and Treats Fest.
If your child comes dressed in a costume, you might want to bring extra clothes in case they want to change out of it during their visit.
When you arrive, grab a map at the front entrance so that you can plan out your activities during your visit.
Watch a Family Friendly Live Show
The Great Pumpkin Fest has several family-friendly live shows for guests to attend.
A few crowd favorites are Funky Pharaoh’s Dance Party, Lucy’s Holiday Fashion Show and Costume Contest, and Peanuts Howling Halloween Party.
On Saturday and Sunday on Tricks & Treats Fall Fest,
- Dj Dr. Scream Dance Party
- The Fangtastistics
- The Monsters are Coming Charlie Brown
*Make sure that you download the free Kings Island app so that you don’t miss any of the shows and special experiences.
If you have a family member who enjoys being artistic, make sure that they stop by the Craft section.
Enjoy the Rides in the Daytime
Weekends are still a great time to enjoy the rides for all thrill levels located throughout the park.
View the Haunt Decorations in Daytime
If you are curious about the Halloween-themed decorations but don’t want to see them at night, daytime is the perfect time to explore the rest of the park.
Halloween Haunt at Kings Island
If you are not a fan of scary things, you can still have fun at Haunt at Kings Island. The obvious appeal of Haunt is for the scare thrill-seekers but there are still other options.
Just to be clear, Haunt is NOT designed for little kids. It’s recommended for ages 13 and up.
The Halloween Haunt Map states WARNING: This event is Too Intense for Young Children. Parental Discretion is Advised.
Chaperone Policy for Haunt at Kings Island
All guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old in order to be admitted to, or remain in, the park after 4 PM until to close.
The chaperone must present a valid government-issued photo identification with their date of birth at ticket entry. One chaperone may accompany no more than (10) guests ages 15 or younger per day.
In addition, the chaperone must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit, and be available by phone throughout their stay.
Guests ages 15 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection. This chaperone requirement applies to all Kings Island ticket and season pass holders.
Little Known Fact
Did you know that the Festhaus glockenspiel switches from the chicken dance to a new creepy German song just for Haunt???
Purchase a No-Boo Necklace to keep the Scare Away
The No-Boo Necklaces work for adults and kids who don’t want costumed actors to scare them….and you will find plenty of adults and teens wearing them at Haunt so don’t worry about appearances if you don’t like being startled.
The No-Boo Necklaces are nice to have when you are walking around the park and need to pass through an outdoor scare zone.
*The No-Boo Necklaces DO NOT work inside the haunted attractions so if you make the choice to enter you will be scared. You also need to purchase a new No-Boo Necklace each year.
Attend the Haunt Opening Ceremony at 7:30
Check out some of the scare actors in the Haunt Opening Ceremony at the bandstand on International Street that kicks off the evening’s festivities for Haunt.
If you have younger kids with you I would recommend a “No-Boo necklace” and observing the ceremony from a seating section near International Street in case it gets too intense for them.
*Heads up-The end of the ceremony can be a little startling in case you have a guest sensitive to sound.
Watch a Live Show
There are three live shows that you can watch during Haunt. Monsters Rock is located inside the Festhaus.
This is a very family-friendly show and a great place to hang out if you are waiting for other family members who are attending Haunt.
*Make sure that you download the Kings Island app so that you don’t miss it!
Watch other people being scared by the costumed actors
Two areas with less scare activity are the picnic tables on International Street and the Festhaus.
I sat near the fence by the fountains at the picnic tables on two different weekends and no one bothered me. I loved watching other people being scared by costumed actors.
*There are flames that shoot up near the fountains that can be really startling in the beginning but after a while, you get used to it.
Ride the Rollercoasters at Night
The older I’ve gotten the more that I’ve gotten ok with the fact that I don’t like being scared by people… I’m still ok with scary rides.
Thrill rides have a totally different feel when you ride them at night, especially the Beast.
Try Walking Through a Scare Zone
If you want to experience some of the scares in a less intense way, I recommend starting with the Scare Zones.
The outdoor areas have a lot of activity and if you want to observe but don’t want to want to personally be scared, you can wear your No-Boo Necklace.
Additional Tips for Haunt Thrill Seekers at Kings Island
Have a plan before you go. There is a map online so that you can plan out the scare zones and mazes that you want to attend.
The indoor mazes open first, and the outdoor mazes don’t open until 8PM.
Ride lines generally get shorter the later it gets.
Parking tolls open at 5pm on Friday night and the front gate will open shortly before 6PM.
If you want to skip the big lines, the Halloween Haunt Fright Lane Pass has limited quantities available each night of Halloween Haunt and it’s recommended to purchase those in advance.
How to Save on Admission for Haunt at Kings Island
For the best deals on ticket prices purchase your tickets online in advance.
Haunt is also a great time to save on purchasing next year’s Kings Island Season Pass.
Additional Information on Tricks and Treats Fall Fest and Haunt
For more information check out the Kings Island website.
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