Aug. 26, 2026

NEWS: haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall

NEWS: haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall

Key Takeaways

  • Haunted houses function as the roller coasters of fall, giving the theme park industry its primary pricing power and driving second-gate ticket sales during the Halloween season.
  • Independent haunt operator 13th Floor Entertainment Group partnered with Horror Inc. to bring a licensed Jason Universe walkthrough to nine cities, creating a larger footprint than Six Flags.
  • The Scare Factor launched Haunt Advisor, a free recommendation tool that re-ranks directory listings based on individual user preferences, actor quality, and scare intensity.
  • Major theme parks are heavily investing in original music and entertainment for 2026, including Madame Leota's Swinging Wake at Disney California Adventure and custom tracks at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood.
  • Six Flags announced its largest Halloween lineup to date across 448 experiences, utilizing efficient scare zones and live entertainment alongside major licensed franchises.

It's Pumpkin Spice Week, and the theme park season is nearly all open too. In this week's newsletter: every major U.S. theme park Halloween event is either running or opens within the next three weeks, and haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall, the dedicated attractions that give the theme park industry its pricing power. Meanwhile, Thirteenth Floor is running a licensed Jason walkthrough at nine haunts, a bigger footprint than Six Flags has with the same brand, and The Scare Factor launched a free tool that re-ranks every haunt around each guest's preferences.

In this issue:
- Haunted Houses Are the Roller Coasters of Fall: The Hard-Ticket Holiday
- A Jason Haunted House Is Coming to 9 Cities This Halloween
- Find the Best Haunted Houses for You With The Scare Factor's Haunt Advisor
- Oogie Boogie Bash Opens With Madame Leota's Swinging Wake
- Knott's Scary Farm Announces 2 New Mazes and 2 New Shows
- Six Flags Makes Its Halloween Bet
- A Petrified Forest Adds Five Original Attractions for Chaos Reigns
- Dark Arts Returns to Hogwarts Castle After Three Years
- Shanghai Disneyland Expands to Ten Spook-tacular Days
- Nocturne Theatre Stages Frankenstein: Resurrection
- Fall Food Roundup: Every Chain's Menu, From PSL to Caramel Apple
- Midnight Syndicate Releases Plankett's Grove
- IT: Welcome to Derry Renewed for Season 2

Read the news here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are haunted houses considered the roller coasters of fall?

Haunted houses are dedicated, standalone attractions that give the theme park industry its fall pricing power, functioning similarly to how roller coasters anchor traditional theme park ticket pricing.

What is the Jason Universe Survive the Nation attraction?

It is a first-of-its-kind licensed Friday the 13th walkthrough operating at nine 13th Floor haunted house locations, featuring an interactive director's cut add-on where groups control how Jason attacks.

How does The Scare Factor's Haunt Advisor tool work?

Haunt Advisor is a free browser-based tool that re-ranks haunted house directories based on a user's desired scare level and preferences for actors, sets, and pacing, ensuring nervous first-timers aren't sent to extreme shows.

What replaces the parade at Disney California Adventure's Oogie Boogie Bash?

The traditional parade has been replaced by Madame Leota's Swinging Wake, an energetic Haunted Mansion street party that invites guests to take part in the dancing and spooky festivities.

WEBVTT

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Coming up, your weekly roundup of news from around the

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haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip. On the

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HAN Show, we bring you the haunt news, information, and

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education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we

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bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read

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more about these stories and so much more in our

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free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes.

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And as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it

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off to Daryl.

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It's pumpkin spice week. By Wednesday, every major chain's fall

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menu will be live. McDonald's and Phil's started the way

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of August 18th. Duncan, Peet's, Panera, and Einstein followed the

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next day. IHOP and Chick-fil-A launched on Tuesday. Starbucks brings

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the PSL back on Tuesday, and Paris Baguette closes out

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on Wednesday. McDonald's and Phil's skipped pumpkin entirely for caramel apple,

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and Paris Baguette is running both flavor families. If you're

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picking a seasonal item for your own food stand, the

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chains are signaling that pumpkin might be saturated. The theme

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park season is nearly all open too. Every major U.S.

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theme park Halloween event is either running or opens within

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the next three weeks. And Mickey's Not So Scary is

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sold out 16 of 38 nights at $ 119 to $ 229

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a ticket. In this week's SES essay, I argue Halloween

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is the only season theme parks can charge second gates

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for because haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall.

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They're dedicated attractions defined in a way that the general

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ambience of Christmas is not. The product that gives the

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theme park industry its fall pricing power is the one

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you operate. Speaking of, 13th Floor partnered with Horror Inc.

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on Jason Universe survived the night. A licensed Friday the

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13th walkthrough opening at 9 of its haunt, from Denver

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to New Orleans. That's independent haunts running a bigger Jason

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footprint than Six Flags, which has the same brand in

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only three parks. The structure plays both sides of the

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K we've been tracking. The walkthrough serves the value guest,

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while the limited director's cut add-on where your group controls

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how Jason attacks serves the premium guest willing to pay

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for a moment in the director's chair. The scare factor

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launched Haunt Advisor, a free tool that re-ranks its 20-year

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review directory around each guest's preferences. How scared they want

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to be? how much they care about actors, sets, and pacing.

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Every published haunt is already included, rankings can't be bought,

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and the system won't send a nervous first-timer to an

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extreme show. Check your listing in your review because they're

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now feeding the recommendation engine that decides which guests see

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you first. This is a fascinating development for our industry,

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and I'm excited to see where it leaves. Madame Leota's

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Swinging Wake opened at Oogie Boogie Bash on the 18th,

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and back in June, when Disney cut the parade, I

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wrote that the street party could be a better format

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because it asks guests to take part rather than watch

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from the curb. The show was excellent. I watched it

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four times on opening night. Yes, I'm an entertainment nerd.

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The crowd cheered and the song has since exploded online.

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Opening night didn't sell out, but more dates are selling.

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Although Disney has so far failed to capitalize on the

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show's popularity, the song isn't on streaming yet, it shows

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how enticing great live entertainment and original music can be

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for guests. HHN Hollywood is making the same bet on

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original music this season, with a Slash song for Killson Yara.

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and Ice Nine Kills covers for the Terror Dram. Also

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in the original music vein, a shout out to Nocturne Theatre,

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which is staging Frankenstein Resurrection, an original musical sequel that

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surrounds Victor instead of the monster, running September 11th through

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November 1st. Original, intimate, live horror at $ 46. 50 to $ 75. 50

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a seat. Also this week's Not Scary Farm revealed its

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full lineup with two new mazes and two new shows.

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A Petrified Forest adds five original attractions for Chaos Reigns.

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Dark Arts returns to Hogwarts Castle after three years. Shanghai

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Disney expands to ten spooktacular days for its tenth birthday.

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Midnight Syndicate releases Planket's Grove. And It, Welcome to Derry,

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was renewed for season two. This introduction has been from

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Philip Hernandez, publisher of the Haunted Attraction Network. Now, here's

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what you need to know this week. The Oogie Boogie

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Bash opens at Disney California Adventures with Halloween Street Party.

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The Oogie Boogie Bash opened at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim,

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California on August 18th. For 2026, the parade has been

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replaced with Madame Leota's Swinging Wake, a Haunted Mansion Street Party.

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Watch the street come alive with spooky, energetic dancing and

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spirited characters. Happy haunts have materialized in an irresistible ghost party.

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Inspired by the beloved haunted mansion attraction and hosted by

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Madame Leota herself. Oogie Boogie Bash takes place on 33

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select nights from August 18th to October 31st. Follow the

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links in the show notes to watch the full show,

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watch the new villain meet and greets for 2026, view

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the full Oogie Boogie Bash guide, and listen to Philip

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and Scott discuss the Oogie Boogie Bash on Patreon. The

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Simpsons Treehouse of Horror food arrives at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood.

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The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror is finally part of Halloween

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Horror Nights, and for 2026 it arrives on a plate.

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Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California is serving five

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Treehouse of Horror food and drink items in Springfield on

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the upper lot during this year's event. From a sloppy

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Joe called the Sloppy Dope, to a giant sprinkled donut

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that references one of the show's most famous Halloween segments.

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Fort Nightmare's food comes to Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, from

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a 22-inch battle bus dog to slurp juice. Universal Studio

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Hollywood in Universal City, California is serving four Fortnite-themed food

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and drink items at Tower Snacks near Universal Plaza, from

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the 22-inch battle bus dog to a glittering slurp juice.

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alongside the new Freaky Fields Scare Zone. The Fort Nightmares

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food is at Tower Snacks during Halloween Horror Nights, which

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begins September 3rd and runs on select nights into November.

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The food joins the Freaky Fields Scare Zone, where guests

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meet the Battle Bus and Fortnite characters. For everything at

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this year's event, see the Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood 2026

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Complete Guide. Dark Arts returns to Universal Orlando's Hogwarts Castle

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after three years. Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida is bringing

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the darker side of magic back to the wizarding world

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of Harry Potter this fall. Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle,

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a projection show that turns Hogwarts over to Dementors and

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Lord Voldemort's followers, returns to Hogsmeade on select nights September

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5th through November 1st. It is the show's first run

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since 2022. Death Eaters returned to Diagon Alley on select

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days and nights, August 27th through November 1st. Universal is

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also selling Dark Arts merchandise for the season, including a

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new wand modeled on Voldemort's. Six Flags makes its Halloween bet.

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Six Flags announced its largest ever Halloween lineup on August 17th.

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448 experiences change wide. 11 new haunted mazes and 29

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new and returning licensed attractions. The four new franchises flagged

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on that call are now named Jason, Blood Rain from

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Jason Universal at Scarrow Winds, King's Island and Great Adventure,

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Final Destination, Death's Playground at Great Adventure and Magic Mountain,

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and Blair Witch Project, Blair Witch, No Signal at Great

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America and Dorney Park, and Diablo, The Infernal Path, Blizzard's

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Gaming IP at King's Dominion and Cedar Point. The announcement

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went public three weeks before the September 7th pass deadline,

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and 2027 passes include this year's Halloween and holiday events.

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So each announcement doubles as a reason to lock into

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the year's lowest price before the season starts. Visits driven

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by entertainment, food, and seasonal overlays, the announcement wave is

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the sales engine discussed on the earnings. And 196 of

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the 448 experiences are scare zones and live entertainment. so

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nearly half the bet sits on the efficient capital of

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performers and shows rather than steel, alongside the daytime family

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events feeding the other half of the day. Learn more

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about this when you watch the full episode of this

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week's green-tagged podcast. Not Scary Farm announces two new mazes

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and two new shows for 2026. At their Nightmares Revealed

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event on August 18th, Not Scary Farm in Bueno Park, California,

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revealed the complete lineup of mazes, scare zones, and shows

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for this year's event. This year's two new mazes are

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Inked and Unearthed. Inked follows Mortible Morbid, a washed-up 1930s

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cartoonist and former head of Morbid Studios, who learns that

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when blood becomes ink, imagination becomes reality. Trying to finish

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one last Halloween special, he brings his cartoon characters to

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life and unleashes a legion of murderous toons out to

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pull guests into their twisted world. In Unearthed, Guests join

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a search and rescue team that reaches a ravaged excavation

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based days after a distress signal. The dig uncovers ancient

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tablets and awaken a malevolent force from the forgotten age.

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Join these eight returning mazes, two of which, Origins, The

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Curse of Calico, and The Chilling Chambers, will have their

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final season this year. Two new shows join the hanging

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for the entertainment lineup. Occultum, a dark magic show in

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the Birdcage Theatre performed by magicians from the Magic Castle,

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and Voodoo, Bayou's Edge. Hosted by Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.

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Five scare zones return. Ghost Town Streets, Forsaken Lake, Goring Twenties,

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Carn Evil, and The Gauntlet. Not scary for you. runs

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select nights September 17th through October 31st. Shanghai Disneyland Halloween 2026.

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Disney villains, a Peg Leg Pete debut, and 10 spooktacular days.

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Shanghai Disney Resort has announced its 2026 Halloween, running October

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4th through November 1st. as part of the resort's 10th

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birthday celebration. Unlike the hard-ticket Halloween parties in the U.S.

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Disney parks, Shanghai's Halloween is woven into a regular visit,

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family-friendly and villain-forward, with a run of dated, spooktacular days

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as the seasons peak. Shanghai's Halloween offerings expand this year with,

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with you, it's Magic Plus Entertainment. It opens with an

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extra daytime edition of Donald's Halloween Treat Cavalcade, where Disney

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villains take the spotlight and guests in their most creative

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Halloween looks can be selected to follow Donald Duck and

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Daisy Duck through the parade. Disney villains will also turn

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up across the park in a series of immersive experiences.

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Making his debut this autumn is Peg Leg Pete, who

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joins the lineup as an evil king. Mickey and friends

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take on a steampunk style look, while Daffy and friends

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reimagine themselves as whimsical bard troops. In the Zootopia-themed land,

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the annual Howloween celebration returns with Nick, Judy, and the

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rest of the Zootopia residents. The land runs daily 10-minute

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mark howling sessions and serves blue howling drinks throughout the season.

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The season's peak is a set of dated, spooktacular days

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expanded to 10 this year for the 10th birthday. They

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run October 16th to 18th, 23rd to 25th, and October

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29th to November 1st. On those days, guests can dance

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through five festive party zones, find surprise encounters in the

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Alice in Wonderland maze, join Donald's Halloween treat party at

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Festival Forest, collect treats across the resort, and gather at

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the Enchanted Storybook Castle for the Disney Villains Castle Celebration.

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Find the best haunted houses for you with a ScareFactors

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free haunted visor. The Scare Factor, a haunted house review

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directory that has sent review teams into haunts for more

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than 20 years, has launched Haunt Advisor, a free tool

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that turns its directory into a personalized one. You tell

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it how scared you actually want to be and how

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much you care about actors, sets, atmosphere, and pacing, and

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it re-ranks every haunt near you against your answers. Haunt

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Advisor runs on the scarefactor.com, works in your browser, and

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offers a free ad-free account. The more you use it,

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the sharper it gets. You can like or dislike haunts,

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save the ones you want to visit, build a bucket list,

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mark haunts you've already been to, and leave full guest

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reviews as you go through the season. Each of those

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actions reshapes what the feed shows you next, so your

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list in October looks different from where it started. Every

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haunt starts from the scarefactor's review. and that score carries

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the most weight. From there, the feed factors in what

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the community actually does thumbs up and thumbs down, saves

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bucket list ads, guest reviews, and whether guests said they

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would recommend a haunt. What sets it apart is fit.

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If a haunt is far more intense than a guest

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said that they want, it will not climb into that

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person's feed no matter how many thumbs up it has.

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The scare factor says it weighted the system this way

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on purpose to avoid sending a nervous first timer into

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an extreme show. For a guest, that is the useful part.

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The highest rated haunted town is not automatically the one

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you are showing. The best haunt for you is. A

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Jason haunted house is coming to nine cities this Halloween.

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13th Floor Entertainment Group has partnered with Horror Inc. on

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Jason Universe Survive the Night, a licensed Friday the 13th walkthrough,

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plus an interactive add-on called Jason's Universe Director's Cut. The

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company calls it a first-of-its-kind licensed Jason Universe attraction opening

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this season on At 13th Floor Entertainment Group haunts in Denver, Austin, Houston,

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San Antonio, Phoenix, Green Bay, Minneapolis, New Orleans, and Nashville.

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The 13th Floor describes the walkthrough this way. Jason Voorhees,

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the world's most feared slasher from Friday the 13th franchise,

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has stabbed his way through your nightmares for years. This

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Halloween season, get ready to finally come face to face

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with Jason. He's coming for you. When his mask emerges

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from the darkness, he's close enough to count every crack

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and scratch. You can't outsmart him and there's nowhere to hide.

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Your only hope is that you make it to morning.

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The add-on hands guest control of the scene. From a release,

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a camp counselor leads your group into a rustic cabin

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and for the first time all night you feel like

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you have the upper hand. You see a screen light

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up in the dark and four buttons nearby are labeled panic, slash, strike,

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and stalk. Each one controls how Jason will attack next

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and the choice is yours. You are the director of

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Jason's next scene. Your group gets a moment in the

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director's chair, but never forget that Jason controls the rest

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of the night. Availability is extremely limited each night, and

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directors leave with a limited-edition collectible Jason Universe Director's Cut patch.

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A Petrified Forest 2026. Chaos Reigns adds five new attractions.

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A Petrified Forest in Alamonte Springs, Florida, opens its 19th

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haunt season on October 7th with Chaos Reigns. A new

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theme built around five new attractions, three original scare trails,

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an interactive escape ride, and an immersive horror experience. The

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independently owned Central Florida Scream Park runs select nights through

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October 31st, with general admission starting under $ 40 and tickets

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on sale September 1st. The closest dedicated scare park to

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Orlando's theme park Halloween events, it also works differently from them.

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The region's big Halloween draws are overlays on existing theme parks,

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and a Halloween Horror Nights in particular is built around

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licensed movie and TV franchises. A Petrified Forest is a standalone,

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independently owned screen park that has built original attractions since

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it grew from a neighbourhood haunt in 2007, and Chaos

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Reigns keeps that all-original approach. Chaos Reigns introduces three original

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walkthrough trails, all included with general admission. The Craving takes

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guests through a dark interpretation of cannibalistic cultures across history.

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where becoming part of the food chain may be impossible

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to avoid. Last Responders opens after a catastrophic comic strike

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has left a city in ruins. The survivors struggle to

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hold order. A mysterious frequency turns citizens into something increasingly dangerous.

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Drawn to Death sends the cheerful world of Saturday morning

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cartoons into a demented technicolor nightmare when family characters escape

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the screen and enter reality. New for 2026, Dark Road Riders,

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The Keeper's Offering, blends a haunted attraction, a live-action ride,

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an escape room, and an interactive game with choices along

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the way that change how the journey unfolds. For a

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more intense challenge, Psychosis places small groups inside an enclosed

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experience and then sends them through a pitch-black maze where

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participants may be touched or separated from their group. Beyond

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the haunts, the event includes backstage tours, laser tag, roaming

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scare actors, live DJs, local artists, and food vendors. Harry

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Potter Studio Tour London brings back Nox for Halloween 2026.

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is bringing back Nox, its

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after-hours Halloween event, for three nights this October, the 29th, 30th,

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and 31st. During Nox, guests explore the studio's authentic Harry

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Potter sets after dark during the Dark Arts feature. come

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face-to-face with Death Eaters, walk a lantern-lit Forbidden Forest, and

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collect Trick-or-Treat sweets along the way. Tickets are £ 150 and

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include after-hours admission, one cocktail, one piece of confectionery at

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each Trick-or-Treat station, and a free souvenir digital photo. Drink

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bars will be available for additional purchases. Nocturne Theatre stages

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Frankenstein Resurrection, an original musical sequel to Mary Shelley's novel.

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Nocturne Theatre is giving Frankenstein a musical sequel, and this

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time it is Victor Frankenstein himself, not his monster, who

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is brought back from the dead. The Glendale, California Theatre

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presents Frankenstein Resurrection, an original new musical written and directed

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by Justin Meyer, with an original score by composer Chris Thomas.

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Running September 11th, through November 1st. Rather than staging Mary

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Shelley's 1818 novel, the show picks up after it and

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imagines a sequel. Victor awakens in a secret laboratory beneath

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the Paris morgue, resurrected by the brilliant Dr. Serafina Pretorius.

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Convinced that the doctor's sister Elsa is the reincarnation of

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his lost bride Elizabeth, he falls into obsession and madness,

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and the monster guides him through the nine circles of

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hell toward a final truth. The greatest monster he ever

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created may have been himself. The production frames the whole

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descent around a single question, what is the cost of

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refusing to let go? Tickets are on sale now, ranging

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from $ 46. 50 to $ 75. 50. Our Halloween Season Guides The Halloween

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season is almost upon us, and haunts around the country

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are announcing their dates, new additions, special events, and more.

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To help you manage the myriad of updates, the Haunted

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Traction Network has compiled comprehensive guides to the top haunts

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in the U.S. and top theme park events around the world.

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What's new this week? Fall Food and Drinks 2026, Every

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Chain's Menu and When Pumpkin Spice Drops. Halloween Candy 2026,

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Every New Treat from Oreo Ghosts to a Kit Kat Witch.

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Updated include the Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Magic Mountain,

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Not Scary Farm 2026 guides, and the Halloween Horror Nights

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at Universal Hollywood 2026. In addition, we've got guides on

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Kennywood Phantom Fall Fest, Alton Towers Scarefest, Halloween TV specials,

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Dollywood Harvest Festival, Cedar Point Hello Weekends, Spirit Halloween locations,

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Netherworld Haunted House, When Do Haunts Open in 2026, The

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Best and Scariest Haunted Houses in America, Halloween Horror Nights 2026,

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Disney Halloween 2026, Fright Fest 2026, Hello Scream 2026, Orlando

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Halloween Events, Halloween Time at Disneyland, Halloween Houses in California,

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Halloween Horror Nights, Haunted Houses in Texas, and Halloween Horror

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Night Tickets for 2026. Follow the links on our show

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notes or at our website to see all of these

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guides and keep an eye out for any updates. Midnight

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Syndicate returns with Planket's Grove, a folk horror journey to Illswitch.

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Midnight Syndicate, the dark symphonic duo whose music has scored

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haunted houses for nearly 30 years, has released their new

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studio album, Plankett's Grove. The 18-track album, as composers Edward

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Douglas and Gavin Goska, transports listeners into a shadowy realm

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of folk horror, gothic mystery, and dark fantasy. The record

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is built around the town of Ilswich in a grove

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that shares the album's name. Gostka describes Illswitch as the

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living place, rather than making the town abandoned where the

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listener's task would be to uncover the mysteries of what

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once was, we decided it might be interesting to keep

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this location very much active and alive, although not without

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its share of dark secrets. Plankett's Grove is now available

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to stream or purchase through the band's official store, and

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fans can join the band's community, Allegiance of the Night,

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through the Midnight Syndicate website. The Pokemon Center's Halloween collection

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brings Mimikyu statues, pumpkin mugs, and glow-up decor. The Pokemon

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Center has opened its 2026 Halloween collection, and it stretches

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from the front yard to the closet. The lineup mixes

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new pieces with returning ones across all three groups. Stone-look

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statue of the franchise's spookiest Pokemon, pumpkin-themed drinkware and lighting,

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and a haunt couture line of apparel. The yard statues

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lead the collection, crafted from resin to look like carved stone,

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They place Cubone, Espeon, Umbreon, and Mimikyu on cracked pedestals

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fit for a graveyard. The functional side of the collection

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returns to fall drinks and decor. There are Snorlax and

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Umbreon ceramic mugs for a seasonal coffee, a pumpkin Umbreon

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ceramic tea light holder, and a Mimikyu light-up figure for

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after dark glow. and a ditto ceramic candy bowl to

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hand out treats. The apparel side runs to knit cardigans,

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knit sweaters, sleepwear, t-shirts, and more, aimed at staying cozy

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as the weather cools. The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror meal

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hits Jack in the Box. Springfield might be pulling into

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the Jack in the Box drive-thru this Halloween. Leaked promotional

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images make the rounds online, pointing to the Munchie Meal

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of Horror, a Treehouse of Horror take on Jack's late-night combo.

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loaded with a glow-in-the-dark collectible cup and a very pink dessert.

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Going by the leaked art, ding diners get a choice

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between a double crusty burger of terror and a double

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chicken sandwich of terror, served with curly fries, tacos, and

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a drink in a purple treehouse of horror box. The

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collector bait is a glow-in-the-dark cup, and the art advertises

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six designs to collect with a bark cup shown. The

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leak shows forbidden doughnut holes. A four-piece order finished with

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the pink icing and rainbow sprinkle of the show's most

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famous donut. The name is a wink to the Devil

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and Homer Simpson, the Treehouse of Horror 4 segment where

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Homer trades a soul for a donut and then sneaks

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back for the forbidden one. For now, file it under rumour.

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Neither Jack in the Box nor The Simpsons has announced anything.

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No prices or dates have surfaced from either brand and

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these images are all fans have to go on. But

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they are specific, they are seasonal, and it would give

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Homer one more reason to chase a forbidden donut this Halloween.

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Ghostface gets his own Angry Orchard cider in the 2026

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Scream Thriller Pack. Ghostface is getting his own hard cider.

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Angry Orchard has teamed up with Scream Franchise for a

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2026 Thriller Pack, a limited edition, glow-in-the-dark 12-pack of hard

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cider fronted by a brand new Ghostface-themed flavor called Mystery Collar.

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This horror movie-loving killer is headlining Angry Orchard's whole Scream season.

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and it's rolling out now. In addition to three cans

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of Mystery Collar, each pack also has three cans of

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Caramel Apple Curse, Headless Pumpkin, and Blood Orange, all 5% ABV.

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The Thriller Pack is not the only Ghostface pour. Angry

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Orchard is also running limited edition 19.2-ounce collector cans of

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its Crisp Apple and Imperial Ciders featuring Ghostface, sold as

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singles at convenience stores. Beyond the cider, the brand has

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leaned into a full-screen season, with custom Ghostface merch and

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seasonal pop-up events. Phil's Coffee skips the pumpkin this fall

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for apple cinnamon roll and pecan pie cold brews. While

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much of the coffee world turns to pumpkin spice this

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time of year, Phil's Coffee is going a different direction.

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The California-founded chain's 2026 fall menu launched August 18th with

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two new cold brews, apple cinnamon roll and pecan pie,

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plus seasonal pastries. The limited-time menu is available at all

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80-plus Philz locations in California and Chicago. McDonald's new fall

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coffee skips the pumpkin for caramel apple pie. McDonald's is

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joining the fall coffee rush without a drop of pumpkin.

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The chain's new season of McCafe flavor, caramel apple pie,

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rolled out nationwide on August 18th for a limited time

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in frappes, hot and iced lattes, and iced coffee. The

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caramel apple pie coffee blends apple and caramel flavors with

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McDonald's coffee. then finished with salted caramel-flavored whipped cream and

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crumbled apple pie bits on top. Panera goes all out

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on pumpkin for fall with a pumpkin spice latte and

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new bakes. Panera bread is planting its flag firmly in

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pumpkin country as its fall lineup lands nationwide on August 19th.

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The pumpkin spice latte returns hot or iced, made with espresso,

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filmed milk, and pumpkin spice sauce under whipped cream and

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pumpkin spice crumbles. Two new drinks join it, a pumpkin

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spice iced coffee made with a richer dark roast, pumpkin

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spice sweet cream cold foam, and pumpkin spice crumbles, and

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a pumpkin spice frozen java, a blended coffee drink. On

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the bakery side, the pumpkin-shaped iced pumpkin cookie returns with

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two new treats, the pumpkin cinnamon roll and the caramel

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pumpkin slice. Cake with pumpkin pie spices, brown sugar, vanilla,

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and salted caramel swirls, finished with pumpkin spice icing. Snoopy

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and the Peanuts Gang take over Duncan Hines and Swiss

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Miss for fall. Duncan Hines and Swiss Miss are getting

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Peanuts makeovers. Hungra Brands is putting Snoopy, Charlie Brown and

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the rest of the gang on a set of limited

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edition baking mixes and hot cocoa, arriving in stores this month.

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For Halloween, the one to know is the Great Pumpkin

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Bunt Cake and Glaze Mix, a pumpkin-flavoured bunt with orange

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glaze that nods to It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

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00:26:52.809 --> 00:26:54.430
Most of the rest of the collection is aimed at

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00:26:54.490 --> 00:26:57.420
winter and holiday gifting. More than a new flavour launch,

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00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:00.720
the collection runs on Peanuts nostalgia. This is the same

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00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:03.569
seasonal pull behind It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, which

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still turns up on TV every fall and sits in

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00:27:06.170 --> 00:27:10.809
our Halloween TV specials guide. Paris Baguette's 2026 Fall Menu

436
00:27:10.849 --> 00:27:14.769
brings a Caramel Apple Collection and Pumpkin Creations. Paris Baguette

437
00:27:14.809 --> 00:27:18.789
is rolling out its 2026 Fall Menu nationwide on August 26th.

438
00:27:19.089 --> 00:27:22.130
The Neighbourhood Bakery Cafe is splitting the season between two

439
00:27:22.210 --> 00:27:26.349
flavour families. A new Caramel Apple Collection and its Returning

440
00:27:26.410 --> 00:27:31.049
Perfectly Pumpkin lineup, all across handcrafted cakes, pastries, and seasonal drinks,

441
00:27:31.250 --> 00:27:34.670
plus a few savory items. The new Caramel Apple lineup

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00:27:34.930 --> 00:27:38.680
is built around cinnamon apples, streusel, and caramel. Highlights include

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00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:42.279
Caramel Apple Streusel Trifle, four layers of vanilla sponge cake

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00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:45.359
with pastry cream and cinnamon apples topped with streusel and

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00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:49.259
caramel drizzle. Also available is a personal sized trifle cup.

446
00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:53.700
Caramel Apple Streusel Donut, a signature cream A signature king

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00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:56.559
cream donut loaded with cinnamon apple filling and drizzled with

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00:27:56.599 --> 00:28:01.440
caramel and streusel. Caramel apple matcha latte. Ceremonial grade matcha

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00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:04.549
swirled with caramel apple and milk. Hot or iced. The

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00:28:04.589 --> 00:28:06.980
pumpkin side returns with a mix of pastries and drinks

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00:28:07.049 --> 00:28:10.769
including their pumpkin streusel tart, pumpkin cheese danish, and pumpkin

452
00:28:10.829 --> 00:28:14.589
sweet cream cold brew. Einstein Brothers brings back its pumpkin

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00:28:14.630 --> 00:28:18.269
bagel after seven years. Einstein Brothers Bagels is bringing back

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00:28:18.309 --> 00:28:21.049
its pumpkin bagel and pumpkin schmear for the first time

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00:28:21.109 --> 00:28:24.940
in seven years. The chain, which calls itself America's largest

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00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:28.079
retail bagel chain, is rolling the fall favorite out in stages.

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00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:32.650
Digital exclusive early access started the 19th of August, a kids,

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00:28:32.730 --> 00:28:36.109
seven and younger eat free day landed August 22nd, and

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00:28:36.130 --> 00:28:40.410
the full 2026 fall menu goes nationwide August 26th. In

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00:28:40.470 --> 00:28:43.390
addition to the returning pumpkin bagel and pumpkin schmear are

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00:28:43.410 --> 00:28:46.930
two new items. There's a $ 3 pull-apart bagel and schmear

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00:28:46.970 --> 00:28:50.599
in two seasonal flavors, pumpkin crunch and cinnamon sugar bagel.

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00:28:51.009 --> 00:28:53.890
and a new cream brulee iced coffee for $ 1. 99 in

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00:28:54.349 --> 00:28:58.670
any size. Halloween Baking Championship and Halloween Wars return to

465
00:28:58.730 --> 00:29:03.039
Food Network. Food Network's two fan-favorite Halloween competitions are back

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00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:06.880
for 2026, and they premiere on back-to-back nights. Halloween Wars

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00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:11.200
returns first with its 16th season on Sunday, September 13th,

468
00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:15.539
and Halloween Baking Championship follows with its 12th season on Monday,

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00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:19.289
September 14th. Both shows open with two-hour premieres and new

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00:29:19.349 --> 00:29:22.750
episodes stream the next day on HBO Max. Halloween Wars

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00:29:22.809 --> 00:29:26.650
kicks off a back-from-the-dead season, bringing back all-star pumpkin carvers,

472
00:29:26.849 --> 00:29:30.849
cake artists, and sugar masters, some defending former titles and

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00:29:30.930 --> 00:29:35.289
others hunting for redemption. Jonathan Bennett returns as host, joined

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00:29:35.349 --> 00:29:39.039
by judges Shimin Lee and Andrew Fuller, who award $ 30, 000

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00:29:38.910 --> 00:29:43.420
to the winning team. The following night, Halloween Baking Championship

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00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:47.740
returns with 10 bakers competing for the title and a $ 25, 000 prize.

477
00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:51.089
Host John Henson plays curator of this year's setting, the

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00:29:51.130 --> 00:29:54.970
grand foyer of the Museum of Unnatural History, where exhibits

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00:29:55.049 --> 00:29:58.210
like possessed pets, demon masks, and a vault of bones

480
00:29:58.289 --> 00:30:03.039
inspire the challenges. Judges Stephanie Boswell, Artie Sequeira, and Zach

481
00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:07.319
Young decide who survives to bake another day. It, Welcome

482
00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:10.970
to Derry, is renewed for season two. Pennywise is coming back.

483
00:30:11.390 --> 00:30:14.750
HBO has renewed It, Welcome to Derry for a second season,

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00:30:15.049 --> 00:30:18.009
and the new episodes will jump back to 1935 and

485
00:30:18.029 --> 00:30:21.450
the Great Depression. Season two centers on the bloody massacre

486
00:30:21.490 --> 00:30:24.130
of the Bradley Gang, a crew of bank robbers who

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00:30:24.170 --> 00:30:27.390
stop in Derry to buy ammunition and end up facing

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00:30:27.529 --> 00:30:31.589
unimaginable horror. Brad Caleb Kane will serve as showrunner on

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00:30:31.650 --> 00:30:34.970
season two. The series is set in Stephen King's It universe,

490
00:30:35.289 --> 00:30:38.529
based on his novel, and expands the world Andy Muschietti

491
00:30:38.789 --> 00:30:41.319
on the world Andy Muschietti built in the feature films

492
00:30:41.450 --> 00:30:45.160
It and It Chapter Two. HBO Max's Sarah Aubrey said

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00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:47.779
the team will break new ground in season two, deepening

494
00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:51.500
mystery in the Pennywise lore, while the Muschiettis called continuing

495
00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:55.220
to expand King's world an absolute privilege. HBO has not

496
00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:59.160
announced an official premiere date, Though deadlines report season two

497
00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:03.759
is expected in late 2027. Adult Swim's new horror comedy,

498
00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:08.460
The Terrors of Jordan Mendoza, premieres September 13th. Adult Swim

499
00:31:08.509 --> 00:31:11.109
has a new live-action series arriving in time for the

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00:31:11.150 --> 00:31:14.950
Halloween season. The Terrors of Jordan Mendoza premieres the evening

501
00:31:14.990 --> 00:31:19.339
of Sunday, September 13th at midnight PDT and Eastern Standard Time.

502
00:31:19.650 --> 00:31:23.970
The episode breached fans on HBO Max. Created by, starring, directed,

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00:31:24.029 --> 00:31:28.210
and executive produced by Jordan Mendoza, the quarter-hour series follows

504
00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:32.619
a very scared man as he navigates a barrage of absurd, terrifying,

505
00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:37.140
and hilarious dreamscapes. Blending sharp comedy with surreal horror, the

506
00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:40.380
series dives deep into the subconscious to explore fears that

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00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:44.480
are deeply personal and strikingly universal. The series features guest

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00:31:44.529 --> 00:31:49.170
turns from Thomas Lennon, Marc Moran, Fred Melamed, Hayley Joel Osment,

509
00:31:49.410 --> 00:31:53.549
Randall Park, Wanda Sykes, Eva Victor, and Steve Buscemi, among others.

510
00:31:54.089 --> 00:31:58.750
HGTV's A Very Haunted Renovation sends designers into one of

511
00:31:58.890 --> 00:32:03.750
America's most haunted houses. HGTV is spending Halloween season inside

512
00:32:03.789 --> 00:32:08.720
a real haunted house. A Very Haunted Renovation, a new

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00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:14.369
six-episode competition series, premieres Tuesday, September 15th on HGTV. with

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00:32:14.430 --> 00:32:18.430
episodes streaming next day on HBO Max starting September 16th.

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00:32:18.990 --> 00:32:22.299
The show drops six designers into Bill Manor, a crumbling

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00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:25.099
mansion in Fremont, Ohio, that it bills as one of

517
00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:27.839
the most haunted homes in America and has made them

518
00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:31.869
live inside for 31 days while competing for a $ 50, 000 prize.

519
00:32:32.289 --> 00:32:37.009
The six designers are S.K. Stokes-Kennedy, Patrick Peel, John Ryan,

520
00:32:37.230 --> 00:32:40.579
Burson Shaw, Logan Wright, and Diana Vogel. They move into

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00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:43.660
the mansion for 31 days and take on a top-to-bottom renovation,

522
00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:46.619
facing elimination challenges in each episode as they bring the

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00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:50.460
home spaces back from the dead. Design expert Michael Smith-Boyd

524
00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:53.720
mentors and evaluates the teams, joined by a rotating panel

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00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:59.029
of guest judges stacked with horror names. They include Cassandra Peterson, Elvira,

526
00:32:59.130 --> 00:33:03.750
Mistress of the Dark, horror director Eli Roth, paranormal investigator

527
00:33:03.789 --> 00:33:08.440
Jack Osborne, actor Billy Porter, production designer Hannah Bichler, and

528
00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:12.500
actress Lulu Wilson. In convention news, Creep It Real OC

529
00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:17.240
2026 Halloween panel, 120 vendors, and a new Victorian walkthrough.

530
00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:21.359
Creep It Real OC, billed by its organizers as Orange

531
00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:25.339
County's largest Halloween festival, returns for its seventh year on

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00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:29.369
Friday through Sunday, September 11th through 13th at the Heritage

533
00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:33.519
Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana, California. The Vintage

534
00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:36.880
Hometown Halloween Festival runs 4 to 10 o'clock each day.

535
00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:42.069
The event features 120-plus vendors, live music, a nightly trick-or-treat parade,

536
00:33:42.109 --> 00:33:45.509
and more. The week's marquee draw is a Disney Halloween

537
00:33:45.549 --> 00:33:48.930
Town reunion. The Magic of Halloween Town panel takes the

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00:33:48.970 --> 00:33:52.890
main stage on Sunday at 6.30, with stars Kimberly J. Brown,

539
00:33:53.250 --> 00:33:57.420
Judith Hoag, and Danielle Koontz, who reflected on the 1998

540
00:33:57.420 --> 00:34:00.460
Disney Channel classic and share stories from making the series.

541
00:34:01.130 --> 00:34:03.390
All three are also at the festival throughout the weekend

542
00:34:03.410 --> 00:34:07.500
for autographs and photos, which the celebrities price themselves. New

543
00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:11.500
for this year, the Victorian Vogel takes over the historic

544
00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:14.659
Kellogg House and the museum grounds for a guided Victoria

545
00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:18.340
mourning experience. The walkthrough covers the customs surrounding death, funerals,

546
00:34:18.409 --> 00:34:21.070
and burial in the Victorian era, from how families honored

547
00:34:21.090 --> 00:34:24.489
their loved ones to the symbolism behind mourning rituals. Tickets

548
00:34:24.530 --> 00:34:27.769
are on sale now through TicketSpice. A Creepin' weekend pass

549
00:34:27.809 --> 00:34:31.590
covering all three days is $ 52. 77, and a single-day general

550
00:34:31.650 --> 00:34:35.829
admission for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday is $ 21.

551
00:34:34.909 --> 00:34:35.369
72.

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00:34:35.369 --> 00:34:37.610
Admission is free for children 10 and under, free for

553
00:34:37.650 --> 00:34:41.670
costumed pets, and parking is free. A merchandise presale, t-shirts,

554
00:34:41.710 --> 00:34:45.329
canvas totes, and bundles, runs through September 4th with pickup

555
00:34:45.469 --> 00:34:48.260
at the event. The upcoming event for this fall is

556
00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:52.360
Creepin' Real OC Expo from Santa Ana, California, September 11th

557
00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:52.860
through 13th.

558
00:34:59.170 --> 00:35:01.710
And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode

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00:35:01.730 --> 00:35:05.489
was produced by me, Philip Hernandez, with reporting by Daryl Plunke,

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00:35:06.070 --> 00:35:09.449
post-production by David Swope. This Haunt News update is a

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00:35:09.469 --> 00:35:12.420
production of the Haunted Attraction Network, and you can sign

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00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:16.679
up to our weekly newsletter at hauntedattractionnetwork.com. Support for this

563
00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:20.639
episode comes from Gantam Lighting and Controls. Until next time, Haunters,

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00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:29.050
stay scary. This is a Haunted Attraction Network production.