Dark Nights is the after-dark haunt event inside Hersheypark Halloween, and 2026 is its fifth year. Hersheypark Halloween runs September 12 through November 1, 2026, across eight weekends. Dark Nights starts at 6 p.m. on each operating night, while the daytime park stays open for regular rides and family Halloween activities. New for 2026 is the Reese’s Depot Of Doom scare zone, plus a nightly Monster Meet & Shriek experience at the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre.
The event suits two groups. Families with younger children can visit in the afternoon for trick-or-treating and the scare-free Avenue Of The Afterlife, while teens and adults can stay for the haunted houses and scare zones once it gets dark. Dark Nights is not a separate gate. Hersheypark Halloween admission includes all five haunted houses and all five scare zones, with optional Fast Track add-ons for shorter waits.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Dates: September 12 to November 1, 2026
- Event nights: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (Dark Nights starts at 6 p.m.)
- Haunted houses: 5
- Scare zones: 5
- New for 2026: Reese’s Depot Of Doom scare zone and Monster Meet & Shriek
- Ticket: Included with Hersheypark Halloween admission; Fast Track is an add-on
What’s new for 2026
The headline addition is Reese’s Depot Of Doom, a freight yard scare zone set in The Boardwalk Water Park area. The park describes it as a place of fog-drenched boxcars and shadowy trespassers. The park also says the returning haunted houses have evolved storylines with more creatures and more intensity than before.
The other new item is Monster Meet & Shriek, an entertainment experience at the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre where guests can meet creatures from the haunted attractions each night. Check the park’s daily schedule for showtimes, since they can change through the season.
Haunted houses and scare zones
Dark Nights has five haunted houses: Kill ‘N Fill Garage and Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir, both in the Midway America area, plus Estate of Evil, Haunted Coal Mine and Twisted Carnevil. Twisted Carnevil is a carnival-themed house set in a tent on Midway America and features a character called the Hypnotist. Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir is a meat-processing setting, and Haunted Coal Mine takes place underground with dark water and crawling creatures.
The five scare zones are Reese’s Depot Of Doom, Path Of Shadows: Coven’s Curse (behind the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre), Midway Of Misery (outside Laff Trakk), Fallout Zone (near Tidal Force) and Darkstone’s Hollow (in The Hollow). Guests walk through these outdoor areas as part of regular admission, so expect actors to approach you on the paths.
Daytime and family activities
Hersheypark Halloween is built to work before dark as well. The park lists about 50 attractions and dark coaster rides, and trick-or-treating at 14 locations for children 12 and younger. Avenue Of The Afterlife is a scare-free zone with a DJ, dining, street performers and character meet-and-greets.
Sea lion shows are listed for Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. ZooAmerica also runs Creatures of the Night flashlight tours from October 16 through November 1. During the final operating hour, select coasters run with the lights out, and Laff Trakk offers an indoor dark ride experience.
Park hours are listed as Fridays 5 to 10 p.m., Saturdays 12 to 10 p.m. and Sundays 12 to 9 p.m. Dark Nights begins at 6 p.m. and haunted attractions stay open one hour past park close, so until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets, passes and Fast Lane
Hersheypark’s 2026 announcement lists pre-sale tickets from $36.99 when you pick your date, and an Any Day ticket at $54.99. The park’s ticket page may show different figures as the season goes on, so confirm the price for your date before you buy. Season Pass holders get unlimited access, and admission includes all haunted houses, rides and scare zones.
Fast Track add-ons come in four tiers: unlimited all day, haunted house unlimited, combination packages and single-ride options, all in limited quantities. A Halloween Tasting Pass is listed at $39.99 for five specialty food items. Buy online through Hersheypark, or ask about resort packages if you are staying overnight.
Tips for your visit
Dark Nights only runs on weekends, so Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest evenings. Sunday closes an hour earlier but is often a calmer choice. If you plan to ride coasters and do the haunted houses, arrive in the afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday, ride first, then move to the houses after 6 p.m.
The park’s guides do not list an official age rating for the scare content, so use your own judgement for children. Dress for an outdoor evening in central Pennsylvania in autumn and bring a jacket. The park lists free parking with some ticket bundles, so check your ticket type before you go. Check the park calendar before travelling in case of weather or schedule changes.
Explore more: every theme park Halloween event for 2026, by state.
Dark Nights 2026 at Hersheypark FAQs
When does Dark Nights 2026 start and end?
Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights run September 12 through November 1, 2026, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday across eight weekends. Dark Nights begins at 6 p.m. on each operating night.
Is Dark Nights included with park admission?
Yes. Hersheypark Halloween admission includes all five haunted houses and all five scare zones. Fast Track passes for shorter haunted house waits are sold separately.
Is Dark Nights too scary for kids?
It can be. Dark Nights is aimed at guests who want scares after 6 p.m., and the park does not publish an age rating in its 2026 guides. Younger children can enjoy the daytime trick-or-treating (ages 12 and under) and the scare-free Avenue Of The Afterlife.
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Photo: Jim, the Photographer / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.