Fright Fest is the after-dark Halloween event at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, running select nights from September 18 through November 1, 2026. It layers nine haunted mazes and five walk-through scare zones onto the park’s regular roster of coasters and rides, with two brand-new mazes headlining the 2026 lineup.
This guide covers the exact nightly hours by day of the week, what the maze bundles and all-season pass actually cost, parking prices, and the chaperone rule that now applies to every guest 15 and under, all pulled from the park’s own event and ticketing pages so you can plan the visit without guessing.
Quick Answer
Fright Fest 2026 runs select nights from September 18 to November 1 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. Park admission includes the scare zones, shows and rides; the nine haunted mazes cost extra, either bundled with admission (from $80) or via the All-Season Haunted Attractions Pass (from $75). Daily general parking is $45, priority parking is $65, and the event is not recommended for children under 13.
Fright Fest 2026 Hours by Day
Fright Fest doesn’t run on one fixed schedule, hours shift by day of the week and change again as the season moves toward November. Based on the park’s posted calendar, Thursday nights (through late October) run roughly 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays run 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. early in the season and stretch later, toward midnight, after late September. Saturdays open earlier for daytime riding, around 10:30 a.m., and the scare content continues until 11 p.m. or midnight depending on the date. Sundays typically run from late morning until 10 p.m.
Because these windows move as Six Flags adds nights closer to Halloween, always check the official calendar for the specific date you’re buying tickets for rather than assuming a flat schedule applies every week.
What’s New for 2026
The park’s official Fright Fest page confirms two new mazes for 2026: JASON: Blood Reign, the park’s first maze built around the Friday the 13th franchise, and Final Destination: Death’s Playground. Treat these as the confirmed debuts, outside guides mention additional “new” mazes like Twisted Holidays and Deadwood Cabin, but the park’s own page doesn’t date those as 2026 additions.
Dead Man’s Party, the live show running since 1999, is back after a one-year absence. It’s billed as more fun than frightening, which makes it a solid breather between maze lines if you’re traveling with a group that wants a lighter moment.
Haunted Mazes and Scare Zones
Nine mazes make up the 2026 lineup: JASON: Blood Reign, Final Destination: Death’s Playground, The Conjuring Universe, Army of the Dead, Asylum, Twisted Holidays, Deadwood Cabin, Big Top Terror, and The Witch’s Reflection. Some lean on film franchises, others are original park concepts, and all require a separate maze ticket on top of admission.
Five scare zones are included with regular admission, no extra ticket needed: CarnEvil, Exile Canyon, Plaza De La Muerte, Curse of Blackbeard’s Bounty, and The Bloody Fountain. If you just want the Halloween atmosphere without paying for mazes, the scare zones plus live shows (Dead Man’s Party, Unleashed, The Awakening, Blade Drummers and Freak Show) can fill an evening on their own.
Tickets, Bundles and the All-Season Pass
Every guest needs park admission regardless of age, the mazes are always an add-on. Fright Fest Bundles, which combine admission with maze access for one night, start at $80. If you’re planning to hit the mazes on more than one visit, the All-Season Haunted Attractions Pass starts at $75 and covers mazes on any Fright Fest night all season, though you still need separate park admission or a season pass to get in the gate.
Both the bundles and the all-season pass offer an Express upgrade for shorter maze lines; the park doesn’t publish a flat price for it, so check the cost at checkout. Prices for all of these change by date and demand, so buy directly through the official Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest page rather than relying on a quoted figure from any guide, including this one.
Parking Prices
Six Flags Great Adventure’s standard daily general parking runs $45 (plus a processing fee and tax), with daily priority parking, closer to the entrance, at $65. These rates apply during Fright Fest just as they do the rest of the season. Buying parking online in advance through the park’s site typically lets you skip the pay lane at the gate, worth doing if you’re arriving close to a Friday or Saturday night start time when lots fill up.
Age Recommendation and Chaperone Policy
Six Flags Great Adventure says Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13, the mazes and scare zones are built for teens and adults looking for genuine scare content, not family-friendly trick-or-treating.
Separately, the park enforces a chaperone policy tied to evening hours: guests age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old to enter or remain in the park after a set evening hour, reported as 5 p.m. at Great Adventure. One chaperone can cover up to 10 minors, must show photo ID at entry, and is expected to stay with the group and be reachable by phone for the rest of the visit. Because this policy has been updated chain-wide at multiple Six Flags parks, confirm the exact cutoff time on the park’s official code of conduct page before you go, especially if you’re dropping off a group of teens.
Planning Your Visit
Fright Fest is purely an evening event, the official page doesn’t list daytime family programming like a trick-or-treat trail, so if you’re bringing younger kids, plan to leave before the scare zones activate at dusk. If mazes are the priority, ride the big coasters earlier in the evening while lines are shorter, then shift to mazes once darkness falls and crowds spread out.
Dress for cool New Jersey fall nights and wear shoes built for walking, the park is large and scare zones are spread across it. Weather can shift the schedule on short notice, so check the park’s site the day of your visit rather than the week before. For the most current hours, maze lineup, and any last-minute closures (the park has flagged weather-related closures to the Wild Safari section in the past), the official Fright Fest event page is the best source, it updates faster than any third-party guide.
Photos
Plan Your Six Flags Great Adventure Visit
- Six Flags Great Adventure park guide: hours, tickets, rides and parking
- Six Flags Great Adventure height requirements for every ride
- Scariest rides at Six Flags Great Adventure, ranked
- Holiday in the Park 2026 at Six Flags Great Adventure
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Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Great Adventure FAQs
When does Fright Fest 2026 start and end at Six Flags Great Adventure?
It runs select nights from September 18 through November 1, 2026. Not every night in that window is an event night, so check the park calendar before buying tickets for a specific date.
What time does Fright Fest open and close?
Hours vary by day. Thursdays and early Fridays generally run 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., later Fridays and Saturdays stretch toward midnight, Saturdays open around 10:30 a.m. for daytime riding, and Sundays run late morning to around 10 p.m. Confirm the exact hours for your date on the official calendar.
Is Fright Fest included with park admission?
Partly. Admission covers the park, scare zones, shows and rides, but the nine haunted mazes are a separate purchase. Bundles with admission start at $80, and the All-Season Haunted Attractions Pass starts at $75.
How much is parking during Fright Fest?
Daily general parking is $45 and priority parking is $65, plus a processing fee and tax. These are the park’s standard rates and apply on Fright Fest nights.
Is Fright Fest too scary for kids?
The park says it’s not recommended for children under 13. On top of that, anyone 15 or under needs to be with an adult 21 or older after a set evening hour (reported as 5 p.m.), so check the current chaperone policy before you go.
What are the new mazes for 2026?
JASON: Blood Reign, the park’s first Friday the 13th-themed maze, and Final Destination: Death’s Playground are the two confirmed new mazes for 2026, according to the park’s official event page.
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