Phantom Fall Fest is Kennywood’s fall event in West Miftlin, Pennsylvania, and it runs on select dates from September 12 to November 1, 2026. The park opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with family daytime activities on weekends and the haunted houses and scare zones taking over after 6 p.m. New for 2026, the park’s trackless dark ride Ghostwood Estate becomes a walkthrough with two versions: a lights-on trick-or-treat visit by day and an adult-oriented haunted house at night. A new Fall Fest Tasting Experience also joins the food lineup.
The event suits two kinds of visitors. Families with younger kids can come on a weekend afternoon for rides, candy and fall food, then head home before the scare content starts. Teens and adults who want a full night of haunts will find seven haunted houses and four outdoor scare zones. The haunts and scare zones are included with regular Phantom Fall Fest admission rather than sold as a separate add-on, and Gold and Platinum season passholders get in without paying extra.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
- Dates: September 12 to November 1, 2026 (select dates)
- Event nights: Select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Haunted houses: 7
- Scare zones: 4
- New for 2026: Ghostwood Estate: Open House (daytime trick-or-treat, nighttime haunted house) and the Fall Fest Tasting Experience
- Ticket: Included with Phantom Fall Fest admission; Speedy Pass is a paid add-on
What’s new for 2026
The headline change is Ghostwood Estate: Open House. Kennywood’s trackless dark ride is converted into a walkthrough set in the home of Lord Kenneth Ghostwood. Before 6 p.m. on weekends, the lights stay on and guests meet characters and collect candy. After 6 p.m., the same estate becomes an adult-oriented haunted house. Daytime trick-or-treating in the estate starts September 19.
The second addition is the Fall Fest Tasting Experience, a food event with seasonal items such as a potato kielbasa skillet, smoked sausage mac and cheese, and maple cinnamon sweet potato fries. A five-sample tasting card is $39.99, and season passholders get six samples for the same price. Coverage also notes that mALICE in Wonderland Unleashed has been expanded from earlier years.
Haunted houses and scare zones
Kennywood lists seven haunted houses: Ghostwood Estate: Open House, Detached, mALICE in Wonderland Unleashed, Shady Grove, Dark Shadows, Voodoo Bayou and Kennyville Cemetery. Detached is the fan favorite and is built around a puppet maker’s toy shop. Shady Grove is a hospital, Dark Shadows is a pitch-black walkthrough, Voodoo Bayou is a swamp, and Kennyville Cemetery is zombie themed.
Four scare zones roam the midways after dark: Fear Fest, a carnival with clowns; Dead Light District, a zombie-apocalypse city block; Hellbilly Hollow, a cannibal farm in the cornfields; and The Welcoming, a fog tunnel. Media coverage describes the houses and zones as starting at 6 p.m. each event day.
Daytime and family activities
Weekend afternoons are the gentler part of the event. More than 30 rides operate during Phantom Fall Fest, and Kiddieland and Kennywood Junction are open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. The lights-on Ghostwood Estate trick-or-treat walk is the main family add for 2026, and fall-themed food and seasonal decor round out the day.
Hours vary by day. Fridays run 6 to 11 p.m., Saturdays noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays noon to 10 p.m. Check the park calendar before you go, because the event runs on select dates only. Kids 12 and under may wear costumes, while guests over 12 cannot.
Tickets, passes and Fast Lane
The regular gate price is $74.99, and dated tickets start at $37.49 on discounted dates, which is half off. Admission covers the rides, all seven haunts and all four scare zones, and the park advertises a Rainy Day Guarantee. Buying a dated ticket online ahead of time is the cheapest route.
Kennywood’s skip-the-line product is called Speedy Pass. It is a paid add-on that shortens waits on select rides and haunts, and the park says it can cut waits considerably. Season passholders on 2026 and 2027 Gold and Platinum passes get unlimited Phantom Fall Fest admission. Tickets and passes are sold on kennywood.com.
Tips for your visit
Guests 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older with a valid ID, so bring the ID for the adult in your group. Weekend nights are the busiest, so a Friday visit or a discounted date is a calmer way to see the haunts. If you want both the daytime and after-dark versions of Ghostwood Estate, arrive on a Saturday or Sunday early enough to walk it before 6 p.m.
Pittsburgh in October can be cold and wet, so pack layers and a rain jacket. The park says all haunts are wheelchair accessible. Check kennywood.com for the parking details and the event calendar before you leave, since prices and hours vary by date.
Explore more: every theme park Halloween event for 2026, by state.
Phantom Fall Fest 2026 at Kennywood FAQs
When does Phantom Fall Fest 2026 start and end?
The event runs on select dates from September 12 to November 1, 2026. Fridays run 6 to 11 p.m., Saturdays noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays noon to 10 p.m. Daytime trick-or-treating in Ghostwood Estate starts September 19. Check the park calendar for the exact open days.
Is Phantom Fall Fest included with park admission?
Yes. The seven haunted houses and four scare zones are included with Phantom Fall Fest admission, which is $74.99 at the gate and starts at $37.49 on discounted dated tickets. Gold and Platinum season passes for 2026 and 2027 include the event. Speedy Pass is a paid add-on for shorter waits.
Is Phantom Fall Fest too scary for kids?
The after-dark haunted houses and scare zones are aimed at teens and adults, and guests 17 and under need an adult aged 21 or older with valid ID. For younger children, the daytime weekend activities include a lights-on Ghostwood Estate trick-or-treat walk, Kiddieland and Kennywood Junction until 6 p.m., and 30-plus rides.
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Photo: Ski2007 of English Wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.