No matter what spooks sulk around every corner this Halloween season, nothing is scarier than letting autumn pass you by with nary a local haunt explored.
By Ava Baker / Photo Above Courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg
This, guys and ghouls, is where we here at Ghostal Virginia Magazine have you covered (but not safe from a good scare). Here are five chilling events we caution our readers to attend only if ready to fight for survival. Bwahahaha…
Howl-O-Scream
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Sept. 6-Nov. 3
What better way to kick off this killer list than with an utter classic? Scaring the socks off amusement park goers for the past quarter of a century, Howl-O-Scream remains a staple in the haunted house/scare zone realm of entertainment. The experience is included with general admission to Busch Gardens, begins every night at 6 p.m. and doesn’t let up until close. This year, roller coasters will be operational during scare hours, giving guests more than one thrill to look forward to in the Old Country. Their 25th anniversary celebration includes five haunted houses, six “terror-tories,” four live shows and more. buschgardens.com/williamsburg
Haunting At Greenbrier Farms
Greenbrier Farms, Chesapeake
Sept. 27-Oct. 27 & 0ct. 31
Haunting at Greenbrier Farms turns this historic, fully functional nursery into a chaotic abandon of fear and madness. The haunt is unique in its length as one continuous walkthrough, with their mile-long trail of terror featuring a bamboo forest, corn maze (both having tripled in size), psych ward and burial ground! Amidst the turmoil, visitors also get to enjoy the yield of Greenbrier Farms’ 15 acres of annual pumpkin planting. Pick-your-own and farmer’s market options are available during their fall festival. historicgreenbrierfarms.com
Haunted Screams Expo
Hampton Roads Convention Center
Sept. 28-29
Brought to life in 2019, the Haunted Screams Expo is an annual two-day horror and Halloween-themed fan convention that packs in Q&A panels, costume and VFX makeup contests, a “monster movie car show,” craftspeople and vendors, and more. This year’s panel lineup already includes collaborators from the Saw, Scream, Resident Evil, American Horror Story and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises. Hosted by the charismatic and (almost) benevolent demon Laitram Tsol, the convention summons horror lovers just in time to ring in the Halloween Season. hauntedscreams.com
Wicked 10K Weekend
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Oct. 25-26
Lace up your haunted Hokas because Coastal Virginia’s largest Halloween race and party is a wicked good time. Participants come to play with some truly inventive and elaborate individual and group costumes you may be amazed even make it over the finish line. Even if you don’t go all out on the getup, you’re guaranteed a fun-filled weekend with costume contests, the Monster Mile and Nightmare on 19th Street events on Friday, 5K and 10K races on Saturday, and the Post-Race Party on the Beach between 17th-18th Streets on Saturday–which includes food and a live band. wicked10k.com
Haunted Hunt Club Farm
Hunt Club Farm, Virginia Beach
Sept. 27-Oct. 31
Hunt Club Farm is known year-round for housing some of the world’s most adorable creatures. Come fall, fluffy wool and flowing manes are replaced by gooey gashes and gory gauze as the cuddly petting zoo is dominated by a spine-tingling haunt! The grounds boast four themed scare zones each with their own theme. Iconic fixtures of any haunted farm, a corn maze and a haunted hayride feature scare actors ready to fuel your nightmares with their bone-chilling SFX makeup looks. The family-friendly Harvest Fair will take place during the day, but as evening approaches and poltergeists begin to pollute the air, parental discretion is advised. hauntedhuntclubfarm.com
—Ava Baker
Ava Baker
