Halloween 2025: Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Sept 2nd, Knott's Scary Farm Sept 18th, The Willows & Midsummer Scream

It's the Summer, I'm visiting friends in Palm Springs and it's too hot to be writing about the Fall...but so much Halloween news is coming in. Heck, I just wrote about Summerween. Happy Summerween, BTW, it can be celebrated on July 31st. Sigh, let's get into Fall Halloween news.

 

First up, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights starts real early this year, September 2nd. Just announced are two new haunts Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “WWE Presents: The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks. Looks like the first haunt is based on the movie and we'll have full size replicas of monsters from it. The WWE is haunt sounds like your walking through the nightmares of a redneck, more info on each at the Universal site.

 

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

The event runs select nights from September 4 through November 2. A variety of tickets options are now available, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket, which provides entry to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again. 

 

I can't believe how much this indie movie franchise and character has gone, but Art the Clown has his own terrifying area this year in a Terrifier themed haunt. And, earlier announced a Jason Universe haunt the celebrates the Friday the 13th franchise's killer. So, you've got a mix of old school and new school slashers. 

 

Just speculating, I got no proof, but maybe, the Jason haunt;which the name I don't like, should be called Friday The 13th haunt, was supposed to connect with the still unreleased Friday the 13th prequel series, Crystal Lake. I'm assuming Universal and others thought it would have aired on TV by now, but it's had production Hell problems. As of writing this though, it does seem liked it's being filmed, so we'll see.

 

Knott's Scary Farm hasn't revealed its plans yet, I mean they still have time, but they are starting up Sept 18th.

 

 

 

 

 

The Willows is back this Fall. Also, starting in late September. A creepy family gathering experience we highly recommend. You're basically with the Addams Family...a less funny, more messed-up version. And, it's in a new location this time. We've covered it two times already, but both time the actors always impressed us. Don't read our past reviews unless you want spoilers.

The Willows Will Have You

The Willows Won't You Visit Us Again?

 Here's a synopsis of it

 "One of North America's most talked-about immersive theater experiences is returning: The Willows, the emotionally gripping, dark and sophisticated production that has captivated over 6,000 guests since its debut, will remount in 2025—this time with major developments that elevate it to new artistic and commercial heights. Set once again in an undisclosed historic mansion in Los Angeles, The Willows invites 25 guests per performance into an eerily intimate family gathering where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems. With a runtime of two hours and seven narrative tracks unfolding simultaneously, the production offers a deeply personalized journey, blending the emotional intimacy of dinner theater with the psychological suspense of murder mysteries and the interactivity of escape rooms."

Don't forget, Midsummer Scream, one of the surviving horror conventions of the Summer is coming back this August.

 

Midsummer Scream

August 15-17, 2025
Long Beach Convention Center

$ 

 

"Shop from 350 spooky vendors; see previews of upcoming Halloween events and attractions; panels, presentations, and performances from leading horror performers and entertainment companies; and explore over a dozen haunted attractions in the massive Hall of