As if reality itself wasn’t scary enough in 2020, a number of Orlando-area haunted attractions are again opening their doors for visitors with COVID-19 precautions.
Some haunts are opening for their usual walkthroughs with reduced capacity and social distancing. Others offer new drive-thru scares, providing horror fans a completely contactless experience from their own vehicles.
Here’s a list of horrifying Halloween happenings in the Central Florida area.
Scream n’ Stream
New for 2020, this Kissimmee drive-thru experience allows visitors to drive right into a horror movie and watch it come to life. The “Night at the Die-In” theme will provide scares through immersive sets, lighting, audio and live performers. As the Stream n’ Stream website cautions, “Drive safe and steady and maybe you’ll all make it to the end credits…”
DATES: Sept. 25-Oct. 31, Fridays-Saturdays (and Oct. 18)
ADDRESS: 2001 E. Southport Road in Kissimmee
PRICE: Starting at $56 per vehicle
MORE INFO: screamnstream.com
Forum of Fear
The Orlando Forum, a dinner entertainment venue on I-Drive, is bringing guests the “Orlando Forum of Fear” beginning Oct 1., which will feature an original haunted maze created by Halloween Horror Nights veterans and a dinner show experience. Explore the “Tunnel of the Damned,” which will change twice during the month-long run and give fans a unique experience if they return. “The Dark Seance: A Haunted Dinner Experience” will feature a three-course dinner and historic horror experience hosted by “Claire Voyant.”
DATES: Oct. 1-31
ADDRESS: 6362 International Drive in Orlando
PRICE: $17.50 per person for “Tunnel of the Damned,” $87.50 per person for “The Dark Seance”
MORE INFO: orlandoforum.us
Universal Orlando Haunted Houses
Although Universal Orlando canceled its massive Halloween Horror Nights, the theme park did manage to open two haunted houses for daytime guests, included in theme park admission, at Universal Studios. “Revenge of the Tooth Fairy” and “Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives” are the two haunts available to guests. In addition, Universal has opened its Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store for Halloween fans.
DATES: Daily through Nov. 1
ADDRESS: 6000 Universal Boulevard in Orlando
PRICE: Included in theme park admission
MORE INFO: universalorlando.com
Face the Fear
Visit this Longwood haunt to encounter the tale of “The Gator King,” Dr. Henry Mordecai Mitchell, and his alligator tonic creations. As Face the Fear’s website says, “What you will see will give you nightmares.”
DATES: Oct. 23-24, 30-31
ADDRESS: 817 E. State Road 434 in Winter Springs
PRICE: $13 per adult, $6 per child (ages 10 and younger)
MORE INFO: facethefearhouse.com
A Petrified Forest
A Petrified Forest is bringing ghastly ghouls and sinister scares to Altamonte Springs once again this Halloween season. Horror fans can take a walk along three different trails which include a Dark Forest filled with horrors, a twisted carnival with a brutal ringmaster and a spooky summer camp. Timed ticketing aims to limit capacity and keep visitors safe.f
DATES: Oct. 15-17, 21-24, 28-31
ADDRESS: 1360 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs
PRICE: $27 per person, plus tax
MORE INFO: apetrifiedforest.com
Lake Catherine Blueberries
In Groveland, this U-pick blueberry farm is hosting two haunted trails for those who dare to enter. On Friday and Saturday nights, brave souls can attempt the Haunted Halloween Maze or Dark Forest Trail of Terror. Visitors can also attempt a new experience, Catherine’s Escape Room.
DATES: Sept. 25-Oct. 31; 6-10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays
ADDRESS: 5849 Lake Catherine Road in Groveland
PRICE: $10 per person (haunted maze, advance ticket), $15 (dark forest, advance ticket), $95 per team (Catherine’s Escape Room, up to six guests)
MORE INFO: lakecatherineblueberries.com
Stage Fright
In Leesburg, The Melon Patch Theatre is presenting a Carnival of Frights for two weekends in October. This walk-through attraction will bring guests fair-themed scares and dares visitors to enter, but asks, “Will you make it out?”
DATES: Oct. 23-24, 30-31
ADDRESS: 311 N. 13th Street in Leesburg
PRICE: $5 at the door
MORE INFO: facebook.com
Scream-A-Geddon
Scream-A-Geddon, which bills itself as “Florida’s premier horror park,” is bringing six houses to Dade City this Halloween season. Find scares in an asylum, a prison, the woods and more. Visitors can even purchase a package for pelting zombies with paintballs. Due to COVID-19, the park will be limited to 50 percent capacity, while masks and temperature checks will also be required.
DATES: Sept. 18-19, 25-27 and Oct. 1-Nov. 1
ADDRESS: 27839 Saint Joe Road in Dade City
PRICE: Starting at $21.95 per person
MORE INFO: screamageddon.com
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream
At Busch Gardens Tampa, Howl-O-Scream is returning with 10 outdoor scare zones and no indoor mazes. Visitors can also feel the frights during an outdoor “Fiends show” with Dr. Frankenstein and his frightful entourage. This separately ticketed event also gives visitors the chance to ride coasters after dark. Reservations are encouraged, as space is limited.
DATES: Select nights Sept. 25-Nov. 1
ADDRESS: 10165 N. McKinley Drive in Tampa
PRICE: Starting at $29.99 per person
MORE INFO: buschgardens.com
Mortem Manor
This year-round haunted house in Kissimmee, which has been named one of the “scariest haunted houses in America” by the Travel Channel, is open with COVID-19 modifications. Face masks and temperature checks are required, groups are limited to six people and social distancing is implemented. The attraction’s haunted house is open, while the “burial simulator” is currently closed.
DATES: 6-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 6-11 p.m. Sunday
ADDRESS: 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee
PRICE: $15 per person, plus tax
MORE INFO: mortemmanor.com
This list was last updated Sept. 21, 2020.
Know of other Central Florida haunts? Find me on Twitter @PConnPie, Instagram @PConnPie or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.