Six Flags, Hersheypark, Sesame Place and more: Holiday-themed attractions not to miss
Legoland will be hosting events for Halloween and the winter holidays featuring tricks, treats and more. Credit: Legoland New York Resort
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — not to mention Halloween — at theme parks a day trip away from Long Island.
At parks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and upstate New York, Halloween haunted houses provide scares near roaring roller coasters and trick-or-treat trails run through Lego lands. And this holiday season candy canes may be the new cotton candy with roaming carolers, twinkling light displays and holiday dance parties adding to the theme park holiday fun.
Here are five parks to try for a wide range of seasonal entertainment for kids and adults.
Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, New Jersey
Six Flags is renowned for its thrill rides — including some of the world’s wildest roller coasters. However, the park also shows a gentler side with rides that spin out imaginary journeys for families with younger children.
A couple poses for a photo by a festive tree during the annual Holiday in the Park held at Six Flags Great Adventure, located in Jackson, NJ. Credit: Six Flags Great Adventure
Holiday happenings
- Fright Fest Extreme (Wednesdays to Sundays through Nov. 3): The devils you know from "Stranger Things," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and other horror franchises haunt mazes, while unknown evildoers lurk in three original haunts — The Asylum, Big Top Terror and The Witches Reflections. ($40; guests under age 16 must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 or older after 5 p.m.) For gentler thrills, Boo Fest features a trick-or-treat trail through a kid-friendly haunted house.
- Holiday in the Park (Nov. 23-Dec. 31): At Six Flags’ new Holiday Village, cozy up and toast marshmallows over a roaring fire pit. Take a twinkly walk-through of a collection of giant ornaments on Jingle Bell Way, and a sweet stroll on Peppermint Path, lined with red and white candy cane lights.
- Cost $59
- More info 732-928-2000, sixflags.com/greatadventure
Hersheypark
100 W. Hersheypark Dr., Hershey, Pennsylvania
Adults can join the fun during Dark Nights when creepy characters haunt the park. Credit: Hersheypark
The chocaholic’s dream theme park features delectable sweets in all its varieties, readily customized for customers. Hershey is also home to 15 roller coasters, an 11-acre water park, kiddie attractions, a marketplace and a restaurant complex.
Costumed candy characters will be on-hand to greet visitors at Hersheypark in Hershey, PA during its Christmas Candylane holiday attraction. Credit: Hersheypark/Hersheypark
Holiday happenings
- Hersheypark Halloween / Dark Nights (Sept. 13 to Nov. 3): Take a nighttime ride on the Comet and other coasters, shake your boo-tie at the Character Glow Dance Parties and choose your scares from five haunted houses and three scare zones.
- Hersheypark Christmas Candylane (Nov. 15-Jan. 1): Take a walk on the boardwalk on a trail of festive trees, then rub elbows with Santa and his reindeer. Stop for a romantic photo at the Kisses Fountain and gaze in awe at a display of more than 250,000 lights dancing to holiday standards.
- Cost $52.99
- More info 717-534-3900, hersheypark.com
Sesame Place
100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne, Pennsylvania
A young guest chats with Elmo during The Count's Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place. Credit: Laura Napoli
Big Bird, Elmo and other beloved puppet characters spring to life at this theme park welcoming guests of all ages. Dine, ride along and snap a photo with furry friends in shows and parades inspired by the multi-award-winning children’s TV program.
Guests can celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa during the Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place. Credit: Meagan Passero
Holiday happenings
- The Count's Halloween Spooktacular (through Nov. 3): Kids are encouraged to come in costume (the sillier the better) to go trick-or-treating on Big Bird’s Beach. The Sesame vibe continues in Halloween-themed shows, a Scarecrow Scavenger hunt and a dance party.
- A Very Furry Christmas (Nov. 16-Jan. 5): Elmo will gladly see you at a holiday wonderland decked out with twinkling lights, whirling rides and festive decorations. Highlights include a music and light show beneath a 30-foot tree, a Christmas parade with floats, special Christmas menus, holiday gift shops and Santa visits. Special events celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year.
- Cost $46.99
- More info 215-702-3566, sesameplace.com
Dorney Park
3830 Dorney Park Rd., Allentown, Pennsylvania
Head to Dorney Park for Halloween fun ranging from not-so-scary to terrifying. Credit: Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
The amusement park features more than 60 rides, live performances, a waterpark and attractions for toddlers and littles.
During Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt, hundreds of creatures from the underworld emerge as night falls. Credit: Dorney Park
Holiday happenings
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Halloween Haunt (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27): A scream-inducing steel yard populated by the Walking Dead is the new addition to this ghoulfest. Fog-shrouded scare zones, an eerie catacomb walk-through and spine-tingling coaster rides make for a classic fright night.
- Tricks and Treats (Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27): Kids can come in costume and enjoy the rides, do arts and crafts and get treats. The event also features a dance party, costume contest, trick-or-treat trail and games.
- Cost Starting at $39.99
- More info 610-395-3724, dorneypark.com
Legoland New York
1 Legoland Blvd., Goshen, New York
Legoland New York features rides, characters meet-and-greets, festive activities and more. Credit: LEGOLAND New York Resort
Fans of everything Lego — from the hit movies to the Minecraft game — can celebrate the iconic plastic building block in myriad ways. Attractions span the Lego-verse from boat building to a Ninjago ride.
Ring in the holidays at Legoland New York with festive events and fun for all. Credit: Legoland New York Resort
Holiday happenings
- Brick-or-Treat (through Oct. 31): A brick-by-brick Halloween celebration features monster band concerts, a Mummy meet-and-greet on the Graveyard of Ghouls Nature Trail, four hours of candy stations and plenty of Lego-centric building activities.
- Holiday Bricktacular (Nov. 16 through Jan. 5): Get a Lego up on the holidays as you meet new Lego Gingerbread Man and Snowman, enjoy special treats and themed entertainment and help Lego Santa light the Lego Tree. Roaming carolers and a dance party build on the holiday spirit.
- Cost $69
- More info 845-410-0290, legoland.com