It's not all fun and games at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, which Universal Studios is bringing to life at 2025's Halloween Horror Nights.
Mel's Drive-in becomes Mel's Die-in during Halloween Horror Nights.
Universal Orlando Resort guests emerge from the fog during 2023's Halloween Horror Nights.
A scareactor stares down guests in 2024's Torture Faire scare zone at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights

The Halloween season has arrived at theme parks across the country.

For Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, that means the return of Halloween Horror Nights.

This year, guests will face of mix of iconic villains like Jason Voorhees from "Friday the 13th," newer foes like killer animatronics from "Five Nights at Freddy's," and original characters they've never seen on screen.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights kicks off in late August in Florida and early September in California.

Here's what both first timers and returning fans of the after-hours events should know.

What happens at Halloween Horror Nights?

Halloween Horror Nights is best known for its immersive themed houses and open-air scare zones.

Each year, a few themes span both coasts, though they may be executed differently. There are five shared house themes this year:

  • WWE Presents: The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks will pit guests against "one of the most disturbing and disruptive groups in WWE history" while honoring late creator and wrestler Bray Wyatt, Universal said in a press release.
  • "Five Nights at Freddy's" will "bring guests face-to-face with full-scale replicas of the eerie characters from the film — Freddy Fazbear, Chica, Bonnie, Foxy, and Mr. Cupcake," according to Universal. Just like for the film, they were created in partnership with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.
  • "Terrifier" will lure guests into Art the Clown's Funhouse, where Universal said guests "will encounter familiar faces, including Vicky and the Little Pale Girl, and witness iconic kills" from the "Terrifier" film franchise.
  • "Fallout" will take guests into the Prime video series' "hellish Wasteland," where Universal said guests must dodge Scavengers, Raiders, mutated RAD Roaches and more.
  • Jason Universe will transport guests back to the summer camp where the "Friday the 13th" film franchise began. "Around every corner, fans will be inundated with infamous killer moments from Jason’s heinous homicidal career," Universal said.

Other houses and scare-zone themes are location-specific. Orlando usually has more houses than Hollywood – 10 this year – and leans into more original content, while Hollywood tends to embrace more intellectual property.

Hollywood is also the only place guests can experience the Terror Tram, an HHN-specific twist on the World-Famous Studio Tour.

Both events offer live entertainment, themed food and access to select park attractions.

Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando

Universal Orlando has announced five original houses, beyond the house themes shared with Hollywood.

  • El Artista: A Spanish Haunting: "In 19th century Spain, a tortured artist moves into an isolated country manor for inspiration, but the art comes alive and possesses him," the Florida resort announced across social media.
  • Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters: Set in the Old West, this house will further the story of two characters from last year's Slaughter Sinema 2 house.
  • Dolls: Let’s Play Dead: "You’re about to become doll-sized and be hunted by toys that have been burnt, melded and stitched together by a twisted little girl," Universal Orlando posted on Facebook and X.
  • Grave of Flesh: Guests will join their own funeral before entering the underworld, where flesh-eaters await, according to the resort.
  • Gálkn: Monsters of the North: Universal Orlando says "a wicked being rises from the dead with a horde of monsters" that guests have to evade.

The Florida resort has also announced four scare zone themes: Origins of Horror, Masquerade: Dance with Death, The Cat Lady of Crooked Lane and Mutations: Toxic Twenties.

Additionally, the resort will debut two "street experiences" with "zombie carhops, undead DJs and more."

Pyrotechnic performance art will again take center stage in Nightmare Fuel: Circus of Decay, while Haunt-O-Phonic: A Ghoulish Journey tells a ghost story through music and projections on the park's lagoon.

Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood will have three location-specific houses this year.

  • "Poltergeist" will envelop guests in "nightmarish scenes with terrifying characters" from its namesake film, according to the California resort.
  • Monstruos 3 will feature three legendary figures from Latin American folklore: La Llorona, La Muelona and La Siguanaba.
  • Scarecrow: Music by Slash will bring scarecrows to life to deliver Mother Nature's vengeance on homesteaders. The house will feature an original score by Slash, who's now composed music for Hollywood's event for seven years in a row. This year's event will also have a Slash-inspired bar and vinyl-only album for sale.

The California event will include four scare zones: Chainsaw Clownz, Carnival of Carnage, Noche de Brujas and the returning Murder of Crowz.

This year's Terror Tram theme will again be Enter the Blumhouse. Guests must try to escape villains from 15 years of Blumhouse films like "The Black Phone," "The Exorcist: Believer," "M3GAN," "Happy Death Day" and "The Purge."

Also returning is "The Purge: Dangerous Waters" stunt show at the park's WaterWorld venue.

DreamWorks Theatre will welcome "Chainsaw Man: The Chaos!" Based on the popular "Chainsaw Man" manga and anime series, this short, original film will pit Denji and the Devil Hunters against the Halloween Horror Nights Devil and his zombie army, according to Universal.

What days are Halloween Horror Nights held?

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights will start a day earlier than last year, on both coasts.

Orlando's event will be held on 48 nights:

  • Aug. 29-31
  • Sept. 3-7, 10-14, 16, 17, 19-21, 24-28
  • Oct. 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-31
  • Nov. 1, 2

The Florida resort will also host a one-night-only, limited capacity Premium Scream Night on Aug. 28 with select all-you-care-to-eat food and drink offerings, shorter lines and free parking for $415.

Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights will begin Sept. 4:

  • Sept. 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28
  • Oct. 2-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-31
  • Nov. 1, 2

How much does it cost to go to Halloween Horror Nights?

In a break from recent years, neither event raised its starting ticket price for 2025.

Single-night tickets start at $82.99 for Orlando and $77 for Hollywood, the same as last year.

Multi-night passes are also available.

Halloween Horror Nights is not included with standard theme park admission and requires a separate ticket.

Can you ride rides during Halloween Horror Nights?

Yes. Select attractions remain open during Halloween Horror Nights, often with shorter waits than during the day.

Is Halloween Horror Nights OK for kids?

The event’s webpage says it “may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.”

How scary is Halloween Horror Nights?

Scary is subjective. Some guests aren’t phased at all. Others can barely stand to open their eyes.

Most guests are somewhere in between, enjoying a good scare in a safe space.

Can the actors touch you at Halloween Horror Nights?

They’re not supposed to touch you. They may accidentally brush against you in a crowded scare zone, but they won’t reach out and touch you on purpose.

By the same token, guests should never touch "scareactors," which is what Universal calls Halloween Horror Nights actors.

What can you not wear at Halloween Horror Nights?

Guests are not allowed to wear costumes or costume masks at Universal Orlando’s regular Halloween Horror Nights. However costumes will be allowed at this year's Premium Scream Night, subject to the resort's costume policy.

Universal Studios Hollywood has its own costume policy, but also bans costume masks.

Is Halloween Horror Nights worth it?

For many fans, yes. Fans return year after year and sometimes multiple times within a season because they love HHN so much.

It’s also cheaper than standard admission to either Universal Studios Florida or Hollywood, though not all regular daytime experiences are available during the after-hours event.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Everything you need to know about Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights 2025

Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect