MA Guide To Haunted Houses, Hayrides, Other Halloween Frights

MASSACHUSETTS — There are plenty of places around Massachusetts to experience all the Halloween frights. Our scary guide includes everything from theme parks to the holiday's unofficial hometown, some better experienced for adults and others suitable for children.

Here's what’s going on leading up to Halloween (the 31st is on a Tuesday, so plan accordingly):

WITCH'S WOODS
Where: Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford
When: Fridays through Sundays in Oct., plus Oct. 30 and Halloween night
Admission: $48
Features: A regional Halloween theme park returns to the Merrimack Valley with the Haunted Hayride, Vampire Passage, Castle Morbid, 3D Keeper's Crypt, Horrorwood Chamber of Chills and Jack O'Lantern Jamboree.

HAUNTED HAPPENINGS
Where: Historic Downtown Salem, Salem
When: Each day through Halloween night
Admission: Free, but individual museums charge separate admissions
Features: Halloween's unofficial hometown celebrates the season with nearly 1 million visitors hitting the Witch City during October. Those headed to Salem are advised to take public transportation and plan out an itinerary as many museums, tours and attractions will sell out each day, while restaurants could have long waits or be unavailable without advance reservations.

HALLOWEEN ON THE HILL
Where: Long Hill, Beverly
When: Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 29
Admission: $30 non-member on weekends, $25 weekdays with children's discounts
Features: Seasonal-themed trail that will feature over 1,000 Jack-O'-Lanterns, hundreds of mums and pumpkins, elaborate Halloween sets, light displays, music, and more. Tickets with specific attendance times must be purchased in advance.

BARRETT'S HAUNTED MANSION
Where: Abington, Route 18
When: Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 30, plus Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Devil's Night Out on Oct. 18.
Admission: $40 general admission with VIP packages and group discounts
Features: Haunted house with special themed events throughout the month.

MARINI FARM FLASHLIGHT NIGHTS CORN MAZE
Where: Ipswich
When: Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 30.
Admission: $18.99 with senior and children's discounts
Features: Educational and interactive corn maze with an Alice in Wonderland theme for 2023.

DAVIS FARM MEGA MAZE
Where: Sterling
When: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29, plus Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Admission: $24.99 in advance, $29.99 at the gate, with senior and children's discounts
Features: Massive corn maze, with food, craft beer and live music on most days, plus special events. The maze is 13+ unless accompanied by an adult at all times.

GHOULISH GARDENS
Where: North Andover
When: Sundays through Tuesdays through Oct. 30.
Admission: $10 adults, $5 children, members free
Features: Stroll through the meadow to read our Story Walk brought to you by the Stevens Memorial Library. Then, hunt down the hidden pumpkins throughout the rest of the property.

FEAR TOWN HAUNTED HOUSE
Where: Seekonk Speedway
When: Fridays through Sundays through Oct. 29, plus Thursday, Oct. 26.
Admission: $25 to $35
Features: Three haunted houses, with games and additional attractions.

HYSTERIA AT CONNORS FARM
Where: Connors Farm, Danvers
When: Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29, plus Oct. 8 and Halloween night.
Admission: $35 Haunted Fields, $20 Flashlight Maize, $50 combo
Features: Haunted fields, the Flashlight Maize, farmstand and pumpkin patch.

Experts say some of us are hard-wired to enjoy the full-body experience of being scared, as long as we know we’re in no real danger. Adrenal glands go into overdrive when we’re frightened, triggering a rush of dopamine and endorphins, the "pleasure" hormones.

That's different from the "bad fear" triggered in dangerous situations, according to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Chivonna Childs.

"There's also a good side to fear, and that's what scary movies, true crime and haunted houses tap into," Childs wrote on a Cleveland Clinic blog. "We understand that there’s an end to those experiences, that the bear's not gonna get us. We know that going through a haunted house is just for fun, that it’s only people in costumes.

"But it still rings those bells for adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine. You experience the euphoria because you know you're safe."