Eastern State Penitentiary Opens Haunted Houses For Halloween Season

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's historic Eastern State Penitentiary is back in full spooky season swing, with Halloween Nights open now to give visitors the frights of their lives.

The annual event, which runs select nights through Nov. 9, features new and improved visitor experiences this year along with many returning favorites.

Halloween Nights is a massive Halloween festival that contains five haunted houses, as well as historic tours, themed bars, live entertainment and more, and occupies all 10 acres of Eastern State Penitentiary’s abandoned cellblocks and yards.

Several improvements throughout the festival have been made for the 2024 season, including "Beyond the Veil," a new immersive experience; new local concessions; additional photo opportunities; and upgrades to attraction sets and visitor flow.

In addition, Halloween Nights has brought back its popular option to "opt in" for a more intense experience. Visitors who dare to be scared can pick up a glow necklace at the entrance to the festival. Anyone wearing a glow necklace may be grabbed, sent into hidden passageways, and even temporarily separated from their group.

Visitors who want to dig deeper into Halloween Nights lore can engage in Beyond the Veil, a brand-new way to experience this year. They uncover an overarching storyline that unites the attractions and delves into the backstories of a cast of all-new signature characters. This immersive-theater-style experience combines narrative and puzzle, engaging visitors in a non-linear quest that spans all ten acres of the penitentiary complex. Key characters engage with guests, putting them on paths to make decisions and unravel additional storylines and challenges as they go. Additional signage throughout the festival gives visitors a more intimate look at the creatures who wander the grounds of Halloween Nights.

Beyond the Veil is included with admission to Halloween Nights.

Below are details on the five haunted houses and other attractions at Halloween Nights:

Delirium — 3D Haunted House.
Take a mind-altering trip through a murky neon jungle where nothing is quite as it seems. Menacing camouflaged creatures emerge from their hiding places as the world you thought you knew shrinks away.

Machine Shop — Haunted House.
Hidden away from the world is a long-forgotten machine shop. Evil pervades this space – an evil with one mind but with many bodies. Will you survive or will you become just another cog in the machine?

The Speakeasy at Al Capone's Cell — VIP Admission Only Prohibition-Themed Cocktail Lounge.
Unbundle your nerves at this cozy little hideaway. Grab a drink and get serenaded by our undead lounge singers. One complimentary drink included.

The Bloodline Lounge — Vampire-Themed Cocktail Lounge.
Come on in... these vampires won't bite... but they will sing, dance, and showcase their many talents, all while you enjoy a delectable cocktail or mocktail and their delightful company.

The Crypt — Haunted House.
Wade through the mist and into the lair of an ancient vampire clan. The creatures that live within require a sacrifice. Watch your step or the countess and her bloodthirsty minions might mark you as their next offering.

Pumpkin Plaza (ft. The Boogie Monsters) — Halloween-Themed Bar & Dance Performance.
The party starts here! Enjoy electric live dance performances by The Boogie Monsters and show off some moves of your own. Pumpkin Plaza is also the perfect selfie spot, featuring hay bales, skeletons and pumpkins.

Hospital Flashlight Tour — 20-Minute Guide-Led Flashlight Walking Tour.
$12. At the door only. Includes souvenir flashlight. Learn more about Eastern State's medical history. Visit the Operating Room & other fascinating spaces.

The Fair Chance Beer Garden — Beer Garden & Museum Programming.
Soak in the night air. Enjoy a Triple Bottom beer and Down North Pizza. Learn about Eastern State’s history and the impact of prisons today. One complimentary drink or treat included for VIP Admission ticket holders.

The Big Graph & Prisons Today — Museum Exhibits.
Learn about criminal justice today with award-winning exhibits on mass incarceration, The Big Graph and Prisons Today.

"The Voices of Eastern State" Highlights Audio Tour — Self-Guided Audio Tour.
A 20-minute version of our audio tour recorded especially for Halloween Nights with narration from actor Steve Buscemi, featuring the voices of people who were incarcerated or worked at Eastern State.

Kaleidoscope Hall — Projection Light Show.
Journey into a realm of shifting shapes and dazzling light. Watch this rainbow world unfold before your eyes as vivid hues illuminate picturesque crumbling walls and vaulted ceilings.

S'mores and Lore — Campfire Ghost Stories.
After a long day nothing beats gathering around the fire. Roast some s'mores and listen close. Flickering projections light up the night with terrifying tales sure to send a shiver down your spine.

Bizarre Bar — Carnival-Themed Bar.
Fresh off their final performance, join the carnival crew for a round of drinks and some lively merriment. Acrobats, magicians, and balloon artists… you never know what you’ll find in the shadow of the carnival tent.

Big Top Terror — Haunted House.
Step out of the center ring and head backstage through the carnival grounds where menacing performers will do anything it takes to carve out their moment in the spotlight. You’d better hope fortune is on your side tonight…

Nightmares — Haunted House.
As sleep paralysis sets in, there’s no escaping the terrors that lurk in the shadows. Mr. Sandman conjures up a menagerie of frightening personalities all dead set on trapping you in your worst nightmares… forever.

Get tickets online here.