Eastern State Penitentiary
Haunted attraction · Philadelphia · Pennsylvania
Philadelphia's crumbling 1829 penitentiary (one of the first true prisons in the world, abandoned in 1971) turns its cellblocks into Halloween Nights each fall: five haunted houses and an outdoor scare zone staffed by 200-plus performers, running select nights from mid-September through Halloween.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Select nights; times vary by night
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: October 28–November 1
Color builds from October 19 · mostly bare by November 21
Sampled at Eastern State Penitentiary’s own coordinates and elevation (31 m) rather than a regional average.
Pennsylvania is sampled at 22 weather points, then moved 3 days later so the model agrees with 2 published peak dates from almanac.com and smokymountains.com. Pennsylvania is running 4 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Eastern State Penitentiary
The color window runs about 20 days, holding until around November 8.
This one is within Philadelphia itself, which makes it an easy half day.
Eastern State Penitentiary on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Pennsylvania, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When is Eastern State Penitentiary open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 2 – Nov 7. Select nights; times vary by night. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Eastern State Penitentiary peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 28–November 1 (best estimate October 30). Color starts around October 19 and is mostly bare by November 21.
- How do I get to Eastern State Penitentiary?
- Eastern State Penitentiary is in Philadelphia. The closest city is Philadelphia, about 1 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Pennsylvania's fall lineup.
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