Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion
Haunted attraction · Virginia
Kings Dominion swaps its usual coasters for scare mazes and roaming actors on select nights from mid-September through Halloween week, with the park's regular rides staying open after dark. It is a Richmond-area staple for anyone who wants a real haunt attached to a real theme park.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Select nights, evening hours; check the park's event calendar for exact dates
Dates from the official announcement — always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: October 30–November 3
Color builds from October 17 · mostly bare by November 24
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion’s own coordinates and elevation (34 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion on the map
More things to do in Virginia
Skyline Drive
Scenic drivePeak October 21
Shenandoah National Park's 105-mile ridge-top drive along the Blue Ridge crest strings together 75 overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont, with color typically peaking mid-to-late October at the higher elevations near the Front Royal entrance.
Don’t miss: 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest · 75 scenic overlooks · Peak color mid-to-late October
Old Rag Mountain
TrailPeak October 20
The 9-mile circuit to Old Rag's 3,284-foot summit climbs through a mile-long boulder scramble that's become Virginia's most popular hike, so popular that a capped day-use ticket, bought in advance on recreation.gov, is now required year-round on top of the park entrance pass.
Don’t miss: Signature summit boulder scramble · 3,284-ft summit · Advance day-use ticket required
Cox Farms
FarmColor nearby peaks October 31
This Centreville farm runs a daytime Fall Festival of slides, hayrides, and pumpkins alongside Fields of Fear, a nighttime haunted attraction with a scare-zone cornfield and hayride, on Friday and Saturday nights from late September into early November.
Don’t miss: Fall Festival slides and hayrides · Fields of Fear haunted nights · Cornightmare cornfield maze
Great Falls Park
National parkPeak November 2
The Potomac drops 76 feet over jagged bedrock cascades at this 800-acre National Park Service site near McLean, with cliffside trails past the ruins of George Washington's Patowmack Canal offering some of the region's most dramatic river-gorge foliage views.
Don’t miss: 76-ft Potomac River cascades · Historic Patowmack Canal ruins · Cliffside overlook trails
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 18 – Nov 1. Select nights, evening hours; check the park's event calendar for exact dates. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 30–November 3 (best estimate November 1). Color starts around October 17 and is mostly bare by November 24.
- What is Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion best for?
- Richmond-area families who want haunts and rides together.
- How do I get to Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion?
- The closest city is Richmond, about 20 mi away. It's part of Virginia's fall lineup.
Own or manage Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion? Update your listing or get in touch.