Halloween has some unfinished business, and for those of you looking for something more spooky this holiday season, haunted houses nationwide will open for special events. From Krampus to killer Santas, evil elves and abominable snowmen, 81 U.S. haunted houses have 2026 dates so far, from Nightmare Realm and Hinterland in Michigan on November 20 to Eulogy Collective in Anaheim, which runs through January 10.
Readers and haunt owners sent me 27 of these on Facebook and by email, and I checked each one with the haunt itself, through its website, ticket page, Facebook account or an owner. The one exception is Dark Hour in Plano, Texas, whose dates come from readers’ comments, as its entry says.
In this guide:
- Christmas haunted houses by date
- Christmas haunted houses by state
- Krampus haunted houses
- No-scare nights and age limits
- Haunts collecting food and toys
- Hersheypark, Universal Horror Unleashed and a home haunt
- Holiday haunts still setting dates
- Frequently asked questions
Christmas Haunted Houses by Date
- Nov. 20 to 22
Hinterland Haunted Attraction (MI), Nightmare Realm (MI)
- Nov. 27 to 29
Hinterland Haunted Attraction (MI), Rotten Manor (MI), Woods of Terror (NC)
- Dec. 3 to 6
30 haunts: All Saints Lunatic Asylum (CA), Eulogy Collective (CA), Urban Death at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre (CA), The Ritual Haunted House (CO), Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park (FL), Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (FL), Wicked South Haunted Forest (GA), VIBE Haunted House (IL), Warehouse 13 (IL), Hysterium Haunted Asylum (IN), Shattered Nightmares (IN), American Horrorplex (KY), Decomposed Haunted House (LA), Creekside Manor (MD), Hinterland Haunted Attraction (MI), Rotten Manor (MI), Terror on the Coast (MS), Fright Kingdom (NH), Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses (NY), Pinhead’s Graveyard (NC), The Hotel (NC), Woods of Terror (NC), Blood Prison (OH), Fear Columbus (OH), The Dent Schoolhouse (OH), Crawford School of Terror (PA), Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park (TX), DarkWood Manor (VA), Frightmare (VA), Perdition Pines (WI)
- Dec. 10 to 13
61 haunts: Atrox Factory (AL), Sweet Dreams Haunted Attraction (AL), Scarizona Scaregrounds (AZ), All Saints Lunatic Asylum (CA), Desoto Asylum (CA), Eulogy Collective (CA), Urban Death at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre (CA), 13th Floor Haunted House Denver (CO), The Ritual Haunted House (CO), Old Crow Manor (DE), Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park (FL), Pemberton Haunted Acres (FL), Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (FL), Paranoia Haunted House (GA), Slaughter’s Realm Haunted Attraction (ID), 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago (IL), Area 66 Haunted School (IL), Massacre Haunted House (IL), The Dungeon of Doom (IL), VIBE Haunted House (IL), The Slaughterhouse (IA), Kentucky Fear Tower (KY), Sinister Tombs Haunted House (KY), Creekside Manor (MD), Laurel’s House of Horror (MD), Azra Chamber of Horrors (MI), Deranged Haunted Attraction (MI), Hinterland Haunted Attraction (MI), Hush Haunted Attraction (MI), Rotten Manor (MI), Terror on the Coast (MS), The Werehouse (MO), Halloween Maze (NV), Fright Kingdom (NH), Brighton Asylum (NJ), Bayville Scream Park (NY), Extreme Fear ScareGrounds (NC), Pinhead’s Graveyard (NC), The Hotel (NC), Akron Haunted Schoolhouse (OH), Blood Prison (OH), Brimstone Haunt (OH), Fear Columbus (OH), Pataskala Haunted Forest (OH), The Dent Schoolhouse (OH), Guthrie Haunts (OK), Castle Blood (PA), Devil’s Last Laugh (PA), Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill Scream Park (PA), Lincoln Mill Haunted House (PA), Pennhurst Asylum (PA), 13th Floor Haunted House Houston (TX), Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park (TX), Frightmare (VA), Terror Manor (VA), Fear on the Farm WV (WV), Fright Nights WV (WV), Cliff Street Asylum (WI), Perdition Pines (WI), Terror Shed Haunted House (WI), The Realm of Darkness Haunted House (WI)
- Dec. 17 to 20
31 haunts: Scarizona Scaregrounds (AZ), Eulogy Collective (CA), 13th Floor Haunted House Denver (CO), Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park (FL), Pemberton Haunted Acres (FL), Haunted Hills Haunted Attractions (IN), Sinister Tombs Haunted House (KY), Hera’s Nightmare (MD), Laurel’s House of Horror (MD), Deranged Haunted Attraction (MI), Eloise Asylum (MI), Factory of the Dead (MI), Hinterland Haunted Attraction (MI), Nightmares from Hell (MI), Rotten Manor (MI), Terror on the Coast (MS), The Darkness (MO), Trepidations Haunted Attraction (MO), Brighton Asylum (NJ), Bayville Scream Park (NY), Brimstone Haunt (OH), Guthrie Haunts (OK), Devil’s Last Laugh (PA), Lincoln Mill Haunted House (PA), Dark Hour Haunted House (TX), Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park (TX), The Haunted Hotel (TX), Terror Manor (VA), Fright Nights WV (WV), Cliff Street Asylum (WI), Haunted Hollows (ON)
- Dec. 26 and 27
Eulogy Collective (CA), Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park (FL), Laurel’s House of Horror (MD), Dark Hour Haunted House (TX)
- Jan. 2 to 10
Eulogy Collective (CA), Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park (FL)
Christmas Haunted Houses by State
The 81 U.S. haunts, plus one in Ontario, with each haunt’s holiday dates, price and theme: Alabama · Arizona · California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Michigan · Mississippi · Missouri · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · Texas · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Ontario
Alabama
Atrox Factory
Atroxmas is the Christmas edition of Atrox Factory, the indoor haunt in Leeds. Tickets and details.
Sweet Dreams Haunted Attraction
A Very Scary Christmas turns the downtown Mobile haunt into “a twisted holiday haunt where festive cheer meets pure nightmare,” with “a monstrous Santa Claus who knows exactly how naughty you’ve been.” Tickets are sold online or at the gate, and the haunt says it may be too intense for children, who must come with an adult. Tickets and details.
Arizona
Scarizona Scaregrounds
A Nightscare Before Christmas is Scarizona’s December event at the Thompson Event Center in Mesa, sold separately from Halloween, and one general admission ticket opens all three of its haunts: Mayhem in Madness, Startled Darkness and Dr. Death’s Haunted ICU. Thursday and Sunday nights run 7 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday nights run until 10. A Fast Pass adds $10, VIP starts at $75 plus fees, and tickets weren’t on sale yet on November 12. Scarizona doesn’t recommend its haunts for guests under 12. Tickets and details.
California
All Saints Lunatic Asylum
The asylum haunt’s Christmas show this year is Elves Revolt, and groups of six or more get 15% off. Tickets and details.
Desoto Asylum
In The Krampus Encounter, Krampus and his helpers “did not come to give, but to take.” Admission to the haunted house is two nonperishable food items or a $5 donation per person. Tickets and details.
Eulogy Collective
X-Mas Horror Story is a Christmas horror show at Eulogy Collective, on weekends from December 4 through January 10, 2027. Tickets and details.
Urban Death at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre
Urban Death XMAS runs two mazes around a theater show of “holiday-horrors, unfathomable yuletide monstrosities, and the tortured spirits of Xmas.” The 45-minute show runs Fridays at 8 and 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 7, 8 and 9 p.m., with live music, photo ops with its characters, graphic content and nudity. The fall show is in my Urban Death story. Tickets and details.
Colorado
13th Floor Haunted House Denver
For Krampus, the Denver haunted house has “swapped its pumpkins for Christmas lights, zombies for evil elves,” and “it won’t be all glitter and snowflakes.” Prices and hours weren’t posted on November 11. Details.
The Ritual Haunted House
Cannibals Christmas runs “the first two weekends in December” at the swamp-themed haunt, where each group goes through alone. There are no time slots, and a 2026 ticket is good any night the haunt is open. Tickets and details.
Delaware
Old Crow Manor
Holiday Horror Nights fill the manor with “corrupted spirits, deranged holiday figures, and ancient winter demons.” Tickets and details.
Florida
Krampus Con at Krush Brau Park
Krampus Con has a haunted trail reached by the “Nightmare Tram” and a Krampus haunted maze with “the horned beast himself.” It opens with a free Krampus Nacht kickoff on December 5 and runs Friday through Sunday, closed Christmas Day. Tickets and details.
Pemberton Haunted Acres
Naughty & Nice splits the park in two: a Nice Side “Winter Wonderland filled with Christmas lights, holiday decorations, and even get a photo with Santa,” and a Naughty side where “our haunted attractions will remain open.” A $10 entry-only ticket, plus fee, covers the park without the haunts, and Pemberton doesn’t recommend it for kids under 12. Tickets and details.
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas is the holiday edition of the haunted trail in Plant City. The fall trail is in my Sir Henry’s guide. Tickets and details.
Georgia
Paranoia Haunted House
Holiday of Horror is a one-night Christmas opening, and the haunt’s promo art shows a masked killer in a holiday hat holding a bloody garland. Tickets and details.
Wicked South Haunted Forest
Jingle Hell is a one-night holiday haunt in the forest, with “fun and festive frights.” Tickets and details.
Idaho
Slaughter’s Realm Haunted Attraction
At Wreck the Halls, “the season of giving becomes the season of screaming,” with the haunt’s twisted version of Santa, and it’s “Not recommended for young children or those who are still believers.” Touch passes are $13 and $15. Tickets and details.
Illinois
13th Floor Haunted House Chicago
The Fright Before Christmas is 13th Floor Chicago’s Krampus haunt, where the haunted house becomes “a Christmas wonderland, although it won’t be all glitter and snowflakes.” Tickets weren’t on sale yet on November 11, and the haunt’s page takes sign-ups for early access. Details.
Area 66 Haunted School
“Santa? An elf? A Christmas tree? Some deranged holiday freak we found wandering around Route 66?” Area 66 asks of its Holiday Haunt. Online tickets are $19.99 plus tax and fees. Tickets and details.
Massacre Haunted House
Christmas Nightmare sends guests through “twisted corridors filled with holiday lights, evil snowmen, and unhinged holiday characters.” Tickets and details.
The Dungeon of Doom
Sub Thermal Nightmare is winter-themed, not a Christmas show: “The town of Zion has been hit with a hellish blizzard,” and guests “must fight for shelter while hiding from the demonic creature that brought this freak storm.” Tickets weren’t on sale yet on November 11. Details.
VIBE Haunted House
At Haunted Holidays, Krampus has taken over with “his army of corrupted elves, frostbitten reindeer, and soulless toy soldiers,” and Santa’s Throne Room hides “a jolly imposter who demands sacrifices.” Tickets and details.
Warehouse 13 (Hutchings Haunt)
Warehouse 13: A Haunted Christmas opens for one night under the tagline “Some holidays never die.” Tickets and details.
Indiana
Haunted Hills Haunted Attractions
At Christmas Nightmare, the patients of Haunted Hills Hospital are “celebrating the holiday season a little differently,” and guests come “face-to-face with the legendary Christmas terror himself, Krampus.” Tickets and details.
Hysterium Haunted Asylum
Hysterium holds its Krampusnacht on December 5, Krampusnacht itself. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. Tickets and details.
Shattered Nightmares
Yuletide Terror is “a scary Christmas Twist on our very popular Haunted House,” and the VIP Nightmare Express ticket is $40. Tickets and details.
Iowa
The Slaughterhouse (Krampus Des Moines)
Krampus and his “mischievous H’elves” run a blackout show lit only by red Rudolph Glow Necklaces. It’s for all ages, with 6 and up recommended. Tickets and details.
Kentucky
American Horrorplex
BHIPS Blackout: You Better Watch Out sends groups into the dark building to “recover FIVE mystery items.” “If you hear bells behind you, that’s between you and whatever’s wearing them,” the haunt says. Tickets weren’t on sale on November 11. Details.
Kentucky Fear Tower
Frightmare Before Christmas is one night at the tower haunt, with $35 timed tickets and $10 speed pass and touch pass add-ons. Tickets and details.
Sinister Tombs Haunted House
The Hardin County haunt posted its December dates in a reply to my Facebook post, and they weren’t on its website or ticket store yet on November 11. Details.
Louisiana
Decomposed Haunted House
Tinsel & Terror is Decomposed’s Christmas haunted house, and a No Scare Christmas Show follows on December 6. Tickets and details.
Maryland
Creekside Manor
Merry Axemas is the holiday edition of the haunt at the Hagerstown/Antietam Battlefield KOA. Tickets are sold only at the booth, which opens at 7 p.m. Tickets and details.
Hera’s Nightmare
“Krampus returns for one night only on December 19!” says Hera’s Nightmare, the four-attraction haunt in Westminster. Hours and tickets weren’t posted on November 11. Details.
Laurel’s House of Horror
Krampus Nightmare is “a special Krampus-inspired event with new holiday-horror experiences,” and its last night is the day after Christmas. Tickets and details.
Michigan
Azra Chamber of Horrors
Christmas Chaos brings “Santa and all his wicked wonderland of elves,” and the $30 ticket includes the (g)Rave Yard Games midway. It’s not recommended for kids under 12. Tickets and details.
Deranged Haunted Attraction
For The Frights Before Christmas, “Covensfield is transformed into a Winter Wonderland, featuring your favorite holiday characters with a sinister twist!” Tickets and details.
Eloise Asylum
Tinsel & Terror is the asylum haunt’s first holiday event, “where Christmas cheer meets the chilling halls of Eloise.” Entry is in hourly time slots, and a parking pass is $10. Tickets and details.
Factory of the Dead
The one-night show is “A Christmas Horror Story with Evil Elves, Twisted Santa and Krampus.” Tickets and details.
Hinterland Haunted Attraction
A Holiday Fright is a “family oriented experience” with “brighter lighting, a shorter walkthrough, and far fewer scares,” and it runs alongside the Village of Ashley Country Christmas. Details.
Hush Haunted Attraction
Twisted Christmas puts “3 Christmas-themed haunted houses” under one ticket, including Winterworks Industries, a holiday factory where “Christmas must continue.” All three houses are 21 and up, and a VIP Bar Creep Pass opens three holiday secret bars. Tickets weren’t on sale yet on November 11. Details.
Nightmare Realm
Project Jingle Hell on November 21 pits “Santa and his HELLves” against Trista and the Creatures of the Realm. On November 20, the AxeMas Lights Walkthrough is a sensory-friendly lights walkthrough from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets and details.
Nightmares from Hell
The haunt promises “one Hell of a scary Xmas” on December 18 and 19. On December 20 there are no actors, just “the props and Christmas lights,” for $10. Details.
Rotten Manor
A Scary Christmas Nightmare runs through the Manor, the Forest and the House of Wax on four Saturdays. One attraction is $30, all three are $55, and the booth takes cash only. Tickets and details.
Mississippi
Terror on the Coast
Winter of Terror fills the haunt with “Creepy Elves, Snow, Creepy Reindeer, Christmas Lights and much much more.” The fall season is in my Terror on the Coast story. Tickets and details.
Missouri
The Darkness
At the Krampus Christmas Haunted House, “Santa Claws will be lurking, Beastly The Snowman, killer elves are waiting for you.” The one night is limited to the first 1,250 guests, and teens need an adult with them. Tickets and details.
The Werehouse
The Werehouse bills its one-night Krampus event as “a terrifying holiday haunt experience,” with a mobile bar serving holiday drinks. Tickets and details.
Trepidations Haunted Attraction
Christmas FEAR runs one night in the haunt’s 20,000-square-foot freezer plant in Exeter, “themed for the Christmas season.” Tickets and details.
Nevada
Halloween Maze
“The Christmas Nightmare returns,” Halloween Maze says of its three December nights, “and Vegas will never look at the holidays the same way.” Prices and hours for the holiday nights weren’t posted on November 11. Details.
New Hampshire
Fright Kingdom
Fright Before Xmas opens the Nashua haunt on two December weekends. Tickets and details.
New Jersey
Brighton Asylum
Santa’s Slay sends guests through Santa’s workshop to “see lobotomized elves mindlessly packing demented toys,” past “Evil Jack Frost, rabid reindeer, chainsaw-wielding Santa’s.” One ticket covers Brighton Asylum, Subculture and The Bleeding Grounds, a Fast Pass is $62.99, and Brighton warns it’s “NOT FOR SMALL CHILDREN.” Tickets and details.
New York
Bayville Scream Park
Twisted Christmas has three Christmas haunted houses, with Krampus, Bad Santa and evil elves, an asylum at Christmas and a deranged toy factory. The park opens at 4 p.m. for skating and dinner. Tickets and details.
Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted Houses
Frostbite is one night built around Dr. Mortimer Frost, a dentist who harvests teeth, plus The Revenge of Mrs. Claus, a 3D walkthrough, and the Frosty Fest lights. It’s not recommended for kids under 13, and December 6 is the rain date. Tickets and details.
North Carolina
Extreme Fear ScareGrounds
Holiday Fear is the haunt’s third Christmas haunted house, where “The patients of the Nixon asylum have been allowed to decorate and celebrate the jolly holiday, but things begin to get dark as some patients are triggered by the bright lights and holiday cheer.” On Facebook, the haunt says its Christmas haunt is “a lil more tamed” than Halloween. Tickets and details.
Pinhead’s Graveyard
Axemas is the Christmas run of the Canton haunt outside Asheville, where tickets are cash only and sold inside. It’s $20 for military, first responders and seniors 65 and up, and free for kids 5 and under. Tickets and details.
The Hotel
The Kringle Killers is The Hotel’s Christmas haunt on two December weekends. Tickets and details.
Woods of Terror
Krampus Christmas opens on November 27, Black Friday, with 10 attractions and the midway, and promises to “trade Christmas cheer for Christmas fear.” A Fast Pass is $60, and both prices are before fees. The fall season is in my Woods of Terror guide. Tickets and details.
Ohio
Akron Haunted Schoolhouse
A Creepy Christmas is Factory of Terror’s holiday haunt, which moved from its Canton building to the Akron Haunted Schoolhouse & Laboratory, 1300 Triplett Blvd., in 2023. Factory of Terror’s Canton building now hosts a family Christmas event, the Ohio Christmas Factory, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23. Factory of Terror promises “Krampus, evil Santa, and all sorts of twisted elves.” General admission is $29.90 with fees, a Fastpass is $44.90, and the box office closes at 10 p.m. Tickets and details.
Blood Prison
Christmas Incarceration fills the Ohio State Reformatory’s cell blocks, where “the inmates are unhinged, and the Warden’s Widow is spreading holiday cheer.” Tickets are sold online only, and it’s recommended for ages 10 and up. More is in my Christmas Incarceration story. Tickets and details.
Brimstone Haunt
Scary Little Christmas is Brimstone’s holiday opening on two Saturdays. Tickets and details.
Fear Columbus
KRAMPUS: A Haunted Christmas Experience is Fear Columbus’s Krampus-themed walkthrough on two December weekends. Tickets weren’t on sale yet on November 12, and Fear Columbus takes early-access sign-ups on its Krampus page. Tickets and details.
Pataskala Haunted Forest
The haunted forest is opening for the holidays for the first time, and its post promises “the Murdocks are bringing evil home for the holiday.” Prices and hours weren’t posted on November 11. Details.
The Dent Schoolhouse
“Experience what it is like to celebrate Christmas at a haunted house!” the Dent says of A Christmas Nightmare. Tickets and details.
Oklahoma
Guthrie Haunts
A Christmas SCAREol is the holiday event at the Guthrie Haunts Scaregrounds, and its poster shows Krampus and a Scrooge figure. Tickets are sold at the box office on site. Details.
Pennsylvania
Castle Blood
Cryptmas is “a family friendly look at the holidays thru the eyes of the monsters of Castle Blood,” and the haunt says “No scares or animations are on for this show, so all ages are welcome.” Groups of fewer than four may be paired with other guests. Tickets and details.
Crawford School of Terror
A Very Crawford Christmas with Krampus comes with a Krampus Night Market from 5 to 10 p.m. both nights, and Coffee with Krampus runs December 6 from 8 to 11 a.m. Tickets are sold at the booth, and the haunt says an online ticket link is coming soon. Details.
Devil’s Last Laugh
Devil’s Last Christmas is “a Christmas themed tour of our asylum with your favorite patients around every corner,” with holiday lights, Santa, a food truck and hot chocolate. Tickets and details.
Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill Scream Park
“Come spend the holidays with Krampus and his Evil Elves,” Kim’s Kryptmas says, and “The elves have been busy decking the halls with bloody dolls.” Tickets and details.
Lincoln Mill Haunted House
“As Viktor spirals into madness, he hallucinates his workers transforming into twisted elves and sinister winter creatures,” Lincoln Mill says of A Twisted Christmas. The fall haunt is in my Lincoln Mill guide. Tickets and details.
Pennhurst Asylum
Crazy Christmas is a “twisted Christmas takeover” of Pennhurst Asylum, The Morgue and The Tunnels, with a Christmas Speakeasy in Devon Hall from 6 to 11 p.m. The $50 pass is a limited-time price, down from $65, plus a service fee and tax, and the VIP pass is $75, down from $125. Tickets and details.
Texas
13th Floor Haunted House Houston
A Haunted Christmas is 13th Floor Houston’s Krampus haunt, where “Horrifying Christmas characters will haunt all those who enter.” Tickets weren’t on sale yet on November 11, and the haunt’s page takes sign-ups for early access. Details.
Dark Hour Haunted House
Readers on my Facebook post said Dark Hour will open for a Krampus-themed Christmas show on December 19 and 26, and an owner of Dark Hour named the haunt in the same thread. The dates weren’t on the haunt’s website on November 11. More on the Plano haunt is in my Dead by Dark Hour story.
Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park
Twisted Christmas has “4 completely unique deranged Christmas attractions,” a Krampus parade at 7 p.m. each night and, after 9 p.m., “the not-politically-correct Santa.” One ticket is good for any night. Tickets and details.
The Haunted Hotel
‘Twas the Fright Before Christmas fills the hotel with spirits “draped in garland and mischief.” A scare-free walk-through with elves runs December 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. for $15, and unwrapped toys are welcome. Tickets and details.
Virginia
DarkWood Manor
Krampus Nights turn the manor into “a twisted winter wonderland” for “Krampus and his minions,” and December 3 is a No Scare Night. Doctor Brain’s 3D Mind Maze is open too. Tickets and details.
Frightmare
The Frightmare Before Xmas poster promises evil Santas, demented elves and a bloody snowball fight. Tickets are $20 cash or $26 by card. Tickets and details.
Terror Manor
In Santa’s Slaying, “Santa is on the run from his mischievous elves and malfunctioning toys” at the North Pole. Tickets and details.
More Virginia haunts are in my Virginia haunted houses guide.
West Virginia
Fear on the Farm WV
Fear on the Farm’s Christmas Haunt runs two nights in December. Tickets and details.
Fright Nights WV at The Resort at Glade Springs
Fright Before Christmas brings “evil elves, scary snowmen, and Krampus himself.” It’s not recommended for kids under 13 without an adult. Tickets and details.
Wisconsin
Cliff Street Asylum
A Frosted Curse is the haunt’s Christmas event at Evolution Throwing Co., 331 12th Ave. S., and photos with Santa are included with the ticket. Kids 5 and under get in free. Details.
Perdition Pines
Frostbite Forest is a lantern-lit outdoor trail with Jacquelyn Frost, Krampus, “zombie Elf’s, a demonic Mrs. Clause, possessed toys, murderous Snowmen.” Two or more donated items take $3 off. Tickets and details.
Terror Shed Haunted House
Holiday of Terror is “a redesigned haunted Christmas themed attraction,” and five non-perishable food items take $5 off. It’s not recommended for kids. Tickets and details.
The Realm of Darkness Haunted House
At Twisted Christmas, “Krampus is lurking, the elves have lost it, and holiday horror waits around every snowy corner.” Last year’s first night sold out, a Fastpass is $35, and both tickets include a heated indoor waiting area. Tickets and details.
Ontario, Canada
Haunted Hollows Scream Park
In Krampus Presents The Before Grinchmas Nightmare, Krampus “summons 15 of his most sinister holiday horror creatures” on the park’s outdoor trails, including gingerbread fiends and an Evil Grinch. Tickets and details.
Krampus Haunted Houses
Krampus appears at 27 of the 81 haunts, plus Krampus & Kin in Las Vegas and Haunted Hollows in Ontario:
- Desoto Asylum, Needles, CA: The Krampus Encounter, Dec. 11 and 12.
- 13th Floor Haunted House, Denver, CO: Krampus, Dec. 11 to 13 and 18 to 20.
- Krush Brau Park, Kissimmee, FL: Krampus Con, Dec. 5 to Jan. 3.
- 13th Floor Haunted House, Schiller Park, IL: The Fright Before Christmas, Dec. 11 to 13.
- VIBE Haunted House, Creve Coeur, IL: Haunted Holidays, Dec. 5 and 12.
- Haunted Hills Haunted Attractions, Merrillville, IN: Christmas Nightmare, Dec. 18 and 19.
- Hysterium Haunted Asylum, Fort Wayne, IN: Krampusnacht, Dec. 5.
- The Slaughterhouse, Des Moines, IA: KRAMPUS! Jingle Hell!, Dec. 12.
- Hera’s Nightmare, Westminster, MD: a Krampus night, Dec. 19.
- Laurel’s House of Horror, Laurel, MD: Krampus Nightmare, Dec. 12, 19 and 26.
- Factory of the Dead, Saginaw, MI: A Christmas Horror Story, Dec. 19.
- The Darkness, St. Louis, MO: Krampus Christmas Haunted House, Dec. 19.
- The Werehouse, Joplin, MO: Krampus at The Werehouse, Dec. 12.
- Bayville Scream Park, Bayville, NY: Twisted Christmas, Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19.
- Woods of Terror, Greensboro, NC: Krampus Christmas, Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 4 and 5.
- Akron Haunted Schoolhouse, Akron, OH: A Creepy Christmas, Dec. 11 and 12.
- Fear Columbus, Columbus, OH: KRAMPUS: A Haunted Christmas Experience, Dec. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13.
- Guthrie Haunts, Guthrie, OK: A Christmas SCAREol, Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19.
- Crawford School of Terror, Connellsville, PA: A Very Crawford Christmas with Krampus, Dec. 4 and 5.
- Kim’s Krypt, Spring Grove, PA: Kim’s Kryptmas, Dec. 11 to 13.
- 13th Floor Haunted House, Houston, TX: A Haunted Christmas, Dec. 11 to 13.
- Dark Hour Haunted House, Plano, TX: a Krampus-themed Christmas show, Dec. 19 and 26.
- Scream Hollow, Smithville, TX: a Krampus parade every night of Twisted Christmas, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19.
- DarkWood Manor, Luray, VA: Krampus Nights, Dec. 3 to 5.
- Fright Nights WV, Daniels, WV: Fright Before Christmas, Dec. 12 and 19.
- Perdition Pines, Antigo, WI: Frostbite Forest, Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12.
- The Realm of Darkness, Kaukauna, WI: Twisted Christmas, Dec. 11 and 12.
Krampus parades, runs and Krampusnacht festivals on December 5 are in my Krampusnacht guide.
No-Scare Nights and Age Limits
Six haunts run no-scare or sensory-friendly nights:
- Nightmare Realm, Mattawan, MI: the AxeMas Lights Walkthrough, sensory-friendly, November 20, 7 to 9 p.m.
- DarkWood Manor, Luray, VA: No Scare Night, December 3.
- Decomposed Haunted House, Houma, LA: No Scare Christmas Show, December 6.
- Castle Blood, Monessen, PA: Cryptmas, with no scares and all ages welcome, December 11 and 12.
- The Haunted Hotel, Beaumont, TX: a scare-free walk-through with elves, December 19, 4 to 6 p.m., $15.
- Nightmares from Hell, China Township, MI: no actors, just the props and Christmas lights, December 20, 6 to 10 p.m., $10.
The Slaughterhouse in Des Moines is for all ages, with 6 and up recommended, and Hinterland’s A Holiday Fright in Ashley, Michigan, is a family event with “far fewer scares.” Hush’s Twisted Christmas is 21 and up, Urban Death is 18 and up and Old Crow Manor is 16 and up. Headless Horseman’s Frostbite isn’t recommended under 13, Fright Nights WV isn’t recommended under 13 without an adult, Pennhurst is 12 and up, and Azra and Pemberton aren’t recommended under 12. Blood Prison recommends ages 10 and up, and at The Darkness, teens need an adult with them.
For younger kids, free Santa photos at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s and free holiday workshops at The Home Depot and Michaels are in my Free Christmas Events for Kids guide.
Haunts Collecting Food and Toys
Four haunts take donations at the door:
- Desoto Asylum, Needles, CA: admission is two nonperishable food items or a $5 donation per person.
- Perdition Pines, Antigo, WI: two or more donated items take $3 off.
- Terror Shed Haunted House, Kewaskum, WI: five non-perishable food items take $5 off.
- The Haunted Hotel, Beaumont, TX: unwrapped toys are welcome.
Reaper’s Night Off in Arkansas, still setting its dates, gives 10% of proceeds and all food to the local food bank.
Hersheypark, Universal Horror Unleashed and a Home Haunt
Hersheypark: Estate of Evil Holiday Open House
The Dark Nights mansion reopens so guests can “see how the staff has decorated the rooms with terrifying holiday flair” while the staff is away. It runs on Christmas Candylane nights and is included with park admission. The details are in my Estate of Evil Christmas story. Tickets and details.
Universal Horror Unleashed: Krampus & Kin
Krampus & Kin brings winter-folklore monsters, “the Germanic punisher Krampus, Icelandic troll Grýla and Kallikantzaroi Greek goblins,” to the year-round haunt, with a lantern-lit procession. The creatures and the food are in my Krampus & Kin story. Tickets and details.
The Scary Christmas House
A home in Glendale mixes “amazing lights and Halloween displays” every night from November 28 through Christmas. Tickets and details.
Holiday Haunts Still Setting Dates
Eleven more holiday haunts hold December events and haven’t posted full 2026 dates:
- The Horrorland, Miami, FL: Krampus: A Real Nightmare Before Christmas at Jungle Island, from December 4, general admission $35.99.
- Reaper’s Night Off, Donaldson, AR: A Krampus Christmas Haunt in December.
- Sinister Acres, De Soto, IL: The Fright Before Christmas, with Krampus and “other holiday ghouls,” dates coming soon.
- Hillside House of Hell, Glenwood, IA: A Very Scary Christmas, with Krampus taking over for four nights, dates “coming very soon.”
- Bennett’s Curse, Dundalk, MD: Krampus: A Haunted Christmas, back for two nights.
- Dark Castle, Elgin, SC: Krampus Khaos, with 2026 dates not yet posted. Its page still shows last year’s poster, for two December weekends at $12 at the box office.
- Deceased Farm, Lexington, SC: Winter Slaying in December.
- Haunted Web Scream Park, Memphis, TN: Memphis Haunted Christmas, coming this December.
- Haunted Hallows, Mt Pleasant, TX: Haunted Holidays at Haunted Hallows in December.
- Nightmare on 19th Street, Lubbock, TX: Nightmare Before Xmas.
- House of Torment, Austin, TX: Krampus, with 2026 dates not yet posted, and its page still shows December 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Christmas haunted houses open?
Of the 81 haunted houses, Nightmare Realm in Mattawan and Hinterland in Ashley, both in Michigan, open first, on November 20. Two holiday events at bigger parks start sooner: Hersheypark’s Estate of Evil Holiday Open House on November 14, and Krampus & Kin at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas on November 19. Most haunts open on the first three weekends of December, and Saturday, December 12, is the busiest night, with 61 of the 81 open.
Are there Christmas haunted houses for kids?
Yes. Castle Blood’s Cryptmas in Pennsylvania has no scares and welcomes all ages, and Nightmare Realm, DarkWood Manor, Decomposed, The Haunted Hotel and Nightmares from Hell run no-scare or sensory-friendly nights. Hinterland in Michigan is a family event with fewer scares, and The Slaughterhouse in Des Moines is for all ages. Hush is 21 and up, Urban Death is 18 and up, and Old Crow Manor is 16 and up.
Which Christmas haunted houses have Krampus?
Krampus appears at 27 of them, from Woods of Terror on November 27 to Krampus Con in Kissimmee, which runs through January 3. Krampus parades and Krampusnacht festivals are in my Krampusnacht guide.
How much do Christmas haunted houses cost?
General admission at most of these haunts is $20 to $35. Hinterland in Michigan and Cliff Street Asylum in Wisconsin are $5, Perdition Pines in Wisconsin is $10, and Pennhurst Asylum’s Crazy Christmas pass is $50.
Updated November 13, 2026. Dates and prices come from each haunt’s site, ticket page, Facebook account or owner. Check before you go.
