Fright Fest Six Flags Great America: 2025 Scary In-Depth Guide

Each autumn, Six Flags Great America transforms from a thrill ride destination into an eerie landscape swirling with fog, immersive frights, and spine-chilling surprises. Fright Fest 2025 promises haunted houses, scare zones, and adrenaline-charged coaster rides after dark, ensuring the screams don’t end when the sun goes down.

Ghastly Gurnee Getaway

Step into 304 acres of fog-drenched terror in Gurnee, where over 400 monsters prowl and Halloween haunts lurk around every coaster corner.

Nestled just off I-94 in Gurnee, Illinois—about 45 minutes north of Chicago—Six Flags Great America’s 304 acres are overtaken by elaborate Halloween décor and over 400 costumed monsters. The entire park evolves into a multi-sensory Halloween festival, making it a must-visit Midwest escape for families, friends, and fearless haunt fans alike.

Dates That Go Bump in the Night

From September chills to November nightmares, plan your fright-filled weekends under the moonlight with plenty of late-night scares.

Fright Fest 2025 runs on select nights from September 13 through November 2, 2025. The event operates Friday through Sunday, plus select Thursdays, and stretches into late evening so guests can make the most of after-dark thrills. As darkness falls, the scares intensify, with night rides and haunted attractions staying open late.

Who Dares Enter?

Daylight delights for families, darkness-fueled fear for teens and adults—Fright Fest shifts from festive to frightening as the sun sets.

Fright Fest is most popular with teens and adults (recommended for ages 13+) seeking real scares—especially after 6:00 p.m., when the event becomes more intense. Families with younger children can still enjoy daylight hours, which offer gentler, family-friendly activities before the haunting starts in earnest.

Screams & Scenes You Can’t Miss

Enter haunted houses, dodge scare zone creatures, and sing along to spook-tacular live shows—all surrounded by coasters that never sleep.

Haunted Houses and Mazes

• Multiple walk-through haunted houses, each with its own sinister theme.
• New and returning attractions for 2025 (final lineup TBA; previous years have featured five haunted houses).

Scare Zones

• At least six themed scare zones strategically placed throughout the park.
• Each teeming with lurking creatures and special effects to keep you on edge.

Live Shows & Entertainment

• “Love at First Fright”: A musical comedy that has become a Fright Fest tradition.
• “The Uprising” Parade: An energetic, spectacle-heavy procession featuring the demon overlord Nox—expect this chilling cavalcade nightly at 5:45 p.m.
• Additional pop-up performances and street entertainment nightly.

Night Rides

• Roller coasters like Goliath and Maxx Force operate in near-total darkness.
• Select rides feature horror-themed audio or lighting for the season.

More Frightful Features in 2025

Ghastly bites, twisted photo ops, and monstrous merch make this year’s Fright Fest bigger, bolder, and more terrifying than ever.

• Specialty Food & Drinks: Halloween-themed treats, drinks, and exclusive food stands placed throughout the park.
• Photo Ops: Creepy, Instagram-worthy set pieces and roaming characters for memorable shots.
• Merchandise: Limited-edition Fright Fest and Halloween merchandise for die-hard fans.

Park & Fear Not

Skip the stress with streamlined parking or hotel shuttles—your only worry should be who (or what) is lurking behind you in the fog.

Parking

• General parking: Around $35
• Preferred parking: Around $50, just steps from the entrance for a quick escape after closing
• Rideshare and hotel shuttles are highly recommended—many nearby hotels offer late-night shuttle service for Fright Fest guests.

Tickets & Season Passes

• Fright Fest tickets can be purchased as stand-alone admission or bundled with park entry.
• Gold Passes and other season passes are valid, but check for blackout dates (as of 2025, blackout dates apply only to 2024 passes).
• Haunted houses and specialty attractions may require a separate “Haunted Attractions Pass.”

Less Planning, More Screaming

Why stop at just the scares? Tripster makes it easy to bundle your Fright Fest tickets with nearby hotels and Chicago-area attractions—all in one smooth, budget-friendly checkout.

With exclusive discounts and flexible vacation packages, you can skip the hassle and focus on the fun. Book your spooky getaway now and let Tripster help you turn chills into memories (without terrifying your wallet).