As Halloween season is in full swing, it is now the time to do all the spooky activities you’ve been waiting to do all year. Pumpkin carving, apple picking, scary movie marathons, are all among the top spots of our fall bucket lists, but I honestly think the best part of this time of year is the haunted houses/attractions. Going into these places with your friends, not really knowing what to expect and being on edge, really gets you into the Halloween spirit. And nothing says Halloween like creepy costumes and your brain on high alert. Below, I’ve provided a list of the 5 best, haunted attractions to visit this October near Boston:
1. Haunted Boston Ghost Tour
Image from: Boston Guide
Going to school in Boston, I constantly see these tours going on as October comes around. People come from all over to be taken around to the most haunted places in Boston, whether it be the Omni Parker House, or the unrelenting amounts of graveyards around the city. For part of the tour, you are taken around in a bus by a dressed-up tour guide, and the other part involves walking around to see these places up close, which I think is pretty cool. The pricing is pretty reasonable, as Adult tickets cost $18, Seniors cost $15, and if you bring children along, it only costs $13.
2. Barrett’s Haunted Mansion
Image from: activerain.com
Located in Abington, MA, Barrett’s Haunted Mansion is rated one of the best in New England. I am constantly hearing advertisements for it on the radio, and it has made me really eager to go at some point. The website itself is absolutely terrifying, so you can only get a small idea of just how terrifying the actual experience there will be. For 2019, they offer ticket options for their haunted mansion, but also a new attraction called “Sanctuary”, which from what I read, is meant to have an apocalyptic world theme to it. The general admission, which covers both attractions, s only $30, but they also offer different group rates if you go with a group of friends, ranging from $20-$25.
3. Witch’s Woods
Image from: flickr.com
One of the most popular Halloween attractions in MA from what I’ve seen, Witch’s Woods in Westford, MA offers you all the frights and jump scares you could ever want. Offering 3 different options, including a haunted hayride. They have a variety of different haunted house experiences, including “Castle Morbid” and “Nightmare Mansion”, as well as a fun jack o lantern event where you can walk down rows of artistically carved pumpkins featuring art from Halloween movies and other Halloween icons. Tickets to access the haunted attractions are $39 from Thursday- Sunday, but if you go with a group, it can be around $30, depending on how many people you have.
4. Ravenwood Haunted Farm
Image from: the Boston Calendar
Referred to as Greater Boston’s “Newest Haunted Attraction”, Ravenwood Farm in Haverhill, MA is 157 acres of farmland filled with scary attractions beyond your wildest dreams. Go with your friends and navigate through endless rows of a corn maze, not knowing what is creeping up behind you. Ravenwood is a fun extension of Chris’s Farmstand, which also offers fun fall activities such as the “Fall Pumpkin Festival” and fun walking tours. Tickets range from $27-$37 depending on what day you go. It is located only 45 minutes from Boston and there’s tons of free parking!
5. Canobie Lake Park’s Screeemfest
Image from: Tripadvisor
Another one of the popular Halloween attractions, Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH attracts a good amount of people this time of year. Offering a selection between five different haunted houses, you have a good choice of how you want to be scared. Some of the ones offered for the 2019 season include “Carnivus”, “The Canobie Lake Hotel” and “The Village”. I went a few years ago with two friends and it was honestly very enjoyable. The haunted houses are only put in one part of the park, so if families want to go for just the amusements, they don’t have to worry as much about their children being scared. Once you get to that part of the park, you are almost instantly targeted by the actors who love to scare you. The lines are long but move pretty quickly, and you are guaranteed to have a good time. The rates vary based on what days you go, but they are around $44, which also includes admission to the entire park. If you are looking for lower rates, they usually offer half-day ticket admission where you can go when it starts to get dark, and personally I think that adds to the experience.