Halloween 2016 Happenings Planned at Theme Parks Near DC Metro Area

They say that Halloween is one of the favorite holidays for both kids and grown-ups these days. If you like to take the frightful fun to a whole 'nother level, beyond costumes and trick or treating, you can also plan a frightfest at one of the regional theme parks within driving distance of the DC metro area. Typically, there are family-friendly events planned during daylight hours and scarier rides and experiences planned during the nighttime hours. Here's the scoop on the scary doings:

• King's Dominion: Located about 1.5 hours from the DC metro area in Doswell, Va., King's Dominion offers family-friendly Halloween fun during daylight hours and scarier stuff during "Halloween Haunt" during the evening hours, from 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays, 6 p.m. to midnight Saturdays and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. Halloween Haunt features 9 mazes to choose from including Lockdown, Doll Factory, Cornstalkers, Zombie High and No Vacancy. New mazes for 2016: Blackout and Trick or Treat. If you like your Halloween a little (OK, a lot!) less scary, you can plan for the theme park's Great Pumpkin Fest, a daytime Halloween event, which includes a petting zoo and a pumpkin painting patch. The Great Pumpkin Fest has fun for the whole family to enjoy together. It’s trick or treat, with just the treats. Get all the lowdown on Halloween fun at King's Dominion on there Web site.
• Six Flags: Located about 40 minutes from Northern Virginia, in Upper Marlboro, Md., Six Flags offers 24 haunted attractions during Fright Fest, running weekends through Halloween. Like King's Dominion, Six Flags also features less scary fun for the whole family during the day. Kids 12 years and under can come to the park dressed in their best Halloween costume and grab lots of candy on the Trick or Treat Trail full of exciting not-so-scary decorations and yummy treats. Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13 or anyone who scares easily, the park warns. Get the scoop on the "fright shows" here and rides here. Six Flags offers Fright Fest tips here.
• Busch Gardens: Located in Williamsburg, about a 2.5-hour drive from Northern Virginia, Busch Gardens offers "Howl-O-Scream," featuring haunted houses, "spirit" bars, escape room experiences with a "Howl-O-Scream" twist and more. Check out the park's One-Day Guide to find tips on how to make the most of a fall visit. If you're not sure about the scares, skim through the Scaredy Cat’s Guide to become an expert at navigating the park. Be warned: at 6 p.m. each weekend this month, Busch Gardens becomes a seriously scary place and may not be suitable for young children, the park says. Howl-O-Scream is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 30.
• Hersheypark: The Hershey, Pa., theme park, about three hours from the DC metro area, offers up Hersheypark in the Dark this month on the weekends. Hershey's Trick or Treat Adventure is for kids 12 and younger, who are invited to dress up and enjoy a trick-or-treat adventure starting at Hershey's Chocolate World Attraction and continuing through Treatville, the park's "hometown village of treats and sweets." During the last hour of each night, three roller coaster rides "go dark." The park also offers "Creatures of the Night," a flashlight tour of their animal park. Learn more about Hersheypark in the Dark here.

PHOTO of one of Busch Gardens Williamsburg's "spirit bars," during "Howl-O-Scream." Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens