- Friday, Sept. 15 will mark the beginning of Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park
- Saturday, Sept. 16 will be the beginning of The Great Pumpkin Fest, a daytime, family-friendly Halloween event
- Both events run until the end of October on select days
SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP. Pa. — With a heat wave ending and Halloween more than a month away, Dorney Park will launch its fall events schedule — including a haunted steel factory to tease the arrival of its new steel-themed roller coaster.
Dorney's Halloween Haunt, a nighttime event meant to thrill and terrify in equal measure, will run 6 to 11 p.m. select nights Sept. 15-Oct. 28.
Also, the Great Pumpkin Fest, a family-friendly Halloween experience, will run 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 16 through Oct. 29.
Halloween Haunt will feature seven mazes and four “scare zones” in which ghoulishly costumed actors will frighten guests to the best of their ability. Each maze will have its own theme.
“The Ghost In The Machine will tell the chilling backstory of the Iron Menace roller coaster while leading guests on a harrowing, nightmarish adventure through the remnants of Hiram McTavish’s old factory. This maze pushed our creative boundaries and will present a taste of what’s to come in 2024.”Dorney General Manager Jessica Naderman
This year’s new attraction is the haunted steel factory, known as The Ghost In The Machine, to tease the arrival of the new Iron Menace coaster, which is scheduled to open for Dorney's 2024 season.
“The Ghost In The Machine will tell the chilling backstory of the Iron Menace roller coaster while leading guests on a harrowing, nightmarish adventure through the remnants of Hiram McTavish’s old factory," Dorney General Manager Jessica Naderman said in a release.
"This maze pushed our creative boundaries and will present a taste of what’s to come in 2024.”
"Conjure the Night"
There also will be a new show, “Conjure the Night,” that includes both song and dance by performers hoping to portray “Halloween’s most terrifying elements in a battle of evil versus evil,” according to a release from the park.
“Fall is one of our guests’ favorite times of the year and we’re excited about the lineup of exciting attractions and entertainment."Dorney General Manager Jessica Naderman
The Great Pumpkin Fest will be more family-friendly, and takes place during the daytime, as opposed to Halloween Haunt, which starts at 6 p.m. and is not recommended for those under age 13.
Featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts characters, The Great Pumpkin Fest is made up of a variety of scare-free attractions, live shows and trick-or-treating. There also will be a Charlie Brown craft corner and character meet-and-greets.
“Fall is one of our guests’ favorite times of the year and we’re excited about the lineup of exciting attractions and entertainment,” Naderman said.
