Thrills by day, fright by night – that’s the motto of Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, Ocean County.
Fright Fest 2025, presented by Snickers, will spook, thrill and entertain on select nights from Sept. 12 through Nov. 2 – a stretch of Halloween-themed nights that promise to be among the most immersive yet.
This year marks the 33rd annual Fright Fest at Great Adventure. As in past years, daytime hours lean more toward family-friendly fun under the Thrills by Day banner, while darkness ushers in the heart-pounding terror of haunted walk-throughs, scare zones and cinematic horror mashups.
Following the recent acquisition of Six Flags properties by Cedar Fair, Fright Fest 2025 offers new features and exciting additions.
Roller coasters & rides in the dark
One of the signature thrills of Fright Fest is riding Great Adventure’s roller coasters and dark attractions under the cloak of night. Most rides remain operational. For many visitors, the silhouette of twisted tracks in the dark enhances the adrenaline experience.
For 2025, a noteworthy addition to the ride roster is The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which opened earlier this year. It’s a steel, launched Super Boomerang coaster that rockets riders forward and backward through four inversions – an eerie proposition at night when disorienting light and shadows await.
Kingda Ka Resurrection?
It’s worth noting, however, that some beloved rides have been retired: Kingda Ka has been permanently shut down and removed to make way for a new coaster project, narrowing the nocturnal coaster lineup.
Ryan Eldridge, regional manager of public relations, confirmed that construction is underway at the site of the former coaster. He couldn’t provide specific details on the new attraction – such as the name or type of coaster – but said a new thrill ride worthy of replacing Kingda Ka is expected to open in 2027.
Some haunted walk-throughs and mazes will cost you extra
For the most immersive scares, Fright Fest 2025 leans heavily into haunted walk-throughs and mazes. Unlike earlier editions when haunted mazes were typically included in admission, this year many require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass.
These spine-chilling mazes include branded, cinematic horror experiences such as “The Conjuring,” “Saw,” “Trick ’r Treat” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Guests who forgo the pass can still enjoy a robust lineup of scare zones and live shows included in general admission.
The hallmark mazes, “Big Top Terror” and “Asylum,” are well-themed and frightening. “Big Top Terror” transports guests to a Coney Island-style freak show, full of acrobats, clowns, fortune tellers and magicians. The maze uses blacklight, and walkers are given 3D glasses. It features large, empty spaces and several jump scares. Watch out for the pig-man!
“Asylum,” somewhat problematic in its theme, immerses patrons in a mental hospital gone wrong. The maze leans heavily on props and animatronics to evoke horror and question reality. The eeriest section has long, winding hallways through padded cells, some filled with mannequins and others with actors. Fake blood drips from every surface. As you exit the maze, you pass a stationed ambulance. You may question whether it’s for your own throbbing heart rate or for the victim-patients within the set.
Other mazes, like “Wreck Cage,” “The Witches’ Reflection” and “Army of the Dead,” offer choices for nightmare fuel, but “Big Top Terror” and “Asylum” are the most well-themed. “Total Darkness” evokes panic through absence. Guests are immersed in complete, utter darkness, unsure of who else is wandering that enclosed space with them.
Scare zones: Terror on the pathways
Throughout the park after dark, five major scare zones will peddle terror to those strolling between rides and attractions. As revealed in park announcements, these zones include:
- Plaza de la Muerte
- CarnEvil
- Curse of Blackbeard’s Bounty
- Exile Canyon
- The Bloody Fountain
Actors in full horror regalia roam, jump-scare and stalk guests through fog, colored lighting and themed set pieces. During the daytime, these areas morph into less intense hauntings, giving younger guests a taste of Halloween without overwhelming them.
Live shows & stage spectacles
No Fright Fest would be complete without theatrical spectacle, and “Unleashed” is again slated as a marquee production. The show blends dance, music, special effects and more in a 3,000-seat arena. Acrobats, strongmen, dancers and trampoline specialists wow adults and children alike.
Other offerings include a freak show in which a man hangs weights from his eyelids and sticks scissors up his nose.
“The Awakening,” the daily unveiling of the monsters, draws big crowds every night. Behind a Victorian carriage driven by a skeleton figure, scare actors from both scare zones and mazes lunge at onlookers and terrorize passersby. “The Awakening” takes place every day of Fright Fest at 6 p.m. in front of the Ferris wheel.
Family-friendly frights & Kids Boo Fest
For families and younger visitors, Kids Boo Fest runs on select Saturdays and Sundays (Sept. 13 through Nov. 2). During Thrills by Day, kids can trick-or-treat, enjoy costumed characters and take part in milder Halloween fun without wandering into the full horror zones.
While haunted mazes typically begin in the evening (often around 6 p.m., though some nights may open earlier), these daytime events offer a gentler path into the spooky season.
New this year
Interactive Lanterns are newly updated for 2025 and available for $47.99 at various locations around the park. The special lanterns detect and activate special moments at dozens of areas spread across mazes, scare zones, park displays and even inside stores. This year, the lanterns have also been outfitted with haptic (vibration) feedback.
Don’t want to be scared? Consider the No Boo glowing necklace. Wearers can take comfort in the security of not being approached by scare actors. This option is great for families who may have a member who is more cautious but still wants to enjoy the park.
What to expect
For the horror enthusiast, Fright Fest 2025 offers one of the most complete Halloween packages in the Northeast: coasters in darkness, immersive haunted mazes, roaming horrors in scare zones and elaborate stage spectacles.
General park admission includes access to rides (day and night), scare zones and live shows. But for maze access, guests must purchase a Haunted Attractions Pass (priced between $35 and $39) with optional express or bundle options to skip standby lines.
Park hours vary. During Fright Fest, many nights run late – some until midnight on Fridays – while earlier in the season, hours may end earlier.
To make the most of your visit, buy the Haunted Attractions Pass in advance, especially on busy nights, to avoid long waits or sold-out maze slots. Prioritize marquee mazes early in the night when crowds are thinner.
If visiting with children, plan your timing around Kids Boo Fest or stick to the earlier evening slot before full darkness descends.
Check the daily calendar. Not all nights are Fright Fest nights, and not all attractions open at the same times. Expect heavy theming, fog machines, blacklight effects and jump scares – wear comfortable shoes (and maybe a spare shirt).
Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or a cautious thrill-seeker, Fright Fest 2025 at Six Flags Great Adventure promises to be a memorable journey through darkness, screams and spectacle. Just bring courage!
