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50th anniversary Sept. 19 to Nov. 1, 2026 Six Flags Great America, Gurnee IL Not recommended under 13 after 6 p.m. Updated

Fright Fest 2026 at Six Flags Great America: Dates, Hours, Mazes & What's Included

Fright Fest opened Saturday, Sept. 19, and runs 22 nights through November 1, 2026, Great America's 50th anniversary season: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus two Thursdays in October. Five haunted mazes are locked in, headlined by two new ones: Blair Witch: No Signal and Nightmares. Here's the full picture, including the part a lot of guides skip: what your ticket actually covers.

What's confirmed for 2026

The full picture, straight from Six Flags' event pages

Event
Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS, part of Great America's 50th anniversary season
Dates
22 nights, September 19 through November 1, 2026: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus two Thursdays in October (22, 29)
Night-by-night calendar
22 nights total: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 19 through Nov. 1, plus Thursdays Oct. 22 and 29. Monday, Oct. 12 is Boo Fest only, no Fright Fest.
Hours
Fridays and the two October Thursdays run 5 to 11 p.m. Saturdays run 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in September, to midnight in October. Sundays run 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 9 p.m. on Nov. 1. Every night is listed below.
Daytime family side
Boo Fest, with Oktoberfest, runs Saturdays, Sundays and Monday, Oct. 12, included with admission
Included with admission
Scare zones, live shows, and rides after dark, with regular admission or an eligible season pass
Costs extra
The 5 haunted mazes need a Haunted Attractions Pass, from $35 a night or $75 for the season
Age guidance
Not recommended for children younger than 13 after 6 p.m., per the park's own page
What your ticket actually covers: Regular admission or an eligible season pass gets you into the scare zones, the shows, and the rides after dark. It does not get you into the 5 haunted mazes. Those need a Haunted Attractions Pass, starting from $35 a night or $75 for the whole season, on top of admission. Great America hasn't said whether any season-pass tier includes maze access automatically, so plan on paying for one of those passes until the park says otherwise. A Fright Fest Bundle starting from $75 packages one-day admission with maze access if you'd rather buy it in one shot.

Last checked September 20, 2026, against Six Flags Great America's official Fright Fest page and park calendar. Prices are online prices before processing fees of up to $9.99 and tax.

The calendar

Fright Fest 2026 dates and hours, night by night

Fright Fest opened Saturday, Sept. 19, and 21 nights are left as of Sunday, Sept. 20 (that night included), running through Sunday, Nov. 1: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Thursdays Oct. 22 and 29. Fridays and those two Thursdays run 5 to 11 p.m. Saturdays open at 11 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. through September, then midnight in October; Sundays run 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Nov. 1, which closes at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 is Boo Fest only, no Fright Fest.

DatePark hoursWhat's on
Sun, Sept. 2011 a.m. to 10 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 10 p.m.
Fri, Sept. 255 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sat, Sept. 2611 a.m. to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sun, Sept. 2711 a.m. to 10 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 10 p.m.
Fri, Oct. 25 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 311 a.m. to midnightFright Fest, haunts 6 p.m. to midnight
Sun, Oct. 411 a.m. to 10 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 10 p.m.
Fri, Oct. 95 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 1011 a.m. to midnightFright Fest, haunts 6 p.m. to midnight
Sun, Oct. 1111 a.m. to 10 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 10 p.m.
Mon, Oct. 1211 a.m. to 7 p.m.No Fright Fest (Boo Fest only)
Fri, Oct. 165 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 1711 a.m. to midnightFright Fest, haunts 6 p.m. to midnight
Sun, Oct. 1811 a.m. to 10 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 10 p.m.
Thu, Oct. 225 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Fri, Oct. 235 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 2411 a.m. to midnightFright Fest, haunts 6 p.m. to midnight
Sun, Oct. 2511 a.m. to 10 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 10 p.m.
Thu, Oct. 295 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Fri, Oct. 305 to 11 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 11 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 3111 a.m. to midnightFright Fest, haunts 6 p.m. to midnight
Sun, Nov. 111 a.m. to 9 p.m.Fright Fest, haunts 6 to 9 p.m.

The haunted mazes open at 6 p.m., except The Conjuring Universe and Blair Witch: No Signal, which open at 6:30. Boo Fest, with Oktoberfest, runs alongside the park's daytime hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Oct. 12.

Hours are from Six Flags Great America's operating calendar as of September 20, 2026. Parks do adjust hours, so check the official calendar the week you go.

The mazes

All 5 haunted mazes for 2026

Five mazes are on the Haunted Attractions Pass this year, two of them brand new:

  1. 1 Blair Witch: No Signal New for 2026. Based on the Blair Witch Project films: a walk through the Black Hills Forest and the Rustin Parr house in near-total darkness.
  2. 2 Nightmares New for 2026. An original dreamscape maze built around twisted clowns, spiders, and deranged doctors.
  3. 3 The Conjuring Universe Returning. A licensed maze pulled from the Conjuring horror franchise.
  4. 4 SAW: Legacy of Terror Returning. A licensed maze built around Jigsaw's traps, straight out of the Saw franchise.
  5. 5 The Estate at Wretched Meadows Returning. An original maze about a cursed estate, tied thematically to the Wretched Meadows scare zone outside.
Between the mazes

Scare zones and shows (no extra charge)

Seven scare zones come with admission this year. The headline return is Necropolis, a city-of-the-dead zone with the recurring Mayor Slayer character that last ran from 2006 to 2014 and is back as a 50th-anniversary callback. The rest: Oddities: Circus of Madness, Forbidden Forest, Underworld, Head Bangerz, Lost Souls, and Wretched Meadows.

About nine shows round it out, two of them new for 2026: Masquer-RAVE and The Velvet Quarter. Returning acts include The Uprising: Nightly Call of the Dead, the Procession of Nightmares parade, The Ringmaster's Cabaret: The Ringmaster's Revenge, Love at First Fright, Wake the Dead, and The Wraths, plus The Pumpkin King, a recurring entry-plaza performance roughly every 15 minutes.

Two events in one weekend

Family daytime vs. scary night

Daytime (Sat, Sun & Oct. 12)

Boo Fest

Costume contest at Pumpkin Hollow with parade prizes, a trick-or-treat trail, a corn maze, storytelling, the Boo Line Express train ride, and character meet-and-greets. All ages, no scares, included with admission.

Nighttime

Fright Fest

Five haunted mazes and seven scare zones aimed at 13 and up, plus shows and rides that keep running after dark. Not recommended for kids under 13 once it hits 6 p.m.

Oktoberfest presented by Cash App runs alongside Boo Fest on those same Saturdays, Sundays and Oct. 12, with German food, beer, and live music. It's an adult-oriented add-on, not a family alternative to the mazes.

Pricing

What Fright Fest costs on top of admission

These are the online prices from Six Flags Great America's official Fright Fest page as of September 20, 2026, all before the up-to-$9.99 processing fee and tax. The page doesn't list a single-day admission price, and both pass prices move with the night.

Haunted Attractions Pass
Starting from $35 for one night. Covers all 5 haunted mazes, valid on the night you buy it for. An Express Pass upgrade exists to skip maze lines, but Six Flags hasn't published a price for it.
All-Season Haunted Attractions Pass
Starting from $75. Covers maze access on every remaining Fright Fest night this season, on top of admission or a season pass.
Fright Fest Bundle
Starting from $75. Bundles one-day park admission with haunted maze access in a single purchase.

We don't sell tickets or passes, and we don't do affiliate links. This is what Six Flags offers so you know your options before you buy from them.

Know before you go

The age guidance and the chaperone rule

Not recommended for kids younger than 13 after 6 p.m. That's Six Flags Great America's own guidance. Every guest needs their own paid admission ticket, whatever their age. The park's chaperone policy also kicks in daily at 5 p.m.: guests 15 and under need a parent, guardian, or chaperone at least 21, one chaperone can cover up to 10 kids, and the chaperone needs a valid photo ID. Costumes are only allowed for guests 12 and younger, and masks or zippered hoods aren't permitted.
Planning

Picking a night

The calendar's live now: 22 nights total from September 19 through November 1, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus two Thursdays in October. Check the table above for your date's exact hours before you lock in plans. Friday and Thursday nights run a little earlier, 5 to 11 p.m., while Saturdays and Sundays keep the park open all day first.

Great America runs its regular ride lineup during the event too, so check the crowd calendar for the daytime picture on your date before you commit.

Crowd calendar
Six Flags Great America Crowd Calendar
Daily crowd levels for the park's regular daytime hours. →
Quick answers

Fright Fest 2026 FAQ

Is Fright Fest included with Six Flags Great America admission?

Scare zones, live shows, and rides after dark are included with regular admission or an eligible season pass. The 5 haunted mazes are not: they need a separate Haunted Attractions Pass, starting from $35 a night, or an All-Season Haunted Attractions Pass from $75 for the whole run. Great America hasn't said whether any season-pass tier includes maze access automatically, so plan on paying for one of those passes until the park says otherwise. A Fright Fest Bundle starting from $75 packages one-day admission with maze access in one purchase.

Is Fright Fest scary for kids?

Six Flags Great America says Fright Fest isn't recommended for kids younger than 13 once it hits 6 p.m., and that guidance applies park-wide. For a scare-free visit with kids, Boo Fest runs Saturdays, Sundays and Oct. 12 in the same window, included with admission, with a costume contest, a trick-or-treat trail, and a kids' train ride.

What's new for 2026?

Two new haunted mazes, Blair Witch: No Signal and Nightmares, plus two new shows, Masquer-RAVE and The Velvet Quarter. The park is also bringing back Necropolis, a scare zone that last ran from 2006 to 2014, as a nod to Great America's 50th anniversary season.

When does Fright Fest start in 2026, and what nights is it open?

Fright Fest opened Saturday, Sept. 19, and runs 22 nights total through Sunday, Nov. 1: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Thursdays Oct. 22 and 29. Monday, Oct. 12 is Boo Fest only, no Fright Fest.

What time does Fright Fest start and end?

Fridays and the two October Thursdays run 5 to 11 p.m. Saturdays open at 11 a.m. and Fright Fest runs to 11 p.m. in September, midnight in October. Sundays run 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Nov. 1, which closes at 9 p.m. The haunted mazes open at 6 p.m., 6:30 for The Conjuring Universe and Blair Witch: No Signal.

What's the chaperone policy at Six Flags Great America?

Guests 15 and under need a parent, guardian, or chaperone who's at least 21, enforced daily starting at 5 p.m. One chaperone can cover up to 10 kids, and the chaperone needs a valid photo ID. Costumes are only allowed for guests 12 and younger, and masks or zippered hoods aren't permitted.

How much does the Fright Fest Haunted Attractions Pass cost?

It starts from $35 for a single night, or $75 for the whole season, plus processing fees up to $9.99 and tax. A Fright Fest Bundle that pairs one-day park admission with maze access also starts from $75. Six Flags hasn't published a price for the Express Pass upgrade that skips maze lines.

Raging Bull's tunnel is even darker at night

Raging Bull's underground tunnel already hits 73 mph in real darkness on a normal day, and Goliath, the record-holding RMC, keeps running through Fright Fest nights too. Both stay open once the mazes and scare zones fire up at dusk. The app tracks Six Flags Great America's ride waits live, so you can time your coaster laps between houses. Get it on the App Store before you go.

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