10/30/2025
Philadelphia’s most notorious prison has evolved into one of the most ambitious Halloween festivals in the country.
Now in its 35th season, Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary has transformed from the long-running Terror Behind the Walls haunted house into a multifaceted experience blending history, art, and horror.
“We wanted to pivot,” explains Erin Davis, Director of Halloween Nights. “When the world shut down in 2020, we had an opportunity to rethink what our show was and what we could offer. We came up with Halloween Nights — a festival-style event where you can spend one to four hours really enjoying your time here.”
Today, the event features five haunted houses, historic tours, themed bars and lounges, a speakeasy, live performances, and even a flashlight tour through the prison hospital. Visitors can choose their own adventure — from the chilling to the celebratory.
New for 2025 is Dark Tides, an aquatic-themed haunted house that dives deep into the unknown. “You’ll encounter sirens, deep-sea creatures, and an old fishing town hiding a gruesome secret,” says Davis. “We’ve never explored underwater before, and our team’s creativity with this theme has been endless.”
As Davis puts it, “There’s something for everyone now — you can come for the scares or simply enjoy the atmosphere, food, and entertainment inside a piece of history.”
🎃 Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary runs select nights September 19 – November 8, 2025.
