Cedar Point's 2026 HalloWeekends season begins Thursday, September 17, giving Ohio park visitors an immediate planning choice: nighttime scares start first, while the family-focused daytime program begins Friday, September 18.
The Sandusky park says the full event runs on selected dates through November 1. Its nighttime program operates on selected nights from September 17, and some areas may be too intense for young children after 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The separate daytime celebration runs Fridays through Sundays from September 18 through November 1.
Maze access costs extra
Standard park admission does not cover every nighttime experience. Cedar Point lists a date-specific Haunted Attractions Pass beginning at $15, plus a processing fee of up to $9.99 and applicable taxes; park admission is not included. The pass covers the park's haunted mazes, including the new Diablo: The Infernal Path, but not The Conjuring: Beyond Fear.
The Conjuring experience is separately priced from $25, plus the same potential processing fee and taxes, and is described by the park as a nearly 20-minute attraction. An all-season haunted-attractions pass begins at $59. Those distinctions matter for visitors comparing the advertised ticket price with the total cost of a night that includes indoor haunted attractions.
Daytime visits emphasize younger guests
The daytime lineup includes 10 interactive trick-or-treat stops, a pumpkin patch and decorating activity, hay and corn mazes, crafts, a children's costume contest and seasonal live entertainment. The park presents that program as family-friendly and free of intentional scares before evening programming begins.
Nighttime guests should also review the posted rules before arriving. Cedar Point says costumes, makeup, special-effects makeup and items that conceal identity are not permitted at the event. The park also bars running, fighting, taunting, line jumping and groups that block midways; violations may lead to removal without a refund.
Travelers can compare current operating information for Cedar Point, Cedar Point Shores and Kings Island through The American Quorum's Ohio park tracker, then follow continuing coverage on the Ohio Theme Parks page. Cedar Point Shores is a seasonal water park and is not part of the HalloWeekends program described by the operator.
