Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary

Five haunted houses inside a real abandoned prison, with over 200 performers a night.

Eastern State is a genuine abandoned ten-acre prison — operational from 1829 to 1971 — and the building needs no help being frightening.

Halloween Nights fields five haunted houses with Hollywood-standard sets, props and effects makeup, plus historic tours, themed bars and lounges, and more than 200 performers a night.

The combination is unusual and works: you can take a serious historical tour of the cellblocks and then be chased through them. Book ahead — it is one of the most popular Halloween attractions in the country.