Your Ultimate Guide to Kennywood's 2022 Phantom Fall Fest

By: Mark Frazee | Content Manager

The leaves are quickly changing colors and October is moving along at Phantom speed! As Halloween draws near, we've already reached the halfway point of Phantom Fall Fest 2022. Now is the time to plan your visit to the Best Halloween Event in Pittsburgh! Here's a few helpful hints to maximize your day at this year's Phantom Fall Fest:

There's plenty of places to capture that perfect Instagram fall photo during Phantom Fall Fest! Courtesy of Cindi Daghlas

Phantom Fall Fest lets you do Halloween your way, no matter the time of day! There are still nine operating days left for this year's Phantom Fall Fest. We're open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday nights, 12 -11 p.m. Saturdays and 12-10 p.m. on Sundays. Looking for lighter crowds? Friday evenings generally draw those lighter crowds due to high school football season, and Sundays also tend to draw lighter crowds with many people preparing for school and work the next day. Take advantage of the shorter lines these days; you won't regret it! Review our operating schedule.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons also feature daytime fun for the whole family, with more than 30 rides and attractions scheduled to operate - from our most thrilling coasters to the smallest thrills in Kiddieland and Thomas Town - all for one low price! Children and families can also get groovy at Kenny's Spooky Sock hop at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Garden Stage. Then, at 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Phantom takes screams to the extreme with seven haunted houses, four scare zones and our signature rollercoasters and thrill rides in the dark.

Kennywood undergoes a complete Halloween transformation during Phantom Fall Fest, with signature spooky lightning, fog and the Phantom's ghouls roaming the midways.

Without a doubt, our seven haunts and four scare zones are among the most popular things to do at Phantom Fall Fest. Once the spooky portion of the day begins at 6 p.m., our indoor haunts - Villa of the Vampire and mALICE in Wonderland - soon open alongside our four scare zones. Our outdoor haunts open at sunset - the Phantom's ghosts and ghouls don't like the light!

Be sure to check out all seven of our spectacular haunts, five of which are included with admission!

• NEW: mALICE in Wonderland, located near Steel Curtain. Additional fee required.
• Ark in the Dark: a unique lights-out experience located in (you guessed it) Noah's Ark. Additional fee required.
• Dark Shadows, located behind Kiddieland - and the personal favorite of yours truly!
• Shady Grove, located in the back of Kiddieland.
• Villa of the Vampire, located in the Penny Arcade.
• Voodoo Bayou, located in the Raging Rapids.

While you're making your way between haunts, take a walk through our fantastic four scare zones:

• NEW: Dead Light District, located between Noah's Ark and the Mushroom Fountain.
• The Welcoming, located in the tunnel.
• Fear Fest, located in the Kangaroo area.
• Hellbilly Hollow, located in Lost Kennywood.

We'd suggest checking out mALICE in Wonderland, our brand-new haunt, first. You can purchase tickets here. Enjoy a couple rides, then head toward Shady Grove, Voodoo Bayou, Dark Shadows, the Kennyville Cemetery and the Villa of the Vampire. Everyone tends to enjoy the haunts near the front of the park first, meaning these attractions often get shorter lines a little later in the evening. Also, Ark in the Dark tickets sell out quickly, so we'd strongly recommend purchasing in advance. You get to pick your own time, which makes planning your visit that much easier!

Our rides also receive a Halloween makeover during Phantom Fall Fest - whether it's re-colored lighting, reduced lighting or no lights at all!

What's Kennywood without your favorite rides? During this year's Phantom Fall Fest, enjoy six coasters: Steel Curtain, Phantom's Revenge, Thunderbolt, Jack Rabbit, Sky Rocket and a special lights-out version of the Exterminator. Plus, enjoy thrills on Black Widow, SwingShot and Cosmic Chaos plus iconic classics like the Turtle and the refurbished Kangaroo.

Additionally, from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, families will also enjoy Thomas Town, Kiddieland and classics like the Merry-Go-Round, Auto Race and Whip. Over 30 total rides are scheduled to operate during Phantom Fall Fest!

Check out a the full 2022 Phantom Fall Fest Ride Lineup.

Loaded corn dogs are just one of Kennywood's signature Phantom Fall Fest food specialties. Available at the Midway Refreshment Stand.

There's several delicious dining delicacies to try during Phantom Fall Fest! You won't want to miss our loaded corn dogs with chili, cheese and jalapeños at the Midway Refreshment Stand or our smothered chicken breast dinner in the Parkside Café, served with red mashed potatoes and vegetables. The Kandy Kaliedoscope is home to tons of sweet treats, from seasonal flavors of our homemade fudge to chocolate-covered Oreos and everything in between. Back in 2022 by popular demand, grab a pumpkin spice funnel cake at the Star Refreshment Stand or enjoy a scary ice cream cone at the Pagoda. Need to warm up? Try our hot broccoli cheddar and loaded potato soups at the Parkside Café.

Kennywood's seasonal Phantom Fall Fest adult beverages are available at the Beer Garden and Punts.

To go with our dining specials, there's several drink specials to enjoy during Phantom Fall Fest! Grab a souvenir mug and fill up with hot chocolate, hot apple cider and coffee, available at select locations throughout the park. For the grown ups, we have several alcoholic specials to enjoy:

• Wildcard Cranberry: vanilla vodka, spiced rum, cranberry juice, orange juice and club soda
• Witch's Brew Margarita: silver tequila, Triple sec, simple syrup, lemonade and lime juice
• Queen of Hearts: gin, grenadine, lemon vodka, lemonade, cherry juice and club soda
• Mocha Monster: Kahlúa, Irish cream liquor, whipped cream vodka, cappuccino mix and a chocolate syrup drizzle. This one is made for IG.
• Apple Spider Sangria: sweet Finley wine, fireball, apple cider and Prosecco

These drinks are available at the Beer Garden and Punts. Must be 21+, enjoy responsibly!

During Phantom Fall Fest, we have a number of add-on experiences to enjoy. Here's a few to check out:

• mALICE in Wonderland: new for 2022, this choose-your-own-adventure maze will take you down one of two terrifying rabbit holes, where the evil inhabitants of Wonderland will greet you. But beware of the Red Queen and her subjects – rumor has it they want you as their next victim…
• Ark in the Dark: oooo, this is a fun one. Experience Noah's Ark like never before when you and up to three friends take a trip through Noah's Ark in total darkness. You may not know what's waiting for you inside until it's too late...
• Speedy Pass: why waste time waiting in line? Make your visit the best visit possible by reducing wait times! A variety of Speedy Pass packages are available- featuring rides, haunts or both. Stop by the booth by the Sky Rocket to get started!

That's right — your pooch will have the chance to step foot — er, paw — in Kennywood for the first time ever next Saturday, October 22!

We also have several extra Phantom Fall Fest events coming up! Mark your calendars for:

• Is it Cake? Winner Andrew Fuller Meet & Greet: Andrew Fuller, the winner of Netflix's hit show, Is It Cake?, will be at Kennywood's Phantom Fall Fest this Saturday, October 15! Meet the cake creator and snap a photo with him near the Kandy Kaleidoscope from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Passholder Perk Weekends: on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 all 2022 + 2023 Gold and Platinum Passholders can arrive early for exclusive access to select attractions beginning at 11 a.m.! An added bonus: the first 150 Passholders to arrive will get either a FREE Speedy Pass or FREE access to Kenny's Hoppin' Halloween Bash that afternoon. Plus, these Passholders can all bring up to three friends for $19.99 each, and these Passholders also get FREE access to mALICE in Wonderland both days! Full Details
• Dogtober Fest: for the first time ever, your BFF (best fur friend) is invited to Kennywood before the park opens on Saturday, October 22, for a special Halloween parade, costume contest, and photo opportunities! Plus, it's all for a good cause — the event benefits the Who Rescued Who Humane Society, and you'll get a free ticket to enjoy the park after the event! More Information and Registration

In addition to everything else, part of the fun of Phantom Fall Fest is simply taking in the sights of Kennywood's coasters against the changing leaves.

One-Day Tickets: Just $29.99 When You Buy 2 or More Online

For a limited time, Phantom Fall Fest tickets are just $29.99 each when you buy two or more online! These tickets are valid any remaining Phantom Fall Fest date. Head to our Tickets page to get your Phantom Fall Fest tickets on sale now before it's too late! 

Season Passes: Buy Now, Get a FREE Bonus Phantom Fall Fest Ticket!

The best way to enjoy Phantom Fall Fest is with a 2023 Gold or Platinum Season Pass — now more then ever! Shop Passes now and get a FREE 2022 Phantom Fall Fest Guest ticket — and of course unlimited admission to 2022 Phantom Fall Fest, 2022 Holiday Lights and all of 2023 for yourself!  Already have your Season Pass? Check out your Passholder Perks.

So there you have it — you only have three more weekends for fall fun at Kennywood this season! Visit our Phantom Fall Fest page for the full details. Lastly, be sure to familiarize yourself with our updated safety enhancements that will be in place during your visit. See you this weekend!