Eastern State Penitentiary kicks off spooky season with opening of Halloween Nights
As the weather cools down and leaves begin to change, another exciting time is upon: Halloween.
Eastern State Penitentiary, a historic prison located in Philadelphia, kicks off its annual Halloween Nights festival on Friday, Sept. 22. The fun will continue well past Halloween, through Saturday, Nov. 11.
The festival features a wide array of events, from jump scares to the typical fall experience of pumpkins and hay bales.
It also includes five haunted houses, historic tours, themed bars, live entertainment and more.
Three updated experiences are on the roster this year at the 10-acre penitentiary: Pumpkin Plaza, once known as Gargoyle Garden; Boogie Monsters, a newly revamped dance group; and S'mores and Lore, with reimagined live storytellers.
Ticket prices begin at $39, and vary by date. To buy tickets, visit HalloweenNights.org. According to the prison, many nights do sell out, so advanced ticket sales are encouraged.
All proceeds from the event go to the preservation of the historic penitentiary.
The prison offers a unique setting for visitors: a large, historic prison no longer used for incarceration, where many famous killers and other criminals including Al Capone have been held in the past.
Aside from the Halloween Nights, the penitentiary offers day tours and lots of educational programming, particularly around the subjects of prison life, the justice system and incarceration rates, throughout the year.
Eastern State offers tours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and many special events throughout the year for guests and members.
The prison is located at 2027 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia. Call (215) 236-330 or visit easternstate.org
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eastern State Penitentiary opens Halloween Nights. What to know
