Screamfest Calgary 2025: Ultimate Halloween Guide - Calgary's Best Rated

Screamfest returns to Calgary for another bone-chilling season, transforming Heritage Park Historical Village into Canada's scariest Halloween destination. Running 11 nights throughout October and into November 2025, this professional-grade haunted attraction features multiple themed haunted houses, scare zones, and the infamous Zombie Outbreak experience where the undead actually touch you. Whether you're a hardcore horror fan seeking maximum terror or looking for an adrenaline-pumping Halloween adventure, Screamfest Calgary delivers spine-tingling scares from 7 PM to midnight across carefully selected dates designed to maximize your fear.

Screamfest 2025: Official Dates and Hours

Mark your calendars for these 11 terrifying nights when Screamfest takes over Heritage Park Historical Village in southwest Calgary :

October 2025:

Friday, October 10
Saturday, October 11
Friday, October 17
Saturday, October 18
Thursday, October 23 (ADULT ONLY NIGHT)
Friday, October 24
Saturday, October 25
Sunday, October 26
Thursday, October 30
Friday, October 31 (Halloween Night)

November 2025:

Saturday, November 1

All dates operate from 7:00 PM to midnight, giving you five full hours to experience Canada's scariest Halloween event. The strategic schedule focuses on weekends and the final Halloween week, ensuring maximum scares when darkness comes early and the October chill sets Calgary's spooky stage.

Special Event: Adult Only Night

Thursday, October 23, 2025, marks Screamfest's exclusive Adult Only Night, offering an intensified experience designed specifically for mature audiences. This special evening ramps up the scares, gore, and intensity beyond the already-terrifying regular nights, creating an atmosphere strictly for horror enthusiasts aged 18 and older who can handle extreme haunted house experiences.

Ticket Options and Pricing

Screamfest offers flexible ticketing to match your fear tolerance and budget, with all tickets available for advance purchase online.

General Admission: $39.00 - $50.00

General admission grants access to all haunted houses and scare zones throughout Heritage Park. Pricing varies by date, with peak nights (weekends and Halloween) commanding premium prices while weeknight visits offer better value. This ticket includes:

Entry to all haunted houses
Access to outdoor scare zones
Midway games and entertainment areas
The complete Screamfest experience from 7 PM to midnight

SpeedPass Combo: $49.00 - $60.00

For guests wanting to maximize their night of terror, the SpeedPass Combo offers exceptional value with exclusive benefits :

Single entrance to all haunted houses
Two additional entries of your choice (experience your favorite houses multiple times or skip lines)
$16 in Killer Cash (Screamfest's special currency for onsite games and entertainment)
VIP Front of Line Service (bypass regular queues and spend more time screaming, less time waiting)

The SpeedPass Combo is ideal for serious horror fans who want to experience everything Screamfest offers without the frustration of long wait times that build during peak evening hours.

Why Buy Tickets Online?

While walk-up tickets are available at the door (capacity permitting), Screamfest strongly recommends purchasing tickets online ahead of time. Here's why:

Limited capacity: Screamfest restricts guest numbers to maintain quality scares and safety
Sold-out risk: Popular dates, especially Halloween weekend, sell out completely
No guarantees: Door purchases are never guaranteed, even on less popular nights
Skip ticket lines: Pre-purchased tickets let you head straight to the fun
Better planning: Lock in your preferred date and time slot in advance

The Haunted Attractions

Multiple Themed Haunted Houses

Screamfest features several elaborately designed haunted houses, each offering distinct horror themes and scares. These professionally produced walk-through experiences utilize Heritage Park's historic buildings, combining authentic 19th and 20th-century architecture with modern special effects, animatronics, sound design, and theatrical lighting to create immersive nightmares.

Past themes at Screamfest and similar Calgary haunted attractions have included:

Abandoned asylums with deranged patients
Cursed carnivals with twisted clowns
Haunted farmhouses harboring dark secrets
Supernatural encounters with restless spirits
Post-apocalyptic horror scenarios

Each haunted house employs talented scare actors in professional makeup and costumes who bring these nightmarish environments to life with perfectly timed jump scares and psychological terror.

Zombie Outbreak: Touch-Based Terror

Zombie Outbreak stands apart as Screamfest's most intense attraction, breaking the traditional "no touch" rule that governs most haunted houses. In this extreme experience, zombie actors are permitted to touch participants, creating visceral, heart-pounding terror that goes beyond standard scares.

Important: Zombie Outbreak requires a signed waiver before entry. This legal document acknowledges you understand the touch-based nature of the experience and consent to physical interaction within safe boundaries. The waiver protects both guests and performers while enabling this unique, high-intensity attraction.

If you're not comfortable with actors touching you during scares, simply skip Zombie Outbreak and enjoy the other haunted houses where the standard "you don't touch us, we don't touch you" policy applies.

Scare Zones and Entertainment

Between haunted houses, outdoor scare zones keep the terror alive as you navigate Heritage Park's gas-lit pathways. Roaming scare actors in character emerge from shadows, creating unexpected encounters that ensure nowhere feels safe.

Additional entertainment includes:

Midway games featuring horror themes (playable with Killer Cash)
Photo opportunities with scare actors
Atmospheric music and sound effects throughout the park
Fire performers and specialty acts
Food and beverage vendors serving seasonal treats

Age Recommendations and Safety

Screamfest is recommended for ages 12 and older due to the intense nature of the scares. The event features:

Professional-grade jump scares and psychological horror
Loud noises, strobe lighting, and fog effects
Graphic horror imagery and gore makeup
Dark environments and confined spaces
Mature themes and potentially disturbing content

Parents should carefully assess whether their children can handle intense haunted house experiences. The event is designed to genuinely frighten adult audiences, not provide mild, family-friendly Halloween fun.

Safety First

Despite the terrifying atmosphere, safety remains Screamfest's top priority. The event operates under strict safety protocols:

Actors never touch guests (except in Zombie Outbreak with waiver)
Emergency exits are clearly marked in all attractions
Staff monitors guest welfare throughout the experience
Safe words allow guests to exit attractions if overwhelmed
Professional training ensures actors deliver scares without causing injury

Screamfest wants you scared, not hurt. The carefully choreographed scares create thrilling fear within a controlled, safe environment.

What to Wear: Calgary October Weather

October in Calgary means unpredictable weather ranging from pleasant autumn evenings to early winter conditions. Since Screamfest operates entirely outdoors (except inside haunted houses), proper clothing is essential for comfort during your 5-hour visit.

Dress in Warm Layers

Temperature range: +15°C to -5°C (potentially colder with wind chill)

Essential clothing:

Thermal base layers or long underwear
Warm fleece or wool sweater
Insulated, waterproof winter jacket
Warm hat (toque), scarf, and gloves
Thick, warm socks

Footwear:

Waterproof winter boots with good traction
Closed-toe shoes (sandals or open shoes are miserable in October cold)
Boots that can handle wet grass, mud, or snow

Costume Considerations

Many visitors wear Halloween costumes to Screamfest, adding to the festive atmosphere. However, Calgary weather must take priority:

Layer costumes over warm clothing
Choose weather-appropriate costume materials
Avoid elaborate costumes that restrict movement through haunted houses
Skip masks that obscure vision (safety hazard in dark attractions)
Leave weapon props at home (even fake weapons are prohibited)

Your costume can be creative and spooky while still being practical for October outdoor conditions and navigating haunted attractions.

Getting to Heritage Park

Screamfest takes place at Heritage Park Historical Village, located at 1900 Heritage Drive SW in southwest Calgary. The 127-acre historical site transforms into a haunted landscape for these special October nights.

Driving Directions

From downtown Calgary (approximately 15 minutes):

Head south on 14th Street SW
Turn right (west) onto Heritage Drive SW
Follow signs to Heritage Park entrance
On-site parking available ($5-$10 per vehicle)

Parking tips: Arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights as parking lots fill quickly. Peak times (8:00-10:00 PM) see maximum crowds.

Public Transit

Calgary Transit serves the Heritage Park area:

Check Calgary Transit's trip planner for current routes
Service frequency decreases in evening hours
Plan return trips carefully as transit reduces after 10 PM

Rideshare Services

Uber and Lyft operate throughout Calgary and can drop you directly at Heritage Park's entrance. Rideshare is convenient for evening events, eliminating parking hassles and allowing all group members to fully enjoy the experience without a designated driver.

Pro Tips for Maximum Screamfest Experience

1. Arrive at Opening (7:00 PM)

Early arrival means shorter lines at popular haunted houses. The first hour (7:00-8:00 PM) typically sees lighter crowds before peak attendance builds from 8:00-10:00 PM. Hit major attractions first, saving scare zones and games for later.

2. Consider SpeedPass for Weekend Visits

Friday and Saturday nights draw biggest crowds. The SpeedPass Combo's front-of-line service becomes invaluable on these dates, potentially doubling the number of attractions you experience. Weeknight visits (October 10, 17, 23, 30) typically have shorter waits, making general admission more viable.

3. Use Your Killer Cash Strategically

SpeedPass holders receive $16 in Killer Cash for games and entertainment. Budget this currency throughout the night for maximum enjoyment rather than spending it all at once.

4. Take Breaks

Five hours is a long time for continuous scares. Take breaks to:

Warm up with hot drinks from food vendors
Play midway games for mental relief from horror
Rest on benches between attractions
Process your experiences before jumping back into terror

5. Group Strategy

Visit with friends for mutual support through scary moments. Groups can:

Share reactions and create memories together
Provide comfort during intense scares
Take photos of each other's reactions
Split up to cover more attractions, then regroup to share experiences

6. Know Your Limits

Screamfest delivers genuine scares. If you're feeling overwhelmed:

Use safe words to exit attractions immediately
Take longer breaks between houses
Skip Zombie Outbreak if touch-based scares feel too intense
Remember: there's no shame in tapping out if it's too much

Beyond Screamfest: Calgary Halloween Events

Maximize your Calgary Halloween experience by combining Screamfest with other October events:

Family-Friendly Options

Boo at the Zoo: Calgary Zoo's family-oriented Halloween (different from adult-focused ZOOLIGHTS)
Corn mazes: Multiple locations around Calgary
Pumpkin patches: Local farms offering pick-your-own pumpkins

Adult Entertainment

Halloween bar crawls: Downtown Calgary and 17th Avenue SW
Escape rooms: Several Calgary locations offer horror-themed rooms
Horror film festivals: Check local theaters for special screenings

Community Events

Trick-or-treating: October 31 throughout Calgary neighborhoods
Community haunted houses: Various neighborhoods create free haunted experiences
Halloween parties: Venues across Calgary host costume parties

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I take photos inside haunted houses?

A: Photography policies vary by attraction. Generally, photos are discouraged inside active haunted houses to avoid disrupting the experience for others and creating safety hazards in dark environments. Scare zones and designated photo areas welcome photography.

Q: What if I'm too scared to continue?

A: Every haunted house has emergency exits and safe words. Simply tell a staff member or actor you need to exit, and they'll escort you out safely and respectfully.

Q: Can I bring my own food and drinks?

A: Outside food and beverages are typically not permitted. Screamfest offers food vendors onsite with hot drinks, snacks, and Halloween-themed treats.

Q: Is Screamfest accessible for people with disabilities?

A: Contact Heritage Park directly regarding specific accessibility needs. Some haunted houses may present challenges for wheelchairs or mobility devices due to historical building limitations and scare effects.

Q: What about weapons or props?

A: No weapons, even costume props or obviously fake items, are permitted for safety reasons.

Real-Life Zombie Apocalypse Advice (Sort Of)

In their FAQ section, Screamfest offers tongue-in-cheek advice for real zombie apocalypses: find weapons, travel to low-population areas, start farming, and care for livestock since capitalism will likely collapse. While humorous, it showcases Screamfest's playful approach to horror entertainment.

More seriously, if zombies attack Calgary: head north into the foothills, avoid downtown's high population density, and perhaps seek refuge in the mountains. But until then, experience the zombie apocalypse safely at Zombie Outbreak!

Book Your Screamfest Tickets Now

Don't wait until it's too late. With only 11 operating nights and limited capacity each evening, Screamfest tickets sell out quickly, especially for Halloween weekend (October 30-31) and the special Adult Only Night (October 23).

Visit Screamfest.ca today to:

Secure your preferred date before it sells out
Compare general admission versus SpeedPass benefits
Plan your group visit with friends
Get exclusive updates about new attractions and special events
Prepare for Canada's scariest Halloween experience

Calgary's Heritage Park awaits your screams. The haunted houses are ready. The zombies are hungry. The question is: are you brave enough to face Screamfest 2025?

Get tickets at Screamfest.ca before they vanish into the darkness!

Sign up for the latest news: Join Screamfest's mailing list for exclusive updates on hair-raising Halloween events, ensuring your nightmares become reality. Don't worry—they're too busy grave-digging to spam you.

The scares are waiting. The terror is real. Calgary's most frightening Halloween tradition returns October 2025. Will you survive Screamfest?