Eastern State Penitentiary Unveils Halloween Nights

Halloween is back at Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary, but with a new name and new event!

After operating during Halloween as Terror Behind The Walls for more than 25 years, Eastern State Penitentiary has introduced a bold new iteration of its famed Halloween celebration for 2021 — Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary.

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary, from the creators of Terror Behind the Walls, is a brand-new seasonal festival of epic proportions. It transforms abandoned cellblocks and courtyards into newly designed immersive environments, and activates the historic stone architecture with large-scale video projections and other special effects. Several sections of the penitentiary complex will be open to the public for the very first time.

Guests will step through Eastern State’s massive front gate and into a fantastical world where surprises await at every turn. This brand-new immersive experience transforms a ten-acre web of winding hallways and courtyards into a sprawling festival featuring haunted houses, historic tours, immersive walkthroughs, themed bars, and more!

“Guests will wade through architecture and history of the abandoned prison, and encounter live performances, hair-raising haunts, and other magical moments as you explore. Chat with intriguing characters over a cocktail. Soak in the eerie atmosphere. Let the spirit move you as you choose your own adventure”.

Guests to Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary will experience a festival-style event consisting of 15 attractions, including two haunted houses, which can be bypassed by those wanting a less scary experience. Also included will be four immersive walkthrough experiences, two live performances, four themed bars and lounges, and special effects like laser shows and large-scale video projections.

“We are excited to finally reveal Halloween Nights, a plan more than a year in the making, and we can’t wait for the world to experience it this fall,” said Brett Bertolino, Eastern State Penitentiary Vice President and Director of Operations. “There is truly something for everyone at Halloween Nights, including diehard Terror Behind the Walls fans as well as those who’d prefer a less scary, but still fun, fall experience. Our new festival model allows guests to choose their own path, to spend more time exploring freely, and to celebrate the Halloween season in the completely unique setting that is Eastern State Penitentiary.”

15 Attractions Inside the Cellblocks

Halloween Nights consists of 15 attractions:

2 haunted houses (scary!)
4 immersive walk-through experiences (not scary)
2 live, interactive performances
4 themed bars and lounges
3 opportunities to explore the penitentiary’s cellblocks, history, and relevance today (including NEW, exclusive narration by actor Steve Buscemi!)

…and more surprises in store!

When we asked about the event specifics, Bertolino continued by saying:

“Halloween Nights is brought to you by the team that created Terror Behind the Walls, so you can expect the same level of quality and creativity. We’re bringing back some fan-favorite elements of TBTW and The Masquerade, plus so much more.
Terror Behind the Walls featured six attractions; Halloween Nights will have fifteen. And we’re utilizing the entire 10-acre property, including some areas of the penitentiary that have never been open to the public before.”