Halloween is that magical time of year when the air turns crisp, pumpkins line porches, and a little bit of spooky fun creeps into our everyday lives. Whether you’re a fan of ghost stories, terrifying haunted houses, or just love the taste of pumpkin spice, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Around the world, countless places claim to be haunted, drawing in thrill-seekers and skeptics alike. Closer to home, Halloween events offer a range of experiences, from family-friendly fun to extreme scares. Also, what better way to get in the spooky spirit than with creepy TV specials and sugary seasonal cereals? In this article, we explore haunted destinations, Orange County events, real-life horror tales, and all the pop culture that makes Halloween a truly unforgettable season.
The Top 10 Most Haunted Places on Earth: Wesley Van Horn
Some people believe in the paranormal, while others choose not to, as it allows them to avoid thinking about it too much. But the people who do believe wonder where and what places are the most haunted. That’s what we’ll be diving into today, with the top 10 most haunted places on our planet
The Tower of London, England: Haunted by over a thousand years of bloodshed. Famous ghosts include headless Queen Anne Boleyn, the small statues of the missing Princes in the Tower, and Margaret Pole, who screams during a ghostly execution reenactment. The White Lady’s ghost is often accompanied by the scent of cheap perfume.
Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary, USA: This prison, built for brutal solitary confinement, features active paranormal activity. Witnesses report laughter, crying, and phantom recreation. Al Capone was reportedly tormented by the ghost of “Jimmy.” Employees affectionately refer to an apparition of an elderly woman as “The Soap Lady.”
Poveglia Island, Italy: This island of death was a quarantine camp for over 100,000 plague victims, with soil said to be 50% human ash. Later, a mental hospital doctor tortured patients before leaping from the bell tower (his ghost and the bell’s tolling remain). Visitors report free-floating screams and the sound of a groaning wheelchair.
Bhangarh Fort, India: A stunning 17th-century ruin, off-limits between sunset and sunrise due to an evil curse allegedly placed by a sorcerer or a holy hermit. Those who break the taboo report a pervasive sense of doom, inexplicable whispers and footsteps, and the ghost of a woman in a black saree.
The Ancient Ram Inn, England: This 1145 medieval inn sits over a pagan burial ground where three major ley lines converge. It hosts over 20 ghosts, including alleged victims of child sacrifice. The Bishop’s Room has nine ghosts. Guests have been physically pushed, heard screaming, and encountered a sexually oppressive incubus/succubus presence.
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado, USA: The hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining is particularly haunted by deceased employees and children on the fourth floor. Ghosts exhibit playful poltergeist tendencies, such as moving luggage and folding laundry. Founder Flora Stanley is heard playing the piano, and housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson haunts Room 217.
The RMS Queen Mary, USA: This classic liner and WWII troop carrier is permanently moored with over 600 ghosts. Notorious spirits include engine room assistant John Pedder near Door 13, and the drowned girl Jackie, whose giggles and splashing are heard in the pool. Stateroom B340 was known for intense activity, like pulled bedclothes and moving faucets.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland: This 12th-century castle is one of the world’s most haunted sites. Ghostly activity includes sudden cold spots, a headless drum boy (appearing before sieges), the spirits of centuries-old POWs, and the sound of a ghostly piper beneath the streets.
Monte Cristo Homestead, Australia: Known as Australia’s most haunted house due to sadistic murders and brutal deaths. The spirit of the former strict mistress, Mrs. Elizabeth Crawley, is reportedly still present, sometimes touching visitors with an icy hand. The ghost of Harold, who was imprisoned in the outhouse for over thirty years, can be heard with miserable moans and the clanging of chains.
Paris Catacombs, France: A vast underground ossuary holding the bones of six million people. The sheer density of remains creates a suffocating atmosphere. Visitors report hearing phantom voices and a pervasive sense of being watched deep within the “Empire of Death.”
Orange County Halloween Events – Asher Hoffman
Family Friendly: Irvine Park offers an easy-going and exciting time for people of all ages with a train ride, multiple carnival games, food, and a humongous pumpkin patch. There is also the Irvine Zoo and a petting zoo too which offer a cool experience of seeing a multitude of animals from various regions up close. The Zoo, which is open from 10 am to 4 pm, will also offer a bunch of kid-themed activities like scavenger hunts, fun arts and crafts, plus trick or treating. The park itself is also very large with lots of grass and trees, so picnics are a great idea that everyone can enjoy.
Terrifying Attraction: In Bunea Park, there is the 17th Door Haunt Experience- This intense, exhilarating, immersive, and immensely large haunted house is supposed to be extremely scary. They go above and beyond with sensory effects, lights, and potential physical interactions with the actors there. It is supposedly so dangerously scary that you need to sign a waiver, and there is a safe word, Mercy! This is not recommended unless you can handle extreme situations both mentally and physically.
Spooky Scary Fun: Knott’s Scary Farm, which is also located in Buena Park, is an amazing amusement park that gets modified into a Halloween wonderland with its non-stop fun rides, live shows, haunted mazes, and scare zones. The actors provided both scariness and humility to determine how frightful they should be. The scare zones are jam-packed with fun, as there are jump scares, horrifying monsters, and some unsettling concepts. They recommend that people under the age of 13 do not attend; however, those under can attend Knotts Spooky Farm, which is more geared towards younger children. Overall, Knott’s Scary and Spooky Farm is an unbelievable way to start this upcoming Halloween season off with a bang.
Real Life Horror Stories – Aidan Delgado
Anneliese Michel was a deeply religious young woman from Germany who started experiencing terrifying hallucinations and seizures in the early 1970s. After doctors diagnosed her with epilepsy and mental illness, but treatments didn’t help, her family became convinced she was possessed by demons. The Catholic Church authorized two priests to perform 67 exorcism sessions over nearly a year, during which Anneliese reportedly spoke in strange voices and showed extraordinary strength. Sadly, her health deteriorated severely, and she died of malnutrition and dehydration, sparking a controversial court case about faith and medicine. Despite the tragedy, the Church’s involvement was official, and her story remains one of the most well-documented exorcisms in history.
The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana is said to be one of the most haunted places in America, with reports of ghost sightings dating back nearly 200 years. Visitors have claimed to see shadowy figures roaming the halls, hear children laughing when no one is around, and feel sudden cold chills. One of the most famous spirits is said to be a former slave named Chloe, who supposedly haunts the plantation after a tragic accident. Over the years, paranormal investigators have captured strange voices and unexplained noises on recording devices. Today, the plantation welcomes curious visitors hoping to experience its eerie history firsthand.
The Enfield Poltergeist: In the 1970s, a mother named Peggy Hodgson and her four children were living in a small home in Enfield, England, when strange things started to happen. Her daughter Janet, only eleven years old, said she felt someone watching her and heard loud knocking on the walls. Soon, furniture began moving by itself, and Janet was thrown from her bed. A deep voice started speaking through her, saying it belonged to a man named Bill who had died in the house. Many people, including police and neighbors, saw the strange events and could not explain them. The family was scared and confused, trying to live their normal lives while facing something they could not understand.
Shows and Halloween Cereal: Asher Hoffman
All of the shows below are perfect for a late-night watch, as they are all hilarious with detailed and intricate episode plots. The writers do an unbelievable job of making the story flow and rise and fall with its dramatic action packed scenes. The actors are also incredible at meeting the exact specifications of their characters and providing for the show with their funny and compelling acting.
Tree House of Horror, The Simpsons – These are fun little Halloween episodes that are violent but can be very funny and unique. Most of the time, they are a spin on another popular movie, show and include pop culture references, but they mainly include the Simpsons going on special Halloween adventures throughout the episode.
Halloween Heists, Brooklyn 99 – This comedy show is themed around a police precinct and has an episode almost every season about a Halloween-themed heist. Where the various police members will try to steal an item before the end of Halloween night. These episodes are witty and often include some interesting betrayals and team-ups.
Halloween on Spooner Street, Family Guy – This popular series has an episode where Peter and Joe play Halloween pranks, and Brian helps Stewie trick or treat for the first time. Meg is also very nervous and excited about attending her first Halloween party. The cartoon is great, with each character having a role to play and blending nicely with other characters to create a wonderful series.
Halloween-Themed Cereal – If you have never heard of Boo-Berry, Count Chocula, or Franken Berry, then you are seriously missing out! These fun Halloween monsters each have unique flavors of cereal that come with marshmallows. Boo-Berry is blueberry flavored, Count Chocula is chocolate flavored, and last but not least, Franken Berry is strawberry flavored. These cereals are the perfect morning sweet sugary snack to get in the Halloween mood.
