Williamsburg police instate curfew for minors as theme parks adapt Halloween chaperone policies
Learn the chaperone policy (or lack thereof) for theme park events like Knott’s Scary Farm, Scarowinds, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal, Six Flags Fright Fest, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens and SeaWorld, and others.
Updated Sept. 20, 2024 with new James City County (Williamsburg, Va.) policy; originally published Sept. 14, 2024.
Is there a chaperone policy at the Halloween event you’re attending? That depends on which theme park you’re visiting. Let’s compare the protocols at various haunts (subject to change), in alphabetical order by event name.
Dark Nights at Hersheypark
There is no chaperone policy for Dark Nights at Hersheypark (Hershey, Penn.).
HalloWeekends at Cedar Point
There is no chaperone policy for HalloWeekends at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio). However, the park does “strongly recommend” adult supervision of guests ages 17 and under during any operating day, including HalloWeekends.
Halloween Haunt at Six Flags (formerly Cedar Fair) parks chaperone policy
Many theme parks formerly under Cedar Fair ownership (and now part of the Six Flags umbrella, as of summer 2024) host an event called Halloween Haunt, and some of these instate a chaperone policy.
Guests ages 15 and under at Halloween Haunt must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, Six Flags requires one chaperone per 10 minors.
Guests ages 16-20 do not require a chaperone, but cannot be the chaperone for younger guests.
This policy is in place at the following Six Flags parks during Halloween Haunt:
- Dorney Park (Allentown, Penn.)
- Kings Dominion (Doswell, Va.)
- Kings Island (Mason, Ohio)
- Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, Mo.)
There is no chaperone policy at Canada’s Wonderland (Ontario, Canada) during Halloween Haunt.
Consult your local Six Flags’ “park policies” page for full terms.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal theme parks
There is no chaperone policy for Halloween Horror Nights at either Universal Studios Florida (Orlando, Fla.) or Universal Studios Hollywood (near Los Angeles, Calif.).
Universal says Halloween Horror Nights is “not recommended” for guests ages 12 and under.
Universal’s only chaperone policy currently pertains to CityWalk in Orlando (where adult supervision is required starting at 8 p.m. for guests ages 17 and under).
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks
Theme parks belonging to the United Parks & Resorts corporate umbrella (formerly SeaWorld Parks & Resorts) host a Halloween event called Howl-O-Scream.
As announced Sept. 18, 2024 and effective Sept. 20, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Va.) introduced a chaperone policy. Guests ages 15 and under at Howl-O-Scream must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, Busch Gardens requires one chaperone per 10 minors. Guests ages 16-20 do not require a chaperone, but cannot be the chaperone for younger guests.
Furthermore, as announced Sept. 19, 2024 by the James City County Police Department, anyone ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian between midnight and 5 a.m., local news station WCEV-TV reported. The rule applies to anywhere in James City County, not just Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Howl-O-Scream’s hours vary depending on the date, but its latest closing time is 11 p.m. However, since the rule is county-wide, guests should keep it in mind for any travels home or if they happen to hop in a long line right at closing time. WCEV-TV says not following this rule could result in a misdemeanor.
This essentially presents the added caveat that Howl-O-Scream guests ages 16 and 17 do not need a chaperone by Busch Gardens’ rules, unless they are staying out after midnight, in which case they will need a chaperone (who is a parent or guardian) by the county’s rules.
Guests ages 13 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone at the following parks (both during Howl-O-Scream and otherwise):
- SeaWorld Orlando (Orlando, Fla.)
- SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, Calif.)
There is no chaperone policy at the following parks during Howl-O-Scream, though the respective parks advise parental discretion:
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, Fla.)
- SeaWorld San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas)
Knott’s Scary Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm chaperone policy
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, Calif.) is a former Cedar Fair park now part of Six Flags. Knott’s Scary Farm maintains a chaperone policy similar to the company’s other Halloween events.
Guests ages 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, Knott’s requires one chaperone per 10 minors. Guests ages 16-20 do not require a chaperone, but cannot be the chaperone for younger guests.
Scarowinds at Carowinds chaperone policy
Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.) is, like Knott’s Berry Farm, a former Cedar Fair park now categorized as a Six Flags establishment. As such, the park’s Scarowinds event maintains a chaperone policy similar to the company’s other Halloween events.
Guests ages 15 and under at Scarowinds must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, Scarowinds requires one chaperone per 10 minors. Guests ages 16-20 do not require a chaperone, but cannot be the chaperone for younger guests.
Six Flags Fright Fest and Six Flags Fright Fest Extreme chaperone policy
At most Six Flags parks during Fright Fest and Fright Fest Extreme, guests ages 15 and under (or ages 16 and under at Six Flags America) must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, Six Flags requires one chaperone per 10 minors. Guests ages 16-20 do not require a chaperone, but cannot be the chaperone for younger guests.
This chaperone policy is in effect at the following Six Flags parks during Fright Fest and Fright Fest Extreme 2024:
- Six Flags America (near Baltimore, Md.)
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (near San Francisco, Calif.)
- Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, Texas)
- Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson Township, N.J.)
- Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Ill.)
- Six Flags Magic Mountain (near Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Six Flags New England (near Springfield, Mass.)
- Six Flags Over Georgia (near Atlanta, Ga.)
- Six Flags Over Texas (near Dallas, Texas)
- Six Flags St. Louis (near St. Louis, Mo.)
There is no chaperone policy at the following three Six Flags parks’ Fright Fest:
- Six Flags Darien Lake (near Buffalo, N.Y.)
- Six Flags Frontier City (Oklahoma City, Ok.)
- Six Flags Great Escape (Queensbury, N.Y.)
There is no chaperone policy at Six Flags México (Mexico City, Mexico) during Festival del Terror.
Consult the “park policies” page on your local Six Flags park’s website for full terms.
ValleyScare at Valleyfair chaperone policy
Valleyfair (Shakopee, Minn.) is a former Cedar Fair park now categorized as a Six Flags establishment. As such, the park’s ValleyScare event maintains a chaperone policy similar to the company’s other Halloween events.
Guests ages 15 and under at ValleyScare must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, ValleyScare requires one chaperone per 10 minors. Guests ages 16-20 do not require a chaperone, but cannot be the chaperone for younger guests.
For more planning help, explore our guides to these Halloween events:
Follow us:
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
