Krampus. Santa CLAWS. The Fright-mare before Christmas. Wreck the halls.
Halloween doesn’t have to be the only spooky holiday we celebrate throughout the year. More and more haunts are looking for ways to keep the scares going into the winter holiday season. And it’s not hard to understand why: the popularity of movies like Krampus, Black Christmas, Better Watch Out, and Violent Night are helping to merge the merry and macabre this time of year.
If you’re considering adding a holiday season to your haunted attraction, there are a few things you should know before you make the leap. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of holiday haunted attractions!
Pro: You Can Make More Money
One obvious benefit to extending your haunt into the holiday season is the opportunity to sell more tickets and generate more revenue. The more days you’re open, the more money you can make, right? Except that everyone stops celebrating Halloween on November 1. Transitioning your haunt to a winter holiday theme can bring guests back for more visits, or maybe even attract some new visitors! Either way, you’ll likely sell more tickets.
Con: It’s A Lot More Work
A lot of first-time haunters think they can just change up a few decorations and reopen for the holiday season. But in reality, there’s more to it. Think about how much time and effort you put into getting your haunt ready for the Halloween season. There’s months of planning, prop building, staff training, marketing, and logistics. Some of those won’t need to be duplicated for your holiday haunt—you can try to hire the same staff who are already trained, for example—but you’ll definitely be investing a lot of work transitioning your Halloween attractions over to the winter holidays.
Pro: Off-Season Revenue & Engagement
One of the biggest challenges of running a haunted attraction is the seasonality: you earn all your revenue in September and October, then have to make those dollars last through the rest of the year. Adding more holiday events to your haunt can bring in money during times of the year when you typically would be without revenue. Plus, they keep your name and brand active throughout the year, giving you more chances to engage with your fans.
Con: Additional Costs
You’ll almost certainly be able to reuse some props, lighting, and set designs from your regular haunt, but you’ll need some new items, too. The most successful holiday haunts aren’t just slapping a few santa hats onto their monsters and calling it “Christmas.” Those new props and supplies will cost money. And there’s the added expense of hiring staff for the holiday season. The revenue benefits can outweigh the costs, but this is something to carefully consider when deciding if you want to extend your season.
Pro: Cross-Promotional Opportunities
You can significantly enhance the reach, engagement, and profitability of your holiday haunt by collaborating with complementary businesses and organizations. And there may be cross-promotional opportunities that wouldn’t fit well with your regular-season haunt.
For example, you could partner with holiday markets or craft fairs to offer ticket discounts or joint promotions. Or, collaborate with local eateries to offer themed treats (e.g., “Krampus Cookies” or “Sinister Hot Cocoa”) and include attraction flyers or promo codes at their locations.
Consider getting involved with parades or tree-lighting ceremonies, where you can showcase a spooky float or sponsor a segment of the event. This boosts visibility and aligns your attraction with the festive season. You could even offer group rates or private bookings for companies planning unique holiday parties. Pair your haunted attraction experience with catered holiday refreshments or after-hours meet-and-greets with “Krampus.”
Con: Competition with Holiday Events
The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the busiest times of the year for many of us. Our calendars are packed to the gills with family celebrations, office parties, cookie exchanges, shopping, gift wrapping, and more social obligations than we typically have the rest of the year. You may have to work harder to get your fans to make time in their schedules to visit your holiday haunt.
On the other hand, with friends and family in town for the holidays, many folks are looking for fun group activities that go beyond the usual ice skating/tree stroll/meet Santa stuff that tends to pop up this time of year. A holiday haunt could fit the bill nicely.
13. Holiday-Themed Haunted House Ideas
So you’re feeling ready to take the next step and start planning your holiday haunted attraction! Here are a few creepy holiday theme ideas to inspire you.
1. “Slay Bells: A Haunted Christmas Tale”
A twisted North Pole where Santa’s workshop has been overtaken by evil elves, cursed toys, and a monstrous Krampus. Guests navigate through a creepy winter wonderland filled with eerie carolers and malfunctioning holiday lights.
2. “Mistletoe Manor: A Haunted Holiday Soiree”
Guests explore a haunted Victorian mansion decorated for Christmas, where ghostly partygoers from a bygone era relive a holiday party gone tragically wrong.
3. “Winter Wonderland: Frozen in Fear”
A snowy forest scene filled with ice witches, yetis, and frostbitten ghosts. Guests must escape a treacherous blizzard while avoiding icy terrors lurking in the drifts.
4. “Twisted Toyland”
A toy factory where the rejected toys have come to life with malicious intent. Think creepy teddy bears, menacing dolls, and jack-in-the-boxes that don’t stop popping out.
5. “Holiday Horror Mashup”
Combine multiple holidays into one chaotic attraction where Halloween monsters, Christmas ghosts, and even a sinister Easter Bunny vie for dominance. Guests journey through a calendar of frights, with each room representing a different holiday gone wrong.
6. “Krampusnacht: The Beast of Christmas”
Guests are plunged into a European folktale where Krampus stalks the snowy woods. They must escape his lair while evading possessed gifts and ghostly children he’s captured.
7. “The Haunted North Pole”
Santa’s village has been cursed, turning it into a frosty nightmare. Guests encounter deranged reindeer, sinister snowmen, and a haunted sleigh ride through the tundra.
8. “Frostbite: Winter’s Curse”
A snowstorm traps guests in an abandoned ski lodge haunted by icy spirits and yetis. The chill isn’t just in the air—it’s in the ghostly whispers of past victims.
9. “The 12 Terrors of Christmas”
Each room of the haunted house represents a terrifying twist on the classic carol, from “a possessed partridge in a pear tree” to “12 murderous drummers drumming.”
10. “The Christmas Witch’s Curse”
Based on the folklore of Befana or Frau Perchta, a witch curses the holiday season. Guests must navigate through her enchanted forest and cursed village to lift the spell.
11. “Candy Cane Carnage”
A gingerbread house filled with killer candy canes, haunted peppermint forests, and a demonic baker. Guests encounter life-sized gingerbread men with sharp teeth and syrupy traps.
12. “Silent Night, Deadly Night”
A peaceful Christmas village has been overtaken by darkness. Silent ghosts roam the streets, and snow angels turn to demons. The eerie silence is broken only by the sound of screams.
13. “The Forgotten Workshop”
Deep in the snowy wilderness lies Santa’s abandoned workshop, where discarded toys and forgotten creations have come to life with a vengeful spirit. Guests explore eerie assembly lines, malfunctioning machines, and shadowy corners where deranged elves and monstrous creations lurk. The chilling echoes of once-bustling holiday cheer create an unsettling backdrop for the horrors within.
Final Thoughts
Opening a holiday-themed haunted attraction can help bring in more revenue, extend your season, and give your fans a creative new experience. But it’s also a lot of work and the decision shouldn’t be entered into lightly. If you need a little help deciding whether a holiday haunt is right for you, feel free to reach out to our team at any time. We’d be happy to help set up your ticketing or talk through any questions you might have!
