Madrid, September 23 2026 - Over the past twenty years, Halloween has grown enormously in popularity across Europe, and our parks have been very much part of that evolution. What started relatively modestly, with autumn decorations and a few seasonal touches, has transformed into a fully-fledged season.

Months before the first pumpkins appear, teams across our parks are already working behind the scenes to create experiences that are more ambitious, immersive, and spectacular every year. From state-of-the-art haunted houses and terrifying mazes to parades, live entertainment, themed food, and spooky characters roaming the parks, Halloween brings together creativity from virtually every corner of our business.

Today, it has become one of the busiest, most distinctive and creatively exciting periods in our calendar and, at some of our parks, its popularity now even surpasses Christmas.

But while Halloween is a shared season across Parques Reunidos, there is no single way to celebrate it. Each park brings its own personality, stories, and surprises to the experience.

So, as Halloween 2026 approaches, we are going behind the scenes with our teams to discover what makes the season special at our parks and what they have in store for guests this year.

We begin at Slagharen in the Netherlands, where Marketing Coordinator Kimberly van Slochteren gives us a glimpse of what is coming this Halloween.

Slagharen, Netherlands

Kimberly van Slochteren | Marketing Coordinator

What makes Halloween at Slagharen different from anywhere else?

At Slagharen, Halloween feels completely different because it’s set in the Wild West. The whole park transforms into a Halloween adventure, with cowboys, outlaws, spooky characters, and plenty of atmosphere. And there’s something for everyone: families can enjoy the fun and adventurous side of Halloween during “Scary Prairie”, while thrill-seekers can experience the darker side during “Western Nightmares.”

If you could recommend just one Halloween experience that guests absolutely shouldn’t miss this year, what would it be – and why?

“Freaks Carnival – The Show”. It’s one of the highlights of Halloween at Slagharen, with spectacular acts, eccentric characters, and performances that are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. For 2026, the show has been completely renewed with new acts and artists, making it an experience you really don’t want to miss.

What are you introducing or doing differently for Halloween 2026?

For 2026, we’re introducing several new elements across both sides of Halloween. During “Scary Prairie”, Jackie the Coyote gets her own new adventure, with a new Music Hall show and the premiere of the new 4D film “Happy Family.”

Once night falls, “Western Nightmares” becomes darker than ever. There are new elements in the scare zones, a special nighttime version of “Red Bandits Adventure”, and the return of “Dark Hour” — now extended to two hours. We’re also introducing a brand-new finale on the Fonteinplein and a new “Freaks Carnival Show”. On four selected nights, guests can even continue the night with a special “Freaks Carnival Afterparty” at Wild Wings.

Halloween takes months of work behind the scenes. What might surprise our guests about what it takes to transform the park for the season?

What guests might not realize is just how much work goes into creating the atmosphere. It’s not simply a matter of putting up some pumpkins and cobwebs! Months in advance, our teams are working on decorations, costumes, characters, entertainment, and the different stories we want to tell. And then, in a relatively short time, the Wild West completely changes into a Halloween world.

Complete the sentence: “You haven’t really experienced Halloween at Slagharen until you have…”

…walked through “Scary Prairie” surrounded by Halloween characters, heard the screams from “Western Nightmares” and felt like you’ve stepped into a completely different Wild West.