Everland and Lotte World's Halloween Festivals Run Through November

For visitors to Korea with room in their plans for a theme park, now is exactly the right time. Everland and Lotte World are both holding autumn Halloween festivals side by side, adding one more attraction beyond the rides during this period.

At a glance: Everland Halloween period September 12-November 22 · Lotte World Halloween period September 12-November 15 · Everland's 'Blood City' show daily 4 p.m.-9 p.m. (free for park admission ticket holders) · Location Everland (Yongin, Gyeonggi Province), Lotte World Adventure (Jamsil, Seoul)

Everland turns the entire park into a stage for a daily afternoon immersive show called "Blood City." Performed as street theater with actors roaming throughout the park, it offers the fun of stumbling upon a scene by chance while waiting for a ride. It can be seen with just the park admission ticket, with no separate charge, making it worth catching if your schedule keeps you there into the evening. Lotte World likewise dresses its entire indoor and outdoor theme park in its most elaborate Halloween costumes and parades of the year during this period, and since it's directly reachable from downtown Seoul by subway, it's an easy fit even for a day-trip itinerary.

Both parks run their festivals for more than two months, which is an advantage for visitors, since there's a good chance your trip will fall within the season no matter when you come. Lines tend to be shorter on weekday afternoons, so short-term travelers who can't fit in a weekend visit might consider aiming for weekday evenings instead. That said, show times and parade schedules can change depending on the day of the week and weather conditions, so checking each theme park's official app or website for the day's performance schedule the night before your visit is the best way to avoid wasted time.

The fact that Korean theme parks celebrate Halloween on a scale rivaling autumn foliage season can be a surprising option for travelers visiting Korea in the fall.