LENOX TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Scarefest Scream Park is marking its 20th anniversary in 2026, giving the independently owned Metro Detroit Halloween destination two decades of scares, hayrides and fall nights in the woods.
Founded in 2006 by John Marino, Scarefest has grown into a 50-acre Halloween festival in Lenox Township while remaining family owned and operated. The park says it employs hundreds of local residents and supports community organizations, including donations to the New Haven Food Pantry through its nightly parking program.
The anniversary season centers on Scarefest's four established haunted attractions.
Castle of the Dead is an approximately 8,000-square-foot haunted house featuring nearly two dozen rooms. Hayride of Doom takes visitors on a narrated haunted ride built around a fictional outbreak storyline. Forest of Darkness sends guests along a wooded trail beside the Salt River, while Terror Zone Maze adds a dark maze filled with fog, monsters and disorienting effects.
But Scarefest has increasingly positioned itself as more than a collection of haunted attractions.
Its central midway gives visitors somewhere to spend the rest of the night, with live entertainment, bonfires, food and drinks, horror movies and roaming characters. A virtual queue system is designed to let guests use those amenities instead of spending the entire evening standing in attraction lines.
The 20th-anniversary season also begins before the traditional October haunt calendar with two September event weekends.
Ghouls Night Out is scheduled for Sept. 18 and 19, combining the haunted attractions with a fall-themed night featuring vendors and other activities.
That will be followed Sept. 25 and 26 by BBQ, Bourbon & Boos, an adults-oriented fall event built around barbecue, bourbon and whiskey tastings, live music and Scarefest's haunted atmosphere.
The park's regular October schedule begins Oct. 2 and 3 with a 20th Anniversary Celebration weekend, followed by additional Friday, Saturday and select Sunday operating dates throughout the month.
For an independent attraction, reaching a 20th season is itself notable. Scarefest's evolution also reflects a broader approach within the haunt industry: turning a trip through a haunted house into an entire evening of Halloween entertainment.
Scarefest Scream Park is located at 34111 28 Mile Road in Lenox Township, Michigan. Additional 2026 dates, event information and ticket details are available through Scarefest Scream Park's official website.