Castle Dark at Castle Park in Riverside may not be the biggest Halloween theme park event in Southern California, but what it offers is heart, community spirit, and a cast of dedicated scare actors who bring the event to life. The park has built a loyal following, and it’s clear how much effort goes into creating a Halloween experience that’s fun for all ages.

This year’s event featured three mazes:

Midnight Manor – A haunted house–style maze with creepy atmosphere and some fun jump scares.

Containment Breach – A chaotic walkthrough with an “experiment gone wrong” theme, packed with energetic actors.

Feary Tales – My personal favorite of the night. This maze reimagines classic fairytales with a dark twist. The scenes were easy to follow, the story clear, and the actors really leaned into playing with guests as we made our way through. I especially enjoyed the animatronic at the beginning—it’s storytelling was a great setup for what was to come.

Beyond the mazes, Haunted Highway was a charming highlight. This classic kids’ ride, with its old-timey cars on a track, has been given a spooky Halloween overlay. As you ride through, you get to see the attraction dressed up for the season. It’s more cute than scary, but it’s a fun, nostalgic addition that adds variety to the night.

The park also offers scare zones and shows, which help fill out the experience. One returning character, the Lady in White, a fan-favorite character who’s performing on stage again this season. The scare actors throughout the park really were the highlight for me—they’re creative, committed, and clearly having fun, which makes the experience so much better for guests.

Overall, Castle Dark might not have the budget of the larger theme park haunts, but it has something just as valuable: a community of passionate performers and staff who love Halloween and work hard to share that with their guests. I appreciate how the park thoughtfully incorporates diverse representation as well. It’s a fun event with plenty to enjoy!