San Jose’s Winchester Mystery House is already one of the Bay Area’s most famously eerie landmarks, with its maze-like design and century-old paranormal lore surrounding Sarah Winchester. But this fall, the historic mansion will lean all the way into its ghostly reputation with Festival Fright Nights.
The popular Halloween attraction returns on select nights from September 18 through November 1, 2026, inviting guests to test their bravery with three new themed scare attractions, plus games, food and drink, live entertainment, and more add-ons.
Here’s a closer look…
Three new haunted stories unfold at the Winchester Mystery House
The 2026 event centers on three new narratives that bring imagined supernatural horrors into the famous Winchester estate:
- House of Spirits, where guests follow the mansion’s loyal butler as he tries to maintain the immense property and take on the resident spirits following Sarah Winchester’s death.
- The Final Descent: No Escape, where guests enter a version of the Winchester estate that has surrendered to evil, with its former staff overtaken by a dark force.
- The Root of All Evil, where visitors encounter sinister creatures and plants in the estate’s greenhouse.
The 2026 rendition also introduces a new add-on called Hide & Seek: The Lost Children, where guests can explore the rarely-seen attic; in addition to The Underhouse, a popular basement attraction returning this year.
For some less-spooky fun, guests can enjoy axe throwing, a vintage shooting gallery, a seasonal cider mill experience, and s’mores.
About the Winchester Mystery House
The Winchester Mystery House is a sprawling San Jose estate that Sarah Winchester built almost continuously from 1884 until her death in 1922. According to local legend, she constructed its labyrinth of roughly 160 rooms, complete with stairs and doors that appear to lead nowhere, to evade the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles.
Its unusual architecture and long-running stories of paranormal activity have made the mansion a favorite for history enthusiasts and ghost hunters alike. Halloween is an especially atmospheric time to visit thanks to its immersive haunted attractions, but the Winchester Mystery House welcomes visitors year-round.
Festival Fright Nights at a glance
📍 Location: Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose, CA 95128
📅 Dates: Select nights from September 18 through November 1, 2026
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $60.99 on select nights; advance purchase is recommended
🌐 Learn more: festivalfrightnights.com