The Haunting Experience has announced operations during Minnesota Education Association weekend, October 14 through 18, with five consecutive evenings of attractions. The family-owned site is running its full lineup of evening experiences during the mid-October school break period that draws visitors from the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The weekend schedule extends the attraction’s regular evening hours across multiple nights. Guests can access the Haunted House walkthrough, the Haunted Hayride, and the Massacre cornfield experience. General admission and Fast Pass tickets allow two entries that can be used for any combination of the house and hayride. VIP tickets include the Massacre attraction, which is restricted to guests ages 13 and older because of permitted light physical contact from performers.
The Haunted House features redesigned scenes each season, including sequences set in the remains of an abandoned hospital and other enclosed spaces with live actors and sensory effects. The Haunted Hayride travels a 1.5-mile route through wooded trails and the fictional Wilhelm Steelworks, where performers stage timed encounters. The expanded length was completed earlier in the year and remains in place for the current season.
“The MEA weekend dates give families and groups additional options during a period when many schools are closed,” said Bill Zywiec, Owner of The Haunting Experience. “The attraction has historically adjusted evening availability around regional school calendars while maintaining the same safety guidelines and ticket structure used throughout October.”
Daytime Fall Fun Fest sessions continue on selected dates separate from the evening schedule. Those sessions include art activities, pumpkin painting, free hayrides without actors, lights-on tours of the Haunted House, and goat petting. The dual daytime and evening format allows the property to serve visitors who prefer milder activities as well as those seeking the full evening experience.
The attraction operates rain or shine with covered waiting areas. On-site concessions and a gift shop are available during evening hours. Group rates for parties of 20, 50, and 100 people remain in place for school groups, corporate outings, and family gatherings. The company recommends allowing two to three hours for the full visit, including wait times and concessions.
Safety rules prohibit running and interfering with performers. Parents are advised to consider a child’s comfort level with live actors, strobe lighting, and intense scenes before purchasing tickets. The FAQ on the company website notes that general admission and Fast Pass tickets are recommended for ages 12 and up, with the final decision left to parents.
The Zywiec Family has operated the attraction since 1986 on a working farm property that also houses their landscape and garden center business. Seasonal preparation includes updates to sets and scenes by a crew of builders, artists, and scare actors. The current season marks the 40th year of continuous operation.
The MEA weekend dates sit within the broader October calendar that runs from late September through early November. The attraction has previously noted that Fridays and Saturdays tend to be busier, while Thursday and Sunday evenings are typically less crowded. The five-night block provides additional midweek and weekend options during the school break.
The release of the MEA weekend schedule follows the earlier publication of the full 2026 season calendar. Evening operations began on September 25, and the mid-October block is one of several concentrated periods of operation listed for the month.
The Haunting Experience is a family-owned haunted attraction established in 1986 by the Zywiec Family. It features a Haunted House, Minnesota’s longest-running Haunted Hayride, the Massacre cornfield experience, and daytime Fall Fun Fest activities. The site serves visitors from the Twin Cities metropolitan area with seasonal Halloween entertainment on a working farm property.
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For more information about The Haunting Experience, contact the company here:
The Haunting Experience
Zywiec Family
651-459-3001
info@hauntingexperience.com
10900 E Point Douglas Rd S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016