If you thought navigating the final season of Netflix’s global phenomenon from the safety of your couch was stressful, Universal Studios is about to ruin your heart rate completely. The Upside Down is officially staging its grand return to Halloween Horror Nights this fall with all-new haunted houses based entirely on the acclaimed fifth and final season of “Stranger Things.” The screaming officially starts on Friday, August 28, at Universal Orlando Resort and Thursday, September 3, at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Hawkins is Collapsing (And You’re Invited)
Developed in a very cozy partnership with Netflix, this year’s house drops you directly into the visceral, gripping center of the ultimate battle to save Hawkins. The barrier between reality and the supernatural is collapsing, and the local tourism board has clearly given up.
As you navigate the wreckage, you’ll trek through iconic locations like the Wheeler House, the Hawkins National Laboratory, and the MAC-Z military base. Naturally, you’ll also take a stroll through the haunting realms of the Upside Down and the Abyss. Along the way, you’ll encounter favorite characters trying not to die, while dodging Demogorgons and a host of other supernatural monstrosities. To make matters worse, Vecna himself is on your heels, ensuring your walk through the park is less of a stroll and more of an all-or-nothing battle for survival.
The Nostalgia Loot: Shop the Apocalypse
Because no trip to a collapsing dimension is complete without retail therapy, Universal has already launched an exclusive collection of limited-release merchandise. You can currently stock up on “Stranger Things” ’80s-nostalgia-infused T-shirts and mugs to commemorate your trauma.
For the hardcore collectors, there is a new series-inspired acrylic figure designed to fit perfectly into the separately sold Infernal Carnival collectible display. If you aren’t currently at the parks, the collection drops online tomorrow, June 18, at 9 a.m. PST on shopUniversal.com, with plenty of extra horror swag arriving in the months ahead.
Secure Your Survival Pass
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights will run on select nights from late August through Sunday, November 1 at Universal Orlando Resort, and from early September through Sunday, November 1 at Universal Studios Hollywood. Event tickets for both coasts are officially on sale now, so you can book your ticket to the end of the world before the general public beats you to it.
Do you think you have what it takes to survive Vecna’s final curse, or are you just going to let the Demogorgons have their snack?
