Halloween season is officially getting underway in Northern Virginia, with Cox Farms’ Fields of Fear opening for the 2026 season this Friday, September 25.
The popular nighttime Halloween event transforms the farm into more than 20 acres of spooky attractions and haunted experiences.
Running through early November, Fields of Fear gives visitors plenty of opportunities to experience the scares, with several attractions included with admission.
When and where is Cox Farms’ Fields of Fear taking place?
Cox Farms Fields of Fear begins Friday, September 25, 2026, and runs on Friday and Saturday nights through Saturday, November 7, with an additional bonus night on Sunday, October 11. The event takes place at 15621 Braddock Road in Centreville, Virginia, making it a relatively easy Halloween outing from Washington, D.C.
Fields of Fear is open from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last entry at 10 p.m. The haunted attractions use assigned entry times, meaning visitors receive their attraction times after checking in at the farm rather than when they purchase their tickets online.
Cox Farms recommends arriving by 7 p.m. if you want the earliest possible attraction times. Depending on when you arrive, assigned times can run as late as 11:30 p.m., potentially keeping visitors at the farm until around midnight.
What to expect at Fields of Fear
The main attractions are Cornightmare, the Dark Side Hayride and The Forest, giving visitors three different ways to get their Halloween scares. Cornightmare is Cox Farms’ original haunted trail, while the Dark Side Hayride offers a nighttime ride and The Forest sends visitors on a more than half-mile walk through the woods filled with creepy encounters.
There is also plenty to do between attractions at the Firegrounds, including:
- đ„ Bonfires
- đ A dance floor and dance party
- đ€ Karaoke
- đą A huge six-lane slide
- đ Additional entertainment and activities
- đ» Foamhenge
The Fear Market will also remain open throughout Fields of Fear, offering pumpkins, local apples, cider, kettle corn, donuts and Cox Farms merchandise. Visitors can also grab fall food and drinks including apple cider donuts, hot cider, pumpkin spice lattes, hot chocolate, pretzels, nachos and more.
How much are Fields of Fear tickets?
Tickets are only available online and are limited, so Cox Farms recommends purchasing in advance.
The price depends on the night you visit, with 2026 admission listed at $25 for value nights, $30 for regular nights, $40 for regular pricing and $45 for peak nights.
The opening nights of September 25 and 26 are currently listed at $40, while many October dates are priced at $45.
A standard Fields of Fear ticket includes admission to the Firegrounds plus one entry to each of the Dark Side Hayride, Cornightmare, and The Forest.
Children under 24 months can enter for free, while everyone 2 and older needs a ticket.
Cox Farms does not recommend Fields of Fear for children under 12, and anyone under 14 must have an adult chaperone.
For anyone looking for a less scary option, Firegrounds Only tickets are also available.
These provide access to the bonfires, slide, entertainment, Foamhenge and other Firegrounds activities without admission to the haunted attractions.
