There’s a different kind of Halloween waiting in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Instead of chainsaws, blood and monsters lurking around dark corners, Holiday World turns the season into a family fall getaway filled with dinosaurs, cornfields, roller coasters, trick-or-treating and hundreds of drones flying overhead.

And travelers are taking notice.

Holiday World’s Happy Halloween Weekends was recently voted the No. 3 Theme Park Halloween Event in the country in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, making it the highest-ranked event in the Midwest.

For families looking for a Halloween road trip without the heavy scares found at many theme park events, that distinction helps put Santa Claus, Indiana, on the fall travel map.

“It’s amazing that family-friendly events are out-ranking some of the haunted experiences at other parks,” said Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Holiday World’s director of communications and fourth-generation owner. “We’re proud that Happy Halloween Weekends delivers a Halloween experience true to Holiday World’s brand of wholesome fun and value.”

Dinosaurs Take Over a 12-Acre Corn Maze

The centerpiece of this year’s celebration is the Dino Corn Maze Adventure, a sprawling 12-acre attraction that turns a classic fall tradition into a prehistoric expedition.

Rather than simply wandering through rows of corn, families can make the maze part of a full day at the theme park, where Holiday World’s rides continue operating during Happy Halloween Weekends.

The park also offers two immersive walkthrough attractions, Kitty’s 3D Candy Farm and Carnival Chaos, giving visitors another way to experience Halloween without turning the day into a full-fledged fright fest.

Children ages 12 and younger can go trick-or-treating, while hayrides and seasonal food add more traditional fall experiences to the visit.

Then the Dinosaurs Take to the Sky

Once darkness arrives, the dinosaurs move from the cornfield to the sky.

Dinos Soar in the Sky uses 500 drones to create a nighttime show above Holiday World. Instead of presenting the same performance throughout the season, the park is rotating among three different versions of the show.

This Saturday’s edition is scheduled to feature a pop-centered soundtrack, weather permitting.

Before the drones take flight, families can join a new Halloween DJ dance party.

There’s more new entertainment throughout the park, including Ghouling Pianos and Halloween High School, an all-new stage production created for the season.

Ride Roller Coasters After Dark

Fall also brings something coaster fans wait all year to experience: night rides.

As daylight disappears earlier in the season, attractions that families might ride during the afternoon can feel completely different after sunset.

Holiday World is extending that experience with Friday Night Live!, continuing through Oct. 30 with night rides, live bands and drink specials.

That means a fall visit doesn’t have to be entirely about pumpkins, candy and dinosaurs. Thrill-seekers can still build their trip around Holiday World’s major rides while families with younger children can concentrate on the Halloween activities.

Turn It Into a Fall Break Road Trip

Holiday World’s location also makes Happy Halloween Weekends an easy road-trip destination.

Santa Claus, Indiana, is within a few hours’ drive of Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville and Columbus. The park can also become a multi-day getaway for travelers coming from markets such as Chicago, Kansas City and Atlanta.

Families wanting to stay close to the park can make Santa’s Cottages part of the trip. Guests staying there can receive discounted Holiday World tickets, although fall weekends can fill quickly.

“Now is the perfect time to plan a Fall Break trip,” Koch-Blumhardt said. “Santa’s Cottages book quickly, and you don’t want to miss this award-winning event.”

There’s also an option for visitors already thinking ahead to next year. Holiday World’s 2027 Season Passes are on sale, and guests who purchase and pay for their passes in full this year can use them to visit on Sundays during Happy Halloween Weekends.

For families who want a Halloween atmosphere without spending the evening running from scare actors, Holiday World offers something increasingly distinctive.

You can get lost among dinosaurs in a 12-acre corn maze, take the kids trick-or-treating, catch a roller coaster after dark and finish the night watching 500 drones turn the Indiana sky into a prehistoric spectacle.

And according to USA Today 10Best voters, it’s not just one of the Midwest’s best Halloween getaways. It’s one of the best in the country.

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(Photos courtesy Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari)