Gather your party, nerds. Stranger Things returns to Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights this year with chilling new experiences that will transport you right back to Hawkins — and beyond. 

Enter, if you dare, a new haunted house that showcases the most gripping moments from the fifth and final season, and puts you right at the center of the ultimate battle to save the town. Then take in the thrilling sights and sounds of a special lagoon show celebrating 10 years of Stranger Things. 

Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights: Friday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at Universal Orlando Resort and Thursday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Haunted house guests will make their way through familiar spaces within the Stranger Things universe, including the Wheeler house, Hawkins National Laboratory, the MAC-Z military base, and the eerie realms of the Upside Down and the Abyss. Keep your eyes peeled because you’ll be hunted at every turn by Demogorgons and other sinister creatures. And with Vecna on your heels, the terror intensifies, pulling you into an all-or-nothing battle for survival.   
Available at: Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood

Meanwhile, the nighttime lagoon show, Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins, will celebrate Stranger Things’ 10th anniversary with a special experience that takes guests on an emotional journey through all five seasons. The show will feature memorable scenes from throughout the series projected across towering water screens, accompanied by dynamic lighting effects and immersive audio featuring popular selections from the series’ original score. 
Available at: Universal Orlando Resort

Learn All About Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins

Dive into the details of the celebratory lagoon show with Jason Horne, assistant director of entertainment creative development at Universal Orlando Resort.

How would you describe this show? What can attendees look forward to?
Jason Horne: The all-new lagoon show Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins invites fans to relive iconic moments and celebrate beloved characters from the hit series as we pay tribute to one of the most popular franchises of the past decade. Featuring towering water screens, dynamic lighting effects, and immersive audio — including fan-favorite music from the series — the spectacular show brings unforgettable scenes from Stranger Things to life in a whole new way.

How does the Lagoon show celebrate 10 years of Stranger Things?
Horne: Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins will showcase some of the most iconic moments from all five seasons of Stranger Things. For fans who have followed the story from the beginning, the show offers a nostalgic celebration of the characters, adventures, and unforgettable scenes that have made the series a cultural phenomenon.  

What elements are you most excited for fans to see?
Horne: What makes our lagoon spectacular so special is the ability to bring stories to life on an epic scale, allowing fans to celebrate the music, characters, and emotions that have connected them over the years. While there are countless exciting elements throughout the show, one of my favorites is seeing Hawkins’s locations recreated through stunning projection mapping across the park’s buildings.

Roughly how long did it take to put this show together?
Horne: In partnership with Netflix and filmmakers, the show has been in development for quite some time, with teams collaborating across creative, technical, and operational disciplines to bring the experience to life.

How many people from which departments were involved in the making of it?
Horne: Honestly, there are too many talented individuals involved in this show to count. But the show is a result of the tremendous collaborative effort involving team members from across the organization, from lighting and fountain designers to our strategic video editors, our unbelievable production team, and music composers, and many more.

Are there any exciting facts about this show that you’d like to share?
Horne: This is the first time we’ve built an entire lagoon show around a single franchise, so we’re incredibly excited to bring it to life. We can’t wait for the fans to see it and experience Stranger Things in a whole new way!

Is there any other pertinent information attendees should know?
Horne: This year, fans of Stranger Things can step inside an immersive haunted house inspired by the fifth and final season of the hit series at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights in both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Guests can also enjoy themed food and beverage offerings, along with an assortment of merchandise inspired by the final season, including apparel and accessories that recreate iconic looks from the show, such as Will’s bomber jacket and Holly’s necklace. Additional merchandise includes items such as a Demogorgon-themed scrunchie and socks, a Lug cross-body bag, and an RSVLTS button-up shirt, giving fans even more ways to celebrate their love of Stranger Things.

Run, don’t walk, to purchase your tickets for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights here. 

Stream all five seasons of Stranger Things now, only on Netflix. And head here for other ways to celebrate the show’s 10th anniversary.