Haunting Fun . . . If You Dare

Restless ghosts and goblins return this weekend for the annual Halloween-season uprisings at area attractions. Starting Friday, Six Flags Magic Mountain will be transformed for the annual Fright Fest. Along with gory fare for horror fans (such as Willoughby’s Haunted Mansion, open after 5 p.m.), there will be activities for young children, including kids’ costume parade and Tweety’s Twick o’ Tweat Adventure, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fright Fest shows and attractions continue through Sunday and Oct. 18-20, 25-27 and Halloween. Doors open 10 a.m., closing hours vary. $33; seniors, $19; under 48 inches, $15. (805) 255-4100.

Freddie Krueger, Pinhead and the Munsters are among the figures at the Hollywood Wax Museum that are dressed in their characters’ original movie costumes for the Chamber of Horrors, now through Halloween. The dungeon-like chamber is not for the faint of heart. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-midnight; Fridays-Saturdays and Halloween, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. 6767 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. $8.95 (Halloween day is half price); seniors, $7.95; 12 and younger, $6.95. (213) 462-5991.

The oldest of the Halloween haunts is Knott’s Scary Farm, opening Friday and continuing weekends in October and on Halloween. The 24th annual scare fair of mazes, frightful rides and ghoulish entertainment is among the best--but also the most jampacked. The nighttime activities are not for young children, but Camp Spooky is staged during the day for ages 3-11 with regular admission ticket. Scary Farm tickets are $29.95 in advance, $33.95 at the gate. (714) 220-5200.

Shipwreck ’96 begins Friday with the Queen Mary’s Londontowne of Terror in the Queen’s Marketplace, then on board the ship, where the engine room has been transformed into the Haunted Hull of Horrors. 7 p.m.-midnight. Opening night party with KISS-FM. Also Saturday-Sunday and Oct. 18-20, Oct. 25-31, Nov. 1-2. 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. $10. (310) 435-3511.

New this year is Universal Studios’ Chamber of Chills, a live-action haunted house developed in conjunction with Imagine Entertainment Inc. Daily through Nov. 3, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.; daytime hours for young children, weekends only, noon-5 p.m. $8; daytime, $6 (one adult free with child). Universal CityWalk, Universal City. (818) 622-4455.