WITCH WAY? THEME PARKS SCARE UP EXTRA HALLOWEEN SPIRIT.

Byline: Jerry Rice  Staff Writer

Ghouls just wanna have fun.

That's why Louie Tejeda has been working Knott's Berry Farm's popular Halloween Haunt for three years running. During the event's 33rd edition, he's a ``mental patient'' in The Asylum - Revisited, one of 12 walk-through mazes at the park.

``Scaring people is one of the funnest and funniest things in the world,'' said Tejeda, who lives in Ontario.

And this month there are lots of people to scare. The park could attract more than 500,000 people to the after-hours event that continues most nights through Halloween.

Knott's Berry Farm isn't alone when it comes to theme park monster parties.

Universal CityWalk will be handing out free candy on Oct. 31, and Six Flags Magic Mountain has already rolled out roaming zombies, spooky shows and six haunted mazes for its annual Fright Fest. On the Queen Mary, Shipwreck turns 11 with seven scare mazes and employees who won't hesitate to play up the ship's history of reported hauntings.

For the young set, Legoland has a celebration that includes a daily costume contest and Halloween fun doled out by its ``Boo Crew,'' including a witch giving treats to kids brave enough to check out her bubbling cauldron.

Knott's and Magic Mountain also didn't forget the little ones. Knott's has a daytime treasure hunt during regular park hours in its Camp Snoopy area, and also a live-action musical show, ``Charlie Brown's Pirate Adventure.'' And Magic Mountain offers crafts and games in a pumpkin field setting called Bugs Bunny World.

At Disney's California Adventure, Mickey's Halloween Treat is back for the first time in about a decade. The separate-admission costume party was last held at Disneyland.

Here's a roundup of Halloween activities at Southland theme parks:

Six Flags Magic Mountain: Fright Fest features six haunted mazes, three spooky shows, plus the chance to ride the nearly two-mile length of Colossus backward and several other coasters at night in the dark.

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and Oct. 31. Cost: $49.99; $29.99 for children 48 inches and shorter and seniors 55 and older. Limited-time Internet special is $27.99. [phone]. www.sixflags.com.

Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk: What's a better Halloween treat than a bug-filled smoothie? That's one of the items on the menu - along with several grueling and gross stunts - at the Fear Factor Live show, which is based on the popular TV series. Also, there's Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride, which has some bugs of its own, tomb robbers and a scream-inducing trip aboard mine-car vehicles through a dark world. On Halloween evening from 4 to 8 p.m. there will be a free, family-friendly celebration at CityWalk featuring more than 3,000 pounds of sweets distributed at the stores. There will also be a costume contest with prizes awarded for top categories, and live stage entertainment. The costume contest begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held for the following age groups: infant to 3 years, 4-8, and 9-12. Registration for the costume contest begins at 5 p.m.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Cost: $53; $43 for children shorter than 48 inches. Visit the Web site to get a $10 discount on the general admission price for adults, plus a second-day visit for free. [phone], www.universalstudioshollywood.com. For CityWalk, admission is free, but parking is $10. [phone]. www.CityWalkHollywood.com.

Disneyland: Jack Skellington and the rest of the gang from Tim Burton's ``The Nightmare Before Christmas'' celebrate a Haunted Mansion Holiday in the park's New Orleans Square. It's what Disneyland calls an ``ex-scream'' makeover for the popular Haunted Mansion.

When: Disneyland is open every day; Haunted Mansion Holiday continues through Jan. 16. Cost: $56; $46 for ages 3 to 9. [phone]. www.disneyland.com.

Disney's California Adventure: Mickey's Halloween Treat, a special after-hours event, is sold out, but during regular park hours guests can check into the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, an elevator-drop ride based on a ``lost episode'' of the classic ``Twilight Zone'' TV series.

When: Disney's California Adventure is open every day. Cost: $56; $46 for ages 3-9. Information: [phone], www.disneyland.com.

Knott's Berry Farm: Halloween Haunt returns with 12 walk-through mazes, six live shows, five scare zones and 1,000 monsters, ghosts, ghouls and freaks.

When: Most nights through Oct. 31. Cost: $43 in advance, $48 at the gate. Discount coupons are available at Burger King restaurants. [phone], [phone]. www.knotts.com, www.halloweenhaunt.com. The daytime activities at Camp Snoopy - which is renamed Camp Spooky through Halloween - are included with regular park admission.

Legoland: Brick-or-Treat means Halloween fun for young kids and preteens with trick-or-treating, a twice-daily howling contest, a stilt-walking balloon artist and a daily costume competition. On display near the park's entrance is a 4-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide pumpkin made from more than 77,000 LEGO bricks.

When: Saturday and Oct. 23 and 29-31. Cost: Included with regular park admission. [phone]. www.legoland.com.

Queen Mary: Seven haunted mazes, including the return of Creatures of the Cove and Deck of the Doomed. The event is not recommended for children 12 and younger.

When: 7 p.m. to midnight (later on some nights) Friday through Sunday and Oct. 28-31. Cost: $30. [phone]. www.queenmaryshipwreck.com.

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