Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando’s premier fall event, is set to return this year for a record-breaking 43 nights.

Halloween Horror Nights opened for its 30th year to some terrifying screams Friday night at Universal Orlando Resort.

After a pandemic-related absence of a year, Halloween Horror Nights are back with haunted houses based on the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Bride of Frankenstein” planned for Universal theme parks in California and Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. It's hard to scare the bejesus out of someone in a haunted house while socially distancing, which may explain the decision by Universal to cancel its Halloween Horror Nights this year at its U.S. theme parks. The company said Friday it wouldn't be hosting the celebration of all things scary at its Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood so that it could focus on operating its theme parks for daytime guests under pandemic restrictions. Halloween Horror Nights typically lasts more than a month starting in September, but its planned for more than a year. Last month, Walt Disney World canceled its annual after-hours Halloween party at Magic Kingdom that typically begins in mid-August. Universal Orlando reopened last month, and Disney World started welcoming back visitors two weeks ago.