Improve your English listening skills with this free C1–C2 video listening exercise about Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison in Philadelphia.
Discover how a long-running haunted attraction developed into a larger Halloween festival combining haunted houses, live entertainment, historical experiences, food, drinks and optional scares. The interview also explores how the event connects entertainment with the history of the prison and issues surrounding mass incarceration.
This lesson includes listening comprehension questions, useful phrases, vocabulary exercises and discussion activities, as well as a free downloadable PDF worksheet with a full answer key.
28 October 2026
Level: C1–C2 (Advanced)
Focus: Listening comprehension, vocabulary, useful phrases and discussion
Video: Haunted Attraction Network — Halloween Nights interview (approx. 3:20)
Format: Free online listening exercises and downloadable PDF worksheet with answers
Watch the Video
Watch the Haunted Attraction Network interview about Halloween Nights before completing the exercises.
Listen carefully for details about the festival, its history, the different attractions and the optional more intense experience. You can watch the video more than once and use the English captions if necessary.
Listening Comprehension
Answer each question using information from the interview. Write brief answers in your own words.
- Name three activities visitors can enjoy at Halloween Nights apart from the haunted houses.
- How long did Terror Behind the Walls run, and what was its format like?
- What happened in 2020 that allowed the organisers to rethink the event, and what new format did they create?
- How long can people spend at the festival, and which two types of live entertainment are mentioned?
- Which issues does the museum hope to bring to light alongside the entertainment?
- Why might people who previously avoided the event now be willing to visit?
- In Dark Tides, what creatures or settings might visitors encounter? Give three details.
- How does the speaker express enthusiasm for Dark Tides, and what aspects of the underwater theme make it creatively exciting?
- What do visitors ask about the attractions, and what does the speaker proudly reveal about the people who create them?
- When visitors opt in to the more intense experience, what can the staff do? Give three examples.
Phrase Match
Match each exact expression heard in the video (1–10) to its meaning (A–J).
| Expressions (1–10) | Meanings (A–J) |
|---|---|
| 1. behind-the-scenes tour | A. many activities taking place at the same time |
| 2. a lot of stuff going on | B. make people aware of something less widely known |
| 3. wanted to pivot | C. deciding what kind of experience you want |
| 4. came up with | D. do not misunderstand what we are saying |
| 5. bring to light | E. intended to change direction or approach |
| 6. something for everyone | F. a guided visit to areas normally hidden from the public |
| 7. don’t get us wrong | G. thought of or developed an idea |
| 8. super stoked about it | H. actively choose to take part in something |
| 9. choosing your own adventure | I. extremely enthusiastic or excited about it |
| 10. opt in | J. activities to suit many different tastes |
Synonym Match
Match each word heard in the video (1–10) to the closest contextual synonym (A–J).
| Words (1–10) | Synonyms (A–J) |
|---|---|
| 1. abandoned | A. integrate |
| 2. stunning | B. sellers |
| 3. linear | C. spectacular |
| 4. incorporate | D. terrifying |
| 5. incarceration | E. sequential |
| 6. aquatic | F. indicates |
| 7. horrifying | G. imprisonment |
| 8. vendors | H. limitless |
| 9. signifies | I. water-related |
| 10. endless | J. deserted |
Use the New Language
Choose 5 words or expressions from the lesson and write your own sentences.
Try to use each one naturally in a sentence connected to your own life, experiences or opinions.
Discussion Questions
Use the questions below to develop your speaking skills, explain your opinions and practise the vocabulary from the lesson.
Student A
- Have you ever visited a haunted house or a Halloween attraction? What was it like?
- Do you enjoy being frightened for fun, or would you rather avoid it?
- What’s the most unusual or memorable festival or event you’ve ever attended?
- Have you ever dressed up for Halloween or a themed party? What did you wear?
- Would you rather explore an abandoned prison with a torch or watch a horror film at home?
- At a big festival, do you prefer live performances, exploring different areas or socialising?
- What makes a night out memorable for you: the people, the setting or the activities?
- Would you opt in to the more intense experience, or would it be too much for you?
Student B
- Is a former prison an appropriate setting for a Halloween festival, or does it trivialise its history?
- Can entertainment genuinely raise awareness of mass incarceration, or does it distract from the issue?
- Should performers be allowed to touch or separate guests when they have explicitly opted in?
- Why do some people pay to feel afraid? How is fear different from excitement?
- Do large festivals bring people together, or have they become mainly commercial experiences?
- What responsibilities should organisers have towards guests who panic or feel overwhelmed?
- Has Halloween become more about costumes, social media and spending than its original traditions?
- If you designed a Halloween festival, how would you balance scares, entertainment and education?
60-Second Summary Challenge
Without looking at your notes, explain how the festival changed and describe what makes the new experience distinctive.
Include one detail about its history and use at least two expressions from the lesson.
Access the Video Transcript
The video is in natural, fast American English.
To read the transcript, open the video on YouTube and select Show transcript from the description or available video controls.
Use the transcript after completing the listening activities to check difficult sections, vocabulary or expressions you may have missed.
Download the Free PDF Worksheet
Prefer working on paper or using the lesson with a student?
Download the complete C1–C2 English Listening Worksheet PDF, including the listening questions, vocabulary activities, discussion questions, summary challenge and full answer key.
Answer Key
Show Answers
Listening Comprehension
- [0:06–0:28] Visiting part of the museum, taking a behind-the-scenes flashlight tour of the hospital, visiting themed bars and lounges, watching the dance troupe perform, watching a light show or visiting the museum store. Any three.
- [0:28–0:43] For 29 years. It was a linear walk-through haunted house, and it was all scary.
- [0:36–0:52] The world shut down in 2020, giving them an opportunity to rethink the show. They came up with a festival-style event called Halloween Nights.
- [0:43–1:08] One to four hours. The speaker mentions dancers, singers and magicians. Any two.
- [1:08–1:19] The history of the building and issues with the criminal justice system and mass incarceration.
- [1:38–1:54] Some people thought it was too scary. Now there is something for everyone: visitors can enjoy entertainment, drinks and food without doing the scary stuff.
- [1:54–2:18] Sirens, deep-sea creatures, a submarine and an old shanty fishing town. Any three.
- [2:18–2:41] The speaker says they have never explored an underwater theme in 35 years and are “super stoked about it”. She highlights the “endless creativity” offered by colours, lighting and horrifying underwater creatures.
- [2:41–2:55] Visitors ask, “Who made this?” or “Who makes this?” The speaker proudly explains, “We make it. We make it in the house,” describing their in-house team as incredibly talented.
- [2:57–3:14] Staff can touch them, separate them from their group, pull them into hidden passageways and make them crawl. Any three.
Phrase Match
1 = F
2 = A
3 = E
4 = G
5 = B
6 = J
7 = D
8 = I
9 = C
10 = H
Synonym Match
1 = J
2 = C
3 = E
4 = A
5 = G
6 = I
7 = D
8 = B
9 = F
10 = H
Example Sentences with the Phrases
- The visitors joined a behind-the-scenes tour of the abandoned theatre.
- There was a lot of stuff going on at the festival, so we stayed for hours.
- After several years, the organisers wanted to pivot towards a wider audience.
- Our group came up with a creative idea for a Halloween costume.
- The documentary helped bring to light problems in the justice system.
- The festival offers something for everyone, from music to historical tours.
- Don’t get us wrong: we enjoy a good scare, but we also like a relaxing evening.
- The designers were super stoked about it when they saw the finished set.
- The experience was about choosing your own adventure rather than following one route.
- Visitors can opt in to the more intense version of the haunted house.
Note: Model answers follow the speaker’s key wording. Equivalent listening answers supported by the video are also acceptable. Timestamps are approximate. Sentence-writing and discussion responses are open-ended.
More Free English Practice
Continue practising with more free resources from Britfluency:
English Listening Exercises – Video-based listening lessons with online activities and free PDF worksheets.
A2–B2 English Worksheets – Free reading, vocabulary and discussion worksheets for elementary to upper-intermediate learners.
B2–C2 English Worksheets – Reading, vocabulary, useful phrases and discussion activities for upper-intermediate and advanced learners.
English Grammar Worksheets – Free grammar practice for different English levels.
IELTS Practice Materials – Free IELTS reading, writing and speaking resources.
