Bernal Scream 2026: 2x Haunted House/Mazes at Santa Clara Fairgrounds (Sept. 18 – Nov. 8)

Our Story:

  Father and son duo Mike and Abel Barrera, started The Bernal Scream as a free show in their backyard in 2013. Over the next couple years The Bernal Scream would see thousands of people, countless terrifying scares, TV news coverage, and endless online articles. Riding the momentum of this ongoing build of success, it was finally time to take The Bernal Scream out of their backyard and into the commercial spotlight. In 2016 the father-and-son duo had managed to cement its name as one of the Bay Area’s premier commercial haunted attractions. Their breakout show “Satan’s Revenge” would raise the bar and instill a new kind of fear in the scene. Thousands more would turn out that year to experience this special show for themselves. Following their success in 2016, the duo would take some time off to spend time as a family. During that period, however, their lives would change forever when Father/Co-Founder Abel Barrera was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. The passing of their father (co-founder) Abel Barrera would rock the family down to the core. Prior to Abel Barrera’s passing, the duo would spend their remaining time together building for what should have been the next haunted attraction. It was the duo’s dream to see the return of The Bernal Scream haunted house. Since the passing of Co-Founder (Abel Barrera) and with his blessing, Son (Mike Barrera) has continued the dream of finishing what the duo started together all of those years ago.

  In 2023, The Bernal Scream announced its long-awaited return after seven long years with an all-new show named Lucifer’s Wrath, which took San Jose by storm. The show was to become the attraction’s most successful event to date at that time. The attraction would also see a new addition to the team recruiting Mike Barrera’s brother Christian Gaspar. Gaspar joined as operations manager in 2023 to honor their father Abel Barrera’s memory and help bring the dream to life. Following the successful 2023 season, The Bernal Scream would once again return in 2024 with “Soul Shredder”. Soul Shredder saw the biggest expansion to the show in one season ever, both in layout, size, and public turnout, breaking all records of any Bernal Scream up to that point. Additionally, the name Soul Shredder was handpicked by late co-founder Abel Barrera’s wife, Kathryn Barrera

  In 2025 The Bernal Scream would return with the launch of their Forbidden Symphony Haunted Attraction.  This too would lead to a new milestone for the show, finding a long-term home in their new partners’ Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. This partnership would be a game-changer for the show. Allowing for growth at a scale the show has never seen before. Forbidden Symphony would once again set a new bar for The Bernal Scream.  2025 would also see the additional expansion of Scream Proud. The Bernal Scream and its partners, Home First and Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, would come together to host a season-long clothing drive for those in need but additionally would build 250 sanitary kits that would get distributed right here in our hometown to those in need

  Now looking forward to 2026 The Bernal Scream will be taking its biggest leap in show history with the launch of a second haunted attraction. This means every ticket will now include entrance into TWO haunted attractions under one roof. This year will mark the start of a new chapter once again in The Bernal Scream story. Opening September 18th – November 8th at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

-The Bernal Scream

“If you build it, they will come.”

-Abel Barrera

Co-founder