Series synopsis
Halloween Wars is an American reality television series that premiered on Food Network on October 2, 2011. It stars Jonathan Bennett, Shinmin Li, Eddie Jackson and Aarti Sequeira.
Cake decorators, sugar artists and pumpkin carving experts battle it out as they create Halloween-themed edible displays. The last team to scare off the competition will take home a $50,000 grand prize.
Premise
Cake decorators, sugar artists and pumpkin carving experts battle it out as they create Halloween-themed edible displays. The last team to scare off the competition will take home a $50,000 grand prize.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Jonathan Bennett as Self - Host
- Shinmin Li as Self - Judge
- Eddie Jackson as Self - Host
- Aarti Sequeira as Self - Judge
- Zak Bagans as Self - Host
- Todd Tucker as Self - Judge
- Justin Willman as Self - Host
- Rossi Morreale as Self - Host
Supporting cast
- Don Mancini as Self - Judge
- Brian Kinney as Self - Judge
- Tom Savini as Self - Judge
- Miles Teves as Self - Judge
Guest cast
- Jaime King as Self - Guest Judge
- R.L. Stine as Self - Guest Judge
- Rob Zombie as Self - Guest Judge
- Scout Taylor-Compton as Self - Guest Judge
- Shawnee Smith as Self - Guest Judge
- Rutina Wesley as Self - Guest Judge
- Chaske Spencer as Self - Guest Judge
- Sara Canning as Self - Guest Judge
- Danielle Harris as Self - Guest Judge
- Tony Todd as Self - Guest Judge
- Charlaine Harris as Self - Guest Judge
- Derek Mears as Self - Guest Judge
Episodes
This series spans 15 seasons with 81 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 4 | October 2, 2011 | October 23, 2011 |
| Season 2 | 4 | October 7, 2012 | October 28, 2012 |
| Season 3 | 4 | October 6, 2013 | October 27, 2013 |
| Season 4 | 4 | October 5, 2014 | October 26, 2014 |
| Season 5 | 4 | October 4, 2015 | October 25, 2015 |
| Season 6 | 5 | October 2, 2016 | October 30, 2016 |
| Season 7 | 5 | October 1, 2017 | October 29, 2017 |
| Season 8 | 5 | September 30, 2018 | October 28, 2018 |
| Season 9 | 5 | September 29, 2019 | October 27, 2019 |
| Season 10 | 5 | September 13, 2020 | October 11, 2020 |
| Season 11 | 7 | September 19, 2021 | October 31, 2021 |
| Season 12 | 8 | September 18, 2022 | October 30, 2022 |
| Season 13 | 8 | September 17, 2023 | October 29, 2023 |
| Season 14 | 7 | September 22, 2024 | October 27, 2024 |
| Season 15 | 6 | September 21, 2025 | October 26, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Witches and Scary Places Five teams (three members each) compete by making Halloween displays inspired by a witch and by a scary haunted house. |
October 2, 2011 |
| 2 |
Scary Tales The four remaining teams of three compete by making edible displays inspired by twisted fairy tales. |
October 9, 2011 |
| 3 |
Zombies vs. Vampires Three remaining teams begin the epic battle between Zombies and Vampires. |
October 16, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Evil Clown In the first of four battles, five teams made up of a pumpkin carving expert, cake artist, and candy craftsman must combine their arts to create the most terrifying clown imaginable. At the end of the battle, one team will be eliminated. |
October 7, 2012 |
| 2 |
Battle of the Vampire Killer The theme is vampires. |
October 14, 2012 |
| 3 | Science Gone Wrong | October 21, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Zombie Prom Five teams go head to head in the first of four battles. To start off, they must create displays depicting a scene from a zombie prom. |
October 6, 2013 |
| 2 |
Twisted Nursery Rhymes The four remaining teams make a twisted version of a classic fairy tale. |
October 13, 2013 |
| 3 |
Swamp Creatures Attack The three remaining teams create a display of swamp creatures on the rampage. |
October 20, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Haunted Farm Season 4 begins when five teams are presented with the challenge of creating a terrifying haunted farm. |
October 5, 2014 |
| 2 |
Don't Go Into the Forest The four remaining teams are given the challenge of creating a foreboding forest. Film producer Adi Shankar is the guest judge. |
October 12, 2014 |
| 3 |
Mummies vs. Werewolves The three remaining teams must depict an epic battle between mummies and werewolves, in a challenge featuring guest judge Francia Raisa. |
October 19, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Infestation Season 5 begins with five teams (made up of an expert pumpkin carver, cake decorator, and sugar artist) creating Halloween-themed displays that capture a terrifying infestation. |
October 4, 2015 |
| 2 |
Hybrid Horror Four teams remain for the challenge of creating a mutated and terrifying hybrid horror. |
October 11, 2015 |
| 3 |
Grave Robber Grave robbery is depicted in Halloween displays, created by the three remaining teams. Actress Bex Taylor-Klaus helps judge the competition. |
October 18, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Witches vs. Warlocks Six teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, cake decorator and sugar artist go to battle to create mind-blowing Halloween-themed displays that capture an epic and terrifying clash between witches and warlocks. At the end of this battle, one team will be eliminated with help from special guest judge Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. |
October 2, 2016 |
| 2 |
Haunted Motel Five remaining teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, cake decorator and sugar artist go to battle to create delicious Halloween displays that capture the scariest haunted roadside motel ever seen. At the end of the battle, one team will be eliminated with help from special guest judge Sid Haig, actor and horror icon who has appeared in several hits, including Halloween and The Devil's Rejects. |
October 8, 2016 |
| 3 | Two Faced | October 16, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Hitchhiker's Worst Nightmare Six teams create Halloween-themed displays that depict what happens when hitchhikers find themselves driving towards disaster after accepting a ride from a terrifying stranger. |
October 1, 2017 |
| 2 |
Secret Creature Reveal Five remaining teams create Halloween-themed displays that show the horrific, hideous monsters that disguise themselves with normal, human faces. |
October 8, 2017 |
| 3 |
Monster Party Four remaining teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar artist go into battle to create Halloween-themed displays that capture what happens when all of the most macabre monsters throw their own ghastly Halloween party. |
October 15, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Boogeyman's Nightmare Six teams, each consisting of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master, dive into the first battle of the season; they have to create displays that depict a monstrous creature so scary that it's the Boogeyman's greatest nightmare. |
September 30, 2018 |
| 2 |
Clowns vs. Zombies Five remaining teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master go into battle to create amazing and tasty Halloween-themed displays that depict an epic face-off between clowns and zombies. The special guest judge is John Kassir, the actor behind the unforgettable voice of the Crypt Keeper on the TV series Tales from the Crypt. |
October 7, 2018 |
| 3 |
Witch Gets a New Ride Four remaining teams consisting of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master put their skills to the test to create astonishing and delectable Halloween-themed displays that show what happens when a witch trades in her tired old broom for a brand new ride. Writer, director and producer Mick Garris of the iconic film Hocus Pocus joins the judges. |
October 14, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Trapped in a Nightmare Six teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master create mind-blowing and yummy Halloween-themed displays that depict the horror of being trapped in a nightmare and unable to wake up. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, serves as guest judge. |
September 29, 2019 |
| 2 |
Zombie Dating Show Five teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master create amazing and tasty Halloween-themed displays that mix fear and romance in a depiction of a zombie dating show. The special guest judge is Fear the Walking Dead's Colman Domingo. |
October 6, 2019 |
| 3 |
The Swarm Four teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master go into battle to imagine their most terrifyingly tasty displays yet: an attack by a swarm. The special guest judge is horror-comedy actress Harley Quinn Smith from the films Tusk! and Yoga Hosers. |
October 13, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Haunted Highway Six teams consisting of a cake artist, a sugar master and an expert pumpkin carver are challenged to make spooky displays of Halloween monsters on a road trip. Host Jonathan Bennett shares a look at the competitors' road to Halloween Wars, and judges Shinmin Li and Todd Tucker are joined by actor Jeremy Ray Taylor to choose the winner. |
September 13, 2020 |
| 2 |
Blind Date From Hell Jonathan Bennett challenges the five remaining teams -- an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master -- to show that there's nothing scarier than dating as they create their scariest vision of a blind date. Actor Guillermo Diaz joins judges Shinmin Li and Todd Tucker to pick the winning team. |
September 20, 2020 |
| 3 |
Monster Support Group Jonathan Bennett challenges the four remaining teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master to create astonishing and delectable Halloween-themed displays showing that even the scariest monsters need friends, too. Judges Shinmin Li and Todd Tucker are joined by actress Katie Sarife to pick the winning team. |
September 27, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Possessed Toys Inspired by a possessed doll at Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum, four teams of cake and sugar artists create spooky and delicious cakes to impress judges Eddie Jackson, Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira. |
September 19, 2021 |
| 2 |
Addams Family Dream Vacation The beloved Addams family enjoys a dream vacation with the scariest monsters in the world! Four teams compete to impress judges Eddie Jackson, Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira with their creepy and kooky cakes inspired by the new animated film. |
September 26, 2021 |
| 3 |
Frightening Folklore Nightmares come to life as six teams sculpt astonishing cakes based on legendary stories of ghosts and ghouls from around the world. Inspired by Zak Bagans' Dybbuk Box, considered one of the most-haunted items in the world, the cake and sugar artists face their toughest test yet. Judges Eddie Jackson, Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira choose the winning creation and send one team home. |
October 3, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
That Voodoo That You Do Three teams made up of an expert pumpkin carver, a cake artist and a sugar master compete in the first of three qualifying rounds. Zak Bagans introduces them to the famously haunted city of New Orleans and asks them to cast a sweet spell with the voodoo queen, Marie Laveau. Host Eddie Jackson and fellow judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which team gets sent home. |
September 18, 2022 |
| 2 |
Monsters Of London In the second qualifying round, Zak Bagans shares the haunted Hellfire Caves in London -- and the monsters that haunt them. The three teams create amazing and tasty Halloween-themed displays, and host Eddie Jackson along with judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira send two more teams to the next round. |
September 22, 2022 |
| 3 |
Escape From Alcatraz Three teams go to battle in the last qualifying round as Zak Bagans asks the teams to imagine a monster prison escape inspired by one of the most haunted places on Earth -- Alcatraz. Host Eddie Jackson helps judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which teams will escape to the next round. |
September 25, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Terrifying Nursery Rhymes In the first of three qualifying rounds, host Jonathan Bennett challenges teams of pumpkin carvers, cake decorators and sugar artists to create spooky displays based on the terrifying inspirations behind beloved fairy tales. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeria decide which two teams advance to the next round and which team's fairy tale comes to an end. |
September 17, 2023 |
| 2 |
Good vs. Evil In the second qualifying round, host Jonathan Bennett asks three new teams to conjure up displays inspired by the classic film, The Exorcist. Then, the teams showcase the ultimate battle between good vs. evil in hopes that judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeria choose the right side. |
September 17, 2023 |
| 3 |
Monster Mashup In the final qualifying round, host Jonathan Bennett has three teams choose two of the scariest monsters imaginable and meld them into one maniacal monster mashup! Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeria decide which team's frightening journey will come to an end. |
September 24, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Classic Halloween Horrors Host Jonathan Bennett welcomes four teams to the first of two qualifying rounds, where each team of talented cake, sugar and pumpkin artists must create a scene depicting a monster from a specific historical period. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which three teams move onto the main round of competition and which team is history. |
September 22, 2024 |
| 2 |
As the Monster Turns Four new teams face off in the second qualifying round, where host Jonathan Bennett challenges them to depict the moment a person transitions into a horrifying Halloween monster. Then, judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira move three more teams through, and one team is left in the dust. |
September 22, 2024 |
| 3 |
What Nightmares Are Made Of With qualifying rounds now completed, six remaining teams of amazingly talented cake, pumpkin and sugar artists face off against one another for the first time! Host Jonathan Bennett tasks the teams with creating a scene showing what it would look like if a nightmare came to life, and judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which teams will continue living the dream. |
September 29, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Scare School Host Jonathan Bennett welcomes the first four teams of talented cake, sugar and pumpkin artists and challenges them to create a scene depicting their favorite monsters when they were in school. To up the stakes, teams must have at least two characters on their board and use a classic school snack in their tasting element. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira decide which three teams move on and which team is eliminated. |
September 21, 2025 |
| 2 |
G.S.I.: Ghost Scene Investigators Three new teams face off as host Jonathan Bennett challenges them to create their own crime scene. Given a case file that indicates the who and the where, the teams must imagine the what and the why. Plus, in tribute to all the crime solvers out there, the teams make tasting elements that include coffee and doughnuts. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira move two more teams through, and one team is eliminated. |
September 28, 2025 |
| 3 |
The Scary Square-Off The five remaining teams of amazingly talented cake, pumpkin and sugar artists face off for the first time! Host Jonathan Bennett tasks the teams with creating a scene of two of Halloween's biggest monsters competing against each other in various sports. Plus, the teams must highlight one team member's skill in their display -- first up, sugar artists! Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira evaluate the designs and ultimately, one team is eliminated. |
October 5, 2025 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Food Network |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 2, 2011 |
| Last aired | October 26, 2025 |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:00:00 |