ORLANDO, Fla. – Universal Studios Florida is looking to the past to conjure up new scares for its popular Halloween Horror Nights event.

The after-hours event, which didn't take place last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, returned in full force Friday to a sold-out crowd of eager fans, who didn't let the rain dampen their night.

Spectrum News attended opening night as part of a media preview and was given front-of-the line access to this year's lineup.

Halloween Horror Nights is celebrating its 30th year with 10 haunted houses, five scare zones and two new live shows.

For the houses, there's Netflix's "The Haunting of Hill House," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Case Files: Unearthed: Legendary Truth, Puppet Theatre: Captive Audience, "Beetlejuice" and Universal Monsters: Bride of Frankenstein Lives and Revenge of the Tooth Fairy—both of which return after brief runs last year.

But some of the houses—and even some of the scare zones—really tap into HHN nostalgia.

One of the best examples HHN Icons Captured, where the icons from the past 30 years now reside. In addition to Jack the Clown, the house features Chance, The Caretaker, The Storyteller and others. It's the first time they've been put together in the same house.

"Each icon has their own little bubble or room inside this hellscape," said Charles Gray, senior show director. "They are not friends, but they all exist together. And so we're going into their realms."

As they make their way through the house, visitors will encounter the bodies of the icons' "super fans."

"If you look at the bodies in the house, they all have fan T-shirts on from their favorite icons," Gray said. "So Usher will have somebody in there who has been killed by Usher. And if you were an uber fan and you died, that's where you go. And you're tortured for all eternity by your favorite icon."

In the house's final scene, one icon will reign supreme over all. But that will change, giving visitors a slightly different experience each time.

Welcome to Scarey: Horror in the Heartland is another house that's full of throwbacks. The house is set in the small town of Carey, Ohio, where bad things happen. Inside, it's a mix of scenes from previous houses that took place in this mysterious town. Hardcore HHN fans will likely pickup on the references to Dead End or Meetz Meats from Leave it to Cleaver.

Visitors who have been coming to HHN over the years will like notice some familiar elements at the 30 Years 30 Fears scare zone. Located near the front of the park, the scare zone features characters from past scare zones along with flames and plenty of fog.

And Eddie Schmidt, brother of Jack, is back with his own scare zone—Lights Camera Hacktion: Eddie's Revenge.

Elsewhere, visitors can find plenty of themed food and beverage items throughout the park. And if they need a break from the scares, a number of attractions are open with little to no wait in most cases.

Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights through Oct. 31.

For more information about the event, including how to purchase tickets, visit the Halloween Horror Nights website.