Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is returning for its spooktacular 30th anniversary season after taking 2020 off.
“We are so excited to be bringing back Fright Fest this year,” said Caitlin Kepple, communications and marketing manager at Six Flags Great America. “Once we announced Fright Fest was coming back for its 30th season this year our guests were so excited. And honestly, we’re so excited. It’s a spine-tingling season and I think everyone is ready for the thrills by day and the frights at night. It’s really the best of both worlds.”
Fright Fest will run on select dates Sept. 18 to Oct. 31. Check the website for exact hours. Purchase a season pass for 2022 and get the rest of 2021, as well as admission to Fright Fest, included for $59.99. One-day tickets begin at $39.99.
This year, there will be six haunted houses, including two new ones, she said. The new ones are called Condemned and Blood Shed.
“Condemned essentially centers around a laboratory facility that has something evil growing inside and we leave it the guests to make it through the underground laboratory. It has twisted halls and experiments gone wrong. It’s a really good time,” she said.
“I’m particularly terrified of our next new haunted house. It’s called Blood Shed and what we’re asking of guests is that they are going to dare to journey through essentially the back road with a dead end to explore the backwoods shed of terror. It’s got a deep-woods, evil lumberjack kind of vibe. It makes me think of those really phenomenal, old-school scary movies. I have walked through some of them in the daytime and they are terrifying in the daylight when I know nobody’s in there.”
Returning haunts include Gates of Hell, Manslaughter Manor, the 13th Order and Big Top Terror.
“From a guest feedback perspective, that one is always fun because it has clowns and I think lots of people have the fear,” she said.
There are two new scare zones this year, bringing the total up to 10. There are seven spooky shows, including returning favorites like “Love at First Sight” and “The Ringmaster’s Cabaret,” she said.
“As well as an all-new daytime show for our tiny goblins called ‘Monster Bash,’” she said. “It will be an interactive, Halloween party for families to enjoy during the day.”
The show will take place on the Mardi Gras stage.
Scare Zones are areas of the park that guests who may be enjoying the thrills in the evening will meet with scare actors and décor, she said.
“It adds to the immersive experience and the ambience,” she said.
There is an additional fee to go through the six haunted houses.
In the past, guests would purchase wristbands to get into the haunted houses. This year, the park has gone digital. Guests will scan a code on their phones to enter each house. They get one entry per house per evening. One-night Fright Passes will begin at $29.99. Season pass holders can buy an all-season Fright Pass for $59.99.
They don’t decorate the big thrill rides.
“You won’t see a ghoul on the American Eagle, as much they may want to get on,” she said. “But throughout the park, it’s an immersive experience. If you’re here during the day, you’re going to notice the hundreds of pumpkins we have throughout the park.
“We have hay bales; we have decorated character candy trails where the tiny trick-or-treaters can come. Anyone under the age of 12 is welcome to wear a costume during the day and they’re welcome to come and trick or treat. It’s such a fun Halloween experience.”
It’s fun by day but The Uprising occurs every evening at 5:45 p.m. That’s when the monsters are called to come out to play for the evening, she said.
“Our world class entertainment team is so beloved by our guests and particularly some of these characters,” she said. “(Like) Nox and the Ringmaster and the ‘Love at First Fright’ team.”
Nox is the demon overlord and a fixture of Fright Fest.
“He will once again be lording over the park,” she said. “He will be a presence at our uprising. Sometimes he is in the park overseeing his henchmen and giving out orders on how he thinks Fright Fest should go.”
“The Ringmaster’s Cabaret” is a combination of illusion, music and some freakishly cool live acts staged at the Grand Music Hall. “Love at First Fright” combines classic music with singing and dancing and “all your Halloween favorites,” she said.
The Witching Hour is the final hour before the park closes each night during Fright Fest.
“It’s essentially the last chance the monsters have to get a scare out of you,” she said. “It’s really a fun time as guests are winding down for the evening to experience the Witching Hour towards the front of the park.”
They are hiring actors for the scare season.
“It’s definitely the epitome of work where you play,” she said.
The haunted attractions are second to none and they’re excited to show off the new haunted houses, she said.
“I think too, you get so much experience going between houses and through those scare zones,” she said. “A big fan favorite is always our ride cemetery, which pays homage to some of our past attractions. Our entertainment has almost a cult following for ‘Love at First Fright’ and ‘The Ringmaster’s Cabaret.’ It’s so amazing to see especially now that in some cases entertainment options are limited. We really have that here at the park. We have a little something for everyone. We have the thrills by day at the frights by night.”
She hopes guests return to celebrate 30 years of Fright Fest, she said.
“It’s an absolute institution in the Gurnee area and cannot be missed,” she said. “Particularly now that it’s back after taking a year off. We have so many things for guests to enjoy. There’s so many exciting things to experience at the park.”
Fright Fest
When: Hours vary Sept. 18-Oct. 31
Where: Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee
Tickets: $39.99-$64.99; haunted house Fright Passes begin at $29.99. Parking $25-$40
Information: 847-249-4636; Sixflags.com/greatamerica
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
"six" - Google News
September 08, 2021 at 10:26PM
https://ift.tt/3yVGKYM
Six Flags Great America Fright Fest returns for its 30th anniversary - Chicago Tribune
"six" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3dcBbL9
https://ift.tt/2Wis8la
No comments:
Post a Comment