GAd Fright Fest Details!

[The Interpreter]

With Halloween just around the corner, Six Flags Great Adventure will raise the dead to celebrate "The Northeast's Largest Halloween Party" with its 19th annual Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®. In addition to the world-class line-up of thrill rides, the theme park will transform into a 140-acre "scream park" with additional themed shows and attractions.

Amid thousands of mums, cornstalks, hay bales, cobwebs and oversized spiders, you can roam the haunted midways and encounter "Thrills by Day, Fright by Night" entertainment. The month-long celebration will run Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 8 through Oct. 31, plus Columbus Day Oct. 11.

Thrills by Day Entertainment

You will enjoy seasonally-themed shows, events and attractions including kid-friendly activities during the daylight hours. This year's Fright Fest will introduce tons more fun for the little ones! Check back soon for the complete Thrills by Day line-up.

• Trick-or-Treat Trail sponsored by Walgreens
  Kids can receive sweet treats while visiting with their favorite Looney Tunes pals.
  Location: Fantasy Forest, next to Character Cafe
  Showtimes: Sat & Sun Oct. 9 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 12 to 4:30 pm
• Kidz Scary-oke!
  Kids can star in this karaoke show of Halloween hits. 15 min.
  Location: Bugs Bunny National Park, Wilderness Theater
  Showtimes: Saturdays & Sundays Oct. 9 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 1:00, 3:30
• Get Ready to Wiggle Halloween Show
  Enjoy spooky fun with your favorite Wiggles friends! 20 min.
  Location: Wiggles World Theater
  Showtimes: Sat & Sun Oct. 9 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 12:00, 1:30, 3:00.
• Monster Mash Bash – A Tale of Love at First Fright sponsored by The Addams Family Musical
  Halloween's most famous monsters star in this kids' musical comedy featuring hits by Justin Bieber, Enrique Iglesias, Taio Cruz, Michael Jackson, Usher and more! 15 min.
  Location: Bugs Bunny National Park, Wilderness Theater
  Showtimes: Sat & Sun Oct. 9 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 2:15, 4:45.
• Mr. Six Spooktacular Street Party
  Get your ghoulish groove on with our creepy crew as they dance to party songs and Halloween tunes, and kids can show off their terror-ific Halloween costumes!
  Location: Main Street Fountain
  Showtimes: Sat & Sun Oct. 9 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 1:00, 2:30, 4:00.
• Hypnosteria sponsored by Milky Way
  Amazing mentalist/comic hypnotist Denny More. 45 min.
  Location: Movietown, Showcase Theater
  Showtimes: Sat & Sun Oct. 9 to 31. Sat 2:30, Sat & Sun 5:30, Sat & Sun 8:30

Chills by Night Entertainment

When the clock strikes 6 p.m., the sun goes down and the ghouls come out. Watch as the park transforms from "Thrills by Day" to "Chills by Night."

• The Awakening - When the clock strikes 6 p.m., the sun goes down and the ghouls come out. Watch as the park transforms from "Thrills by Day" to "Fright by Night" with a dramatic procession of the walking dead, a Thriller performance and the resurrection of Dr. Fright.
  Location: Fantasy Forest - Big Wheel
  Showtime: Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 5:30 p.m.
• Ghoul Repellant - After 6 p.m. when the sun goes down and the ghouls come out, kids 12 years of age and under can fend off these pesky creatures with "ghoul repellant," a festive whistle that stops ghouls in their tracks. (The park recommends that families with very young children exit the park by 6 p.m.)
• Zambora sponsored by 3 Musketeers
  Welcome to the sideshow as evil spirits dominate the beautiful Zambora of the Amazon. 10 min.
  Location: Movietown next to Dark Knight
  Showtimes: Sat & Sun Oct. 9 to 31 plus Oct. 11: continuous after 4:00 pm.
• The Ghoulmaster's Ghosts
  The sinister Ghoulmaster welcomes you to his mansion and summons specters for a haunted dance party.
  Location: Movietown, Showcase Theater
  Showtimes: Fri - Sun Oct. 8 to 31 plus Oct 11: 4:15 (no show 10/11 & 10/17), 7:15. Fri-Sun 10:00
• Dead Man's Party sponsored by Snickers
  Dr. Fright's annual bash features amazing music, dance and special effects. 20 min.
  Location: Fantasy Forest - Big Wheel
  Showtimes: Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 5:45, 7:15. Fri to Sun 9:00, Fri & Sat 10:30.
• Fright Fest Freakshow
  Amazing feats of oddity straight from Coney Island. 15 min.
  Location: Circus Psycho/Boardwalk by ErUPtion. No shows 10/11.
  Showtimes: Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00. Fri-Sat 10:00
• Dead & Local Music Showcase
  Live & Local takes a sinister turn with dark, local rockers. 45 min. See band roster at stage.
  Location: Lakefront - Festival Stage
  Showtimes: Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: Fri-Sun 7:15, 8:30. Fri-Sat 10:00.
• The Demon Barber of Main Street
  Fall under the barber's spell through haunting vocals of classic Broadway hits. 15 min.
  Locaion: Main Street, Liberty Scare Gazeboo
  Showtimes: Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31 plus Oct. 11: 7:00, 8:15. Fri -Sun 9:30
• Demented Forest sponsored by Twix
  Encounter bizarre creatures in this fantasy gone horribly wrong. (nominal fee required)
  Location: Next to Looney Tunes Screamport – Congo Rapids.
  Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31 plus Oct. 11: continuous after 6:45 pm.
• Escape from the Asylum sponsored by M&M
  You become the mental patient trying to break free from the insanity and evil down every hall. (nominal fee required)
  Location: Movietown, across from Showcase Theater.
  Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: continuous after 6:45 pm. Not available Oct. 11.
  Haunted Midways:
  
• Freaky Forest & The Bloody Fountain
  The streets are haunted with the evil undead.
  Location: Main Street Fountain and Fantasy Forest
  Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: continuous after 6:00 pm.
• Lakefront Graveyard
  Restless spirits roam this dark cemetery and evil lurks around every corner. 6:30 to closing.
  Location: Lakefront, behind Tea Cups
  Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: continuous after 6:00 pm.
• Circus Psycho
  Demented clowns and circus freaks haunt the gaming midways.
  Location: Boardwalk
  Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: continuous after 6:00 pm.
• Bone Butcher Terror-Tory
  Crazy cowboys and lawlessness dominate this western town.
  Location: Frontier Adventures
  Fri to Sun Oct. 8 to 31: continuous after 6:00 pm.

Dates and times are subject to change. Please check the entertainment guide when you arrive.

http://www.sixflags....FrightFest.aspx

[bkroz]

I LOVE the idea of the "Ghoul Repellant" whistle for pre-teens who want to experience Fright Fest, but are "iffy" about the barrage of monsters. It's a good idea for park visitors, makes some extra income for the park, and the constant whistling and screaming and shuffling feet probably make for a very cool atmosphere...

[TombRaiderFTW]

I LOVE the idea of the "Ghoul Repellant" whistle for pre-teens who want to experience Fright Fest, but are "iffy" about the barrage of monsters. It's a good idea for park visitors, makes some extra income for the park, and the constant whistling and screaming and shuffling feet probably make for a very cool atmosphere...

This.

I'd love a KI version of this. I've seen too many scared kids- literally kids, not pre-teens- at KI's Haunt. The first night of Haunt especially comes to mind, namely while waiting in the pass line prior to opening and getting charged by a giant cloud of monsters. SO MANY young kids ended up crying, and parents were, to put it lightly, boldly telling the monsters to leave their kids alone.

Alex, who might be a little more impressed with some things were off limits...

[bkroz]

Exactly. And I understand the "fun" of immersing you right away and having a giant swarm of monster right past the turnstiles, literally waiting for a guest to enter the park so they can "strike," but can't that be moved to say, the plaza in front of the logo? Or even designate one side of International Street as the "scarezone?" I, personally, do not like Haunt. I do not like haunted houses, or anything like that. I just don't. But, my friends do, and they like to visit the park during Haunt. I go, and I ride some rides with them, as do many others who dislike the 'Haunt' festivities. It's in no way required or important or reflective of some hidden agenda of the park, but I would appreciate, as a guest, if I weren't forced to interact with the Halloween event just by visiting at night. And I know that that's expected, and that that's just how it is - but even at Cedar Point, there is always a way between point A and point B that does not require you to pass through a "scarezone." Usually you have to go out of your way, but the option is there, and its appreciated by scaredycats like me.

And its not only for the convenience of wimps. What if someone who visited the park during the day needs to access Guest Services? Lost and found? Suddenly, just to have their concerns, questions, comments, or complaints addressed, they have to make their way through screaming, sliding, crying, screetching costume-clad characters. I understand that it's all in fun and everything, but I honestly dread going to the park during Halloween only because you're forced into the "fun" just to get into the park. Parents bringing 14 and 15 year olds can't appreciate that any more than I do.

[Kirk Sheppard]

Exactly. And I understand the "fun" of immersing you right away and having a giant swarm of monster right past the turnstiles, literally waiting for a guest to enter the park so they can "strike," but can't that be moved to say, the plaza in front of the logo? Or even designate one side of International Street as the "scarezone?" I, personally, do not like Haunt. I do not like haunted houses, or anything like that. I just don't. But, my friends do, and they like to visit the park during Haunt. I go, and I ride some rides with them, as do many others who dislike the 'Haunt' festivities. It's in no way required or important or reflective of some hidden agenda of the park, but I would appreciate, as a guest, if I weren't forced to interact with the Halloween event just by visiting at night. And I know that that's expected, and that that's just how it is - but even at Cedar Point, there is always a way between point A and point B that does not require you to pass through a "scarezone." Usually you have to go out of your way, but the option is there, and its appreciated by scaredycats like me.

And its not only for the convenience of wimps. What if someone who visited the park during the day needs to access Guest Services? Lost and found? Suddenly, just to have their concerns, questions, comments, or complaints addressed, they have to make their way through screaming, sliding, crying, screetching costume-clad characters. I understand that it's all in fun and everything, but I honestly dread going to the park during Halloween only because you're forced into the "fun" just to get into the park. Parents bringing 14 and 15 year olds can't appreciate that any more than I do.

I'm so with you. I haven't experienced Haunt yet, but I just watched a YouTube clip of the opening "ceremony" where the monsters stormed the people at the gates and I thought "yuck." I want to go see what its all about and watch Hot Blooded, but if I'm going to be harrassed without anyway to ward off the evil (like places that aren't scary as you've described in this post), it will be hard for me. I startle easy and am uncomfortable by people acting like that; just not my thing. I'll give it a shot this year, but I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it more than once.

[The Interpreter]

GYK asks if someone needs to revisit the park during Halloween Haunt who was there during the day...do not forget, once Haunt begins, there is NO re-entry. Handstamps are not honored.

[bkroz]

Well it's the same for someone who is just leaving the park at 6:00 PM. As they leave the park, they may wish to stop in Guest Services. Sure they may be aware that Haunt has begun, but certainly if they don't line up for a maze, or enter a designated scare-zone, they won't be "assaulted" by a grotesque-looking vampire or werewolf, right? Wrong. Stick around too long, try to make it to guests services (or even to the exit) and you'll draw the attention of the characters.

And yes, those characters are played by well mannered, normal, everyday citizens (some of whom are great posters here) who can certainly tell when someone isn't looking for fright, or someone who is genuinely uncomfortable, right? I'm talking about people (like myself and Kirk) who do not want to be scared. We want to ride the rides with out friends. Certainly those wonderful people who just happen to be dressed in costumes still consciously decide who is truly uninterested and leave them alone, right?

All I'm saying is, at Cedar Point, if you want to go from Millennium Force to Maverick without a fright, you can. It's a long walk, and it's nothing if not inconvenient. But it's possible. At Kings Island, you cannot even enter the park without becoming a celebrator of the "festivities." Not everyone wants to be.

Simply assigning all of the characters to the right side of the fountains, leaving the left side free of "scares," and placing a simple sign at the front of either pathway would make the event more tolerable for those of us who really do want to come, want to spend our time and money, want to be with our friends, want to ride the rides, but do not want to be scared silly.

GYK, who believes complaints should be paired with suggestions.

[The Interpreter]

It is my sad duty to inform you that there are at least a few of those employees dressed in monster costumes who think it delightful and their challenge to find people who do not want to be scared and then scare the daylights out of them, regardless of age or temperament. Some of them even do so to extremely small children, thinking it suitable punishment for parents stupid enough to bring them. And yes, I have personally seen this. More than once, actually. It's one of many reasons that if I do boo events at all, I go to Busch, to Six Flags Great Adventure, to Cedar Point, to Camden Park...but NOT to Kings Island, unless it is Sunday...last year that was not even an option the last two Sundays...(and I went to Cedar Point at least partly for that reason...the last several seasons have found me at Cedar Point closing day...this year may be an exception, depending on the forecasted weather in Jackson, Ocean County at the time vis a vis Maple Grove).

[The Interpreter]

Thanks to our friends at Great Adventure History, a show schedule for GAd's Fright Fest:

http://www.greatadve...2_286_20690.jpg

Note the Fright Fest shows listed on the right side...