Scarefest 2018 saw a new scare maze, Project 42, join the Halloween line-up, as long-standing Terror of the Towers departed. There was also the return of some award winning attractions, alongside the introduction of a new programme of ‘Scaremosphere’ and a refresh of the family offering. All of the mazes carried an additional charge, while all other attractions were free and accessible to all.
Key Information
Dates: 6th-7th, 13th-14th, 19th October – 2nd November
Skyride, Battle Galleons, Congo River Rapids, Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure, Tree Fu Tom Training Camp, Mr Bloom’s Allotment, Nina’s Science Lab, Charlie and Lola’s Moonsquirters and Green Drops, The Furchester Hotel Live, and the Gardens shut at dusk.
CBeebies Land & Cloud Cuckoo Land closed at 7pm.
Other rides shut at 9pm daily.
Prices
Scare Mazes
Combined park and three-maze entry – £50.00
Single Ticket – £8.00
Double Ticket – £15.00
Combi Ticket – £20.00
The Welcoming: Be Chosen – £8.00
House of Monsters – £5.00
Attractions
Thrill Attractions
Project 42
The Welcoming: Be Chosen
Altonville Mine Tours
Sub Species: The End Games
Scaremosphere
Family Attractions
House of Monsters
Franklyn’s Freaky Fun Zone
Halloween Characters
Patch’s Halloween Party
Phil & Franklyn’s Ghoulish Games
Gretyl’s Spell School
Skelvin’s Spooky Storytime
Freaky Funk Squad
Alton Ancestors
The Funster Halloween Show
CBeebies Land ‘Monster Ball’
New for 2018 was Project 42. Located in the former Nemesis Sub Terra building in Forbidden Valley, the maze invited guests to take on the role of ‘valiant volunteers’ tasked with the job of entering the underground Phalanx compound to rescue the technician and find the cure to a deadly infection. The attraction featured some incredibly detailed sets which completely transformed the building and set up opportunities for the actors to achieve some good scares.
Following its debut in 2017, The Welcoming: Be Chosen returned for a second year, once again inviting guests into the mysterious world of The Beornen. The maze received a number of changes for 2018, including a reworked route which saw the hooded section removed, and a number of other areas of the maze made to feel more confined or enclosed. The finale was reworked, achieving a much better and more consistent effect than 2017. Throughout the maze the stunning sets and scenery once again helped guests feel as if they really have been transported to a different world, and enhanced the theatricality of the attraction.
Sub Species: The End Games and Altonville Mine Tours: Uncover the Legend of the Skin Snatchers also made a return for 2018. Now in its fourth year, Sub Species: The End Games had a welcome refresh for 2018. The labyrinth section was slightly expanded with the addition of new dead ends meaning it was possible to get genuinely lost! It also received new theming in the first section, helping to enhance the atmosphere inside as well as keep it fresh for those guests who may have experienced the maze in previous years. Both endings were retained from 2017, although there did seem to be some variation in the number of actors in each. Altonville Mine Tours: Uncover the Legend of the Skin Snatchers remained largely unchanged for its third year as part of the Scarefest line-up, with just a couple of minor changes made to help maintain the overall experience.
Whilst 2018 didn’t see any official scare zones, in a surprise move, some of the cast of Freak Show made a comeback in the form of a travelling cast who appear in front of the Towers Ruins at several points during the afternoon and evening. Also adding to the ‘Scaremosphere’ were the Ghost Pirates in Mutiny Bay, and Galactica Airways over in Forbidden Valley.
Another attraction making a welcome return to Scarefest was the family-friendly, House of Monsters. 2018 saw the addition of a new room featuring new characters Gill and Fred, as well as changes to the rooms featuring Skeleton John and Venom. These changes, alongside some consistently high quality performances, helped to keep this excellent attraction fresh and the ideal experience for younger guests.
The Freaky Fun Zone returned to Fountain Square having previously been located on the lawns at the bottom of Towers Street. For 2018 the Freaky Four also became the Freaky Five with Franklyn; Phil; Skelvin; and Patch welcoming Gretyl the Witch to the gang to join in the spooktacular fun. Featuring a packed schedule of live shows, the Freaky Fun Zone provided a full range of fun and interactive shows throughout the day, ranging from game shows and storytelling, through to live music from the new Freaky Funk Squad. Of course no Scarefest would be complete without the Alton Ancestors, who returned with their unique dance routines and flash mobs throughout the day – in the morning at the bottom of Towers Street, then later on over in Gloomy Wood.
For the first time, CBeebies Land also joined in with the Halloween fun with the CBeebies Land Monster Ball. Performed daily at 1:30pm in Big Fun Show Time, the Monster Ball saw an impressive range of CBeebies Land characters, including Postman Pat; Ubercorn; Hey Duggee; Tree Fu Tom; Iggle Piggle and Upsie Daisy and more.
As in the preceding years, there was no overnight or late night experience available during Scarefest 2018.
Over at the Resort’s accommodation there was a variety of entertainment suitable for guests of all ages. The Freaky Funk Squad appeared nightly in the Alton Towers Hotel in their new Rock & Roll show, The Freaky Funk Squad Remixed. They then also headed over to Splash Landings Hotel, for their Dia De Muertos Show. In both Alton Towers Hotel and Splash Landings Hotel there was also a Magical Mayhem Magic Show every night during Scarefest, with Splash Landings Hotel also the venue for Patch’s Pumpkin Party.
