Scarefest is back at Alton Towers Resort in 2024 featuring new spooks and scares, alongside returning scare mazes and family-friendly entertainment.
Key Information
Dates: 11th October – 3rd November 2024
Opening Times: 10am – 9pm
Attractions
Scare attractions (excluding Burial Grounds) and Trick O’ Treat Town are not included in regular theme park admission.
Daz Games: PANIC is priced at £10pp (or £8pp for passholders).
A Four Attraction Ticket is available to purchase for £34 (or £27.20 for Annual Passholders) which provides one-time entry to Altonville Mine Tours, The Attic: Terror of the Towers, Darkest Depths, and The Invitation.
One bag for Trick O’ Treat Town costs £12 (or £9.60 for Annual Passholders) – up to 2 adults can accompany a child (aged 11 and under), without needing to purchase an additional bag.
Burial Grounds (scare zone) and all family entertainment are included with admission to the theme park.
The Alton Towers Dungeon is also open during Scarefest, with admission available online for £9pp and on-the-day for £11pp.
For all ticket queries and for booking we recommend checking out the official Alton Towers Resort website.
On peak Scarefest dates, the scare mazes open at 1pm and remain open until park close, while Trick O’ Treat Town opens 12pm – 8pm. On off-peak Scarefest dates, the scare mazes open at 3pm until park close, while Trick O’ Treat Town opens 2pm – 8pm. Burial Grounds opens at 5pm and remains open until 9:30pm. All other attractions will have varying opening and show times throughout the day.
Ride queues will close at 9pm during Scarefest, however, due to low lighting the following attractions will close approximately at dusk at 3.30pm:
- Skyride
- Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure
- Hey Duggee’s Big Adventure Badge
- Battle Galleons
- Congo River Rapids
- The Gardens
The following attractions will close at 6pm:
- Andy’s Adventures Dinosaur Dig
- JoJo & Gran Gran At Home
- Big Fun Show Time
- The Furchester Hotel Live
Queuing
Please be aware that Scarefest is likely to be very busy and queues will be large for many of the rides and attractions.
It is always advisable to ride the most popular rides (such as Wicker Man and The Smiler) at the very start and end of the day. You will also find that the park gets gradually quieter from 4pm onwards as guests decide to leave the park. Queue times for rides may also drop when the scare mazes open early afternoon.
Other methods and tips to avoid large queues are available on the Queue Busters page.
Handy Hints
- Temperatures will drop as the park gets dark so remember to wrap up warm!
- Scarefest is your chance to ride Wicker Man in the dark – the ceremony’s flames look even more intense at night!
- Spinball Whizzer is generally much quieter in the afternoon and evening as many guests rush to ride it first in the morning.
- Make sure to ride Oblivion to get a a great view of X Sector and The Smiler at night!
- Riding TH13TEEN at night brings a whole new meaning to the Dark Forest, with there being next to no lighting around the ride’s circuit.
- Buy your parking token from a machine or ticket booth at the start of the day to beat the queues when leaving the park.
- Leave the theme park via the Galactica Gates to avoid the queues for the Monorail.
Scare Attractions
Daz Games: PANIC
Type: Scare Escape Maze | Location: Hospitality Suite | Age Recommendation: 12+
Created in partnership with YouTuber Daz Games, this new for 2023 scare attraction sees escape room meet live action scare maze. Players will be given a wristband and face an intense series of tests to challenge the mind and body as they compete to find two unique symbols and exit within seven minutes. However, they will not be alone inside, as Daz’s AI technology has been corrupted and taken over the maze – if players don’t make it out in time, they’ll be trapped in the game forever…
Altonville Mine Tours – Tiny’s Revenge
Type: Scare Maze | Location: The Towers (enter near X-Sector) | Age Recommendation: 12+
This long-running scare maze has been updated for 2023, with rumours afoot that the old Altonville Mines are alive with activity once again. Following a breakthrough from local law enforcers, the notorious Skin Snatches have been detained. However, the ironically named Tiny has evaded capture and is believed to still reside within the Mines – explore at your peril and risk the adventure, if you dare.
The Invitation
Type: Audio-based Experience | Location: The Games Bunker | Age Recommendation: 12+
In this audio-based attraction, guests are invited to visit The Lakeside Cemetery for a grave experience that will live with them for eternity. The friendly funeral director is dying to assist guests descend into the burial chamber, where they can choose their final resting place. Some caskets have already been filled, but there are others, still empty, waiting for you… Once seated, guests are required to put on headphones before being plunged into total darkness as the experience begins!
The Attic: Terror of the Towers
Type: Scare Maze | Location: The Towers (enter via Her Ladyship’s Garden) | Age Recommendation: 12+
This live action horror maze invites thrill-seekers to venture into the upper-most parts of the Towers Ruins. Learn the story of ‘The Governess’, whose ghost, according to local legend, continues to attempt to avenge the death of her charges by taking the spirits of the living as penance – will you be her next victim? Did the sins of the Master really conjure a demon from the fireplace or did The Governess simply go mad and chuck the children into the flames herself…
Darkest Depths
Type: Scare Maze | Location: Between The Towers and Dark Forest | Age Recommendation: 12+
Prepare for an adventure into the darkest depths of the ocean… On their journey, guests may find themselves enlisted into the crew of the infamous ghost ship ‘The Mutiny’. Then beware of the Sirens who will try to lure you into the ocean as you dodge the swords of the mutinous ghost pirates and come face to face with the sea’s meanest legend of all – the Kraken!
Burial Grounds
Type: Scare Zone | Location: Next to Wicker Man | Age Recommendation: 12+
This free-flowing outdoor scare zone is shadowed by the mighty Wicker Man. The Unchosen, a cult of modern-day fanatics obsessed with the lore of the Beornen invite guests to their sacred sanctum of ancient burial grounds – be warned that those who stay too long in the desecrated realm of unearthed bodies, flaming shrines and monstrous deities risk being chosen too!
Family Attractions
Trick O’ Treat Town
Type: Walkthrough | Location: Next to The Alton Towers Dungeon
This interactive, family walkthrough attraction is back. Guests will be given a tote bag upon entering the indoor attraction and start by taking a walk down Spooky Avenue before moving onto houses in Treat Street, Witchy Woods, The Graveyard and The Hill. Knock on the doors to collect lots of HARIBO treats and other spooky surprises but be careful as there will be tricks a plenty.
Alton Ancestors
Type: Roaming Characters + Dance Troupe | Location: Towers Street + Front Lawns / The Towers Complex
Meet the friendly ghoulish characters who once used to roam the grounds of Alton Towers Resort, and have now risen from the grave in time for another Halloween. Prepare to dance as the Alton Ancestors are ready to celebrate the spooky season with flash mobs on Towers Street in the morning and then in Fountain Square, near The Towers, later in the day!
