• Published on

    Universal Studios Hollywood Announces the Addition of One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen to Its Universal Fan Fest Nights Line-Up

    Universal Studios Hollywood Announces the Addition of One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen,
    Two Anime Experiences, to Its Universal Fan Fest Nights Line-Up, an All-New After-Hours Event Tapping into Fandom Favorites: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming, Anime and Cosplay
     
    This Separately Ticketed, Breakthrough Event Leaps to Life from the Creators of Halloween Horror Nights; Select Nights from Friday, April 25 to Sunday, May 18, 2025

    Visit Universal Fan Fest Nights to Sign Up and Be Among the First to Learn About the Event as Details Become Available
    Picture
    Picture
    Universal City, California, October 4, 2024 – Universal Studios Hollywood sets the stage for its newest Universal Fan Fest Nights experiences, with breaking news announced today at L.A. Comic Con, that lays the groundwork for the arrival of two anime fandom favorites – One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen – to the all-new event. Universal Fan Fest Nights will kick off exclusively at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, April 25 and continue on select nights through Sunday, May 18, 2025.

    In addition to the recently announced news that the U.S.S. Enterprise-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation would be featured as part of Universal Fan Fest Nights, Universal Studios Hollywood has revealed that the actual bridge set piece featured in the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard will be a major component of the experience, inviting guests and fans to enjoy a unique opportunity to see it as part of this all-new event.

    Universal Fan Fest Nights comes to life from the innovative creators of the theme park’s successful Halloween Horror Nights event. This all-new, interactive, separately ticketed event is an ideal adventure for guests of all ages and will capture the compelling worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, anime and cosplay, and invite theme parks guests and fans to partake in all-original and immersive, in-world experiences. And just like Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Fan Fest Nights will present all experiences simultaneously throughout the theme park each night of the event for guests to enjoy.
    Picture
    One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen will join previously announced experiences, including Star Trek™, Back to the Future and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS as well as all-new experiences to debut within the theme park’s magical land The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™.
    Here’s what guests can look forward to when the inaugural Universal Fan Fest Nights 2025 launches:
    • One Piece: This experience is inspired by the long-running global hit anime series, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, and follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates crew on their epic quest to find “One Piece,” the legendary treasure of the former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger.
    • Jujutsu Kaisen: This experience is also inspired by the widely popular Japanese manga and its anime adaptation follows high school student Yuji Itadori after he accidently become the host of a powerful curse and joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School, an organization that fights the curses.
    • The Wizarding World of Harry PotterThis experience will invite fans to step into the theme park’s immersive land to engage in new magical experiences from encountering magical creatures (including a Niffler!) and more. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is inspired by the compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. Pictures films. The land is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including the iconic Hogwarts™ castle as its focal point.
    • Star Trek: Inspired by the Star Trek universe that has entertained millions of fans, this exciting experience will boldly take guests on an immersive and thrilling adventure aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-D where they will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step onto the bridge, an original set piece featured in the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard.

    Star Trek is one of television’s most enduring franchises, known for groundbreaking storytelling that addresses social, political and cultural issues. Its optimistic view of the future and reflection on what it means to be human has inspired generations of dreamers and doers.
    • Back to the FutureThis exciting experience is inspired by the 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future movie. The groundbreaking adventure sparked one of the most successful trilogies in film history, won an Academy Award® and launched a franchise that would go on to generate almost $1 billion globally.
    • DUNGEONS & DRAGONSThis experience is inspired by the world of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D). On the heels of its acclaimed film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and the smash hit video game Baldur’s Gate 3, D&D is celebrating 50 years of the WORLD’S GREATEST ROLEPLAYING GAME where more than 64 million D&D fans love rolling dice, slaying monsters and envisioning themselves as the amazing heroes they all are inside.

    Universal Fan Fest Nights will be a limited-time, after-hours experience, exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood, that will showcase a dynamic line-up of captivating, immersive in-world experiences along with engaging, celebratory activations throughout the theme park, from live entertainment to cosplay, inviting guests to embrace their favorite characters and share their enthusiasm with like-minded fans.
     
    All experiences and activations will be included every event night for guests to enjoy when they attend Universal Fan Fest Nights. Adding to the adventure, guests will also be able to experience select theme park attractions open during the event, including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter featuring “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride™.”
     
    Additionally, fans can look forward to an enticing menu of themed foods and new merchandise, including collectibles, apparel, drinkware, accessories and more, to show off their fandom during Universal Fan Fest Nights and beyond.


    The 2025 Universal Fan Fest Nights event dates are: April 25-27; May 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. Guests and fans can follow @UniFanFestNights on Instagram and visit Universal Fan Fest Nights to sign up and be among the first to learn about the event as even more details become available.


    Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more information. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).
  • Published on

    Review: LA Haunted Hayride 2024

    Picture
    Last weekend we were invited out to the 2024 version of the LA Haunted Hayride! This is one of our favorite annual traditions, right in the middle of Griffith Park. While admittedly we did prefer the old location that was more isolated, this years event was a blast and you won't be disappointed. 

    You can find more information on the LA Haunted Hayride here
    Picture

    Welcome back to Midnight Falls

    Picture
    Picture

    Our favorite super creepy Halloween Town is back!

    Picture

    The citizens of Midnight Falls are always spectacular

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Our first maze of the event was Monáe Manor, or what we fondly were calling the Janelle Monaze. We all really enjoyed this new take on the classic Midnight Mortuary that has been featured at the event in previous years. It was obvious she/they had a lot of fun with this.

    Picture
    Picture

    Hellbilly Halloween is back this year and as always is a ton of fun. One thing about the mazes at the Hayride is they are quite long.

    Picture
    Picture

    The Carousel has gotten a nice refresh this year!

    Picture

    The 3rd maze is the classic Trick or Treat. While we really enjoy this one, we do miss when it was actually "Trick or Treating" through the maze. It was always fun to ring all of the doorbells and see the characters. Hopefully they'll bring this back sometime.

    Picture

    Of course the main attraction is the Hayride itself.

    Picture

    We absolutely loved the Hayride this year. While we do miss when this used to be 20-25 minutes long, a HUGE kudos to them actually putting benches in the trailers this year. It makes the experience MUCH more comfortable.

    Picture

    As always, the best part of any event like this is hanging out with our dear friends and Haunt Crew from HorrorBuzz, Theme Park Duo and Haunt Photoblography.

    Picture

    We love our haunt crew, they're just the best. (photo credit: Albert Lam)

     Related Videos
    If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
  • Published on

    Review: Knott's Scary Farm 2024

    Welcome to our review of Knott's Scary Farm 2024! Last weekend we got to experience 2 nights of Knott's Scary Farm which also included the Boofet and early entry on Friday. 

    We've got video walkthroughs of most of the mazes and our general thoughts on this years event. We will be back multiple times this season to check out more of the shows and spend more time in the scarezones.

    ​Let's head into the fog. 
    Picture

    Welcome to Knott's Scary Farm

    Picture

    My wife wasn't able to experience Scary Farm in 2023 so she actually had 4 new mazes to experience this year. Well, 3, she'll never do Widows. =)

    The Mazes

    Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman – Become immersed in a living fairy tale in an 18th century colonial township that's under siege by an inhuman monster who has a sick penchant for eating fingers. As night descends, Eight Fingers Nine emerges from the shadows in search of fresh meat. His vicious bite penetrates deep, causing sleep paralysis which holds his victim in sway while he slowly consumes their flesh. Step lightly and beware the dark, or you may be the main course at his next meal!
    Let me just start with this. We absolutely loved Dark Entities. It was an extremely underrated maze that never really found it's footing with the general audience. I think a lot of that had to do with the location of the maze. 

    For this new maze in the same location they have moved the entrance to the other side of the building so hopefully that will help visibility. Because this maze absolutely rocks. Gus Krueger has created an absolute masterpiece that will be remembered along with the other top tier mazes of the past decade like Trick or Treat, Dark Ride, Origins and Wax Works. There is so much to see in this maze and I still don't think we've seen it all. Can't wait to spend more time in this one. I do wish this had a more visible façade like Widows. But that's a minor quibble and is difficult due to the location. 
    Widows - The night of the arachnid is upon us! Enter a web-covered nursing home where demonic, eight-legged black widows emerge from their silken tunnels to possess the withered bodies of the elderly residence. Their sole purpose is to secure a mate and hatch a clutch of eggs before sunrise. Will you climb into their web and succumb to their dark desires
    Picture
    I absolutely loved this maze. Another Daniel Miller masterpiece that seemed to be the most popular maze of opening weekend. Due to the theme of this maze there are going to be some people who will never go through this maze (like my wife) or people who will go through with their eyes completely closed. And I think that adds to the creepy nature of this maze. 

    I'm not afraid of spiders at all but I was even creeped out by this one. In the most excellent of ways. 
    Cinema Slasher – Venturing through the mystical Midnight Theater, guests travel through the silver screen and into a trilogy of slasher movies. As they are swallowed into the world of gothic horror, they become the movie characters who try to escape the wrath of the dangerous Slasher. The theater opens its doors once again, daring those brave enough to buy a ticket to Cinema Slasher!
    Picture
    My second favorite maze from Knott's Scary Farm last year was maybe my second favorite maze of this year after Eight Fingers Nine. Dark Ride, which this replaced, is in my top 10 all time Knott's Scary Farm mazes and this is a more than worthy replacement, and again will go down as a classic maze of the past decade. 

    I think this maze has only improved this year and was filled with talent around every corner. I really just want to sit in each of the theaters and people watch. That's an upcharge I would gladly pay for. 
    The Chilling Chambers – In honor of the first maze in Knott's Scary Farm's prestigious history, the 10 Chilling Chambers gives a nostalgic nod to Scary Farm's past while terrorizing the audience of today. Guests are thrust beyond the threshold of an ominous towering cathedral that leads to terrifying classic maze themes from Knott's Scary Farm's infamous history.
    This was my absolute favorite maze from any event in 2023 and despite a few very last minute changes this year it still is an amazing love letter to Knott's Scary Farm. They've added a few things this year and I hope that they continue to add in more props from various mazes throughout the life of this one. 
    Room 13 – Violent murders at The Blind Tiger interrupt the Prohibition-era revelry on Memory Lane. A dangerously delicious new cocktail named The Devil’s Elixir seems to be at the root of the mayhem, but where did the mysterious green aperitif come from? The answers may lie at the heart of the extravagant Argive Hotel, where many have checked in to Room 13… but none have checked out
    This is a maze that ties right into the nearby Goreing 20's scare zone and I absolutely love it. Not really "scary", just more of a creepy vibe maze that often gets overshadowed by some of the other new mazes. But it shouldn't. It's very fun. 
    Origins: The Curse of Calico – Pierce the veil of time and discover the secret of the evil fog that hangs over Knott's Scary Farm in Origins: The Curse of Calico. Unearth the sinister paranormal activity that plagues the town as Sarah Marshall is put on trial for her suspected crimes of witchcraft.
    Picture
    The prevailing opinion was that this was going to be the last year for Origins: The Curse of Calico. However they've decided to retire Bloodlines this year (more on that below). This maze still very much works and the story is absolutely spectacular. That said, I do believe next year will be the final year for this classic maze. 
    Wax Works (Final Year) – Buy a ticket for the final showing of the most amazing wax museum the world has ever seen! The figures look so lifelike you’ll swear you saw them move. And it's rumored that blood-curdling screams can be heard as victims are horrifyingly submerged into a scorching hot cauldron of bubbling wax.
    What can we say about Wax Works. Like Cinema Slasher, this maze had some big shoes to fill replacing the classic Trick or Treat, but it did it very well. This has been one of our favorites since it debuted and we are sad to see it go. But also looking forward to what will be coming next year. 
    Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind – Within the canvas tent lies the secret of the most potent force in the universe: the human mind. A hypnotic session with Professor Mesmer can cure all phobias, including snakes, spiders, darkness, claustrophobia and much more
    Picture
    Like Room 13, this maze is not really about jump scares or even large scenes, but it tells an awesome story and really gets inside your head, which is kind of the point. The storytelling narration works very well here and has some awesome payoffs in the second half of the maze. 
    The Grimoire – Turn the page and enter the world of an ancient relic whose dark stories exist purely to turn your greatest nightmares into reality. Enter the world of a mysterious spell book and escape the demonic creatures inside or be eternally trapped within!
    Picture
    I'm going to be completely honest. This maze has never really worked for me. Unlike some of the amazing storytelling of mazes like Origins, Eight Fingers Nine and Mesmer, this one has always seemed convoluted to me. 

    The first year of this maze they had a pre-show video playing in the queue which kind of tried to make it make sense, but it never did. They've also cut out the pre-show inside the maze itself, which doesn't help with the story. Still, there are some great effects in here and some really cool black and white scenes that I absolutely love. 
    Bloodline 1842 (Final Year) – Enter the battlegrounds one last time of the war-torn streets of the city of Valdonia. Armed with only your wits and courage, find the remaining Daybreakers and help them destroy the King of the Valhymphri
    Picture
    If Knott's Scary Farm is retiring a maze after only 3 seasons you know it's one that never quite worked, and this one definitely never did. 

    It's sad too because this maze is absolutely gorgeous with some amazing scenes. The first year they tried to have a shooting maze which they quickly realized didn't work. Unfortunately instead of completely revamping the maze to remove the shooting "scenes" and updating the script, they kept it all there. And it makes zero sense to have non-vampires telling you to hurry when there's nothing going on. If they had revamped this maze to remove any part of the shooting scenes/script it could have worked. We want to love this maze. We just can't. 

    Kudos to the crew who worked on this maze and the talent inside, they are giving it their all. But we won't be sad to see this one go. 

    Scare Zones

    Admittedly over our 2 nights we didn't spend enough time in the scare zones, which we will be fixing on future visits. We did however catch the amazing slider show in The Gauntlet and spend some time in Carnevil which has had some awesome additions this season. 
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    The Hanging

    The Hanging is always very hit and miss. You're going to have people who absolutely love it, you'll have people who say it's the worst one ever, or people like us who are kind of in the middle. 

    It's a pop-culture show, and I'll be honest many of the references don't work for me, but that's the nature of a pop-culture show, not everybody is going to know every reference. 

    That being said, they heavily leaned into the "Six Flags" merger and for me that was worth it. I did talk briefly with showrunner Jeff Tucker after the show and as always they're still tweaking things, which they will do until the end of the run.

    ​It's always fun to see the show opening weekend and then towards the end because it won't be the same show. 
    Picture
    We did not see any of the other shows (we will later) or the Elvira thing (which isn't a show at all we learned).

    We won't bother with the Elvira "display" on future trips, we were over her 20 years ago and this year it just seems like a way to sell merchandise more than anything. 
    Lastly, we did the Boofet on Friday and I have to say, for the price it really doesn't seem worth it this year. The food was decent, lots of yummy desserts, and as always getting early entry to the 4 backstage mazes is a plus. However, there was never a line for Bloodlines all weekend, Wax Works was pretty much a walk-on and after 11pm Eight Fingers Nine was short. The only backstage maze that seemed to get a line all night was Widows, but I think that was more due to technical issues. 

    Even on Thursday night with all of the invited media, we did not have front of the line or early entry and we finished every maze by 11:00pm. So the early entry doesn't really even seem worth it unless it's a super busy night. 

    It also seemed that many people thought the same thing, because the waiting area for early entry was not crowded like it was in previous years. 
    Picture

    15 minutes before early entry opens and no crowd. In previous years this area would be packed.

    Picture

    Final Thoughts

    It's Knott's Scary Farm. It's the original. It's amazing. And it's well worth your time to visit. The two new mazes are spectacular, Ghost Town is, well, Ghost Town and the other scare zones are unique and exciting. There is definitely enough here to fill up one or multiple nights of Halloween fun. 
     Related Videos
    If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
  • Published on

    LOS ANGELES HAUNTED HAYRIDE REVEALS FIRST-EVER CELEBRITY COLLAB WITH JANELLE MONÁE

    Picture
    Picture
    Legendary Singer-Songwriter Janelle Monáe Teams Up With Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group to Bring Monáe Manor To Life This Fall
    ​LOS ANGELES, CA [September 24, 2024] - Ten-time Grammy Award nominated musician, author, actor, and fashion icon Janelle Monáe has announced a partnership with Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group and the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. This partnership is the first of its kind and will bring an all-new haunted maze to the legendary Halloween event taking place in Griffith Park. Step into Monáe Manor, where it’s Halloween every night and things aren’t quite what they seem. Where the walls talk and the music blares. You may have more than one ghostly encounter at this twisted soiree and it may even be from Monáe herself. The event officially opens to the public September 20th and runs select nights through November 2nd. Tickets are available now at www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com.

    "My love for Halloween runs deep-there’s just something so magical about creating another world for myself and transforming into the characters that lurk in the back of my mind. This season I’m scarily excited to partner with Thirteenth Floor and Los Angeles Haunted Hayride to let you all into my mind and experience my haunted house, Monáe Manor. This is a nightmare come true! You are all invited to party with my immortal guests, witness the chills, thrills, and frightful delights that await inside.” -Your HalloQUEEN Janelle Monáe”
     
    The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride opened its gates in 2009 and has become one of the most recognized and beloved Halloween traditions in Southern California. Set in the town of Midnight Falls, the LA Haunted Hayride delivers the perfect amount of fearful fun. Attractions include the event’s namesake, the Haunted Hayride, and three haunted mazes: Trick or Treat, Hellbilly Halloween, and new to the lineup this year, Monáe Manor. Guests can expect to find something for everyone, from being chased by a chainsaw-wielding cannibal, to catching a live musical performance from the town’s self appointed mayor, Monte Revolta.
     
    “It’s taken us 16 years to do a collaboration like this because candidly, it had to be right,” said Melissa Carbone, Creator of the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. “I’ve been watching Janelle become louder and louder in the Halloween space over the years. I could see her unyielding adoration for the aesthetic and nostalgia of Halloween, so we knew she was it. This is just the beginning though. We have plans…lots of plans. Halloween will never be the same in this town!”

     
    Janelle Monáe is known for her extravagant Halloween costumes, leaving fans waiting in anticipation for what’s to come each year, and this attraction takes that creativity and dedication and scales it to enormous proportions. Monáe Manor brings a creative, campy, and creepy air to Midnight Falls and visitors will be equally terrified and mesmerized by all that is to unfold within the walls of her ominous gathering.
     
    For more information, visit www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride is located in Griffith Park at 4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027.
     
    About Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group:
    Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group (“13FEG”) is the world’s largest producer and operator of theme park-quality live events, location-based entertainment, and immersive installations. 13FEG currently operates 32 attractions, including haunted houses, Halloween festivals, location-based entertainment venues, and an immersive art exhibit. 13FEG continues to set the bar for live themed entertainment, operating in 17 cities across the United States. Thirteenth Floor is headquartered in Denver, CO with offices in Austin, TX and Los Angeles CA. Learn more at Thirteenthfloor.com.
     
    About Janelle Monáe
    JANELLE MONÁE is a 10-time Grammy-nominated musician, actor and producer. She is known worldwide for her inimitable style and visionary sound, which celebrates the spectrum of identity. Following her critically acclaimed 2018 album Dirty Computer, Monáe released her newest album, 
    The Age of Pleasure, in 2023. The album garnered two Grammy nominations in the ‘Best Progressive R&B Album’ and ‘Album of the Year’ categories. On screen, Monáe can be seen in Netflix’s GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY across Daniel Craig. She received National Board of Review’s 2023 “Best Supporting Actress” honor, as well as a Critics’ Choice Awards nomination, on behalf of her role. Additional credits include Focus Feature’s biopic film HARRIET, Academy Award-nominated HIDDEN FIGURES and Academy Award-winner MOONLIGHT. Monáe’s first book, NYT bestseller The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories from Dirty Computer, was published in 2022 and is a collaborative effort between Janelle and an incredible array of talented writers. As a humanitarian, she was recently honored as the Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year by Trevor Project, is a co-chair for When We All Vote, an ambassador for Fashion Trust U.S., and her Fem the Future initiative creates opportunities for young women and girls in music, arts, and education.
  • Published on

    Review: Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest Extreme 2024

    Happy Wednesday everybody and welcome to our review of Fright Fest Extreme 2024 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. In this update we'll take you through this years event and give you our overall thoughts. 
    Picture
    We have lots of pictures and video to share with you as well, including walk-throughs of all of the new mazes for 2024. 

    If you'd like to check out the event overview (no review) that I posted on Thrillgeek, you can check that out here
    Picture

    Welcome to Fright Fest Extreme 2024!

    Picture
    Picture

    The event features a few new Scare Zones which is great to see!

    Picture
    Picture

    Not sure what we were creating, but here we go!

    Picture

    Apparently Fright Fest is dead, and is now exclusively "EXTREME".

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    A look at the merchandise for this years event.

    Fright Fest Extreme Review

    Before I get into my thoughts on this years event I want to start with this. I know how much the creators of Fright Fest Extreme love this event. I've known them for years, some for 10-15 years. They absolutely love this event and want it to be as good as it can be. 

    That being said ... 

    We've said this in the past, but we're going to have to say it again. The event is too big. I realize Six Flags Magic Mountain is the EXTREME park, but you can be Extreme by creating a smaller footprint.

    ​I don't know where the decision came to add 3 new IP mazes and also keep every single maze that has been there for years, but I'm guessing it came from very high up. Just so they could say they have the most. I will say I was honestly shocked when they announced that all of the mazes were coming back at Midsummer Scream. 

    New Mazes: 

    Trick r' Treat: This maze/house was featured at Halloween Horror Nights in 2018, and to be honest, we weren't the biggest fans of it. I absolutely loved the version at Fright Fest. Easily my favorite maze of this years event. It has the heart and fun of Trick r' Treat with some great scares. Kudos to the team for this one, and for getting it built in record time. 
    Picture
    Saw 20th Anniversary: Saw was featured at Fright Fest in 2023 and at Scream Break earlier this year. The maze features some of the same scenes as the earlier version, but has definitely been enhanced for Fright Fest Extreme. We all really enjoyed this one and it is highly recommended. 
    Picture
    The Conjuring Universe: Another maze that is a repeat from 2023 but that has been completely revamped and plussed for 2024. This maze was super fun, had some fantastic effects and great scares. If we had one thing to suggest for this one, the effects in the first room need to last a bit longer when a new group enters. By the time we got to see Annabelle, all of the "Conjuring" effects were done. 
    Stranger Things: This was a real "get" for Fright Fest Extreme and Six Flags, and I was really looking forward to it. I will say that the "upside down" sections were fantastic. However, being that this was just featured at Halloween Horror Nights last year, the comparison has to be made. I think the rooms here are too large and there is a lot of dead space. There are some very inventive scares here but I hope that if they bring this back next year they tighten it up a bit and make it a bit longer. They have plenty of room in this warehouse to do so. 
    Picture
    Army of the Dead: Based on the Netflix movie of the same name, Army of the Dead takes up the first half of Aftermath 2 that has been at Fright Fest for a number of years. If you've done Aftermath you know what the first few scenes look like, but once you get into the "hotel" the maze really shines. Some fantastic scenes and some funny stuff in here. They did seem to have some issues with the maze throughout the weekend, hopefully they've gotten them resolved. 
    Picture
    Picture

    Returning Mazes

    Here's a quick rundown of the returning mazes, we all know what's there, but I definitely have some thoughts. 

    ​Willoughby's Resurrected: There was a new entrance this year, gone is the intro room where you had to walk down a few stairs, which is fine. Nothing new in here and a little light on scareactors. 
    Picture
    Sewer of Souls: Another returning maze that actually seemed to be much better this year. I don't think there were any changes in the maze itself, but this was packed with scareactors. 

    Aftermath Nocturnal Hunt: I know the park is labeling this as a 'NEW' maze, but think of the second half of Aftermath 2, but reversed, and a few new twists and turns, and there you have it. 

    Truth or Dare: Now in it's 3rd year, this really promising theme of a maze really doesn't deliver. We did do a video walkthrough of this maze, it was 4 minutes long, there were 4 total scareactors in the maze. 
    Picture
    Vault 666: I'll be honest, I've never been the biggest fan of this maze, and it doesn't really bare any resemblance to it's first iteration which was some Island of Dr. Moreau thing going on, and now it's just a mish-mash of things. It's well passed time to retire this maze. 

    Condemned: They have abandoned the "house party" theme for Fright Fest and gone back to the original theme of the maze. I'm not sure why, but this is another maze that should be retired. 

    Scare Zones

    Scare Zones are really where Fright Fest (Extreme or otherwise) has always shined. And this year is no different. 

    New Scare Zones include: 
    • Plaza de la Muerte – Step into the spectral celebration of Día de los Muertos, where vibrant colors blend with eerie shadows in an immersive dance of spirits and traditions.
    • Underworlds of Oz – Journey through the dark side of Emerald City and the mystical realms of Oz, where twisted enchantments and ominous shadows consume the golden path, and the line between fantasy and nightmare blurs into a chilling adventure unlike any other.
    • Grimmlore Ridge – Enter a chilling realm where fear takes root and grows wild, leaving the daunting calls of ravens and crows echoing through the twisted branches and shadowed alleyway.

    And the classic returning scare zones including Nightmares, Devil's Triangle, City Under Siege, CarnivHELL, The Deadzone and Exile Hill. 
    Picture
    Picture

    One of our favorite characters from any Haunt.

    Picture
    Picture

    City Under Siege

    Picture

    Waiting for the next victim

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Absolutely loved the new scarezone Underworlds of Oz

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    This year you are forced to go through CarnivHELL

    Picture
    Picture

    The lighting team at Fright Fest is second to none

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Trick r' Treat can be found all around the park, a very nice touch.

    Picture

    The lighting in Grimmlore Ridge was absolutely fantastic.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Final Thoughts

    The question always comes down to "would you recommend this event", and this year the answer is yes. Despite a lack of scareactors in a few mazes and a few mazes that have been around for more than a few years too long, the event is always a blast. 

    That being said ... 

    Six Flags Magic Mountain is simply too big to have haunts and scare zones in every nook and cranny of the park. It's literally exhausting trying to get everything done in one night. I ran a 1/2 marathon the weekend before in the extreme heat and I was honestly more tired from Fright Fest than I was from that race.

    Not only does having a large footprint for Fright Fest require an amount of scareactors that are simply not available in the busy Southern California Halloween market, it also requires makeup artists, costuming, line control staff, maze security and more. 

    I would much rather them concentrate on QUALITY over QUANTITY. And for too long, they've been concentrating on quantity. 

    If I was in charge this is how I would change Fright Fest in 2025. 

    The Willoughby's are a Fright Fest staple, and they should always be represented at the event. They are as classic to Magic Mountain as any of the parks classic coasters. That being said, Willoughby's Haunted Mansion needs a complete facelift. In fact, I would completely abandon the existing location and move it to where Vault 666 or Condemned are. 

    In addition I would retire Sewer of Souls and Exile Hill. Meaning no haunts or scare zones up on the hill. 

    Truth or Dare, Condemned, Aftermath and Vault 666 should be retired. If Trick r' Treat is coming back, let's give it a permanent location in the warehouse where Truth or Dare is. I'd love to see what they could do with that space and that IP. 

    If Willoughby's is moved to Condemned, The Conjuring should be moved to the Vault 666 location. 

    This means that instead of 11 mazes with varying levels of quality and some devoid of talent, you have 6 mazes (Saw, Trick r' Treat, The Conjuring, Stranger Things, Army of the Dead and Willoughby's) where you can move those resources to. All of your mazes are located from the front of the park to back near Apocalypse. No more Exile Hill and no maze near Tatsu. The only scarezone outside of that area would be Nightmares, which definitely should not ever leave. 

    Lastly, abandon superfluous scare zones just for the sake of having "more than any other park". If you can't fill the scare zone with scareactors, it shouldn't exist. So while we loved the lighting of Grimmlore Ridge, it's simply not big enough and there weren't enough actors there. This also applies to The Deadzone. I'd much rather them concentrate on filling up the centralized scare zones with monsters than having 1 or 2 monsters in a scare zone. 

    Have you visited Fright Fest Extreme this year? What were your thoughts? 
     Related Videos
    If you enjoyed this update please share with your friends and make sure you "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
  • Published on

    Knott’s Scary Farm Launches Its 51st Frightful Season, Debuting Two New Spine-Chilling Mazes and the Elvira XXperience

    Knott’s Scary Farm Launches Its 51st Frightful Season,
    Debuting Two New Spine-Chilling Mazes and the Elvira XXperience

    Select nights starting September 19 – November 2
    ​Southern California's longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event opens this Thursday, September 19. This year's lineup includes two new spine-chilling mazes and an all-new experience dedicated to Scary Farm legend Elvira, Mistress of the Dark©.

    In the new maze Eight Fingers Nine, you'll be transported to an 18th-century colonial township under siege by an inhuman monster with a sick penchant for eating fingers. His vicious bite penetrates deep, causing sleep paralysis, which holds his victim in sway while he slowly consumes their flesh. Also new this year is the maze Widows, where demonic, eight-legged black widows emerge from their silken tunnels to possess the withered bodies of the Sunset Rise nursing home. Their sole purpose is to secure a mate and hatch a clutch of eggs before sunrise.

    "Yours Cruelly, Elvira XXperience" will debut at Walter Knott Theater. The retrospective will feature classic moments of every Knott's Scary Farm show, where the Queen of Halloween performed in the Ghoul Time Theatre for 20 haunted seasons. Guests will journey back in time through video highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, and memorabilia celebrating Elvira's illustrious career. The experience will run throughout the Knott's Scary Farm season with occasional appearances by Cassandra Peterson, the woman behind Elvira. Peterson is scheduled to visit on September 19, opening night of Scary Farm, for a signing session in the Legacy Haunt Store & Museum. She returns on October 18 and 20 for two more signing sessions, as well as a Q&A at the "Yours Cruelly, Elvira XXperience."

    Knott's Scary Farm runs for a total of 31 terrifying nights, beginning September 19 and running through November 2. With more than 50 years of original, never-ending nightmares, unimaginable scares and innovative thrills, Knott's Scary Farm has left no tomb unearthed, no crypt unrattled and no fear untouched.

    WHEN:        
    This year, the event returns on September 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, October 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, November 1 and 2. Knott's Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 2:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:00 pm – 1:00 am on select Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

    WHERE:      
    ​Knott’s Berry Farm – 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620

    Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. For more information on Knott's Scary Farm, including admission, park hours, and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com or download the Knott's Berry Farm app for your smartphone.
     Join the scary conversation by using #ScaryFarm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.