Last weekend saw the start of Scarefest 2024 at Alton Towers Resort, with this year’s line-up featuring new frights and spooks alongside returning attractions and entertainment that together provide something for all the family. TowersTimes rounds-up all that’s on offer!
For those in search of frights, the headline new for 2024 addition is COMPOUND, a scare maze which continues the story of Nemesis Reborn and sees you subject to the Phalanx’s sinister experiment! Located in a new building close to Forbidden Valley, the maze is accessed via the path off from the walkway between Gloomy Wood and Forbidden Valley which would usually provide access to one side of the toilet block – note that this access has been removed during Scarefest, although the Changing Places facility remains accessible. The queue line entrance is marked by signage, as well as theming in the form of some of the crates and oil drums seen on Towers Street at the start of the season to coincide with the opening of Nemesis Reborn. Guests are then met with the imposing sight of COMPOUND, a structure of the same design as Survival Games at Thorpe Park that consists of three shipping containers down two of the sides and an arched canopy across the area in between. The maze’s external appearance lends itself to its theme without much in the way of theming needing to be added, other than some paint, industrial ducting and red lighting. Guests are held in a small queue line which is in the area adjacent to what are the maze’s final scenes, meaning that waiting guests can hear the screams of others (alongside some other mysterious sounds) which builds anticipation ahead of it being their turn to enter COMPOUND.
After being batched, guests wait in a holding area for a Phalanx Operative to collect them. With a covered corridor being created between one side of the maze and the fence line, this results in the ominous sight of the operative’s silhouette walking towards the waiting group. Upon collection, guests are walked at pace to COMPOUND’s entrance at the opposite end of the building. Guests are then directed into the facility by the operatives and into one of a number of chambers located around the perimeter of the first room – this is the first of several opportunities within the maze for guests to be split up from the rest of the group. With the doors to all of the chambers sealed with magnetic locks, guests are left to watch a video explaining that they are set to be used by the Phalanx for their experiments involving the Nemesis younglings which are also housed in the same facility. As warnings appear and sirens begin to sound, the back doors to the chambers open, inviting guests to venture onwards into the facility.
Inside COMPOUND, guests will explore a number of different rooms, with several different routes through the facility. Alongside scientific labs, guests may find themselves sent down a crawl tunnel, placed in isolation, traverse a ‘bridge’ above toxic green water, and even end up in COMPOUND’s kitchen. One room also features sliding cage doors that can be used to hold and separate guests prior to them entering the final sections of the maze – guests can have varying experiences here, with some directed straight through whilst others receive more attention. Also found within are the nests of the Nemesis younglings, seeing the return of the alien creatures that were found within former scare maze, Sub Species: The End Games. With low lighting levels and a significant amount of fog used here, this allows the creatures to quickly appear and disappear in order to provide scares. However, it is final rooms that are the most disorientating as a result of the use of intense strobes and haze, as more creatures stalk guests amongst the cages and scientific clutter, followed by a final encounter with taser-wielding Phalanx operatives. The tasers are of course props, incorporating lights and a loud clicking sound (which is what can be heard outside from the queue line) to a convincing effect.
Overall, COMPOUND is the closest that a Scarefest attraction has come to replicating the intensity of Sub Species: The End Games since the maze’s final appearance in 2019. Although there are some more basic spaces, the maze as a whole is well-themed such that there are moments that you can be totally immersed in the experience and forget you are in what is effectively an elaborate tent. As with all of the Resort’s mazes, the smells are used to add to the immersion. Whilst COMPOUND misses some of the atmosphere shared by attractions based in the Towers themselves, having the dedicated space has enabled Alton Towers to step up the levels of theming and it also means that the attraction is wheelchair accessible. Being a maze which features multiple routes does of course boost its repeatability, although this can also result in inconsistent experiences for guests. It does seem like COMPOUND would also benefit from having a slightly larger cast to increase the chaos and intensity of the experience – the finale did feel a little lacklustre in this respect, with no actors present in the final room (although this was filled with dangling ropes) and corridor on our run-throughs. However, the latter did seem to be setup with opportunities for some final scares, with netting either side and a flapped-covered opening at the far end. Nonetheless, COMPOUND is undoubtedly a welcome addition to the Scarefest line-up and hopefully an attraction which can continue to be enhanced over its lifespan.
Daz Games: Panic Reloaded is a new iteration of last year’s headline addition, Daz Games: PANIC, and again represents a collaboration with YouTuber Daz Black. Billed as an experience where escape room meets live action scare maze, the core objective remains unchanged: guests are required to tackle a series of challenges and locate their symbols. Guests are batched into the experience in groups of up to 40, with the first step being to collect a wristband containing a scannable chip and to enter a name. Everyone is then assigned a unique combination of two symbols.
It is in the pre-show where the changes to the storyline become evident, with Daz acknowledging that things didn’t exactly go to plan during Scarefest 2023 and so he’s therefore given it another go. Unfortunately a virus has found its way into the maze and so guests’ help is required to purge this from the system. To assist, Daz has installed “Anti Vi”, an anti virus programme which takes the physical form of an elderly woman within the maze. As a result, this year the experience has a slightly calmer start, with guests directed into the centre of the labyrinth by the Unrendered before the virus, appearing as neon-green zombie-like creatures, again takes hold and chaos ensues. There are some new symbols and tasks within the attraction this year, along with the time available to escape being reduced from seven to six minutes. Whilst the attraction still lacks the immersive and detailed theming of other Scarefest attractions, it does feature an intense soundtrack and disorientating lighting which builds as the timer counts down. However, we do feel that the original 2023 version was stronger, with the clever use of facial coverings and costumes to transform the same actors into vampires, dolls and clowns in order to add to the variety of characters encountered by guests.
Upon exiting the attraction, there are screens displaying leaderboards of the times that guests managed to successfully escape in, both from the last game and over the duration of Scarefest. A dedicated merchandise stall is also once again located outside the exit, with a range of Daz Games: Panic Reloaded branded items available, including a selection of clothing, mugs, pens and a pin badge.
Following its refresh for 2023, Altonville Mine Tours – Tiny’s Revenge returns as part of the Scarefest 2024 line-up with Tiny continuing to evade capture and believed to still reside within the Mines. The maze remains a much darker variant of this long-running scare attraction, with guests encountering members of the sheriff’s department, teens and a gas-masked clad Tiny amongst the darkness.
Also back for what is its sixth Scarefest is The Attic: Terror of the Towers. Whilst the maze has not seen any notable changes from 2023, it remains a showcase of the detailed and immersive theming that the Resort are capable of and a solid part of the line-up. It does seem plausible that 2024 will be The Attic’s final Scarefest, with it potentially set to be replaced by a new maze in 2025 located in another newly constructed building located near to Dark Forest.
Free-flowing outdoor scare zone Burial Grounds has also returned following its debut in 2023. The walkthrough follows the same route as last year, primarily utilising the pathway which runs adjacent to Wicker Man as well as an area beneath the Skyride, which takes guests through the sacred sanctum of The Unchosen, a cult of modern-day fanatics obsessed with the lore of the Beornen. It is pleasing to see this free-to-access attraction return, as well as remaining open until 30 minutes after the ride close time.
Amigos in the Afterlife is the second new for 2024 attraction, being an interactive family walkthrough located in The Alton Towers Dungeon building. The attraction is practically impossible to miss, with the exterior plaza area being decorated with colourful papel picado, flower garlands and barrels, reflecting the Dia de los Muertos celebrations from which the experience takes inspiration. The nearby trees also feature giant googly eyes. The entrance to the building is marked by a giant colourful skull, denoting it as the Land of the Dead. The walkthrough sees guests accidentally cross through a portal into the afterlife, encountering different characters in each scene, with the overall experience packed with UV effects, wonderful smells and lots of interactivity. Amigos in the Afterlife is undoubtedly a fun addition to Scarefest for both children and adults alike, and heralds the arrival of a potential new Scarefest icon in Barry the Tequila Worm.
In addition, Trick O’ Treat Town is back for a fourth year, once again sponsored by HARIBO. This family friendly interactive walkthrough invites guests to explore a quirky town where the residents’ favourite pastime is hosting trick-or-treating for the town’s visitors! Guests are encouraged to knock on doors in order to collect plenty of sweets, although sometimes they may be surprised with a trick instead. This attraction remains a fun part of the line-up with guests also walking away with a good haul of treats.
An established part of the event are the family shows and entertainment, which are again hosted on the Front Lawns stage this year. It wouldn’t be Scarefest without the Freaky Friends, and there are two new characters for 2024: Vampurr and Zombob! All seven characters feature in new versions of Patch’s Trick or Treat Party and Phil’s Halloween Dance Party. The entertainment line-up also features a mix of live vocals and dance from Sin Bin, with this year’s show enhanced by the addition of fire effects!
The Alton Ancestors also make a return with an updated dance routine, roaming Towers Street in between performances and performing their ‘Final Haunt’ dance on the Front Lawn stage in the evening. In CBeebies Land, younger guests can once again enjoy the CBeebies Land Monster Ball, with this once-a-day show featuring all of their favourite characters.
The food and beverage units from Oktoberfest have again been retained on the Front Lawns, but with their Scarefest makeover, meaning this area serves as a combined food and entertainment hub. Some speciality food items are also being sold at the theme park’s permanent food outlets. A range of Scarefest merchandise is also available in Towers Trading, as well as the pop-up store on the Front Lawns. There are new ranges for both Freaky Friends and Amigos in the Afterlife, along with new pumpkin resins as well as general Scarefest clothing items, mugs, keyrings and more. Although plushes for the existing five Freaky Friends are once again on sale, equivalents for Vampurr and Zombob are not yet available.
Towers Street is decorated with its traditional colourful bunting, as well as the ride-themed pumpkins and main Scarefest sign. At the top of Towers Street are new additions in the form of flags and small items of theming, and for their latest seasonal outfits the frog fountains have received witches hats and capes. After its disappearance last year, the iconic, new-look hearse has also made a welcome return, now featuring all seven Freaky Friends. As darkness falls, The Towers are once again illuminated and retain the mist effects around its base added for 2023, with new additions in the form of spotlights which add to the building’s spectacular appearance.
Nightfall also provides an opportunity to experience the theme park’s rides in the dark. In 2024, this includes Nemesis Reborn which, along with the wider Forbidden Valley area, is transformed at night by its permanent lighting package – this was something which guests were given a taste at the very start of the season, as part of the late openings for Alton After Dark. The start of Scarefest also saw the return of one of the waterfalls beneath the entrance to the stall turn after the zero-g roll, with this illuminated red after dark. With Alton Towers also commencing official teasers for Project Ocean, a new flat ride coming to Forbidden Valley in 2025, signage has been added to the construction walls featuring the phrase ‘Submit To The Spin’. Lighting and sound effects were also in place around the site over the first weekend of Scarefest, ensuring that it looked rather green, although we understand this has since been removed.
Over at the Resort’s hotels, Patch and his pad of pumpkins have once more invaded Splash Landings Hotel for Scarefest. The central Enchanted Village building has also been decorated with bunting, pumpkins and broomsticks, along with The Crooked Spoon becoming The Bubbling Cauldron. Although there is limited exterior theming over at Alton Towers Hotel, the interior has been decorated with bunting and ivy, along with photo opportunity features. Nonetheless, the Secret Garden Restaurant in the Alton Towers Hotel is featuring a special Scarefest menu which includes dishes such as Pumpkin Soup, Squid Ink Pasta and Apple Pie – both desserts feature a smoke effect as the lid of the pumpkin in which they are served is lifted!
With two new attractions and a refresh of the family entertainment for 2024, the continued investment into Scarefest is evident. With the second new building already in-situ, it certainly seems like we can expect to see at least one new scare attraction next year, suggesting Alton Towers retain an ambition to bring something new to the event each year moving forwards. It would also be great to see a further scare zone added to the line-up following the success of Burial Grounds. Whilst more intense scare attractions can be found elsewhere, Scarefest remains a solid all-round Halloween event which offers something for all members of the family, with a sizeable and varied line-up of attractions and entertainment.
Tickets for the Resort’s scare attractions can be purchased either online, via the Alton Towers app or from the Resort Box Office. Combination tickets can be purchased for either Early slots between 3pm and 4:45pm Sunday-Friday or 1pm and 2:45pm on Saturday, or Late slots between 5pm and 7pm Sunday-Friday or 3pm and 7pm on Saturday. The Frights Combi ticket provides access to COMPOUND, Daz Games: Panic Reloaded, Altonville Mine Tours and The Attic, and is priced at £34pp or £38pp for Early or Late slots respectively. Passholder discount is only available on Early time slots, reducing the price to £27.20pp. The Spooks Duo ticket is priced at £15pp (or £12pp for passholders), providing access to Amigos in the Afterlife and Trick O’ Treat Town. Finally, a Spooks & Frights Combi ticket provides access to all six attractions for a flat price of £50pp (or £40pp for passholders) – this permits guest access once to each attraction at any time during their opening hours. Tickets for individual attractions can also be purchased via the app or from the Resort Box Office, with the scare mazes priced at £12 each and the family attractions at £8 each. QR codes can also be found at the exit to the attractions which give guests the opportunity to experience the attractions again at a reduced price, with the Frights attractions reduced to £10 (or £8 for annual passholders). Discount on the full price individual tickets can reportedly only be obtained at the Resort Box Office on Towers Street – we were advised that this wasn’t available when purchasing tickets from the Guest Services kiosk outside of X-Sector.
Scarefest runs at Alton Towers Resort from 11th October until 3rd November. While the theme park will be open until 9pm on the majority of Scarefest dates, it will close at the earlier time of 8pm on off-peak Mondays – Thursdays (14th-17th and 21st-24th October).
Will you be paying a visit to Scarefest this year? If you’ve already visited, what’s been your highlight? Let us know your thoughts via our social media channels.
