It may be the height of the summer season, however Alton Towers Resort have in the past week turned their attention towards Halloween with the announcement of the line-up for Scarefest 2016, including a brand new scare maze, new scare zone, and a new family attraction as well as the return of two previous mazes, and a scare zone.
2016’s event will see a slightly larger offering to that of 2015’s revamped event, with a total of three scare mazes, a family maze and two scare zones. New for 2016 is “Skin Snatchers”, a maze which sees a return to the town of Altonville where a family of inbred hillbillies have been outcast due to their disfigurements and warped way of life. As part of a desperate attempt to obtain the beauty they desire, the family begin capturing townsfolk, before removing their skin and stitching it to their own. Returning from 2015 will be Alton Towers Resort’s signature maze “Terror of the Towers: What Lies Within”, and “Sub Species: The End Games”, which earlier this year won the ScareCON SCAR Award for ‘Best Halloween Scare Attraction’. Both returning mazes retain the same storyline as last year. Skin Snatchers and Sub Species: The End Games carry a 15+ age limit, whilst Terror of the Towers: What Lies Within has a 15+ recommended age restriction, with all opening on a paid ticketed system. A three maze ticket will cost £20 per person, or £16 for Annual Pass holders, a price which is unchanged from 2015’s event. Slots are available from 1pm-9pm every day, with the exception of Monday 31st October where slots are 4pm-9pm.The addition of Skin Snatchers also means that The Haunting of Molly Crowe, the Resort’s hooded maze, departs the Scarefest line-up after just one year.
Alongside the scare maze line up, two Scare Zones will also be part of the line-up. Freak Show will be new for 2016’s event and will see a group of circus rejects from a travelling side show descend on the Resort, desperate for people’s undivided attention. At the moment it is unconfirmed exactly where the new zone will be located. Dark Apocalypse will also make a return to Forbidden Valley meaning that Phalanx will once again place the area under quarantine in an effort to control a deadly virus.
As well as the traditional scare mazes and scare zones, the Resort will also have a selection of entertainment for familes and those guests who like their scares more on the fun rather than the frightful side. House of Monsters will be new for 2016, adding a family friendly maze to the line-up for the first time. An online vlogger has become a modern day monster hunter after their investigations have led them to believe monsters are real and live in a Haunted House. Guests can join him on his mission to the abandoned house to discover what is inside, and if the monsters have a good side too. This new family offering will be located in the Wobble World building with tickets costing £5 and operating on a time slot system. The Alton Ancestors will once again be bringing their unique flashmobs to Towers Street, before retiring to Gloomy Wood later in the day. Franklyn, Patch, Skelvin and Phil will also be bringing the Spooktacular Family Fun with a whole range of shows throughout the day.
2016 sees a change to the operating days for Scarefest with the event now running on the 8th and 9th, 15th and 16th, and 21st to 31st October, instead of the usual two week run. These dates bring the Resort in line with Thorpe Park Resort’s Fright Nights, which also operate on a similar pattern. Throughout the event the Resort will operate extended opening hours, with the theme park opening until 9pm every day during the event, meaning there will be plenty of chance to explore all the attractions and offering guests the ideal opportunity to experience their favourite rides in the dark.
The frights won’t just be confined to the theme park with the Halloween spirit continuing at the resort hotels. A selection of family entertainment will be available each evening with Halloween themed shows to keep everyone entertained.
What are your thoughts on the latest changes to the Scarefest line-up? Will you be braving the event this year? Discuss this and more over in the Attraction Source Forum and be sure to keep an eye on TowersTimes as we bring you all the latest updates and developments for Scarefest 2016.
