It’s that time of year again! The air is crisp, the leaves are changing colors, Pumpkin Spice coffee is back at Dunkin Donuts and everyone is breaking out the sweatshirts. This could only mean one thing: it’s finally fall!
Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the weather, the apple cider, and the hayrides, but most of all, I love going to Fright Fest at Six Flags in Jackson, NJ. Fright Fest is back for its 23rd year with its famous slogan, “Thrills by day, fright by night!”
Six Flags is currently decorated with spider webs, haystacks and pumpkins, and the famous fountain is now colored red. You are safe to walk throughout the park until 6 pm, which is when “awakening” occurs.
Before awakening, there are tons of activities to do that many people overlook (though they are mainly aimed for kids). There is the Six Flags Spooktacular Street Party, which features the Looney Tunes characters and some of your favorite Halloween music. There are also shows such as the Spooky Kooky Magic Show, Sea Lion Scary Tales, and You Otter Know. Kids can even go trick-or-treating on the Trick-Or-Treat Trail.
But once the clock hits 6 pm, over 2,000 zombies, ghosts and goblins come out to do what they do best: scare! These ghouls wonder around the park, sneaking up on guests, creepily following them and of course, making them scream. Ghouls are only allowed to stay in front of the park by the fountain, and clowns must stay at the entrance to the Boardwalk. These are known as scare zones – if you want to go to Fright Fest but don’t want to be scared, just avoid them.
Not only are the zombies wondering the park, but they put on great shows and travel through the famous terror trails. Some crowd favorites are back this year, such as Voodoo Island, Total Darkness, The Manor, and Wasteland. Guests can pay an extra fee to walk through these frightening trails, but be warned, because you never know when something (or someone) will pop out and scare you!
New this year is the addition of Crop Circles. Crop Circles is a terrorizing trail with an alien scarecrow theme.
Nighttime shows will return this year as well. The most popular event, Dead Man’s Party, is back and better than ever. With new hit songs, people will see the zombies dance like they’ve never danced before. Also returning are shows like Ghoulmaster’s Ghosts, Circus of Thrills and The Awakening. The list of show times can be found on the park map.
Fright Fest also hosts great events, such as the annual Fright Fest Blood Drive, which was at Six Flags on Sept. 20. Guests who attended Six Flags on this day were able to donate blood between 8 am and 3 pm.
Other events included the Zombie Run and the Survival Race. The Zombie Run was back for its second year, and it allowed guests to chase or be chased in a 5K run.
The Survival Race, also a 5K run, is an obstacle course and mud run. Participants must expect to get down and dirty and also test their limits of fun.
Six Flags also runs the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Oct. 5, and the Biggest Loser RunWalk on Nov. 2. For more information on these events, visit sixflags.com/greatadventure.
Fright Fest began Sept. 20 and will run until Nov. 2, on weekends only. SAB is running a bus trip to Six Flags on Oct. 4, and tickets are now on sale for $25 per student.
IMAGE TAKEN from multivu.com
