Sept. 9, 2025

NEWS: Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Opens to Record Year

Show Notes
Transcript

Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Opened Last Weekend to a sold-out crowd, featuring 8 Houses, a New Dining Pass, "Chainsaw Man", and More. Meanwhile, Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Criticized for Premium Scream Night Disappointments, Oversold Passes, and Controversies Around Roaming Characters. Also this week: Six Flags Great America's Fright Fest Begins September 13th; Adventureland Debuts New House for Phantom Fall Fest; Fresno Fright Nights Comes to the Central Valley October 3rd; Maan Farms Announces First Halloween Fright Festival; M&D's Scotland's Theme Park Offers Family Fun and Thrilling Scares; Home Haunter Awards Show 2024 Winners Announced. Read more here.

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Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the

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haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the

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HN Show. We bring you the haunt news, information, and

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education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we

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bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read

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more about these stories and so much more in our

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free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes,

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and as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it

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off to.

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Darryl Universal Studio. Hollywoods Halloween Horror Nights in Universal City, California,

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began it's twenty twenty five season this past weekend, and

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we'll continue select nights through November second. Fans flocked to

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see this year's eight houses, Terror Tram Four, Scare Zones,

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The Purge, Dangerous Water Show, and more, with opening weekend

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tickets completely sold out. This year's houses include five shared

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with HHN Orlando, five nights at Freddy's Terrifier, Fallout, Jason Universe,

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and Horrors of the Wyat six, as well as three

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houses unique to Hollywood, Poltergeist, Monstrous three and Scarecrow Music

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by Slash. The main difference in HHN Hollywood's approach to

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the Houses lies in the acting. At HHN Hollywood, the

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houses focus on scenes where the actors can perform motions

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or short vignettes, in contrast to Orlando's Houses, where the

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characters simply appear. New for twenty twenty five is the

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introduction of the event's first ever Halloween Horror Night's Dining Pass.

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The pass entitles guests that two eligible entree items and

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four eligible side snack, dessert or beverage items throughout the evening.

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Executive Chef Truly a Thrash or their culinary team have

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created an expanded menu with even more options than are

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available at HHN Orlando, bringing the same level of details

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to those treats as Universal Entertainment's team brings to the

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Haunted Houses. Fans can find a variety of foods and

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beverages theme to fall Out five nights at Freddy's Terrifier,

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Chason Universe, and more. Guests can also imbibe on a

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fleet of cocktails inspired by a collection of Slash's music

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at the Slash Bar, located in Jurassic Cove Chainsaw Man.

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The Chaos makes its Hollywood debut exclusively within the DreamWorks Theater.

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This all original Horror anime short film derives directly from

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Universal Studios Japan, based on the popular Japanese manga and

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anime series streaming now on crunchy Roll. The film recounts

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the tale of Dengji and the Devil Hunters as they

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battle the Halloween Horror Nights Devil and his army of zombies. Dengi,

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resurrected into Chainsaw Man, a devil human hybrid with protruding

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chainsaws from his body, ultimately takes control in a quest

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to combat the Devils. It's an extreme showdown that dares

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guests to survive the chaos of screams and blood. You

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can view the full coverage of our HHN Hollywood by

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following the links in our show notes to see nine videos,

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some photos, and a comprehens of ticket guide. Halloween Horror

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Nights Orlando is criticized for premium screen night disappointments, oversold passes,

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and controversies around headliner characters. Halloween Horror Nights, a Universal

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Orlando resort in Orlando, Florida, is drawing criticism over the

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event's rocky start to the season. Crowds and long lines

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have long been present at the event, however, this year's

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guests are increasingly frustrated with how the event has structured

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its upsell products. In its second year, Premium Screen Night

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returned with a promise of early entry, shorter weight, and

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unlimited food and soft drinks for the steep price of

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three hundred and seventy five dollars per person. For many, however,

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the evening did not go as expected, as wait times

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for certain mazes were similar to those on a standard night,

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and food stalls experienced food and beverage shortages and long lines.

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Lines and overcrowding are also concern for the full HHN season,

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as all versions of the Frequent Fear Pass with Express

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of sold out. This means thousands of people will now

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be cutting through lines with express access, which may lead

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to longer wait times even for those with the express access.

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A final source of criticism for this year concerns the

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Art the Clown attacks Terrifiers. Art the Clown was planned

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to be a roaming presidence in the streets for this season. However,

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many guests have reported never spotting him, and rumors suggests

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that Universal may pull back his close up experience due

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to reports of harassment. Art the Clown harassment, navigating safety

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challenges at theme parks. Universal's roaming art the clown character

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has become a lightning rod at Halloween Horror Night's Orlando,

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with video showing guests harassing, chasing, and even blocking his path. Meanwhile,

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Hollywood's version of the same character ran smoothly, suggesting this

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is less about the ip and more about training, staffing,

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and audience management. In this week's edition of Green Tag podcast,

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Philip and Scott breakdown why safety lapses around street performers

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are a business problem as much as a guest problem,

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and how differences in talent pools, training, and crowd rules

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create very different outcomes on each coast. Plus what Hershey

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Park's recent monorail incident and other headlines reveal about the

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industry's biggest challenge. Safety is a living, evolving plan. Six

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Flags Great America's Fright Fast begins September thirteenth. Select dates

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September thirteenth through November two. Fright Fast will provide thrills

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and chills at six Flags Great America and Gurney, Illinois.

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The event will feature five mesa The Conjuring Universe, Saw

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Legacy of Terror, Texas, Chainsaw Massacre twenty twenty two, Big

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Top Terror for Carnival three D and the Estate at

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Wretched Meadows, as well as seven scare zones, including three

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new editions, Poddity's Circus of Madness, Headbangers, and Los Muertos

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Knew This year, The Raths and Wake the Dead join

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the live entertainment lineup, alongside returning fan favors like Their

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Ring Master's Cabaret and Love at First Fright. Family friendly

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fall activities return as well, with the daytime Kids Boofest

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event and October Fast Food Festival. The park's Hometown Square

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area will transform into Pumpkin Hollow with seasonal decorations and

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family friendly experiences including live entertainment, a Trick or Treat trail,

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corn Maze, and more. October Fast returns with craft brews

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and German inspired menus. Tickets for all Halloween and Fall

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activities are on sale now. Scare Zones, live shows, and

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most rides are included with park admission. Haunted mazes require

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the purchase of a Haunted Attraction Pass starting as low

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as forty dollars per person. Adventureland debuts a new Haunted

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House for Phantom Fallfest. A new Haunted House is coming

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to Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa, this Halloween season is part

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of Phantom Fallfest Spellkeeper. Spellkeeper features a wicked spellkeeper that

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has escaped the Abyss, where he was condemned for defying

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the ancient order. He is now on a mission for revenge,

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and the more souls he steals, the more power he wields.

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Alongside the new attraction, guests can test their courage and

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four other bone chilling haunts, including Malice in Wonderland, Carnievel, Cornstalkers,

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and Spirits of the Swamp. Fearless. Guests can also face

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four scare zones through their nighttime visits to the park,

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including Dead's Nordic Nightmare, The Fallen, and hell Billies. Phantom

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Fallfest has become the ultimate Halloween tradition in Iowa, and

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this year we're raising the stakes like never before, said

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Adventureland General manager Mike Lusky. With the debut of Spellkeeper,

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our most intense haunt yet. Alongside four other haunted houses,

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four scare zones, and endless fall fun, guests will experience

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the biggest and most chilling Phantom fall Fest in Adventureland history.

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Phantom fall Fest runs Saturdays and Sundays, September twentieth to

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October twenty six. During the day, families can enjoy a

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variety of rides, attractions, entertainment, seasonal suites, and fall decre

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The freights come at night with five haunts, four scare zones,

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and more. Tickets are on sale now starting as low

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as twenty nine ninety nine. Presno Fright Nights comes to

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the Central Valley October third. The Central Valley is about

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to get a lot scarier this October with the grand

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opening of Presno Fright Nights and Fresno California owner operators

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Immersive Attraction Group LC have enlisted the help of legendary

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Halloween haunt expert Alan Hobbs, past president of the Haunted

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Attraction Association, owner of Stiltby Studios and Dark Hour Haunts,

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to create four new distinct experiences across the sprawling six

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acre Halloween attraction. The Chilling Journey begins with a quarter

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mile long immersive experience through Fresno Advanced Chemicals, an abandoned

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plant where experiments went horribly wrong. Guests then navigate cool

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Town Trails, a cemetery filled with their darkest fears, before

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encountering the layer of the Fresno Nightcrawler at night Crawler's Pizza.

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The terrifying adventure concludes the fun little trip through the

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Blood River Bayou Swamp beyond the scares of the Midway

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at Fresno. Fright Nights will offer food trucks, twelve creepy

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photo ops, two full service bars, and a variety of

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live entertainment. Tickets are on sale now starting at forty

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to fifty dollars for general admission. Zombie Joe's Underground Theater

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Group presents Phantom, an immersive horror experience this September. Zombie

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Joe's Underground Theater Group in North Hollywood, California, invites audiences

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deep into the shadows of Phantom and immersive horror experience

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and adapt to of Gaston LaRue's classic tale. Written and

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directed by Charlotte Cocker and produced by Zombie Joe, this

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fully immersive, forty five minute performance transforms Zombie Joe's Underground

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into the Phantom haunting domain. Dripping away the romance and grandeur,

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Phantom plunges audiences into the world of dread, obsession, and horror,

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where the Upper Ghost lurks inches away in the darkness.

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The show will run Fridays and Saturdays September nineteenth through

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twenty seventh. Tickets are on sale now for twenty dollars

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online and twenty five at the door. Man Farms in Abatsford, BC,

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Canada has announced their first Helloween Fright Festival, taking place

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September twenty seventh through November first. Their three haunted attractions

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are returning, but the event has evolved with new interactive elements,

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more scares, and new evergreen Halloween moments. Every year we

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aim to reimagine our farm and we feel that we

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have added layers of atmosphere and performance, making this our

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most immersive season yet, says the mere Man farmer at

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Man Farms. The driving inspiration behind the Freight Festival was

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to extend the magic of Hellowe beyond a single night

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reminiscent of childhood nostalgia where we gathered with our friends

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wandered the streets in costume, feeling spooked by the lurking darkness.

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Every corner of the festival has built the start with

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a surprise transition to a delight and for the brave,

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culminate in a series of horror. In addition to the haunts,

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the frightfully fun forest, pumpkin patches built for wandering beneath

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miss shrouded trees and among photo ops. A live show

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will introduce the night, and live entertainment will be dispersed

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between the attractions and stage. Mama Man's Country Kitchen will

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serve savory favorites and delicious seasonal desserts. Tickets are on

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zail now starting at sixty nine dollars to ninety nine

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dollars Canadian for general admission. M and D Scotland's Theme

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Park offers family fun and thrilling scares. M and D

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Scotland's Theme Park and Motherwell Scotland will offer Halloween fund

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for the whole family. There is October with its Pumpkin

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Festival running October fourth through twenty sixth, and their Zombie

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Checkpoint and Freak Show Uncaged running select dates October tenth

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through thirty first. Family friendly fun of bounds with the

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Pumpkin Outdoor Festival, guests will enjoy the interactive storytelling session,

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Pumpkins Got Talent, the Pumpkin Express Train, themed Halloween games,

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arts and crafts, and Pumpkin Trail. Another highlight of the

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event is a visit to the Pumpkin Patch, where pumpkins

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of all sizes and shapes. Await tickets are on sale

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now starting a nine pound ninety five per person and

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include a hot drink. This season, Scotland's Theme Park and

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Zombie Adventure creators Zombie Infection are teaming up for a

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thrilling thirty minute attraction, Zombie Checkpoint. Guests will navigate a

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vast maze, crawling with the undead as they locate and

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activate a network of RFID security terminals to earn their

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team points in a race against other squads to be

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the top survivors. Brave guests can also enter Freak Show

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Uncaged for more thrills and scares. This sequel to the

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last year's mind bending Hit Dar's guests to step inside

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a circus where the freaks are in charge and flesh

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is the only applause they crave. Tickets for both attractions

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are on se now starting at twenty four pound ninety

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five per person. Home Haunter Awards Show twenty twenty four.

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Triangle Hollow Productions and Halloween Yard Haunts and Props hosted

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their annual Home Haunter Award Show this past weekend, honoring

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outstanding haunters from the twenty twenty four Halloween season. Categories

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include best Costume, Digital Display Display, haunt cycled, modified prop,

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motorized prop, pneumatic prop, static prop, and walk through. Congratulations

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to all of the winners. Some upcoming events this September

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through November include creep it reeal oc in Santa Ana, California,

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September twelfth through fourteenth, Son of Monster Palooza in Burbank,

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California October tenth through twelfth, Ayappa in Orlando, Florida, November

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seventeenth through twentieth, and creep it Real Festive in Santa Ana, California,

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November twenty first through twenty third.

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And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode

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was produced by me Philip Bernandez, with reporting by Daryl

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plunk Key, post production by David Swope. This hant News

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Update is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network and

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you can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Hanta

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Attractionnetwork dot com. Support for this episode comes from Gantum

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Lighty and controls until next time, Haunters Stay Scary. This

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is a Haunted Attraction Network production.