The Alton Towers website has been updated to confirm the annual event line-up of associated scare mazes, scare zone and entertainment for 2013.
We’ve got a quick round-up of what to expect from this years event…
Scare Mazes
The highlight of Scarefest is as always the scare mazes, where groups of guests encounter a specific horror themed story filled to the eves with props, monsters and surprises which are certainly not for the faint hearted. The mazes for 2013 are:
The Sanctuary: with a story preluding to the Smiler, it is based upon a hospital institute where the staff are desperate to make you smile, but beware going downstairs where the other patients are.
The Sanctuary is based within the Towers complex.
The Carnival of Screams: For several years a creepy circus has rolled into Alton Towers and the ring-master, human puppet and a series of clowns are awaiting their next visitors.
The Carnival location rotates, it was last seen near Sonic Spinball in the Goal Striker unit, however the location is yet to be confirmed officially.
Terror of the Towers: Enter the Historic towers, through the rubble and historic artefacts but be careful, if you go too far you might find something sinister, and if you keep looking you might regret it.
This year The Carnival of Screams is included with your ticket entry price with The Sanctuary and Terror of the Towers being paid for entry, bringing a change to the free offering for the first time in a few seasons.
Scare Zones
Scare Zones are usually a path or area with wandering actors, a lot less intimidating that a scare maze and often quite fun! The only scare zone at Alton Towers for 2013 is Zombies! where you can pass the living dead in this post apocalyptic area! The location/area has not been confirmed yet, however last year it was held via the back entry area to the Dark Forest, and we await confirmation from Alton Towers on where the nuclear bomb has dropped for this year.
Family Attractions
Not forgetting younger spooks that visit the Resort over the Halloween period there is plenty for families to do, including:
Patchs Trick or Treat Party: a live show, based around the 4 friendly Halloween characters that live in the park during this period. It normally includes music, dancing and humour for everyone, make sure to join in. The stage for the party has for the past few years been located at the bottom of Towers Street, but this year it is expected to be in Fountain Square.
Franklyns Freaky Fun Zone: featuring 4 activities including Skelvins Story Time, a close, sweet natured story time with the parks skeleton. Phil and Franklyns Ghoul School, an entertaining small show about one of the monsters reminding the other how to scare people. Patchs Freaky Talks – a show where Patch introduces you to his animal friends. Finally the Character Meet an Greets, where families can meet all 4 Scarefest Characters.
The Hotels
The Hotels this year will feature Scarefest themed rooms as usual, which at a premium offer an exclusive experience where actors will come into your hotel room during the night (and early morning) with a story and do their best to scare you witless.
Expect to see special entertainment on and decorations in both hotels too.
TowersStreet Round-Up
A little disappointingly this year holds no new Scare Mazes or Scare Zones, however it iss pleasing to see the event hasn’t been reduced compared to last year in any way. While initially the park was set to close at 7pm on some dates it appears the event will now remain open until 9pm on all days of Scarefest, making it much better value for money for many. At this early stage though it is worth noting we are awaiting confirmation from Alton Towers for the full closing times and also the more intricate details of the event.
Last year the Carnival of Screams was the shortest maze on park, which may be why it has become the free maze this year, however many will mourn the loss of a free maze in the iconic towers; but Alton Towers have commented that they intend to rotate the free availability of each maze. The Sanctuary was available for free entry early in the 2013 season while the Smiler was delayed.
Interestingly this is now the second event (after the Christmas details were announced) to not include any event within the Old MacDonalds farm area, where the family area has normally been located – again fuelling the rumour that the Farm may close later this season for a new 2014 family area development.
