In part two of our report into how theme parks are gearing up for Halloween, we venture stateside and discuss how popular park are serving up a scary feast.
At Dollywood, guests are going to ‘have a hoot’ during this year’s Harvest Festival presenting the Great Pumpkin LumiNights.
Festivities include Hoot Owl Hollow, an area featuring hundreds of pumpkins in Dollywood’s Craftsman’s Valley that celebrate the nocturnal creature, including a massive 14’ tall version created with more than 150 carved white pumpkins.
Dollywood exclaim that guests will pull an ‘owl-nighter’ in order to experience ‘owl’ the fun. Glowing and carved pumpkins throughout Dollywood will be a sight to see.
“I think everybody knows I believe every day in the Smoky Mountains is beautiful and truly a gift from God,” Dolly Parton said, “but I do feel like fall is when it really puts on a show for all of us to admire and enjoy. As the leaves change, the mountains transform into a patchwork of bright, vibrant colours that make them look as if they’ve come alive.
“The hot summer days start to fade and crisp; cool winds bring that fresh mountain air down into the valleys and right into my Dollywood. To me, this has to be the most beautiful theme park in the whole world, because no park in the world is built right in the middle of the Smokies!”
“I just know folks are going to get a kick out of the new Hoot Owl Hollow. And in ‘owl’ seriousness, I hope our guests make their own precious Smoky Mountain memories while they are here. As I look back on my favourite family memories, so many of them took place during this time of year, and I hope our guests leave with those special moments they’ll share forever.”
Dollywood’s culinary team has created a tantalising list of creations to reap the rewards of the crops provided by the Smoky Mountain harvest.
The smells and tastes of Halloween-themed spiced pumpkin bisque, BUSH’S three bean pumpkin chili, pumpkin spice churros with pumpkin fluff and pumpkin spice iced coffee will quench a gastronomic thirst. Dollywood have Halloween covered.
Next is SeaWorld, which has been transformed from sea kings to scare kings. From 16 September to 31 October, crazy clowns, bloody butchers, and delirious dolls have made themselves home.
“Howl-O-Scream is your traditional, scary, in-your-face Halloween event,” said Geoff Wright, manager of creative operations.
“Our goal is for guests to have fun by scaring them.”
The park has six scare zones, five haunted houses, and a stadium performance for a range of entertainment.
A clever initiative is for guests that do not want to be scared, there are light-up lanyards that say “no-boo” for sale so scare actors know not to come near them.
Further entertainment includes “Carnival of Chaos” and “Vampire Underground”
Howl-O-Scream introduced two new haunted houses this year along. The haunted houses have guests go through a maze with scare actors jumping out at random moments. Visitors finding the activity uncomfortable can make an early exit early with doors that lead outside before the main exit where employees help guide them out.
In the two new houses, “Circus of the Damned” and “Area 64: Alien Outbreak,” are bars that can only be accessed with a secret password that changes every weekend.
David Lawson, a bartender at the Circus of the Damned, said: “The syringe shots and blood bags are definitely the fan favourites,” Lawson said.
More entertainment lies in “Darkness Falls,” a dance and percussion performance, will have guests questioning good and evil. This show is strongly recommended for those 18 years or older.
At Cedar Point, their “HalloWeekends” event celebrate 25 years. Cedar Point have all spooky bases covered from Trick-or-Treat and the legendary Magical House on Boo Hill, to the indoor haunted mazes like Fearground Freak Show and the new Bloodbath.
‘HalloWeekends brings daytime delights and night-time frights to all who seek them. Add in the park’s multitude of rides and roller coasters, delicious fall treats and spook-tacular live shows, and you have the perfect recipe for 25 Years of Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends,’ exclaim Cedar Point.
