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Two nights of terror
environment. The setting gives the attraction plenty of opportunities to play with expectations, while the limited visibility means you are never entirely sure what is ahead. The torch mechanic adds an extra layer of
tension. Rather than simply making your way through a maze and waiting for actors to appear, the experience encourages you to actively look around, while also making you question whether you actually want to see what is in front of you. While Tenement provided a strong central
experience, the wider atmosphere across the park felt somewhat quieter than in previous years. Feedback from returning Fright Nights visitors
has suggested that some of the scare zones have lost impact, with fewer scare actors and themed sets compared with previous seasons. Having experienced other Halloween events
around the UK, I felt Thorpe Park could have done more to build that sense of atmosphere throughout the wider park. The rides and Tenement provided some strong moments, but the transition between individual scare experiences did not always carry the same level of intensity. With Fright Nights reaching its 25th
anniversary, there is clearly a huge amount of history behind the event. That history creates high expectations from returning visitors, particularly those who have been attending for many years. Nevertheless, there were still plenty of
enjoyable elements to the evening, and Tenement demonstrated that Thorpe Park is continuing to introduce new ideas into the event rather than relying entirely on its existing attractions.
30 years of screams at Tulleys A few days later, I headed to Tulleys Farm for its 2026 Shocktoberfest press night. Having attended previous years, I was
particularly interested to see how the event had developed for its 30th anniversary. Thirty years is a significant milestone for any Halloween attraction, and Tulleys have built a reputation for creating an experience that extends well beyond the individual scare mazes. This year, the event felt bigger from the moment we arrived. The black carpet and dedicated press area
created a lively start to the evening, with music, food and drinks setting the tone before guests headed into the attractions. There was a real sense of occasion
surrounding the anniversary, with the event feeling like more than simply an evening of scare mazes. Once inside, guests could move between different areas, attractions and entertainment, with a variety of food trucks, merch stands, live performers and screens showing the newest horror trailers this year. One of the new additions for this year was
the House of Hades show, located within the Wastelands Penitentiary area. It saw fire performers, dancers and aerial artists take to the stage, in a spectacular show. On the other side of the farm, house band,
Euphoria, played covers and between songs and interacted with the audience to help create an energetic atmosphere. The live element worked particularly well,
giving guests something to watch between the scare attractions and helping make the wider event feel more immersive. It also demonstrated the variety that Tulleys bring to Shocktoberfest, with the evening offering more than simply walking through a maze. There were plenty of changes to discover
across the attraction this year. New additions included Appleton County
Farm and The Cellar Returns, while returning mazes have also received updates to keep the experience fresh for regular visitors. For an event that has been running for three decades, keeping returning guests interested is an important challenge. New attractions and changes to existing experiences give visitors a reason to come back and see what has changed from one season to the next.
For me, however, Purgatory remained the
standout. Its darker and more sinister atmosphere
created a level of tension that felt difficult to match elsewhere across the event. The combination of its setting, scares and atmosphere made it one of the experiences I was still thinking about after leaving. Another returning highlight was the internet-
online thanks to their quick-witted remarks and deadpan delivery. Their presence has become part of the wider
Shocktoberfest experience and once again provided some memorable moments during the evening. The Twins have developed their own identity within the attraction, demonstrating how individual performers can become just as recognisable to returning guests as the attractions themselves. That sense of familiarity is an important part of
to introduce new elements, there are also characters and attractions that visitors return specifically to see.
A spooky start to the season For Park World, getting an early look at this year's Halloween celebrations was a great way to kick off October. As someone who has always loved Halloween,
getting the chance to experience these events before they opened to the public was a real highlight. Press nights also offer a different perspective on the attractions, allowing you to take in the details, atmosphere and performances while experiencing the events as they are intended. Both venues have clearly put considerable
thought into their 2026 Halloween seasons, with new experiences, returning favourites and entertainment helping shape each event. For Thorpe Park, the 25th anniversary of
Fright Nights provided the backdrop for the introduction of Tenement, giving visitors a brand-new scare maze to discover alongside the existing Halloween offering. At Tulleys Farm, 30 years of Shocktoberfest
brought its own milestone, with new additions sitting alongside established favourites and the wider entertainment programme helping create a full evening experience. With October now in full swing, the Halloween
season is officially underway, and there are plenty more scares still to come. For Park World, the first two press nights of the
month provided a suitably spooky introduction to the season. And, thankfully, we made it out of both events in one piece.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER IAAPA EXPO EDITION 2026 49
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