Werewolves howl in the distance as a cackling clown jumps from the shadows in front of you. You have to force yourself to believe that the scares and frights you’re encountering aren’t real, after all you’re in a haunted house, but which to choose? We’ve reviewed a few venues below that are sure to fill your pre-Halloween nights with horror.
Fear City Chicago was named one of the top ten Haunted Houses in Illinois by USA Today. It consists of not just your average goblins and ghouls, but 40,000 square feet of stomach twisting scenes and interactive actors who come right up to you. Fear City will also be hosting Fable Studios Carnivale, a scary attraction that shares the same site. Carnivale is an interactive “side show.” There is also a Trick or Treat Fest for children on Oct. 26th sponsored by the haunted house.
For dates and ticket prices for Fear City Chicago and Fable Studios Carnivale visit: http://fearcitychicago.com/
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America is another option if you’re looking for a good scare. This site is located in the Illinois branch of Six Flags. Fright Fest contains the usual roller coasters the park provides but a monstrous twist: zombies, vampires, goblins, ghouls, mummies, giant spiders and many more horrific characters who walk around the park preying on innocent teenagers.
Take a journey through a terrifying forest that few have survived and be horrified by zombies at a mausoleum at Fearful Frights at Six Flags Great America. Out of the six Fearful Frights two are new. The new attractions include: The Abyss and Total Darkness. The other four Fearful Frights include Wicked Woods, Manslaughter Manor, Massacre Medical Center, and Mausoleum of Terror. In addition to the Fearful Frights is the Monstertainment. Monstertainment consists of bands, activities and games. Anyone under 17 is not permitted to enter the Fright Club but can be entertained instead at the other Mostertainment events such as Love at First Fright, Zombie Jamboree Day Parade, Fantome and Face 2 Face.
For prices, directions and more information check out: http://frightfest.sixflags.com/
Scream Scene is at Oakton Park in Skokie. Rated as one of the best Illinois haunted houses, Scream Scene has been scaring people for more than 17 years. The haunted house leads the audience through a maze of rooms featuring zombies, crazy doctors, haunted nurseries, creepy clowns and a variety of other spooks and screams. As a local haunted house it attracts much attention from students from the local schools.
Scream Scene opened Oct. 4 and will be open on Fridays and Saturdays until Oct. 28. Tickets are $9 per person but on Oct. 24 (discount day) tickets are $7. Scream Scene is open from 7-10 p.m. For children who aren’t quite old enough to handle Scream Scene, there is a lights-on version of the haunted house on Oct. 19 and 26 from 11-2 p.m. Tickets for the lights-on haunted house are $2/adult and $3/child.
For more information on Scream Scene visit: http://screamscene.org/
