I was invited by Six Flags Over Georgia to attend Fright Fest in exchange for my review of the event. All opinions and photos are mine.
Last weekend, I was one of the lucky few invited to attend the first night of Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Georgia. I hadn’t attended a Fright Fest event since my high school years, so it’s been a little while since I’ve seen what they’ve been up to. While scary events are not typically my thing, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had on my recent visit. If you love to experience Halloween-style thrills and chills, Fright Fest is the event for you.
Whether you’ve been before or it’s your first time attending, Fright Fest can seem overwhelming. There is so much to see and do, and your experience depends on what is most important to you. Do you like haunted houses? Are you into shows? Would you rather just walk around the park and wait for the “free scares?” With so many ways to experience Fright Fest, you’ll want to check out my tips to consider while you’re planning your visit!
Tips for Visiting Fright Fest
- Enjoy Six Flags Over Georgia during the day, and come back for Fright Fest at night. Your daily admission price includes evening admission to Fright Fest. If you want to visit any of the upgraded attractions like the haunted houses, you’ll need to purchase a wristband to go with your daily admission price. Check out the Six Flags Over Georgia website for full pricing information.
- Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13. Bugs Bunny Boomtown is not open on Friday nights and after 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You know your children best but trust me, the park is pretty scary after the sun goes down.
- There are “free scares” all around the park including character actors that follow you around for scares (don’t worry, they aren’t allowed to touch you), creepy decorations, and mazes/walk-through areas. Most roller coasters and other rides are open, but select attractions and haunted houses require an extra admission fee.
- Don’t pass up the shows! The Uprising is the first show of the night and it is the official “releasing” of the characters into the parks to roam. It set the tone for the night! You’ll also want to make time to see Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party. Set to upbeat Halloween-inspired tunes, this zombie stage show is incredibly well done and fun.
- Take your time and enjoy the evening. The weeknight hours are typically 6 pm-midnight and on Saturdays and Sundays, the hours are noon-11 pm or midnight. Be sure to check the online calendar before you go so you know which operating hours are on which days. If you’re taking young children during the day, the creepy decorations will still be up, but the roaming characters don’t start until after 6 pm, so don’t worry about little ones getting scared during the day.
If you’ve been before, never fear! Six Flag Over Georgia is always adding new attractions and experiences.
What’s New for Fright Fest 2016
- Mummy’s Curse is a new, pitch-black haunted house full of mummies that you must try to escape from. You’ll have one lowly flashlight to guide you, but will you make it out alive?
- If that doesn’t sound like your kind of fright, you might want to give Rage of the Gargoyles a Virtual Reality Coaster a try. You’ll be riding the Dare Devil Dive Coaster but with a twist. While you physically ride the coaster, you will be viewing a wholly different experience through a Samsung Gear VR system strapped to your head. It’s a wild ride!
- Carnevil, a stage show, brings out all the creeps. Clowns and circus sideshow acts are featured here and will make your skin crawl!
- The Uprising stage show marks the beginning of Fright Fest by “calling out” all of the creatures that will roam the park at night. If you want to be ready for the roaming scares, make sure you know when this show starts.
Overall, my experience was a positive one. Yes, even if you’re not a fan of scares, you can enjoy yourself and the atmosphere at Fright Fest. One of my favorite parts of the event was being able to sneak a peek behind the scenes and speak with some of the artists and creative director, Chris Black, about the details and work they put into this event each year. Check out my Facebook live video to see exactly what I’m talking about. Fright Fest is aiming to be a premier Halloween event, and I can attest to the skill and expertise they have on hand to achieve that goal. One of my favorite attractions was Dr. Fright’s Frightorium 3-D haunted house experience. We entered wearing 3-D glasses and were treated to some far our experiences that really “stood out” (if you catch my drift).
Have you attended Fright Fest in years past? Will you make plans to attend this year? Hope you survive your trip!
