We went up to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain this weekend for Fright Fest and had a blast.
Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest is known for being a fairly consistent Halloween event, but this year they tried a bunch of different ideas, from new mazes to new IPs and even a new entry system. And they mostly pulled it off. Let’s get that out of the way first, before we dive into the other aspects.
That entry system is an important thing to remember. If you’re familiar with other Halloween events in Southern California, you know Magic Mountain does it a little differently. Instead of clearing out the park each evening, which would be a daunting affair given its gigantic footprint, they originally had people pay for a wristband for maze access. This year, however, it’s all done through your phones. Not the app, mind you, but a website. On the website, you purchase maze access, and it generates a QR code to scan at the entrance for both Express and General entry. While we wish it were done in their own app to make it smoother, once you were logged in and set up, the process was easy enough, and the cameras on their scanners worked without issue.
There are a handful of shows throughout the night during Fright Fest. The first one most people will come across is Nytewalkerz, a zombie-themed stunt show. We’re personally fans of stunt shows, since it seems like a dying art, so ironically, it works here. The Sliders of the Nights mainstay continues, too. But the big show we were hoping to see was Margo Rita’s Monster Ball. It’s a drag-race-style dance show, and it’s honestly fantastic. This year it was upgraded to be in the Gearworks Theater, but it wasn’t ready for opening weekend. By the time you read this, it should be running, and I would strongly suggest putting it at the top of your list if last year’s performance is any indication.
The scare zones were shuffled around this year, but they each kept their distinct vibe. The DJ in City Under Siege is always a nice touch. Does it make sense? If you think of it in a “Tim Burton Batman” way, it fits in perfectly. Thunderbolt Alley has their live Hootenanny Band, which is fantastic. Live music with performers in makeup and costumes is what really sets a Halloween event apart.
In terms of mazes, it’s a real change-up this year. While mainstays like Willoughby’s Resurrected and Vault: 666 Unlocked remain, Trick ‘r Treat moved to a new location, replacing Saw. And for the first time ever at a Halloween event, Final Destination has a maze.
Trick ‘r Treat’s new location is great. When the new location was announced, the first concern was how the facade would work there, across from CraZanity, where Saw used to be. But it worked out better than before. The entrance is a lot more logical, and the decorated house being easily visible from the walkway sets the vibes perfectly. Inside the maze, not much has changed, but it didn’t need to. Sam is still around, making sure you’re following the rules.
The Conjuring Universe was also completely redone this year. Nothing was wrong with last year’s attempt, but this year, instead of a traditional self-guided walkthrough, you’re held in different show scenes. It’s way more immersive and alive. Not every person in the maze is out to scare you, but rather to help re-enact a scene from the franchise and make sure you feel like you’re a part of it, whether it’s a tour guide showing off the Annabelle doll, or following someone with a lantern through a dark field. This live theater is really at the heart of great mazes, and I hope to see the trend continue.
Wolves’ Blood was the big talk among die-hard Halloween fans. In a surprise announced this August at Midsummer Scream, Gus Krueger of Knott’s Berry Farm designed this maze. It takes place in a town in the middle of nowhere, taken over by werewolves as a band gets ready to put on their first concert. It’s a wild mix of dive bars, record stores, and clubs, chock full of references to mazes of Fright Fest’s past. Our only wish is that it was a longer experience. Hopefully this one sticks around for a while.
The last new maze had the biggest lines: Final Destination: Death’s Playground. If you’ve noticed a trend in the other mazes, this won’t surprise you that this one is more theatrical than outright scary, too. It starts with a pre-show where one person in the group punches their time card as you all join the company, and that’s where everything goes wrong.
From arms ripped off in copy machines, to getting a face burned at the diner, it’s just scene after scene of tragedy, including a fantastic airport room. Unfortunately, you need to be at the front of your group to really experience all of the trauma. But maybe if you’re a bit shy, hiding in the back isn’t the worst idea. We wished the scenes were a bit bloodier and gorier, but aside from that, the performances were spot on. They were so good, it felt awkward to move to the next room, as everyone felt like they couldn’t just leave the person there in agony.
After walking 20,000 steps or so, you’ll probably be a bit peckish, and there’s lots of seasonal food options, from frog legs to “monster” mac & cheese with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. And there’s lots of options for merchandise. Even the stores get decorated for the event. It’s a fun event all around, especially with a season pass. Just wear comfortable shoes. That way you’ll be able to easily walk off that funnel cake.
Fright Fest runs select nights through November 1st. Maze access is not included with park admission. Dates, tickets, maze access, and more are available at sixflags.com.
