The most magically horrendous time of year is within reach. Days away from the UK events launching their 2025 scares and I thought let’s put together a little survival guide for this upcoming season. I’m not an expert but these are things I find critical in making spooky season the best it can be.
Dress For The Scares:
It’s October the weather can be a little erratic and sometimes mazes can be a mix of indoor & outdoor. So, dress accordingly but also not too wrapped up ready for the scare sweats. Footwear is the most crucial part of your outfit planning. Nothing slippy and something that supports your feet is ideal as there’s often a lot of uneven floors within scare mazes & zones.
Plan The Maze Order:
Firstly, arrive at the gates opening to be in with the best chance of experiencing all the mazes you want even if you have fast tracks. Do a little research on the website before visiting. I always recommend beginning with the lower-ranked maze for scares then build yourself up. Unless you’re a veteran of the scary world then do as you please as you’ve more than likely scoped out your own route for most events anyway.
Keep Loose Belongings Secured:
You don’t want to drop your phone or keys within a scary maze. Taking on board a zippy pocket jacket is always convenient. Keep your belongings safe to save the unwarranted nuisance of finding them.
React But Don’t Freeze
Absolutely give those actors a reaction (respectfully) but nobody needs someone in their group to freeze. Sometimes it’s tough I appreciate that but keep moving and it’ll soon be over. Actors deserve the best reactions to their scares even if the scare didn’t quite get you they work so hard to create this environment safely for guests so interact and have fun. BUT always be respectful.
Know Your Limits:
Understanding your limits is so important for enjoying these events. If you aren’t able to deal with confined spaces, hoods on your head or anything of that essence always read the boards outside the maze. This will tell you all the essential bits of the maze but more often than not there’s always a pre-entry to the maze that’ll give you a lowdown through an audio recording. With this though also comes understanding how you react to being scared if you lash out or feel you can’t control yourself DO NOT ENTER. These actors are people just like us who are working their asses off to give everyone the best experience. They deserve respect and to feel secure despite what they are doing.
Look Around:
It’s so easy to walk with your head down or even to cover your eyes. The apprehension of the scares is a lot. However, look around because a lot of the time the set pieces are truly gorgeous and the actors can come from rather spontaneous areas too. It’s a full-blown experience in a scare maze and I know the bottom line is for the scares but more often than not they are decently themed & even occasionally there’s some real clever characteristics to the sets. Take it to the best of your ability.
Debrief over A Cold One:
Once the mazes are over find a nice chilled-out spot and grab yourself a nice cold one whether that’s an alcoholic or non alcoholic drink. Debrief with your group about what you’ve experienced. Enjoy the surrounding entertainment and have a chuckle with the roaming team. Even find the perfect photo spots to take your Instagram photos. Dive into some of the food offerings. There’s so much to appreciate away from the full-blown scares at the majority of events. It’s a full night experience and how little time there is to enjoy these events you have to make the most of every last second.
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There’s a nice little survival guide for you this Halloween season. Where are you heading first? Let me know!
Thank you for reading as always!
