Farmaphobia 2024
Farmaphobia is located at Causey Farm, about 45 minutes North of Dublin City Centre. On arrival - like many farm attractions, you understand that this is working farm, and as such you should be prepared if the weather is bad, for the site could be a bit muddy. Also as the event utilises existing farm buildings - it has an unusual layout with 3 attractions at the end of a dark country road away from the main event area. Across the site there are roaming actors, a new mobile version of DJ Spooks and of course food and drink options and a warming bonfire.
In last year's review we were really impressed with the Prison themed maze, Uncaged. and this incredible attraction has returned as chaotic and scary as before. The entrance area is stunning with the spot lights scouring the queue, whilst loud music plays and an escape inmate taunts the guests.Inside, the maze just did not stop, with scares coming from all directions and finished in a massive strobe lit chain link fencing finale that just seems to go on forever.
After experiencing this in 2023, we wondered what the farm would come up with next - but nothing could prepare us for The Crypt. As we said in the video below, if there was a dictionary definition of what a perfect scare attraction should be, then The Crypt would be listed. Everything about this incredible maze oozed class with an atmospheric lightning filled walk through a forest, a real solid rock crypt entrance, and then an attention to detail that would only be fitting for an underground crypt. But it was the actors that made this maze so outstanding. Clearly the maze had been designed for actors to get multiple attacks and attack they did. The scares were non stop throughout with actors in the corridors at times but then able to reach through walls to scare us as the path double backed on itself. This maze was so cleverly designed for maximum impact and the actors were working the space magnificently. Well done to everyone involved in this masterpiece!
The other new attraction was Bobo's Lost Carnival, which took the clowns out of their fun house and out on their travels. What we liked here was that the pathways were much wider and open than an indoor scare maze and the actor clowns were really using the area to get maximum scares throughout.
Returning for this year was The Zombie Morgue, which to date still single handedly has the best way to entrance a scare attraction. A morgue tray is pulled out. You lie down and are pushed head first into the darkness, usually to get an immediate surprise lurking above you! The rest of the maze started lively, but kind of fell a bit flat by the end. We're not sure whether it was missing a few actors but it was the quietest maze of the night.
The last experience, Cornered, is based in a sprawling corn field with a couple of outhouses and surprises along the way. Although we enjoyed the experience and got a number of great scares - we did think that it could do with a bit of trimming. Sad to say there are a lot of empty spaces where you we were just walking through unpopulated corn.
Back in the event arena we tried out two of the mini escape rooms. One we aced in record time, but with the other one we struggled with something so basic - we felt foolish when the solution was revealed!
One final thing we must mention is what we can only call the "nun rave!". We don't want to give too much away, but this was easily one of the most original and hilariously funny things we have ever done at a scare event. It only lasted a couple of minutes, but stayed with us for a long time afterwards.
As we stated at the start - this is an attraction on a working farm, and as such we wouldn't have expected mazes of the quality of Uncaged and The Crypt. But here they are - proving that farm attractions can play with the big boys! After all, Farmaphobia have been scaring guests for years, but they are clearly entering a new renaissance for quality!
In last year's review we were really impressed with the Prison themed maze, Uncaged. and this incredible attraction has returned as chaotic and scary as before. The entrance area is stunning with the spot lights scouring the queue, whilst loud music plays and an escape inmate taunts the guests.Inside, the maze just did not stop, with scares coming from all directions and finished in a massive strobe lit chain link fencing finale that just seems to go on forever.
After experiencing this in 2023, we wondered what the farm would come up with next - but nothing could prepare us for The Crypt. As we said in the video below, if there was a dictionary definition of what a perfect scare attraction should be, then The Crypt would be listed. Everything about this incredible maze oozed class with an atmospheric lightning filled walk through a forest, a real solid rock crypt entrance, and then an attention to detail that would only be fitting for an underground crypt. But it was the actors that made this maze so outstanding. Clearly the maze had been designed for actors to get multiple attacks and attack they did. The scares were non stop throughout with actors in the corridors at times but then able to reach through walls to scare us as the path double backed on itself. This maze was so cleverly designed for maximum impact and the actors were working the space magnificently. Well done to everyone involved in this masterpiece!
The other new attraction was Bobo's Lost Carnival, which took the clowns out of their fun house and out on their travels. What we liked here was that the pathways were much wider and open than an indoor scare maze and the actor clowns were really using the area to get maximum scares throughout.
Returning for this year was The Zombie Morgue, which to date still single handedly has the best way to entrance a scare attraction. A morgue tray is pulled out. You lie down and are pushed head first into the darkness, usually to get an immediate surprise lurking above you! The rest of the maze started lively, but kind of fell a bit flat by the end. We're not sure whether it was missing a few actors but it was the quietest maze of the night.
The last experience, Cornered, is based in a sprawling corn field with a couple of outhouses and surprises along the way. Although we enjoyed the experience and got a number of great scares - we did think that it could do with a bit of trimming. Sad to say there are a lot of empty spaces where you we were just walking through unpopulated corn.
Back in the event arena we tried out two of the mini escape rooms. One we aced in record time, but with the other one we struggled with something so basic - we felt foolish when the solution was revealed!
One final thing we must mention is what we can only call the "nun rave!". We don't want to give too much away, but this was easily one of the most original and hilariously funny things we have ever done at a scare event. It only lasted a couple of minutes, but stayed with us for a long time afterwards.
As we stated at the start - this is an attraction on a working farm, and as such we wouldn't have expected mazes of the quality of Uncaged and The Crypt. But here they are - proving that farm attractions can play with the big boys! After all, Farmaphobia have been scaring guests for years, but they are clearly entering a new renaissance for quality!
Farmaphobia 2023
Sadly due to transport issues we were only able to experience a couple of the attractions in operation at Farmaphobia this year but had a chance to look round the rest of the daytime, to get a feel.
First off – some history – Faramaphobia at Causey Farm has been around for ages . It was one of the first farm parks to really expand into Halloween around the same time as Tulleys Shocktoberfest and the sadly now defunct Broadwitch Hauntfest. Since then the park has really expanded and their attractions have moved form some simple props and a couple of actors through to elaborately themed new attractions that wouldn’t look out of place in a theme park!
Firstly we checked out the outdoor mazes, and although we walked through Cult and Cornered during the day – we could see their potential at night fall. Cornered is a fairly standard corn maze that would be populated by hillbillies. Along the way there are a number of gruesome scenes of mutilation and torture.
Cult looked much more interesting with a unique feel of ancient rituals, animistic sacrifice and ancient Gods. This mix of indoor and outdoor maze is particularly long and the robed characters with antlered skulls on their heads would be terrifying in the dark.
The final maze we had a look round was the Zombie Morgue which we have reviewed previously. You may remember that this is the maze with the incredible start as guests are laid on sliding mortuary trays and pushed into the maze through a mortuary door. We are still amazed that this hasn’t been copied elsewhere – it's so original and unnerving. The rest of the maze is a mix of dirty medical scenes, as the reanimated corpses from the mortuary try their best to eat your brains.
Our first live maze was Clown Town, which we have done before, but seemed more manic then ever. The actors were on top form and were literally bouncing around the walls in the maze. They managed to get a number of great scares from us through this long and fun maze
Our last maze before we had to leave was the new for 2023 Uncaged. Everything about this attraction oozed class, from the incredible facade with the promenades for the armed security guards, through to chaotic fog and strobe finale that left us desperate to escape. All the tropes you would expect from a prison themed maze were included, such as aggressive prison wardens, dodgy shower blocks and a disgusting mess hall. The sets and designs throughout were really well themed, but we had very little chance to stop and admire them as the actors even crazier than we expected. The actors literally attacked us from all sides, leaving us almost breathless as we tried to escape . There really was no let up from the noise and, scares through the whole experience, and we are so glad we got to visit this, as it is now easily the best and most chaotic maze at the event!
We want to sincerely thank the management team and the actors, for opening Clown Town and Uncaged for us 30 minutes early to allow us to enjoy them. Both mazes had us jumping and screaming throughout and we are so pleased we were able to experience them in the short time we had.
Terrifying - It was by fair the best scare attraction I’ve been to in a while I travelled from America to Ireland to see family and decided to visit Farmaphobia as it was so close by. It was amazing a true experience from start to finish from the cornered to zombie morgue. We visited the uncaged which I really enjoyed and felt was so intense through a true scare and then we went to clowntown which we really really enjoyed it was so scary from the start the actors went above and beyond to keep scaring us from the start to the very end it was just amazing and definitely value for money. Will definitely be referring family and when home again will be attending
Farmaphobia 2019
Farmaphobia is one of Ireland’s largest Halloween events, with over 100 actors across 5 scare attractions. In the past, the event comprised of a long walk through the farm, but in recent years, the event has turned into a scream park layout, with guests able to choose what order they do the attractions in.
Before entering, we were batched into a pre-show group, where the rules of at scare to the event were laid out. We loved the fact that this was done at the start of the evening, meaning we didn’t have any repetition during the night, unlike similar events. Once inside, we headed to the main event area where DJ Spooks was having fun with the crowd below. The atmosphere here was perfect, and guests were clearly enjoying themselves with the music and warming fire.
Of course – the atmosphere was great, but what about the mazes themselves? First up we experienced Mutation Morgue, which is a high intensity trip through a terrifying funeral parlor. The stand out feature to this maze is they way in which guests enter, and we have never seen anything like it before! As a group of 2, we were invited to lay down in the mortuary drawer, and as we were pushed back into the wall, we had no idea what we would find on the other side. This has to have been the standout way to enter any scare maze, and once inside the dark, we had a great set of scares as we tried to escape. The remainder of the attraction focused on providing some good set pieces, whilst the actors gave great performances throughout.
Our next maze was Funhouse, which genuinely stood out as a highlight of the night, due to the the crazy nature of the clowns and the twisted layout. It all made this generic theme, into something far more exciting and scary.
The third returning maze was The Facility, which remain a scary trip though a crazed medical facility. The actors and sets throughout were totally believable and we had a number of great scares across all the scenes. We also ended up separated as a group which made the scares even more intense!
2019 has seen two new attractions added to the line up in the form of Area 51 and WW2 Zombies, and both add great energy to the overall event. Area 51 was a combination of well themed indoor scare attraction, mixed with a long outdoor maize
maze section. The whole story worked well as a complete narrative and was a highlight of the night due to the totally immersive atmosphere. WW2 Zombies however seemed a little too spread out across the site with a lot of wandering around along a very dark route that was sometimes too difficult to see properly. The actors and scenes along the way were great, but due to the length of the walk, felt a bit too spaced out, leaving the attraction feeling underpopulated.
With roaming characters in the main event space, lively actors and some great scares, we had a great time at Farmaphobia, and it was clear that other guests were having fun too. The whole event rang with scared screams around us.
Farmaphobia can be found at Causey Farm in County Meath, North of Dubln
Before entering, we were batched into a pre-show group, where the rules of at scare to the event were laid out. We loved the fact that this was done at the start of the evening, meaning we didn’t have any repetition during the night, unlike similar events. Once inside, we headed to the main event area where DJ Spooks was having fun with the crowd below. The atmosphere here was perfect, and guests were clearly enjoying themselves with the music and warming fire.
Of course – the atmosphere was great, but what about the mazes themselves? First up we experienced Mutation Morgue, which is a high intensity trip through a terrifying funeral parlor. The stand out feature to this maze is they way in which guests enter, and we have never seen anything like it before! As a group of 2, we were invited to lay down in the mortuary drawer, and as we were pushed back into the wall, we had no idea what we would find on the other side. This has to have been the standout way to enter any scare maze, and once inside the dark, we had a great set of scares as we tried to escape. The remainder of the attraction focused on providing some good set pieces, whilst the actors gave great performances throughout.
Our next maze was Funhouse, which genuinely stood out as a highlight of the night, due to the the crazy nature of the clowns and the twisted layout. It all made this generic theme, into something far more exciting and scary.
The third returning maze was The Facility, which remain a scary trip though a crazed medical facility. The actors and sets throughout were totally believable and we had a number of great scares across all the scenes. We also ended up separated as a group which made the scares even more intense!
2019 has seen two new attractions added to the line up in the form of Area 51 and WW2 Zombies, and both add great energy to the overall event. Area 51 was a combination of well themed indoor scare attraction, mixed with a long outdoor maize
maze section. The whole story worked well as a complete narrative and was a highlight of the night due to the totally immersive atmosphere. WW2 Zombies however seemed a little too spread out across the site with a lot of wandering around along a very dark route that was sometimes too difficult to see properly. The actors and scenes along the way were great, but due to the length of the walk, felt a bit too spaced out, leaving the attraction feeling underpopulated.
With roaming characters in the main event space, lively actors and some great scares, we had a great time at Farmaphobia, and it was clear that other guests were having fun too. The whole event rang with scared screams around us.
Farmaphobia can be found at Causey Farm in County Meath, North of Dubln
Links
Farmaphobia official website
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