Scream Aloud 2023
Scream Aloud is back for 2023, with several new zones, a new queuing and batching system and a packed schedule of shows throughout the night. The main event area is now all contained within the circus tent, with a number of loud and lively fairground rides outside.
Of course the whole experience is overseen by the inimitable Miss Fannie Burns, who seems to be omnipresent throughout the main arena. You never know where her, or her cohorts will turn up next, and as we enjoyed the lively music and a drink to calm our nerves, they all took their time to torment us mercilessly!
Once it was our time to enter the main show, we made our way to the batching area and were soon sent out into the darkness. After a short walk, we met our first new experience - Rotten Rickie's Repulsive Roundhouse - an inflatable clown maze built inside a marquee. This was a great start to the night, as it featured lively comical actors and some great drum and bass style circus music. We would have preferred the attraction if it had been a little bit darker, but it was a fun start to the night.
The next portion of the trail utilised the wooded area at the site and involves a very twisty path that winds in and around the natural woodland. Along the way we passed through areas such as Nocturnal, Ward 13 and the House of Dolls. Unfortunately on our visit - the woodland seemed very sparse. The sets and props around were impressive, but we just found the outside areas to be a little short on actors.
This seemed to improve within the indoor elements (especially in Ward 13 which was as chaotic as we remember from 2022). We must also mention the greatly extended House of Dolls with its elaborate theming and creepy characters. These more "set" based attractions really added to the overall walk along the route.
Once we finally escaped from Ward 13 (which wasn't an easy task as the actors kept splitting us up and sending us in different directions) we ended up in the queue for the final experience - Fannies Cavern of Chaos. While waiting we were given a glowstick neckace and told a few basic rules - don't run, if your necklace is stolen - you're out, and most importantly - you will be touched!
The experience itself has clearly been inspired by Survival Maze Arena at Horrorland but has taken the concept and added its own unique spin. Now instead of being chased by a league of super warriors, the main combatants are a horde of Fannie Burns impersonators. The sheer disparity in size and looks for these actors is played hilariously, as they are all dressed and sound like Fannie. Our biggest issue with this maze was how light it was. More darkness, interspersed by some strobe lighting would have worked wonders. But saying that - it was clear that most people in our batch were having a laugh. And surely that's the point of this attraction - it's intense but also hilarious in a "WTF am I doing?" way!
As we returned to the main tent to enjoy some food and take in the atmosphere - we couldn't help but reflect on the whole trail. Clearly the creative team have made a real effort to try and introduce new themes and elements, but sadly we found the scare experience to be slightly lacking compared to 2022. This could have been due to the aforementioned - paucity of actors throughout.
That said, we loved some of the ideas and designs that the team have put in and we had a great time during our visit. It's exciting to see that the event is expanding and exploring new concepts, and we look forward to seeing what they come up with next.
Of course the whole experience is overseen by the inimitable Miss Fannie Burns, who seems to be omnipresent throughout the main arena. You never know where her, or her cohorts will turn up next, and as we enjoyed the lively music and a drink to calm our nerves, they all took their time to torment us mercilessly!
Once it was our time to enter the main show, we made our way to the batching area and were soon sent out into the darkness. After a short walk, we met our first new experience - Rotten Rickie's Repulsive Roundhouse - an inflatable clown maze built inside a marquee. This was a great start to the night, as it featured lively comical actors and some great drum and bass style circus music. We would have preferred the attraction if it had been a little bit darker, but it was a fun start to the night.
The next portion of the trail utilised the wooded area at the site and involves a very twisty path that winds in and around the natural woodland. Along the way we passed through areas such as Nocturnal, Ward 13 and the House of Dolls. Unfortunately on our visit - the woodland seemed very sparse. The sets and props around were impressive, but we just found the outside areas to be a little short on actors.
This seemed to improve within the indoor elements (especially in Ward 13 which was as chaotic as we remember from 2022). We must also mention the greatly extended House of Dolls with its elaborate theming and creepy characters. These more "set" based attractions really added to the overall walk along the route.
Once we finally escaped from Ward 13 (which wasn't an easy task as the actors kept splitting us up and sending us in different directions) we ended up in the queue for the final experience - Fannies Cavern of Chaos. While waiting we were given a glowstick neckace and told a few basic rules - don't run, if your necklace is stolen - you're out, and most importantly - you will be touched!
The experience itself has clearly been inspired by Survival Maze Arena at Horrorland but has taken the concept and added its own unique spin. Now instead of being chased by a league of super warriors, the main combatants are a horde of Fannie Burns impersonators. The sheer disparity in size and looks for these actors is played hilariously, as they are all dressed and sound like Fannie. Our biggest issue with this maze was how light it was. More darkness, interspersed by some strobe lighting would have worked wonders. But saying that - it was clear that most people in our batch were having a laugh. And surely that's the point of this attraction - it's intense but also hilarious in a "WTF am I doing?" way!
As we returned to the main tent to enjoy some food and take in the atmosphere - we couldn't help but reflect on the whole trail. Clearly the creative team have made a real effort to try and introduce new themes and elements, but sadly we found the scare experience to be slightly lacking compared to 2022. This could have been due to the aforementioned - paucity of actors throughout.
That said, we loved some of the ideas and designs that the team have put in and we had a great time during our visit. It's exciting to see that the event is expanding and exploring new concepts, and we look forward to seeing what they come up with next.
Scream Aloud 2022
The catchphrase for Scream Aloud 2022 is "Bigger, Longer, Harder" and we recently went along to see if this was true or just a bit of marketing from that cheeky minx - Miss Fannie Burns. Whilst we waited for our time to enter the main part of the show we were able to enjoy the roaming characters, take a spin on the fairground rides and grab a bite to eat.
Once ready for the main show, we passed through the fire performers and were immediately launched into our first experience. Whereas previously we had to walk through an empty field, this year we were hooded and asked to follow a rope. There were a few scares along the way and once the hoods were removed we were in front of a beautifully themed Burial ground. It was a great start to the event and soon led us to the wooded area where the majority of the event is held.
As we made our way round Nocturnal - being taunted by witches we were slightly concerned that this years event would just be a repeat of last year. The woodland is impressive and the winding course makes the most of the area but nothing felt really different. There were some great jump scares, but we wondered if that was the events only mode. But then we discovered the next zone!
So after walking though the woods - House of Dolls turned out to be a real revelation, as this section was a whole series of beautifully themed indoor structures with dolls and toys throughout. The close nature of the corridors and the rooms felt very claustrophobic at times, and with so many hiding places for actors we had some great scares throughout. Clearly a lot of effort had gone into this section.
Mixing up the style once again, Boot Camp was an outdoor experience with some very demanding army guys trying to get us through an area populated with zombies. The zombies were particularity fast and we experienced multiple screams as as they attacked us from all sides. Once we escaped we had the final humiliation of facing the most aggressive army sergeant ever, who decided that we needed to put through our paces for his entertainment.
And then we can to the highlight of the night - the indoor Ward 13 that can only be described as the most chaotic, hilarious and at times scary things we have experienced in ages. Having spent most of the event so far as a conga line group, we were shocked by the audaciousness of this maze. From the sassy matron out front through to the scary doctor and the aggressive nurses inside, everything about this maze was designed to separate us from our friends and confuse people. We wont even mention the amount of time we were forced to sit on the toilet for! Just watching people get sent through dead ends etc or suddenly finding each other, was very entertaining. As a group of four we were only ever reunited once we had all individually made it outside!
The final attraction of the night was built in a marquee and was a simple Heras fencing and strobe maze filled with smoke. This maze seemed to go on forever and we were taunted by an army of Fannies with chainsaws.It was a great spin on a classic concept and was complete disorientating throughout.
Once back in the main arena we had chance to reflect on what we had just experienced. and all agreed that compared to 2011, this years event has really lived up to the hype. It's clear that a lot of effort and imagination has gone into it and we loved the variety throughout. It's incredible to see what started as a little show expanding into something like this, and we cant wait to see what next year brings. So with a longer route, more intense scenes and a great mix of scares and humour across the night, Scream Aloud 2022 really was bigger longer and harder!
Once ready for the main show, we passed through the fire performers and were immediately launched into our first experience. Whereas previously we had to walk through an empty field, this year we were hooded and asked to follow a rope. There were a few scares along the way and once the hoods were removed we were in front of a beautifully themed Burial ground. It was a great start to the event and soon led us to the wooded area where the majority of the event is held.
As we made our way round Nocturnal - being taunted by witches we were slightly concerned that this years event would just be a repeat of last year. The woodland is impressive and the winding course makes the most of the area but nothing felt really different. There were some great jump scares, but we wondered if that was the events only mode. But then we discovered the next zone!
So after walking though the woods - House of Dolls turned out to be a real revelation, as this section was a whole series of beautifully themed indoor structures with dolls and toys throughout. The close nature of the corridors and the rooms felt very claustrophobic at times, and with so many hiding places for actors we had some great scares throughout. Clearly a lot of effort had gone into this section.
Mixing up the style once again, Boot Camp was an outdoor experience with some very demanding army guys trying to get us through an area populated with zombies. The zombies were particularity fast and we experienced multiple screams as as they attacked us from all sides. Once we escaped we had the final humiliation of facing the most aggressive army sergeant ever, who decided that we needed to put through our paces for his entertainment.
And then we can to the highlight of the night - the indoor Ward 13 that can only be described as the most chaotic, hilarious and at times scary things we have experienced in ages. Having spent most of the event so far as a conga line group, we were shocked by the audaciousness of this maze. From the sassy matron out front through to the scary doctor and the aggressive nurses inside, everything about this maze was designed to separate us from our friends and confuse people. We wont even mention the amount of time we were forced to sit on the toilet for! Just watching people get sent through dead ends etc or suddenly finding each other, was very entertaining. As a group of four we were only ever reunited once we had all individually made it outside!
The final attraction of the night was built in a marquee and was a simple Heras fencing and strobe maze filled with smoke. This maze seemed to go on forever and we were taunted by an army of Fannies with chainsaws.It was a great spin on a classic concept and was complete disorientating throughout.
Once back in the main arena we had chance to reflect on what we had just experienced. and all agreed that compared to 2011, this years event has really lived up to the hype. It's clear that a lot of effort and imagination has gone into it and we loved the variety throughout. It's incredible to see what started as a little show expanding into something like this, and we cant wait to see what next year brings. So with a longer route, more intense scenes and a great mix of scares and humour across the night, Scream Aloud 2022 really was bigger longer and harder!
Scream Aloud 2021
Scream Aloud started several years ago as a small woodland maze and has grown over the years into the South’s biggest Halloween scare event.
Upon arrival we were greeted by a large circus tent as the main event hub, as well as a load of fairgrounds rides, a burger joint and a bar. Roaming the area and interacting with the queue were the inimitable Miss Fannie Burns and a chainsaw guy with a penchant for hammering mails through his nose!
The main three mazes at the event are experienced as one long walk, and it is here that we got a lot little confused. Nocturnal, Funhouse and Ward 13 all seemed to blend into each other with no real definition between each experience. For example we saw a clown in the Ward 13 section and a werewolf in the clown section! That's not to say that they weren't scary - but the three "attractions" kind of merged into one long experience with now real defining separation point.
But we must say that the woodland walk itself was really well laid out with some very winding paths and numerous switchbacks. The actors were able to get a number of scares and jumps throughout our group and they were particularly lively and menacing.
It is clear that Scream Aloud are only a newish event and just don't have the budget of many big events, so we really must commend them for what they have achieved with this year's experience. The main hub area was really buzzing on our visit, and people were leaving the woodland trail laughing at the scares they had experienced. We genuinely think this event has a great future ahead, and we look forward to visiting again in the future.
Upon arrival we were greeted by a large circus tent as the main event hub, as well as a load of fairgrounds rides, a burger joint and a bar. Roaming the area and interacting with the queue were the inimitable Miss Fannie Burns and a chainsaw guy with a penchant for hammering mails through his nose!
The main three mazes at the event are experienced as one long walk, and it is here that we got a lot little confused. Nocturnal, Funhouse and Ward 13 all seemed to blend into each other with no real definition between each experience. For example we saw a clown in the Ward 13 section and a werewolf in the clown section! That's not to say that they weren't scary - but the three "attractions" kind of merged into one long experience with now real defining separation point.
But we must say that the woodland walk itself was really well laid out with some very winding paths and numerous switchbacks. The actors were able to get a number of scares and jumps throughout our group and they were particularly lively and menacing.
It is clear that Scream Aloud are only a newish event and just don't have the budget of many big events, so we really must commend them for what they have achieved with this year's experience. The main hub area was really buzzing on our visit, and people were leaving the woodland trail laughing at the scares they had experienced. We genuinely think this event has a great future ahead, and we look forward to visiting again in the future.
CarnEVIL- Scream Aloud
Links:
Mission Breakout website
You Review
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Very scary
Me and my husband have followed scare tour for some time, always trying to go to one attraction a year.
But last year due to mobility we didn't plan one, until we saw an ad for a local attraction only 20 minutes away from us. So we booked early for only £7 each, which made me think oh god this is going to be tiny.
But when we arrived I couldn't believe it, they had converted a old christmas tree farm into a haunt.
And not only was it scary, funny and a good 35 minute attraction, a young lady working there allowed me and my husband to go alone to ensure I didn't get rushed by the other people that would be in our group.
Which means I give this Carnevil An A* for customer service
Me and my husband have followed scare tour for some time, always trying to go to one attraction a year.
But last year due to mobility we didn't plan one, until we saw an ad for a local attraction only 20 minutes away from us. So we booked early for only £7 each, which made me think oh god this is going to be tiny.
But when we arrived I couldn't believe it, they had converted a old christmas tree farm into a haunt.
And not only was it scary, funny and a good 35 minute attraction, a young lady working there allowed me and my husband to go alone to ensure I didn't get rushed by the other people that would be in our group.
Which means I give this Carnevil An A* for customer service
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