Spooktacular - The CarnEVIL- 2012 Review
The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre near Nuneaton in the Midlands have been hosting Halloween themed parties for the last 9 years. With diverse themes ranging from evil clowns, through to scary aliens, the party is unlike any other in the UK as it also includes a trailer ride into the haunted woods.
The whole experience started from the moment we pulled up, with evil clowns attacking our car while we were trying to park, and these lively actors stayed in character all the way up to the entrance of the venue. Small clues as to the later story in the woods were played out around us - especially with a "civilian" trying to warn us away from this evil place.
Once inside, the venue was beautifully themed with Halloween and horror touches around every corner. The tables were decorated with Gothic candelabras, spiders and corpses hung from the ceiling and a dark mist spilled over the dance floor. It was clear that a lot of money had been spent on the elaborate theming and design.
It was also at this point that it struck us that everyone had made such an amazing effort with thier fancy dress outfits There wasn't a cheap supermarket mask in site!. Virtually every costume was visually stunning from sexy witches through to evil jesters and it was great to see that so many people had made the effort.
The compère for the night did a great job of keeping order by organising activities by table - so while tables 1 and 2 were getting scared on the trailer, 3 and 4 were getting their food etc. Talking of the food - it was a delicious and bountiful 3 course carvery feast.
In between the tours and the food, the DJ was playing lively Halloween themed and party music to get the atmosphere going and the compère hosted several fun party games along the way.
When it came time for our trailer ride, we fetched our warmest winter coats and headed out into the darkness. For us, this was around 11pm and perhaps could have been a bit earlier as some of our companions were slightly louder and merrier than you would expect people to be on a trailer ride! (we had all been drinking since 7!) Saying that we all had fun as we were driven out into the dark woods and left to experience the horrors of the CarnEVIL.
Carnevil itself was an event tent that featured a number of well themed rooms and effects. The whole thing was more of a show than a scare attraction but had some genuinely unnerving moments and some very twisted ideas. There was a massive cast of actors in the CarnEVIL rooms but it's a shame that a few of them couldn't have have been put to use providing more trailer based scares.
As the clowns finally took over, we were hastily chased out of the venue into a new form of transport and whisked back to the main event hall passing a few extra scenes. Although creepy rather than really scary, the whole trailer ride element was a really fun part of the whole experience and the organisers should be commended for doing something so different. Once back in the warmth of the main event room, we had plenty of time to top up our drinks and hit the dance floor!
The whole event costs just £42.50 which is incredible value for the level of entertainment, detailed theming and quality carvery dinner that is included. With the party running from 7pm through to early the next morning, we are already planning to return next year with an even bigger group - in fact if you wish to join us - register here.
Spooktacular: CarnEVIL returns to the heart of England Conference and Events centre on Friday 2nd November but places are going fast.
The whole experience started from the moment we pulled up, with evil clowns attacking our car while we were trying to park, and these lively actors stayed in character all the way up to the entrance of the venue. Small clues as to the later story in the woods were played out around us - especially with a "civilian" trying to warn us away from this evil place.
Once inside, the venue was beautifully themed with Halloween and horror touches around every corner. The tables were decorated with Gothic candelabras, spiders and corpses hung from the ceiling and a dark mist spilled over the dance floor. It was clear that a lot of money had been spent on the elaborate theming and design.
It was also at this point that it struck us that everyone had made such an amazing effort with thier fancy dress outfits There wasn't a cheap supermarket mask in site!. Virtually every costume was visually stunning from sexy witches through to evil jesters and it was great to see that so many people had made the effort.
The compère for the night did a great job of keeping order by organising activities by table - so while tables 1 and 2 were getting scared on the trailer, 3 and 4 were getting their food etc. Talking of the food - it was a delicious and bountiful 3 course carvery feast.
In between the tours and the food, the DJ was playing lively Halloween themed and party music to get the atmosphere going and the compère hosted several fun party games along the way.
When it came time for our trailer ride, we fetched our warmest winter coats and headed out into the darkness. For us, this was around 11pm and perhaps could have been a bit earlier as some of our companions were slightly louder and merrier than you would expect people to be on a trailer ride! (we had all been drinking since 7!) Saying that we all had fun as we were driven out into the dark woods and left to experience the horrors of the CarnEVIL.
Carnevil itself was an event tent that featured a number of well themed rooms and effects. The whole thing was more of a show than a scare attraction but had some genuinely unnerving moments and some very twisted ideas. There was a massive cast of actors in the CarnEVIL rooms but it's a shame that a few of them couldn't have have been put to use providing more trailer based scares.
As the clowns finally took over, we were hastily chased out of the venue into a new form of transport and whisked back to the main event hall passing a few extra scenes. Although creepy rather than really scary, the whole trailer ride element was a really fun part of the whole experience and the organisers should be commended for doing something so different. Once back in the warmth of the main event room, we had plenty of time to top up our drinks and hit the dance floor!
The whole event costs just £42.50 which is incredible value for the level of entertainment, detailed theming and quality carvery dinner that is included. With the party running from 7pm through to early the next morning, we are already planning to return next year with an even bigger group - in fact if you wish to join us - register here.
Spooktacular: CarnEVIL returns to the heart of England Conference and Events centre on Friday 2nd November but places are going fast.
Evil clowns patrolled the car park
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We had to bravely fight off the sultry sirens!
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An overview of the venue
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Cold, but prepared to be scared
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Also visited Spooktacular this year or any other? - tell us what you thought here
Brilliant. Forget your boring 'Have-To-Be-There Christmas Do' or the 'Lets-Have-A-Themed New Years Eve Party', this is the time to get your fancy dress outifts on!
All I can say is WOW! Loved it, everyone in our party did.
The Sppoktacular team make such an effort. The props, actors and decs, honestly, no one would be disappointmented.
A must do, put on your bucket list. :)
All I can say is WOW! Loved it, everyone in our party did.
The Sppoktacular team make such an effort. The props, actors and decs, honestly, no one would be disappointmented.
A must do, put on your bucket list. :)
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