Daylight hours at the Six Flags’ Halloween festival are a cheerful, kid-friendly affair of trick-or-treating through Buckaroo Junction and costume contests at Timbertown Theater. The Incredible Larry, a favorite area juggler, performs magic, drawing children from the audience to assist. Even the zombies dancing at Carousel Plaza are friendly enough, stopping to pose for photos with Fright Fest attendees.
The theme park is made over with Cobwebs, pumpkins and cleverly-scripted tombstones. Splashwater Kingdom water park is shut down for the season, drained of water and all activity. A lone skeleton — no doubt the remains of a New Jersey tourist left behind from the summer — is lodged in one of water slides.
The park’s audio system broadcasts a loop of favorite ghoul-themed music, the theme song to “Ghostbusters” and “The Munsters”, oddly interspersed with advertisements for SUNY Adirondack degree programs. Things get a little weird on the way up to the Ferris wheel. There, amidst swirling snowflakes, a bizarre Christmas town features a skeleton Santa and gingerbread men impaled on candy canes.
Tours through Skull Manor Haunted House and the Saloon of Darkness — Ghost Town’s Red Garter Salon converted to a haunted maze — are not included in the admission price. Tickets for each are $10, or $15 for tickets to both attractions. A Price Chopper Advantage card knocks two bucks off the price.
The shows have a comedic tone. Madame Divine leads the crowd in the Hokey-Pokey and the Ghost Town witch trial — not recommended for children — manages to add humor to a modern day, Salem-like witch trial.
The rides are all running full-tilt, both for big-coaster thrill seekers and timid carousel riders like the Lake George Examiner. Every turn in the park offers opportunity to win a stuffed animal or a goofy hat with games of skill and chance. There is plenty to eat and drink, for it wouldn’t be the Great Escape without funnel cakes, Dippin’ Dots and drinks served up in ultra-large souvenir cups.
It is when the daylight begins to fade that things get a little creepy. The fog, pumped from fog machines throughout the park, creates an eerie effect against the backdrop of carnival lights. Chainsaw-touting maniacs chase hapless visitors along the darkening park paths, and it is not uncommon to find the undead writhing on the ground alongside Storytown’s cute little houses. Incredible Larry dispenses with the magic, and, incredibly, he begins to hammer nails up his nose.
Fright Fest at the Lake George Great Escape theme park continues on weekends through October 28. Check the park website for times and tickets. The best deal for Fright Fest tickets is the Adirondack Stampede Charity Rodeo package.