AUSTRALIA’S first dedicated Halloween ‘scream park’ returns to Hawkesbury for Halloween 2018.
Now in its third year, the event, dubbed ‘Fearaphobia’, keeps getting bigger and better, with more haunts, more entertainment, and more scares year on year.
“I can’t believe how many freaks there are out there! I thought I was the only one!” laughed creator Lewis Osborne, remarking on how much support the event has garnered over its time at the Hawkesbury Showground.
Fearaphobia will be taking over the showgrounds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from October 18 to 27.
The event is a real American-style ‘scare park’, the type people attend for the ultimate Halloween experience. Think haunted houses, zool-like zombies and all manner of crazed critters roaming the grounds to frighten and delight punters.
Mr Osborne is the director of Showtime Attractions - a company that provides carnival rides to shows all around the country (including the Hawkesbury Show).
He’s devoted a considerable amount of time over the years to working out what frightens show-goers, and Fearaphobia is the culmination of hours of building and creating haunted houses and attending scream parks in the USA, where they are a serious business indeed.
There are six main haunts or attractions to attend at the park, as well as a whole band of roaming entertainment throughout the grounds to keep punters entertained all night.
Brand new haunts for 2018 are Freakshow, The Crypt and The Doll Factory, which will be packed with a lot of new scares and surprises for those who have attended in previous years.
“The Doll Factory is absolutely creepy and scary. If you don’t end up like a doll, if you’re not stitched up pretty bad, tucked in the corner with all the broken ragdolls… ” Mr Lewis trailed off.
“And if you’re brave enough to get through The Crypt, enter through the freezer unit from the mortuary, lay down in the doors and get pushed inside the crypt! From that point on we don’t care what happens! It’s another world in there, and not a very comfy world!” he laughed.
“We’ve got a 3D maze with glasses and special effects, The Freak Show, our big gigantic clown maze is bigger and better.
“The Killing Field is back by popular demand, so be careful - there are some pretty crazy chainsaw guys in there!
“The gothic wonder, Evil Scream 3, is also back this year. Everyone loves this one! There are many, many things to see, including our signature haunted house, Escape of the Zombies.”
A seventh attraction allows you to be buried alive - punters pay for this experience on the night they attend the event.
Roaming entertainment on the grounds consist of a troupe of over 100 professional ‘scare arts’ performers including The Great Gordo Gamsby, 11 times guinness world record holder, sword swallower, chainsaw juggler, spectacle stunt performer, and world traveller strong man.
“There’s be fire dancers and illusionists - we’re going all out this year, so come on down!” said Mr Osborne.
Sessions begin at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm each night, but no matter what session you book for you can come and stay the entire time.
“There’ll be food there, too: the Chew and Spew Canteen with the Killer Coffee… the more they chunder the better we like it!” laughed Mr Osborne.
Book your tickets online at www.fearaphobia.com.au. Tickets include six attractions (Buried Alive is extra, payable on the night) and entertainment throughout the evening.