Six Flags Great America: Fright Fest 2019

Six Flags Great America Fright Fest
Gurnee, IL
Reviewed on Sunday, September 29, 2019

The Chicago area is home to one of the largest theme parks in the entire Midwest: Six Flags Great America. While it hosts more than 14 roller coasters, and 75 rides and attractions, we were drawn to the annual fall event: Fright Fest. During the day, the park is adorned with traditional fall and “spooky” décor. But, after 6:00pm each night, Fright Fest comes alive and lets loose. As they advertise on their Fright Guide, “All hell breaks loose at 6:00pm and we will show no mercy!”

The beginning of the evening starts with an event called, “The Uprising Parade: Nightly Call of the Dead.” Here, the story is told of how Nox and his minions were brought to our world and let loose on the patrons of Six Flags! Combined with coordinated dance, hard-hitting music, and special effects, this set the tone for our Fright Fest experience! Our favorite part has to be when the monsters are all dispatched by Nox and run through the crowds raising chaos!

While Fright Fest offers two main stage productions, and several other dance events, our team focused on the haunted attraction opportunities. Make no mistake: there is a TON of opportunity to be entertained… far more than can be accomplished in one evening!

We first entered Manslaughter Manor. A true “haunted house,” patrons are sent through Sadie’s house and encounter all of the horrors that await. Something has gone very wrong here, and the house is in shambles. Bodies are stacked to the brim, as lights flicker and survivors beg for help!

Next up, we encountered: Infected, one of the two new attractions for 2019. With a medical overtone, patrons try to escape the underground laboratory that is overgrown and being taken over by Mother Nature. Everyone inside has been affected, and it seems that the plants are now in charge!

Somehow finding our way out, we found ourselves at the Gates of Hell. Here, spiders covered the walls, and halls were sculpted out with bodies and caskets. Tortured souls and demons roam this realm, as we search for our way out, all while trying to avoid Nox!

Next up was our annual encounter with the clowns of Fright Fest at the Big Top Terror. Themed after the circus, our hosts Luna and Lulu the Unicorn escorted us into a fun house filled with mazes, black lights, and even fun games that have gone wrong. They have a saying that you learn quite quickly: In the circus, no one hears you scream!

After exploring some of the parks TEN scare zone transition points, we found ourselves in the middle of a lot of bugs at: Infestation! For those that are scared of spiders, rats, cockroaches, bats, or snakes, this is definitely your worst nightmare! Close your eyes, keep your hands in your pockets, and hope you can escape this torturous terrarium!

Finally, we made it to the other new attraction for 2019, and the one we had been most excited about: 13^th Order. Here patrons are whisked into the woods to escape being a sacrifice for a deadly cult. Within this attraction the scenes are incredibly detailed, and actors were spot-on. 13^th Order mixes a healthy dose of well-trained actors, with 20-foot movie-quality scenes, to combine for a nightmare-infused adventure. Some of our highlights include the reoccurring symbolism, the dolly with “stomach” issues, and of course, the theatre with a very captive audience!

The Bottom Line: Six Flags Great America is a great experience any time you have the opportunity. But, this year’s Fright Fest offering was the best we have seen since we can remember! The environment is fun, scare zone actors are playful and relentless, and haunted attractions provide experiences for thrill-seekers of all levels! If you are looking for a full-day Halloween experience for the whole family, look no further than Six Flags Great America!

But, don’t just take our word for it, check out these images from our visit: