As members of the media we were invited to experience Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest at no charge. For this article we decided to focus on the nonscary activities at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure for those readers who are interested in nonscary Halloween events in New Jersey.
Halloween time is here. Is a visit to Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest on your list? Are you worried it might be too scary?
At first glance parents might get concerned that there aren’t any nonscary actitivies at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure, but that is not the case at all. While Great Adventure does have scary coasters, terrifying ghouls, and haunted mazes to thrill the bravest of kids it also offers plenty of Halloween thrills that aren’t so scary. Take a look at how a visit to Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest can be just as thrilling for those who don’t want to be scared.
Trying to appear scary at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure
Thrills by Day ~ From 11 am to 6 pm, kids of all ages can enjoy a trick-or-treat trail, shows, street parties, themed shows and decorations. Find out more below.
Fright by Night ~ From 6 pm to 11 pm, the scary stuff comes out. Guests can get their fright on with terror trails, haunted mazes, Dead Man’s Party, and more. Read about the scary activities happening at Fright Fest in GET SCARED at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest.
Since many of our readers also have small children, know that before 6 PM there is very little that is scary at Great Adventure Fright Fest! You can enjoy a full day without fright, so no reason to count your Six Flags days as done. As you enter, the fountain has been dyed red and is referred to as the “blood fountain” and there are some characters there, but nothing that jumps or scares.
Tips for not getting scared during Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure
- The Halloween decorations on each ride are anything from silly spooky to slightly scary.
- Fright Free Zones are available throughout the park. Use the maps and our advice below to find them.
- Great Adventure provides a great map with a chart detailing all the Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest activities and rating them on a scale of scariness from a pumpkin symbol for not scary at all to a 3 skull, the scariest of them all and not intended for children under 12.
- Some of the park decorations may be slightly visually scary, but nothing jumps out at you. There are non scary decorations to be found too, in displays of pumpkins and cornstalks. It all just gives the park that warm fall feeling. Great Adventure offers a great backdrop for your family’s fall photos! Web decorations are everywhere but aren’t threatening.
- If you’d prefer a spooky seasonal picture on your approach into or out of the park you can get a great photo op in the three empty coffins.
10 NONScary Activities at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure
- The Bloody Fountain is a treat to see. The water has been changed red and it’s surrounded by skeletons in various poses. Warning after 6 pm, when things gets scary, the skeletons move.
- Take advantage of great photo props. Whether you are looking for a traditional fall pictures with hay and pumpkins or something a bit creepier like posing with a coffin, Six Flags Great Adventure has just the photo props you need for that perfect fall picture.
- The Safari Off Road Adventure is also open for fall fun on Saturdays and Sundays, but those lines close at 4 pm or earlier based on demand. If the animals are on your must see list, see them first or make plans to visit an additional day.
Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest NonScary Entertainment
- Professor Slithers Goes Wild! — Everyone’s favorite zany professor returns with an all-new Halloween game show through Oct. 27. Included with park admission. This show happens in the Adventure Theater three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Scary-oke — Calling all kids! Children are invited to take the stage to sing their favorite Halloween hits in front of a live audience. Included with park admission. Shows are twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays in the Wilderness Theater.
- Quest of the Pinniped Pirates — Embark on a quest of hijinks on the high seas as playful pinnipeds and friendly pirates search for the lost treasure. The show runs for 20 minutes until October 27, twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays, in the SeaFari Theater.
- One of our favorite activities has been the Six Flags Spooktacular Street Party where friendly monsters danced to popular songs we all can recognize. Some guests, including us, even got in on the dancing. Shows are three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays in front of the Blood Fountain.
- Unleashed ~ In the Showcase Theater, come raise the dead in this underground steampunk world filled with unique cirque variety like you’ve never seen before. We watched it in 2018, but ran out of time to see it this year. All of us enjoyed it! The astonishing feats of acrobatic artistry and energizing dance stylings, left us amazed. While our jaws dropped to witness the death defying feats. There are acrobatics in glow-in-the-dark skeleton like costumes, but we didn’t find them or any of the performers to be scary at all. How these performers were able to do some of the stunts we saw, we’ll never know. It’s definitely a must-watch show.
Fright Fest at Great Adventure Trick or Treating in the Park
- Great Adventure Trick-or-Treat Trail ~ Another nonscary activity at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure is the trick-or-treat trail. Along this trail, children 12 and under can trick-or-treat and have their picture taken with your favorite Loony Tunes characters dressed up for Halloween. Although the line in this area might be long, it moves quickly, and yet you never feel rushed while taking all the pictures you want. All of our kids have enjoyed the decorations along the trail and then checking out their loot when they were done. This is always one of our readers’ favorite areas, a relaxed special place that gets you into the Halloween spirit! The Trick or Treat Trail is open 11 am to 4 pm at a new location inside the Safari Kids section. Included with park admission.
Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright Free Zones
- All children’s areas, the Plaza del Carnaval, and the Lakefront between Fort Independence and Safari Kids will be free from scary props or characters.
On the Trick or Treat trail when my boys were younger we paused for a picture with Porky Pig.
If you’re not sure your family is ready yet, your Fright Fest visit can be more Fall than Fright! Focus on the pumpkins and the cornstalks and the trick or treating and say your goodbyes before 6. Though your children may surprise you with their bravery – mine did!
If you visit for the nonscary activities at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure, please note
- Costumes are allowed for ages 12 and under only.
- It’s fall, so of course it gets cold at night. Pack your sweatshirt but don’t pack any food, as no outside food is allowed inside the park. But that means you have room for the special Ghoul Funnel Cake and Hot Chocolate with Peeps! There’s even kettle corn near the carousel.
- Don’t miss the Sky Ride for a beautiful overview of the park and all its decor.
Fright Fest is open weekends from September 13 – November 3 plus Fridays in October and Monday, October 12 (Columbus Day). Learn more and buy your advance tickets at www.sixflags.com.
To see more Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest photos visit our Facebook album.