Skip to Content

GET SCARED at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest

We’ve always enjoyed the fun that comes from visiting Six Flags Great Adventure’s media events. It’s cool to be the first to go on their new rides, see how holiday lights transform the park, or how one year’s Six Flags Great Adventure Halloween Fright Fest event will be better than the previous one.

A few years back attending Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest marked a new milestone for my oldest son. As the media event for Fright Fest fell on his 12th birthday, we decided it was the perfect time for him to check out the thrills and chills of Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night.

That was 7 years ago. Since then, it’s become a family tradition for us to visit Fright Fest. I take turns taking my kids, now teenagers. They might be older, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t gotten scared or spooked by the monsters and creatures at this New Jersey Haunted Halloween attraction. As a mom, I get some of my best laughs hearing my teenagers and their friends getting spooked and scared.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright After Dark
My son on the right, in a coffin being silly, at 12 years old.

As members of the media, we have been invited to experience Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest at no charge. For this article, we decided to focus on Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night activities for those readers who are interested in scary Halloween events in New Jersey.

3 boys in coffins at six flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
Special Note: While this article is about Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest’s scary attractions, haunted mazes, and other spooky activities, Fright Fest does offer LOTS of non-scary thrills for kids. You can visit our NOT too Scary Activities at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure for information about nonscary activities at Fright Fest.

Before proceeding to read about Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright After Dark, please know that this blog post does contain scary images reflective of what we have seen at Great Adventure’s Fright Fest over the past few years.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
Now at age 14 he thinks he wants to join along with Fright Fest as one of their scary creatures.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night Notes to Know

  • Guests older than 12 are not allowed to wear costumes, face coverings, or masks. That includes hoods and full face makeup.
  • Leave the scarring to Fright Fest characters. Guests are not allowed to taunt, touch, or harass Fright Fest characters, Great Adventure staff, or other guests.
  • Photographs and video is not allowed during most of the Fright by Night activities or in the attractions. As media, we were given special permission which therefore allowed us to provide the photos and video you see below.

As a mom, I will say that I felt within the haunted mazes that the Fright Fest entertainers adapted their antics to their audience, their ages, and their appetite for scares. That’s not to say the characters in and of themselves aren’t scary, they are. Some are more horrific than others.

There will be loud taunts in some areas and quiet whispers in others. Some zombies will creep behind you and others might pop out ahead of you. A few might follow you. I did feel, at times, that some of the activities could be scarier, but I suspect that those activities were tamed down for my two tweens. (That was confirmed as my boys were older and it did get a little creepier for them.)

It is scary enough to have them jumping, on edge, and laughing, but no one was so scared that they were in tears or afraid to do more. As in past years, everyone went to bed exhausted from the fun, with no nightmares to report.

Do you dare to get scared at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night Entertainment

These scary Great Adventure Fright Fest shows and activities happen after 6 pm, when Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest gets scarier. They are free and included with your Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest ticket.

  • The Awakening and The Arrival Ghoul Parade ~ 5:50 pm Saturdays, and Sundays, Adventure Ally Hydration Station to Clown Town Arena. With graveyard décor and the sun going down, Dr. Fright comes alive and awakens his zombies to unleash Fright by Night. It’s a Halloween parade complete with zombies, ghosts, ghouls, and more. The parade starts at Great Adventure’s fountain and makes its way down to the arena in the Demon District. The parades’ characters differ by their level of scariness. Security does serve as a buffer between guests and Fright Fest actors; most characters will not approach park guests but some will.
Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright After Dark The Awakening Halloween Parade
  • Dead Man’s Party: Grave Stories ~ As the Fright Fest Fright by Night parade makes its way towards the arena area of the park, the zombies enter into the arena. I found this show thrilling. It is my favorite part of Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure. The dance productions and signature songs are perfect for the after dark thrills of Fright Fest Fright by Night. The fireworks, blasting fire, and other effects added to the excitement of this Halloween show. Due to the nature of some of the dancing, I would recommend the show for tweens and teens. There is floor seating near the front of the stage for seeing the best action. During our showing, the characters stayed on the stage. Dead Man’s Party plays multiple times an evening on Fridays and Saturdays. It plays at 6:15 pm on Sundays. Each show is 20-25 minutes long. You can watch our video highlights from 2017 below. The show for 2019 has been updated with new songs and choreography.

  • Blade Drummers ~ See the amazing talents of fire artistry with a demonic twist, accompanied by the somber beat of the drums. Show takes place near the Bumper Cars in Adventure Alley. There are multiple shows on Fridays and Saturdays. It plays at 5:00 pm on Sundays.
  • 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. How these performers were able to do some of the stunts we saw, we’ll never know. It’s definitely a must-watch show that happens 3-4 times a night on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
  • Freak Show ~ This new show displays “wild, wacky and macabre exploits” designed to delight Halloween thrill lovers. This show lasts approximately 15 minutes and plays multiple times on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 6 pm.
ultimate guide to scary activities at fright fest at Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night Scare Zones

Bloody Fountain

Colonial zombies roam the Liberty Fountain and Main Street area waiting to feast on the brains of guests who pass too close. A troop of over 30 zombies roam the streets of the park. They can’t control themselves, and these blood-thirsty creatures in blue and red coats are hungry for their next meal. They often split up, biting into anyone who gets in their way. As they wander around the Liberty Fountain and Main Street, they can’t wait to feast on living guests who pass too close.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
My 2nd son, the 12 year old gets in on the photos with a Fright Fest zombie.

Clown Town

Where funny becomes terrifying. Scary, crazy clowns take over Movie Town of Great Adventure!

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest clowns 2
Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Demon District

Beware of mutant villains attempting to take control of the city area near Lake Front.

Demons at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Curse of Black Beard’s Bounty

Washed up on Lakefront, pirates & sea creatures roam about terrorizing guests!

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest zombies
Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Lady of the Lake Cemetery

Guinevere was a humble young woman who loved to walk along the lake front in the evening. She later would fall in love with a man only to have him reveal himself as the Jersey Devil on their wedding day. In horror, she ran into the lake and drowned.

The Jersey Devil brought her to her demise that night and ever since, her spirit haunts the lakefront. In the 200 years since this fateful night, the lakefront has been turned into a graveyard. Mourning families looking to honor the dead under the full moon report sightings and eerie happenings throughout the area.

Will you brave the walk along the shore that forever belongs to Guinevere? Lady Guinevere haunts the area nightly from 6:30 pm to closing. It’s a good area for younger kids who don’t want a full-on scary experience. It’s more creepy than terrifying.

Lady Guinevere at Lady of the Lake Cemetery at Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night Scary Rides

  • General Six Flags Great Adventure Rides ~ After 6 pm, beware. Many of the creatures creeping through the park, find their way onto the roller coasters and other Great Adventure rides. You just might find that as you are twisting and turning around a loop, something grotesque is right beside you.
Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest rides
Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright by Night Haunted Mazes & Haunted Attractions

These scary Great Adventure haunted mazes and scary attractions do require tickets for an extra fee: “Haunted Attraction Pass”. The Haunted Attraction Pass can be purchased throughout Great Adventure or in advance online.

Blood Shed

Mama welcomes you to her nightmarish farm of half-human, half-animal mutants. They’re hungry for blood and gore and they’re hoping you’ll join them for dinner as the main course. The Blood Shed is located near the Golden Kingdom. It is open from 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Haunted maze
Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Aftermath

This raw, post-apocalyptic world crawling with barbaric mutant scavengers has a new location in Metropolis and features new scares. Humans are charged with escaping this global catastrophe. Aftermath is located in Metropolis near CYBORG Cyber Spin. It is open from 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays.

Saw X

The upcoming release of Saw X has inspired this haunted attraction for 2023. Jigsaw returns in his most personal game yet. Located in Golden Kingdom near Kingda Ka, it is open from 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays.

Fears

Everyone has that one thing that terrifies them. Guests become immersed in the most paralyzing phobias and living nightmares, from creepy, crawly spiders to cramped spaces, from popping balloons to squirting blood. Not sure what you’re afraid of? You might just figure it out in Fears. Located on the boardwalk near sling shot, it is open from 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest

Reflections of the Dead

Guests come face-to-face with themselves as they desperately try to escape this modern-day mirror maze holding spirits from beyond the grave. This labyrinth of mystery and mayhem includes glowing LED lights, vanishing images, and confusion around every corner. Located in Adventure Alley near the Big Wheel, it is open from 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays.

Big Top Terror: Forgotten Carnival 3D

The Big Top Terror: Forgotten Carnival 3D is my favorite haunted maze at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest. Think fun house. Think carnival. Now add an element of creepiness, scariness, and horrific freaks trying to escape and you’ve got the Big Top Terror. While this haunted maze offers scary thrills, it is well lit enough that finding your way out is not tricky once you get past the crazy carnival creatures. The Big Top Terror is open 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays, near the boardwalk red tent.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright After Dark Big Top Terror

The Manor

The Manor is a haunted maze with cobwebbed halls. Nightmarish zombies crawl, stalk, and creep around every corner. We enjoyed this terrifying maze with not just zombies but also surprises popping out of different areas. It is open 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays. This activity is located on the boardwalk behind Sling Shot. You can catch some of the highlights in the featured video in this blog post or see it again here on Instagram TV.

The Conjuring

Inspired by the film The Conjuring this secluded farmhouse is haunted by sinister spirits that roam its grounds. It is open 4 pm to park closing Saturday and Sunday and 5 pm to closing on Fridays. This activity is located next to Superman Ultimate Flight. This attraction is new for 2023.

Wicked Woods

Beware and don’t say we didn’t warn you! DO NOT walk alone in the woods at night. The Wicked Woods got their name from the horrifying stories that take place within their sharp branches. Williams Woods had always been a hot topic of debate in Winston, Named for Troy Williams who went missing there 50 years ago on a camping trip.

Through the years the area had become quite the legend, attracting more and more young people to challenge themselves and their friends to survive a night in the woods, something Troy had not done. Some have even emerged with bloody knees and scraped hands, falling in their escape from whatever they claim was chasing them. 

Next year is the 55th anniversary of Troy Williams’ disappearance. Take caution in the Wicked Woods, whatever got him may be looking to strike again this Halloween season. Located in Bone Butcher Terror Tory next to the Log Flume, it’s open from dark to park closing.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Wicked Woods
Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Cell Block 6

Returning to Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest Fright by Night is Cell Block 6. Of the Great Adventure scary attractions we have visited, this one provided the greatest scares to my tweens. Imagine being locked in a prison with every scary character you’ve ever seen in thriller movies, that’s Cell Block 6.

As you make your way around Cell Block 6’s prison you’ll see a gruesome creature in a kitchen, menacing characters trying to escape from cells, horrific doctors in the exam room, and more guaranteed to have you jumping and proceeding cautiously while still eager to make your escape.

Cell Block 6 is open dark to closing in the Golden Kingdom near the Kingda Ka roller coaster. Keep in mind during the daytime hours it is gated off and there is no signage for it. After 6 pm the gates open revealing the hauntedness that lies beyond its gates.

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright After Dark Cell Block 6

Tips for the horrific haunted mazes at Fright Fest

  • Make sure you are toward the middle of your group and you’ll know what’s coming before it happens. Most scares happen as a group approaches or when they are walking away.
  • A Haunted Attraction pass is required for admission to the scariest parts of Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest:
    • Blood Shed
    • Reflections of the Dead
    • Aftermath
    • Fears
    • Cell Block 6
    • Big Top Terror: Forgotten Carnival 3-D
    • The Manor
    • Wicked Woods
    • Saw X
    • The Conjuring
be very very scared at Great Adventure Fright Fest pinterest image
  • Prioritize which scary haunted mazes you want to see. With long lines and limited hours, it may be difficult to get to more than 2-3 mazes during one visit.
  • Use the restrooms before getting in line. You don’t want to lose your space in line just because someone needs a restroom.
  • If you’re not ready to commit to the extra price for the extra scary stuff, even without the pass you can see zombies walking the park and experience some special Fright Fest shows. Not all are terrifying either – these after 6 PM activities are listed in the guide as “a little scary”:
    • The Awakening (zombie parade at 5:50 pm)
    • Dead Man’s Party
    • Freak Show

If you visit Fright Fest at Great Adventure:

  • 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 candy corn cupcakes and bloody funnel cake fries!
  • Don’t miss the Sky Ride for a beautiful overview of the park and all its décor.
Demon District Demon at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright fest

Fright Fest is open weekends from September 13 – November 3 plus Fridays in October and Monday, October 12 (Columbus Day).  Terror Trails and Haunted Houses are an additional cost. Learn more and buy your advance tickets at www.sixflags.com.

Click over to Facebook to see more of our Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest photos.

Are you ready for the thrills of Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Fright After Dark? What scare will you experience first?

pumpkin skeleton in the blood fountain at Great Adventure Fright Fest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Alert: Content is protected !!