Copyright dailystar
This week, I’ve been scaring myself silly just to inspire you to have the most unforgettable Halloween of your life. I’ve hit so many scream parks lately that if something doesn’t jump out at me every five minutes, I start to worry something’s wrong! I’m stalking the supermarket aisles, mistaking sweet old ladies for lurking zombies - Halloween has officially taken over my brain…and I secretly love it. So, come get spooky with me - embrace the chaos, the cobwebs, and the creeping shadows. Let’s ride the wicked wave all the way to November! As Metallica would say: "Sleep with one eye open" because these terrifyingly good events will keep your heart racing long after the candy’s gone. The fear flames had been lit, and I was about to embark on my journey through the menacing jaws of a sinister clown. In eager anticipation of an early jump scare, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself dispatched into a psychedelic rotating chamber, a journey indeed! Out the other side, I landed in the heart of FEAR, Stidham Village, the epicentre of the Scream Park. Much like an actual village, Stidham has its own cemetery, boozer, and a few clowns. Stidham Village is the beating heart of this horror community. It boasts its own circus tent bar, where you can sip on a Blood Bag Cocktail. There are a handful of food trucks, a funfair, and a stage hosting regular performances and fiery shows. Inside the big top, you’ll also find the Shock Chairs, where you can experience a range of electric shocks shooting through your body with varying intensity. It’s important to note that Stidham Village has roaming scare actors who may catch you off guard. Imagine a typical English village, sprinkled with a little imagination and creative license, and you’ll find Stidham, where all the neighbors are represented in one sinister form or another. You might find yourself chased by the village clowns. If you’re lucky, you’ll run into the local priest, who will try to convert you to the cloth, though he seems like he could use an exorcism himself. Fear has five Scare Mazes and The Exorcism Experience, a seriously intense and immersive experience that throws you right into a chilling battle for a possessed soul. The atmosphere is heavy and oppressive, with theatrical elements that make you feel like part of the story, not just a bystander. For me like art imitating life. I showed up expecting thrills, but walked into a full-blown, Hollywood-style Halloween experience that completely blew me away. These mazes aren’t just spooky walkthroughs – they’re cinematic, immersive, and packed with stunning detail. You can feel the hours of planning in every scene. With creepy smells, chilling sound design and incredible visuals, it’s a full sensory assault – and I was all in. They’re not only the longest mazes I’ve done, they’re easily the most detailed and story-driven. It genuinely felt like stepping into a live horror movie. The standout? The Village . This isn’t just a maze – it’s a full-scale scare zone. I found myself wandering through a cursed village torn apart by a zombie apocalypse, led by the sinister Professor Crow. From possessed classrooms to a chilling church finale with hooded figures coming to life, it was relentless, eerie, and brilliantly executed. By the end, as Professor Crow cast me out into the night, I was breathless, disoriented – and already desperate to go again. Looking for a Halloween event that’s more thrills than trauma? Hallowscream at York Maze is the perfect mix of spooky fun and cheeky chills. Set on the famously haunted grounds of Dunnington Lodge, this immersive experience will have you questioning what’s real and what’s just really good acting - is that a scare performer behind you... or something else? The main attractions are five wildly creative scare mazes, packed with creepy clowns, eerie hillbillies, and bizarre characters that are more likely to make you laugh and scream. But the real showstopper for 2025? Lucifer’s Lounge - a glamorous new VIP bar where you can sip a strawberry daiquiri (aka the “Blood Bag Cocktail”) served in a blood bag by the Devil himself. With plush red decor and the phrase “The Devil made me do it” splashed on the wall, Lucifer’s Lounge is the perfect escape from the chaos — a scare-free spot where you can relax, enjoy the view, and maybe take a spooky selfie or two. Whether you're there for the frights, the photo ops, or the cocktails, Hallowscream is Yorkshire’s must-do Halloween experience - creepy, cheeky, and just the right amount of unhinged. Not into scream parks or jump scares? Prefer your chills with a side of popcorn? Paranormal podcaster Danny Robins has you covered with Uncanny: I Know What I Saw – his hit ghost podcast, now live on stage. This gripping theatre tour brings real-life paranormal stories to life, all told by everyday people convinced they’ve seen – or felt – something supernatural. Think shadowy figures, strange whispers, and things that go bump when no one’s there. Told with a touch of theatrical flair, these stories are creepy, compelling, and totally up for debate. Believer or sceptic, you’ll leave the theatre wondering if something is lurking just out of sight. Danny doesn’t tell you what to believe – he just presents the evidence and lets the goosebumps do the rest. So settle into your red velvet seat… and prepare to be properly spooked. We all know I’m a believe but will you be at the end of the evening? No Halloween round-up would be complete without a proper witchy tale — and who better to honour than Old Mother Shipton , the original queen of curses and cauldrons! Forget broomsticks and black cats — this legendary Yorkshire sorceress has her own tourist attraction ! That’s right — Old Mother Shipton’s Cave, believed to be the oldest tourist site in the UK, has been bewitching visitors for centuries. Born in a cave (yes, really!) to a 15-year-old girl, Mother Shipton's eerie origin story is the stuff of folklore gold. But this wasn’t just any old witch — she was a psychic powerhouse! Long before the likes of Mystic Meg, Shipton was dishing out prophecies that captivated royals, nobles and common folk alike. Her predictions — eerily accurate, spine-tingling, and yards ahead of their time — touched the hearts (and rattled the nerves) of hundreds. Historical heavyweights even made pilgrimages to her birthplace, desperate for a glimpse into their future. And when it comes to iconic imagery, Mother Shipton nailed the look — a long crooked nose, hunched back, and a glare that could curdle milk. The stuff of storybook nightmares, she claimed the title of Britain’s most prolific witch. So this Halloween, raise a broomstick to Old Mother Shipton — the OG witch who still casts a spell across the ages!
