Every year, the doors open for Screamfest – an event which takes place in the Midlands, UK, in the build-up to Halloween.
It describes itself as the “ultimate scream park”, filled with “thrills”, “award-winning scare attractions” and “immersive entertainment”. Our StoryHub reporter Lila-Rose Cantrill went to check it out.
I’ll admit it – I went into Screamfest 2025 already nervous. Having seen clips online, I thought I’d already had a glimpse into what I would expect.
The flashing lights, the screams, the chaotic sets – all of it looked terrifying enough through a screen.
But what I experienced in person surpassed expectations. It was better than any video clips could have prepared me for.
From the moment I stepped foot onto the grounds, Screamfest at the National Forest Adventure Farm in Tatenhill proved it is not about the scares – but its craft.
From paint to panic: The faces of Screamfest 2025
Every monster, every actor, every flicker of light is part of the living breathing nightmare – and the detail that goes into each look is astonishing.
The makeup artistry alone deserves its own spotlight; each stroke of paint perfectly outlines a character’s story.
This year, the scare park has gone all out on special effects and makeup, transforming actors into spine-chilling creatures.
Julie Tickle, make-up artist of Screamfest, said: “Everything you see from the ceiling to the ground was produced by our team of makeup artists.”
From gnarled mutant plants clawing at guests to zombie hordes in Hillbilly Joe’s Zombie Zoo, every scare is carefully crafted.
You do not need dialogue to know who – or what – these creatures are, the make-up is the backstory.
Hellcatraz: Inside Screamfest’s most notorious maze
Before Screamfest even officially opened, I had the chance to preview Hellcatraz, the event’s most notorious maze, for its high intensity.
I stumbled into a narrow cell, swallowed by complete darkness as a voice hissed through the air, warning me not to pray for my life — but for my death.
My legs trembled, and when the lights finally flickered on, the rusted, decaying prison around me felt like the mouth of hell.
The air felt thick. The spaces impossibly tight. Every sound echoed like a threat. Within minutes, my heartbeat seemed louder than the soundtrack.
It was intense, powerful, and deeply unnerving – exactly what a scare maze should be. When you stumble out, pride firmly left behind, you can’t help but smile.
Chaos, character and constant fear: Navigating Screamfest
Once the event officially began, Screamfest had again proved that terror does not end when you leave a maze.
Roaming scare actors kept the energy alive – leaping from shadows, taunting guests, and staying flawlessly in character.
Determined to build up my evening for the perfect progression of fear, I planned my route. I started with ‘Freakout Resurrected.’
This is a twisted carnival of clowns setting the tone perfectly – with chaotic laughter and unpredictable scares, the queue is worth the wait.
Its revamp had massively hit expectations – the soundtrack, actors and design were hitting the fear factor.
The mirror maze was especially disorienting; reflections twisted which way was out, while clowns appeared and vanished in the glass like hallucinations.
Next was ‘Hillbilly Joe’s Zombie Zoo’, which balanced humour and horror in equal measures and offering an experience which was weird, wild, and unforgettable.
The attraction’s design shone through and, with fewer crowds, we experienced every scare exactly as intended.
Midway through you are left with a sudden flashbang, leaving you dazed, half-blind, and disoriented as groaning figures close in.
The loss of sight and sound heightened every step, making the experience one of my favourites.
Then came ‘Insomnia’, a dreamlike maze that turned sleep into something you never wanted to experience again.
‘Insomnia’ is not for the faint hearted; with its standout storytelling and thrill, it was a highlight of the night.
Screamfest’s new maze, “Mutation Damnation,” also bursts with energy, stunning effects, and creatures.
Set deep within a twisting corn maze, it turns every rustling stalk into a potential jump scare, completely unforgettable.
This maze cranks up the pressure — literally. The maze forces you through narrow tunnels where walls seem to close.
Tom Robinson, co-organiser of Screamfest, said: “Mutation Damnation is designed to make visitors feel like they’ve stepped into a science experiment gone wrong.”
Of course, we could not resist going through ‘Hellcatraz’ again – because once is not enough when a maze hits that hard.
Action, music and madness: Exploring Screamfest’s alive-at-night park
We finally ended with ‘Area 52’, the alien paintball ride that resets nerves with sci-fi interactive fun in the dark.
It’s not every day you get to shoot aliens, but Screamfest’s Area 52 turned that bucket list dream into reality.
However, I ended up only getting to shoot a few zombies with the limited bullets available and would have been charged £10 extra for bullets.
But Screamfest is not just about the mazes or paintball – the entire park is alive with energy.
Having the pleasure of encountering the roaming actors all night left me in hysterics as they remained in character – so round of applause to them.
Visitors can refuel with the array of food trucks, a cocktail bar and listen to a live DJ set beside a mist-covered pond.
Meanwhile, the local band Last of Our Kind brings the stage to life with hauntingly good performances.
If that was not enough for you, the fairground rides add a twist to the night, blending fear and festivity.
From the meticulously crafted monsters to the roaming actors and spine-tingling mazes – with a constant blend of fear and artistry – Screamfest 2025 does not end when you leave the park. It follows you home in the best possible way.
Screamfest runs until November 1. For more information, or to book tickets, visit the Screamfest website.
