Fright Fest returned to Six Flags Great America on Sept. 16, but to call the event anything resembling festive is the biggest horror there is.

Established in 1993, Fright Fest features a mash of monsters wandering out and about around the park. The Six Flags website describes it to be “one of the biggest theme park Halloween events in the world.” At least the company knows how to promote. In addition to the normal amenities of Six Flags, the park is laden with decorations, ride names are changed and there’s also that little part where people in costumes and makeup run at guests or catch them off guard with obscure noises usually only observed in a child’s temper tantrums.

While that may sound spooky, the actual experience is sadly more funny than fearful. The creatures hover in clusters around the park once the sun sets, but in doing so, patrons either navigate between five at once or none at all. Wherever smoke is used, monsters call home and attempt to scare passersby. The key word is attempt; no horrors will come to any guest who smiles at them or at least acts confident and entertained. 

The only redeeming part of the trip isn’t in being afraid, but in seeing how others respond to being afraid. Sure, onlookers will likely be startled a couple of times, but it’s more fun when someone else is the target. Seeing a little girl no older than six get jumpscared by a clown and eloquently string together obscenities that’d make a sailor proud improves anyone’s night.

All things considered, a trip to the park will always be fun for thrillseekers, but certainly not from the Fright Fest program. The experience gives no assistance in providing a good time, and their attempt to do so seems poorly thought out. Guests can’t help but head home feeling underwhelmed at the surprisingly lackluster event Great America has to offer. 

Fright Fest runs through Oct. 29 at Six Flags Great America

Rating: ⅖ stars