I went to Alton Towers Scarefest for an evening with blood-sucking vampires – Coventry Live

Being buried alive with blood-sucking vampires isn't really my ideal choice of entertainment for a Saturday evening, but it's the kind of routine occurrence you come to expect when you attend the annual Alton Towers Scarefest event.

When I received an 'Invitation' to celebrate 15 years of Scarefest at the Staffordshire theme park, I expected canapes, maybe a spooky cocktail or two. I didn't expect to be led into a lift by a creepy undertaker, plunged deep into the bowels of a mausoleum, and stuck in a burial chamber.

Before I could tell them there had been a terrible error, I was led to a seat in the said crypt, surrounded by bones, cages, and a pair of headphones.

READ:The best ever Scarefest mazes

That's when the darkness came, and the disorientation, just myself and my thoughts for company, or at least that's what I thought until the whispering began. Then came the rather disturbing noises and sounds of the blood-sucking torture of my fellow tomb inhabitants.

We were warned we wouldn't be alone, and they weren't kidding. The inhabitants of the tomb tormented their victims, all in your ears, and all in that enveloping blackness.

Unlike those poor unfortunates, I escaped, and I couldn't see daylight quick enough.

The Invitation is the newest scare attraction at the resort, and it's undoubtedly the most unusual one I have encountered.

Scrambling the senses with the audio and darkness is really quite unnerving and will be a very different experience for fans of the scary attractions.

It's a sensory experience designed to unsettle you, and it does that pretty well.

The resort's Halloween fun and frights is a popular date on the calendar for thrill seekers and families and offer an array of live shows, rides in the dark, and of course - scare mazes.

A spokesperson from Alton Towers described the new attraction, saying: "The Invitation is a brand-new scare attraction that has never been seen or heard at Scarefest before. This horrifyingly unique and immersive attraction is an audio experience, most of which takes place in complete darkness.

"Guests are invited to visit the Lakeside Cemetery mausoleum where the friendly funeral director is dying to meet you. Enter the vault to choose your final resting place, but proceed with caution - you will not be alone; some caskets have already been filled and their occupants are keen to meet you."

We are excited to bring a brand-new terrifying scare attraction to the event, as well as the return of our hugely popular scare mazes and family attractions. We remain committed to creating a much-needed form of escapism for families and thrill-seekers across the UK and beyond.

"We are so excited to welcome guests to the Resort and to share our incredible line-up of seasonal entertainment, which were sure our guests will love.

The frights don't end there though and this year's event sees the return of a trio of great mazes, some perhaps for the last time.

Chris Carter, Events and Entertainments Director at Alton Towers Resort, said: We are thrilled to be celebrating 15 years of our award-winning Scarefest and to celebrate, we have got a host of fun and thrills for families and thrill-seekers."

The brilliantly creepy The Attic: Terror of the Towers thrusts wary guests into the haunted eaves of the famous stately home. It's a chilling walk through the lair of The Governess - a malevolent spirit looking to claim her next victim. Expect creepy dolls and toys, what more could you want on a Saturday evening in October?

The grotesque Legend of the Skin Snatchers has been a staple part of the festival for the last seven years, and it still holds plenty of jump scares from the bloodstained hillbilly residents.

As you tentatively step through the abandoned mine, the eerie tagline that "beauty is only skin deep", soon becomes very clear.

My favourite ride this year was The Darkest Depths, a pirate-themed scare maze now in I think its fourth year at the park. It seems to get stronger each year, and after starting as a family fright maze, it's now a fully blown maze only for the bravest of visitors. Join the crew and brave the mythical sea beast the Kraken.

Returning for a second year is Trick O' Treat Town, a beautifully designed family-friendly maze based around the classic American tradition of door-knocking for sweets. There are some wacky characters and crazy neighbourhoods.

All the mazes carry an extra cost with combination packages available, you can find out more on the link at the bottom of the page.

If you love your rollercoasters, there is no doubt that the real highlight of the festival is the chance to ride iconic coasters in the dark, including the iconic Nemesis which closes in November for an overhaul.

Don't think it's just thrills and frights - this event is always really well balanced with loads to do for all ages.

A quick walk to the lawns in the middle of the resort and you will find a huge stage with some brilliant entertainment from the resident spooky Scarefest characters.

CBeebies Land is home to lots of shows for the really small visitors, and everywhere you look there are pumpkins and decorations to really set the mood.

Don't miss the gardens either, they are lit up for the occasion, and they look breathtaking.

Scarefest is about that Halloween carnival atmosphere and for all the sinister overtones of the mazes, it really is just about people having fun.

Scarefest will take place at Alton Towers Resort from Friday, October 14, to Monday, October 31. Tickets are available here.

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I went to Alton Towers Scarefest for an evening with blood-sucking vampires - Coventry Live