Gardaland Extends Halloween Season & Presents New Horror Experience
Photo: Courtesy of Gardaland Press Office
(eap) This autumn, Gardaland Resort is staging its longest Halloween season to date: starting as early as 12 September, visitors to the Italian theme park operated by Merlin Entertainments will be able to immerse themselves in an increasingly spooky atmosphere over a total of 51 days. Gardaland refers to the event days preceding its actual “Magic Halloween” programme as “Summerween”; last year, Magic Halloween took place over a total of 31 days.
Photo: Courtesy of Gardaland Press Office
With Summerween, the park is said to be picking up on a trend from the USA, where celebrations surrounding the traditionally spookiest night of the year, from 31 October to 1 November, already begin weeks or even months in advance. A growing number of Halloween experiences will gradually be added to Gardaland’s visitor offering. From 12 September, themed decorations and stagings will provide a first taste of thrills: visitors can look forward to the welcome show “Gardaland Halloween Mania”, while “creatures of the night” will also roam the park …
Among the new additions to this year’s Halloween season at Gardaland is the immersive maze “Preda”, which transports particularly courageous guests into a post-apocalyptic science-fiction scenario. Inside the maze, visitors must try to find their way out in almost complete silence, as the “Ravages” – wild alien creatures attracted by noise – are said to hunt humans as their prey … A separate ticket is required for this experience.
Concept Art: Courtesy of Gardaland Press Office
Gardaland’s Halloween season will reach its climax on 31 October with the Halloween Party. Visitors can look forward to shows, entertainment and specially designed experiences. This year’s Magic Halloween will conclude on 1 November. Daniela Bricola, Vice President of Gardaland Resort, comments: “Halloween is changing: it has long since ceased to be merely a celebration associated with the night of 31 October, but has become an experiential world that audiences want to immerse themselves in for longer and longer periods. Summerween is one of the most interesting signs of this development. […]” ■
