27/09/2010

York Maze Master Tom Pearcy is brewing up some scary plans for Halloween events at the maze this year.

York Maze has grown to become one of Yorkshire's most popular summer attractions welcoming over 80,000 visitors in the short seven-week season, and being named as 2010 large visitor Attraction of the Year by Visit York.

Now York Maze owner Tom Pearcy has announced plans to open for October half term with a week of Halloween themed family activities during the day and four nights of scary attractions aimed at adults and teenagers.

Says Tom Pearcy, "We opened for a trial Halloween season for the first time last year, which was a great success. Halloween events have become very popular in the UK and as a farm based attraction a pumpkin festival is a natural extension to the summer maize maze.

"The giant maize maze won't be open, instead visitors will be taken on a haunted hayride, children can go into the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin for carving, and there will be a witches grotto, ghost stories in the barn, a haunted house and a spooky makeover salon. Children coming in Halloween costume can enter the competition with prizes for the best outfits."

The York Maze Halloween Festival during the day will be open from 10.00am to 4.30pm from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 October. All the usual York Maze activities will be on offer including the children's play areas, crazy golf, maze of illusions, jumping pillow, electric quad bikes, farm animals etc. The cafe will be open and as well as the Ivy Store gift shop there will also be a special Halloween shop. Standard York Maze admission charges are payable at the entrance: Adult £8.95, Senior £8.45, Children (3-15) £7.95, Under 3s Free, Family (2 adults and 2 children) £32.00.

For four nights only from 6.00pm to 10.30pm starting on Thursday 28 October and culminating in Halloween night itself on Sunday 31 October, Halloween turns to Hallowscream at York Maze!

"The four York Maze Hallowscream nights will have visitors jumping at their own shadows," says Tom Pearcy. "There will be four night-time scare attractions. ‘Curse of the Corn' begins with a scary tractor trailer ride which turns into a terrifying trek through a maize maze. ‘Barnaggedon' is a new horror maze experience themed on a journey into a subterranean maze inhabited by freaks and mutants. ‘The Carnevil' is a haunted house style of attraction, where visitors will encounter a circus of terrors fronted by a crazed clown. The fourth attraction ‘An Audience with the Undertakers' is a ghost story telling show presented by two Undertakers who have some spine chilling stories to tell.

"The cafe, barbecue, gift shop and Halloween shop will be open, as well as the jumping pillow and many other activities."

York Maze Hallowscream nights are on Thursday 28, Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October. Admission to the Hallowscream nights is £13.50 per person Thur & Fri, and £15.50 per person on Sat and Halloween night itself Sun 31 October. Tickets for the Hallowscream nights must be purchased in advance and will only be available on-line. Visit www.yorkmazehallowscream.co.uk for tickets.

ENDS