Boston’s first-ever, large-scale Halloween festival — featuring three haunted houses, an Oktoberfest-style beer garden and family-friendly fall activities — is open.
Wicked Haunt Fest, located at Hood Park in Charlestown, opened on Friday and will run until Nov. 3.
Spanning two acres, the immersive Halloween experience features more than 300 skeletons, eerie lighting, Halloween music and spooky imaging.
Visitors can test their scare limits by going through three haunts, each with a different storyline and theme. Tip-toe through a nightmarish farm in “Harvest Awakening,” explore the cursed tomb in “Rise of Annkh” or venture “Into the Astray,” a shadowy realm where the boundary between the living and supernatural vanishes.
All haunts use the same elements as those in cinema, according to the festival’s creative director Carl Rugato.
“From intricate set designs and professional scare actors to state-of-the-art animatronics and immersive lighting, every aspect of the spirited experiences have been crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail,” Rugato said in a press release.
Rugato, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre and Design from High Point University in North Carolina, has worked in multiple leadership roles at some of the country’s biggest attractions. Some of his projects include Marvel Universe Live, Age of Heroes and the Jurassic World Live Stunt Show. Now Rugato is hoping to bring some of that thrilling magic to Boston.
“Wicked Haunt Fest is poised to redefine what a Halloween event can be, setting a new standard for immersive, high-production-value haunts in Boston and beyond,” he said.
Those looking for less frightening fun can take part in other spooky-themed activities. Beyond the houses, Wicked Haunt Fest has an Oktoberfest-style beer garden, two prehistoric-themed bars, a walk-through graveyard with a real 1800’s hearse as well as food and vendor booths. Pumpkin painting, face painting and mock trick-or-treating are also available.
Wicked Haunt will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. Parking is free for up to three hours in the Hood Park Garage at 100 Hood Park Drive. Tickets starting at $25 can be purchased online.
