HauntFest’s weekend of frightful enjoyable coming to Birmingham

This weekend on March 7 and eight, Birmingham, Alabama will welcome HauntFest’s Death March to its metropolis for the primary time. The weekend of leisure will provide reside music, artwork distributors, haunted points of interest and different spellbinding actions that put a spooky twist on a conventional medieval pageant.

In the previous, HauntFest has organized quite a lot of experiences for company, together with axe throwing, reside animal encounters, trivia video games, rage rooms, free-roaming “ghouls” and freak and magic exhibits, meals and drinks, arts and crafts, horror hayrides, costume contests and even celeb appearances.

According to Roseann Harpold, the founder and occasion supervisor of HauntFest, HauntFest strives to present their clients a style of Halloween and permit them to take pleasure in “getting their horror on” exterior of the autumn season.

“HauntFest events are meant to almost feel like a big party to celebrate the horror arts,” Harpold mentioned. “We pride ourselves in normalizing horror and spooky things as its own ‘interest’ and separating it from the stigma that it can only be celebrated in October.” 

In reality, HauntFest avoids arranging occasions throughout the Halloween season altogether to show their perception that an curiosity in supernatural macabre is just not restricted to an annual vacation.

HauntFest is especially thrilled to return to Birmingham on account of its kindhearted residents, welcoming vitality and “funky culture,” which introduced a chance for this nightmarish expertise to happen. Harpold expressed her pleasure after visiting town and visiting TrimTab Brewing Co., their Death March venue.

“Walking into the venue for the first time, I noticed the walls were already covered in horror and Halloween-themed local artwork, and even their office was decorated in spooky and funky decor,” Harpold mentioned. “After meeting with Bill Ritter and Natalie Ferguson from TrimTab, there was no doubt in our mind that they would be a wonder to partner with.”

The environment of the Party and of HauntFest – whereas staying true to its ghostly roots – shifts relying on the vitality and the expertise the venue, artists and company convey. 

“While we are consistently horror/Halloween-themed, every new HauntFest event has a different vibe due to the type of venue, time of year and what talents different local artists have hidden under their sleeves,” Harpold mentioned. “We are constantly surprised by what innovative ideas folks have in different areas, and we can’t wait to see what new thrills will come naturally to this event from entertainers and vendors.”

The first day of the weekend occasion is on Saturday. From 2 to 9 p.m., the pageant grounds will provide all the assorted market actions and horror video games listed above, together with the chance to go to all distributors and artists, aside from sure music and leisure exhibits, during which occasions range. This time is taken into account family-friendly, and children and adults alike are welcome to discover and benefit from the occasion.

“Ghouls” in search of to terrify and meet the company are launched at 6 p.m. – however a “Ghoul-Gone Glow Bracelet” might be bought on the door if a visitor needs to not work together with the monsters.

An thrilling standout of Death March is HauntFest’s novel addition of Unlimited Haunted Laser Tag, a twist on the normal capturing paintball recreation, during which customers are given phasers with innocent lasers and are tasked with hitting light-sensitive sensors on their opponents’ vests.

“Unlimited Haunted Laser Tag is included in ticket pricing, where humans can battle humans or our HauntFest monsters,” Harpold mentioned. “We may even have some spooks ready to pounce from a dark corner, while you’re playing with your friends and family.”

A tattooing and piercing part might be arrange close to the laser tag, and a few stations will provide face portray and short-term tattoos for youngsters.

Finally, HauntFest is internet hosting the brand new Dead Man’s Party, a dance celebration the place costumes are inspired, from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday solely. This specific jamboree is usually recommended for ages 18 and up. Doors open at 9 p.m., with no further price to company.

Sunday’s occasion will provide the identical festivities, with related music and leisure exhibits, till 8 p.m., however the Dead Man Party is not going to be held following that point. 

Only established in May 2023, HauntFest has shortly grown into one of many Southeast’s main horror pageant companies. They delight themselves in not solely bringing a charming environment to cities in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina but additionally in celebrating the humanities and supporting the native communities they go to.

All of HauntFest’s exhibits have touring distributors and artists, however the firm tries to focus on as many native artists as potential.