Halloween fans in Alberta have a solid excuse to sleep with the lights on this October. Field of Screams is back at Cobb's Adventure Park in northeast Calgary, spreading six haunted houses, a giant maze, rides and carnival-style snacks across 20 acres of the park. The event is run by Screamworks Inc., the same crew behind Calgary's Screamfest, and it runs on select nights from October 9 to October 24, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The lineup of haunts covers plenty of ground. Buried Alive puts you in a claustrophobic underground scenario where escaping is the whole game. The Haunted Mansion leans on classic creaks, moans and a grim history of violent deaths. Mad House is a psychological maze with no maps, so you're on your own. Scary Tales twists familiar fairy tales into something darker, Aliens drops you into a world of human experiments gone wrong, and Death Trap is a 6,000-square-foot maze of twists and dead ends with scares timed to send you back the way you came.
It's not all screaming. The park is also running giant puzzles, Archery Tag, black light mini golf, pedal carts and a tractor ride. There's a bonfire to warm up around, and a Kangaroo Petting Zoo open from 6 to 8 p.m. — an odd but oddly Canadian pairing with haunted houses. Food trucks, ice cream, mini-donuts and a candy store cover the snack side of things, though you'll pay separately for all of it.
If crowds of kids aren't your thing, mark Thursday, October 22. That's the 18+ Adults-Only Night, with the same attractions but a more intense atmosphere and alcohol available for purchase.
Tickets are cheaper bought ahead: $33 plus GST and fees online, or $40 at the door for regular nights. Adults-Only Night runs $37 online and $45 at the door. Tickets are date-specific, so you'll need to pick your night when you book. The park sits at 1500 84th St. NE on Calgary's eastern edge, just south of Highway 1, with free parking on site.
For travellers, this is a good reason to time an autumn visit to Calgary around mid-to-late October. It pairs well with the city's other fall offerings, and it's the kind of event where groups of friends get the most out of the night — the more people to scream with (and hide behind), the better.
