We’ve always said that Screamfest near Burton is one of the most underrated scare attractions in the UK. Sitting close to Alton Towers Scarefest and Xtreme Scream Park, it can sometimes be overshadowed by those giant names. Yet, every October, Screamfest quietly delivers one of the most atmospheric, well-rounded, and downright fun Halloween events in the country.
This year, we were kindly invited back to experience their 2025 event, complete with a new maze, new entertainment, and a few surprises along the way.
The Atmosphere & Presentation
From the moment you step through the entrance marquee, and see the new enterance sign, Screamfest oozes Halloween charm. Fire cannons light up the night, pumpkins line the walkways, and every inch of the park feels alive with seasonal energy. The event area features:
- Multiple themed bars
- A huge range of food outlets
- A live music stage with bands and entertainment
- A fairground zone with three rides
It’s an adult Halloween event done right. It’s immersive and full of personality.
A brand-new addition this year was “The Burning Witch”, a live-action theatrical experience that plays out as a witch’s execution. It’s simple in concept but brilliantly staged, with excellent acting, beautiful lighting, and a cinematic tone that proves small-scale shows can make a big impact.
Other new touches included Hellcatraz-inspired dance cages and a lively dance troupe performing routines to pop and horror hits including a “Running Up That Hill” Stranger Things-style sequence that had the crowds fixated.
Roaming Characters & Stand-Outs
Screamfest’s roaming characters continue to be some of the best in the business. From Sprinkles and Sparkles to pig beasts, witches, and other twisted creations, there’s a great mix of humour and horror wandering the midway.
But the true star of the show remains the iconic Nurse Babs, a filthy-mouthed, wildly inappropriate delight who turns adult humour into an art form. She’s crude, clever, and hysterical, and embodies the mature tone that Screamfest pulls off so well.
The Mazes
Freakout Resurrected
Traditionally one of our favourites, Freakout has always delivered chaotic clown energy with strong separation moments and flirtatious scares. Unfortunately, this year it fell short. The lack of actors left large sections feeling empty, and the batching led to oversized groups of 15–20 guests. Scares were lost in the crowd, and the flow collapsed when multiple groups merged. With a few more actors and better pacing, this could easily return to top form.
Insomnia
Still one of the most inventive mazes in the UK, Insomnia uses psychological horror rather than shock tactics to crawl under your skin. The story of a child haunted by Crackerjack while her mother refuses to believe her is both emotional and terrifying, especially as parents ourselves.
Our first run suffered from large batching and missing actors, but our second run with just four people was exceptional. The maze came alive with twice as many actors, intense interactions, and perfectly creepy pacing. It’s a reminder that this maze thrives in small groups, and we’d love to see an “Isolation Ticket” option introduced. When operated properly, Insomnia is world-class.
Hillbilly Joe’s Zombee Zoo
Usually one of the stronger mazes, Zombee Zoo felt a little off this year. The concept remains fun and tongue-in-cheek, but two key issues dragged it down: a shortage of actors and poor batching. All batching doors opened simultaneously, sending huge groups through together and killing any chance for surprise.
The maze still has great sets and a strong theme, but with proper batching and more performers, it could easily regain its spark.
Mutation Damnation
The new maze, Mutation Damnation, introduces guests to a world of biological experiments gone wrong. The opening scenes — with glowing crops, dense fog, and eerie lighting — look stunning and feel straight out of The X-Files. Unfortunately, halfway through the maze loses focus, reverting to older sets from Creed Farm with muted performances.
The actors, dressed in hazmat suits, silently walked past guests instead of creating urgency or panic, leaving the tone flat. A few aggressive, panicked performances and clearer storytelling would transform this into something great. The potential is absolutely there; it just needs polish and consistency.
Hellcatraz
And finally, Hellcatraz, undoubtably the maze of the night. Last year’s standout attraction has evolved into an utterly brutal, full-contact experience. Guest feedback about intensity has clearly been heard, because this year’s Hellcatraz is ferocious.
We were shoved, dragged, pinned, and slammed into walls with such force that we were genuinely speechless. The set design, multi-route structure, and actor commitment are all superb. This is Screamfest at its peak, aggressive, immersive, and a maze I could have done again and again.
Massive respect to the cast and crew who delivered one of the most intense scare experiences we’ve ever had.
Overall Verdict
While the night started with batching and staffing issues that affected a couple of mazes, it turned into an excellent evening filled with atmosphere, creativity, and two truly world-class attractions.
Screamfest Burton continues to prove why it deserves far more recognition with it’s perfect blend of humour, horror, and heart that balances entertainment with genuine terror. It’s not faultless, but no where is, and despite some early setbacks it’s somehwere we’d return to again and again.
Verdict: A brilliantly chaotic mix of scares, laughter, and unforgettable moments proving that when Screamfest hits, it hits hard.
