Fright Nights at the Fair

October is the month for leaf peeping, pumpkin flavored everything, sweaters and FEAR!!! Beginning on Friday, September 29th, Fright Nights at the Fair begin! A lot of people say it’s the same old thing, but believe me when I tell you there is new fear factors.

When you walk into the main entrance (and yes, you have to go through the clown’s mouth), the fun starts immediately.

It all started 13 years ago … an eerie anniversary for this year! When I asked Grazie how this all came about, he replied, “Well, concession season ends on Labor Day for the most part, and I just wanted to have more fun. I had seen other hayrides and stuff, but I wanted to create something better. I love haunted houses, and I wanted to be able to have the concept to survive despite the weather.” If you’ve been on a hayride, you know how easy it is to get caught in some nasty weather, but inside the cattle stalls at the fairground, Fright Nights go on rain, snow or shine.

When you walk into the main entrance (and yes, you have to go through the clown’s mouth), the fun starts immediately. There is a large arena area filled with characters in costumes to keep you entertained while waiting for your turned to be terrified. Even in this area, there is so much to be seen —and heard! “We started small with only three houses, but now we’re up to five and they’ve grown immensely.” But they couldn’t stay small for long because the demand was high. It didn’t take long for the word to get out, Fright Nights was the best show in Central New York. “What makes it even better are the people who come back every year with their characters. Between Selma, Tony, Jimmy and myself, there isn’t much we haven’t thought of. Selma does this great Granny character and has her own following.” Then they showed me pictures of costumes past, and they truly go all out. I saw two large storage areas filled with racks of costumes, and Grazie that wasn’t even the entire stock. “Anyone who works here has fun because they can be anything they want for at least five weeks,” said Grazie with a smile.

My personal favorite was the 3D Pirate Ship. Even in the daylight, the artistry is present. As an artist, I appreciated the effort, but I can’t wait to see this in the dark with 3D glasses!

Grazie and his team take great pride in creating the ultimate Halloween event. There are five major themes for this year:

    Chainsaw Massacre, The Insane Asylum, The Classic Haunted Mansion,  3D Pirate Ship and … The Revenge of IT!

Each year has some kind of clown house, but this is the year of IT! A lot of people I know hate clowns to begin with so imagine how much more horrifying it will be this year. Last year was a clown prison, but this year you can look for the red balloons to creep you out.

My personal favorite was the 3D Pirate Ship. Even in the daylight, the artistry is present. As an artist, I appreciated the effort, but I can’t wait to see this in the dark with 3D glasses! Grazie’s team actually built the ship! However, each house has its own flare, and each is filled with a ton of details that only heighten the experience. Some areas feature animatronics that rival a movie set. “It’s a constant reinvestment. We want to get better each year.” Grazie’s commitment to the event is evident at every turn along with another surprise. And if the costumes and expensive props aren’t enough, you can always take your picture next to the Ghostbuster’s car!

If the costumes and expensive props aren’t enough, you can always take your picture next to the Ghostbuster’s car!

After the tour, I realized that this must be the biggest haunted house venue in CNY! I’ve seen people decorate their porches or the areas around buildings and houses, but I have never seen such an elaborate or extensive in this area ever! When I asked Grazie which house was his favorite, he replied, “I don’t have a favorite. There’s something great in each of them.” However, he did tell me one of his favorite stories!!! Several years ago, he had a high school drama student who acted so well, the patrons were afraid she was really being held captive. “Anytime she wants to come back, she’s welcome. She was an amazing actress!” Returning characters are what makes this event so wonderful —staff comes back because they never know what they will be next, and Grazie is always open to suggestions. Tony said, “that’s what they all love about this place, it changes constantly even from week one to week five.”

Grazie believes that simple things are still the best, and part of what makes it so special is both the staff and the customers. “Even if you just sit and observe, you will have a good time.” Of course, they’re planning something special for Friday the 13th so don’t miss the fun. They’ll be open Friday and Saturday from 7:00 PM to midnight and Sundays from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. Coupons are available on the website or at Destiny USA. 

Celebrate Halloween for the next five weeks and get your scare on at Fright Nights at the Fair!!!

Janet LaFrance