RECAP:  Fright at the Fairgrounds begins in a well-decorated area filled with grim reapers and pentagrams perfectly setting the stage for the scares to come.  Characters come from every direction imaginable including a startling invasion by a bungee-jumping “spiderman,” and Killer clowns roaming a play area where wickedly laughing jesters block progression, and try to get passersby on board an “Iscream” Truck, or onto their “Slide of Death!”  Advancement through a revolving door takes the course through a sheet maze leading into dark corridors filled with skeletal remains.  Bodies rise out of coffins, and a murderous guillotine conducts a lethal beheading as the onslaught of attacks pushes the route directly into the path of a horn-honking, near-miss hit-and-run!

Navigation continues on board a school bus that departs onto a spongy floor surprise that’s soon followed soon by a spark-emitting chainsaw ambush!  A shrinking hallway is on the horizon, as is a bloody kitchen that’s home to a treacherous butcher that runs a sharp knife along passerbys’ faces before loudly slamming it down on an adjacent table!

Still to come is an isolated cornfield that hides a ghillie monster assault, a spooky cemetery that witnesses the undead jumping out of their caskets, and a homicidal torture chamber that finds an unfortunate girl captured and ensnared in a reverse bear trap!  Answering her desperate pleas for help, a chainsaw maniac pounces onto the scene swinging the weapon up over his head while given chase through a hidden claustrophobic passage out of The Haunted Barn!

ANALYSIS:   This attraction has one of the more energetic groups of actors around, and lots of them!  Frights are practically nonstop from start to finish with bungee jumper and butcher supplying some of the best scares of the night!  Clowns do a fabulous job of delaying groups, hindering progression, and trying to coax people to come down their slide, etc.  Spongy school bus departure is an unexpected surprise!  Revolving door is cleverly incorporated into the journey, and is appreciated as a most unique component of the attraction not experienced elsewhere!  A few more of these one-of-a-kind startles are needed to elevate the score.  Increased detailing some sort of action on board the bus, and lengthening overall duration would have similar effects and take them to the next level.  Light touching is utilized to amplify scares, and is extremely well done without any pushing or shoving!

OVH very much enjoyed our first visit to Fright at the Fairgrounds!  We were pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of actors and amazed by their enthusiasm.  They all did their absolute best to make sure we experienced the best scares they could give us and impressed us with their efforts!

The Haunted Barn gives an outstanding performance on a limited budget!  A free shuttle is conveniently provided from the parking lot to the ticketing area and back again.  Don’t be surprised to find a character or two along for the ride!  Admission costs $15.  Proceeds benefit the Jackson County Fairgrounds.  Free popcorn is available while you wait, and don’t leave without trying some of their delicious pumpkin roll!  It’s the best around!  Get out to Fright at the Fairgrounds and enjoy some festive Halloween entertainment at The Haunted Barn!