Tickets go on sale today for Almond Valley’s ‘Fright Nights’, the after-dark highlight of its ‘Stranger Bings’ takeover – and Halloween fans are bracing for a ticket rush after last year’s sell-out smash.
Inspired by West Lothian’s iconic bings, the popular 23-acre visitor spot will transform into a world of circus and live performances, immersive storytelling and interactive haunted trails – putting scare-seekers at the heart of the action.
Daytime programme and creepy crawlie encounters
Families can enjoy the daytime programme from Monday, October 19, to Sunday, October 25, as part of normal admission, with spellbinding installations and an eerie new addition of snakes, lizards and friends with ‘Creepy Crawlie Encounters’.
But when the sun goes down, the spooky shenanigans step up.
Fright Nights attractions
The ticketed ‘Fright Nights’ return on October 23 to 24 and daredevils can board the mysterious Soul Train, a ghostly ride through shadowed woods that’s not for the faint-hearted.
And for those who dare, there’s the interactive Trail of the Forsaken, a trip through the Whispering Woods, or visitors can ‘run up that hill’ to face the fire-breathing dragon…before letting loose with a boogie at the Monster Mash disco.
Jen Howard-Coombes, Director at Almond Valley, said: “Halloween has become one of the biggest moments in our calendar, and this year we’re going even bigger than before.
“Stranger Bings is inspired by the landscape right on our doorstep, but with a proper Almond Valley twist on it. We wanted families to feel like they’re stepping into a Halloween world that couldn’t exist anywhere else.”
Reptile Encounters Scotland partnership
This year, families have even more to sink their teeth into, as daytime activities get a serious dose of creative, spine-tingling wizardry.
Almond Valley will be teaming up with Reptile Encounters Scotland – a rescue organisation that gives snakes, spiders and other creatures a home for life when nobody else can care for them.
Trick-or-treaters will get the chance to come face-to-face with some of the country’s most misunderstood beasties, from snakes and spiders to bearded dragons and other creepy crawlies.
“Halloween might be their spooky season, but reptiles and creepy crawlies are far more misunderstood than monstrous,” said Fraser Fitzsimmons, Operations Manager at Reptile Encounters Scotland.
The hands-on encounters bring an educational twist to Almond Valley’s Halloween fun and could even cure a fear or two.
Fraser added: “So much of our work is about changing perceptions, one person at a time. These animals are often seen as scary, but a lot of that fear comes from films or things we’re taught growing up.
“When people meet them in a safe and relaxed setting, they often realise they’re not big, bad, scary creatures at all.”
Jen continued: “Working with Reptile Encounters Scotland has been really important for us and brings real purpose to the Halloween fun – it’s educational and shows why animals like snakes and spiders deserve care and protection.
“That’s something we care deeply about at Almond Valley.”
