The misty hills of Staffordshire came alive with shrieks and shadows on a crisp September evening, as Alton Towers Resort unveiled its most spine-tingling spectacle yet: Scarefest 2025. Under a canopy of autumn leaves and flickering fog machines, the theme park transformed into a labyrinth of horrors, drawing a constellation of Britain’s boldest celebrities to brave the unknown. At the heart of the frenzy were two titans from very different arenas—heavyweight boxing legend Tyson Fury and darts prodigy Luke Littler—whose wide-eyed reactions to the park’s fresh frights proved that even the toughest skins can crawl. Joined by a glamorous cadre of soap stars and influencers, the launch on September 27 wasn’t just an event; it was a riotous reminder that Halloween’s chill touches everyone, from ring warriors to arrow aces, in ways that leave egos at the gate and laughter in the dust.
Picture the scene: the grand entrance to Alton Towers, bathed in an eerie crimson glow, where the air hummed with the distant rumble of rollercoasters plunging into darkness. Scarefest, the resort’s award-winning Halloween extravaganza, officially kicked off on selected dates from September 27 through November 2, blending heart-pounding rides under the stars with meticulously crafted terrors designed to test the bravest souls. This year’s lineup amps up the dread with two brand-new attractions that plunge visitors into the twisted lore of the Dark Forest—a mythical realm where ancient whispers lure the unwary. “At Alton Towers Resort, we’re always raising the bar for thrills and our latest scare attractions, The Edge of the Forest and Dark Hollow, are no exception,” proclaimed Neil Crittenden, Vice President of Alton Towers Resort, his voice laced with mischievous anticipation. “The new scare maze and scare zone bring the twists of the Dark Forest to life in terrifying new ways, and we can’t wait to see brave fans take it on during Scarefest 2025.”
The Edge of the Forest, a live-action scare maze, beckons with its canopy of gnarled vines and shifting shadows, where locals’ tales of the Leshwall—a spectral trickster that warps reality—come chillingly to life. Ignore the warnings etched on weathered signs, and you’ll find yourself ensnared in a disorienting web of illusions, where every rustle could be a hand reaching from the underbrush. Complementing it is Dark Hollow, a sprawling scare zone alive with prowling actors in grotesque guises, their guttural howls echoing off the park’s iconic spires. For families seeking a softer shiver, returning favorites like the NoCV-19 scare maze and the Ghoulies Grotto walkthrough offer trick-or-treat trails and ghostly gatherings, while adrenaline junkies can conquer Nemesis or The Smiler in pitch-black plunges that blur the line between ride and nightmare. Rides and attractions fire up from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with CBeebies Land winding down earlier for little ones, ensuring Scarefest caters to all ages—from pint-sized pumpkins to pulse-racing pros.
Into this cauldron of chaos strode Tyson Fury, the 37-year-old Gypsy King, fresh from the ring’s brutal ballet and riding high on family news: his 16-year-old daughter Venezuela’s recent engagement to a young boxer. But on this night, Fury traded gloves for gasps, arriving with two of his youngest sons in tow—Prince Tyson Fury II and a wide-eyed sibling clutching Dad’s hand like a lifeline. The towering champ, usually unflinching against haymakers from the likes of Oleksandr Usyk, proved hilariously human amid the mayhem. As they ventured into the new scare maze, Fury’s booming frame jolted like a felled oak; he jumped sky-high at a sudden spectral lunge, screamed in a pitch that could shatter glass, and clutched his boy’s hand tighter than a championship belt. “Even the toughest people can get scared at Alton Towers,” one onlooker quipped, capturing the moment that humanized the undefeated warrior. Fury’s laughter boomed afterward, a rollicking counterpoint to his terror, as he shepherded his kids through the fog-shrouded paths, turning paternal protectiveness into playful pandemonium.
Hot on his heels was Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts dynamo whose meteoric rise—crowned by his 2025 PDC World Championship victory—has made him a household name faster than a 180. Fresh from a well-earned breather after dominating the oche like few before him, Littler traded triple 20s for triple threats, his boyish grin masking the thrill-seeker’s spark. The Warrington wonder, still buzzing from his record-breaking averages and million-pound paydays, navigated the Dark Hollow with a mix of mock bravado and genuine flinches, his sharp eyes darting for the next jump scare. “It’s a step back from the darts board, but the adrenaline’s just as real,” Littler might have mused, though his wide-eyed dashes through the vines spoke volumes. For a lad who’s stared down the world’s best under Ally Pally’s glare, Scarefest offered a different duel—one against the unseen, where precision gives way to pure instinct.
The star-studded ensemble didn’t stop there, weaving a tapestry of telly royalty into the terror. Jorgie Porter, the fiery Hollyoaks siren best known as Theresa McQueen, squealed through the mazes in a flurry of designer denim, her model poise crumbling into giggles at every ghoul’s grasp. Catherine Tyldesley, the Coronation Street alum making a triumphant return to the cobbles, braved the fray with elegant defiance, her laughter a silver lining to the shrieks. Jennifer Ellison, another soap veteran with a flair for the dramatic, linked arms with Antony Cotton—Corrie’s beloved Sean Tully—for a duo of delightfully over-the-top reactions that had the crowd in stitches. Scarlett Thomas and Tina O’Brien, fresh from Weatherfield’s twists, added their own brand of glamorous grit, turning the launch into a veritable who’s who of British entertainment. These icons, usually scripting scares on screen, found themselves out-acted by the park’s phantoms, their candid yelps and camaraderie fueling a night of unfiltered fun.
Beyond the celebrity cameos, Scarefest 2025 pulses with broader appeal, a six-week saga of seasonal sorcery that draws over 100,000 thrill-seekers annually. Unlimited Thrills Passes, priced at £99 for passholders, unlock repeat rides on three marquee coasters, while family-friendly frights ensure the event’s inclusivity shines as bright as its jack-o’-lanterns. As fog rolls in and fireworks cap the evenings—leading into the resort’s grand Fireworks Spectacular—the launch underscored Alton Towers’ magic: a place where fame meets fear, and every scream forges a memory. For Fury, Littler, and their glittering guests, it was a masterclass in vulnerability, proving that in the Dark Forest’s embrace, we’re all just kids chasing the next rush. As October looms, the call echoes: Will you heed the Leshwall’s lure, or let the scares stay scripted? At Scarefest, the answer’s always a heart-stopping yes.
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