Denver’s Elitch Gardens Theme Park FrightFest – Few Crowds, Loads of Fun

Every time my kids and I drive into Denver via I-25 and they see the roller coasters, Ferris Wheel and Tower of Doom, I hear, “When can we go to Elitch’s? How come we’ve never been to Elitch’s?” Last weekend I finally obliged my poor, deprived children with a day at Elitch Gardens theme park during the annual FrightFest celebration — weekends in October through Halloween. (Thanks for the complimentary admission, Elitch Gardens!)

We had a ball at FrightFest on Saturday afternoon, when events are tame for young children. My kids picked up candy and plastic novelties (you know, stuff they need) along Trick or Treat Trail in the “Scaretoon Studios” (usually Startoon Studios) area, where there are rides for pint-sized guests. We watched a couple of special events in the Scaretoon theater, like  “Ghoul Grossout,” where kids from the audience raced to drink a blended milkshake made of salsa, ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard (really vanilla pudding and sweet stuff).

Dozens of kids (not mine) participated in an afternoon costume contest. And one of the haunted houses that is spooky and creepy by night is open for children with the lights on during the day — the “Monster-less Matinee.” Unfortunately, that attraction is only open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and we missed the window (must have walked right past the big sign near the entrance when we arrived).

The park is intricately decorated with creepy costumed characters — like clowns gone bad, zombie brides and bloody scarecrows (really, more harmless looking than they sound when it’s sunny out). Cobwebs drape many displays and buildings, and you need to pass through or past a “graveyard” to get to the main area of the park. Instead of French fries, food stands sell “Fried Zombie Brains.” Hokey, but entertaining, stuff.

Of course, all the theme-park rides are open, too. And you can spin, soar and shake to your heart’s content for the daily admission fee (except for the Sling Shot and XLR8R free-fall swing, which cost $19.95 each for two-minute rides). The Island Kingdom Water Park and water rides like Shipwreck Falls and Disaster Canyon are closed for the season.

My nine-year-old daughter was too tall for the kiddie rides, her stomach couldn’t handle too many spinning rides, and she felt like one coaster (wooden Twister II) was plenty for her. She managed to find some fun with the Dragon Wing flying ride, Turn of the Century old-fashioned swing ride, and indoor Ghost Blasters! laser ride. (My younger son and husband — with their stomachs of steel — rode a ridiculous amount of upside down and spinning rides.)

We found that we were able to walk on a lot of attractions, or wait for a short amount of time to get on. The lack of crowds in the fall during FrightFest was truly a blessing — there’s nothing worse than waiting an hour for a three-minute thrill. Add in crisp autumn temperatures and a blue-sky day, and I think FrightFest in the fall is a great time to take kids to Elitch’s.

Regarding the “scary” stuff that happens at dusk after 5 p.m.: I wasn’t sure how much my kids could handle. (My daughter got nightmares after my husband showed her Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video.) But we did stick around for the nasty live-cockroach-eating contest, as well as the zombies dancing during “The Awakening” show. Scary costumed characters — like the bride, groom and cheerleader zombies — are super creepy; the moss monster is freaky, too. Neither child wanted to go into the dark haunted houses — The Suffering and Bloodlust — and I didn’t want to pay the $8 combo ticket to go in them, either, so we headed to our Denver hotel by 7 p.m. — after nearly 7 hours in the park!

I suppose my only caveat would be that Elitch Gardens — like most amusement parks — does charge heftily for food and drink. I’m thinking about my $7 draft beer and a $3.50 cup of lemonade. (The $7.25 potato skins didn’t bother me as much — they were good and filling and totally hit the spot during happy hour.)

FrightFest has been extended this year to include Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29 from 5 p.m. to 10 pm. Otherwise, FrightFest happens for the next two Friday nights, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m, Saturdays noon to 10 p.m., and Sundays noon to 9 p.m. This weekend (24th and 25th), trick-or-treating for kids is extended to take place throughout the park, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission to the park during FrightFest is $39.99 for adults, $19.99 for children under 48 inches tall.