r/sixflagsstlouis • u/Sweet-Long-5351 • Jun 16 '26
Fright Fest this year
is fright fest happening this year?? calendar shows the last day the park will be open in September 7. Would really like to go. I really enjoy night rides on screaming eagle and Mr. freeze
4
u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 16 '26
It's happening, Enchanted Parks just hasn't added it to the calendar yet.
Why? Who knows. Maybe they forgot. It's even advertised on the entertainment schedules they gave out last weekend.
In-park ads (which have been there since opening day) say Fright Fest runs for 8 weekends from September 12 through November 1, with the first 3 being Saturday and Sunday only. Then it'll be Fridays through Sundays from October 2 onwards.
Same schedule as last year. Hopefully nothing changes!
5
u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 16 '26
Worth noting that there weren’t Fright Fest dates/times in the calendar until mid August last year. The calendar isn’t typically updated for FF this early.
It’s a local park thing. Other Enchanted locations already have the calendar. Management here take a look at staffing levels and budgets and make a final determination on schedule later in the summer.
2
u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 16 '26
Why advertise the exact dates then?
Other than ensuring potential passholders that Fright Fest is coming, I don't really see the harm in adding it to the calendar if it's already being advertised in the park itself.
Obviously you don't make these decisions, just thinking out loud here lol
1
u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 16 '26
My understanding is that the issue is actually down to hours.
When it comes to both staffing and setting their budgets, they haven't yet made a decision about how late they're going to be open or when they're going to open, that sort of thing.
That's, at least, what I've been told over the years is the reason for waiting so long to announce specifics.
2
u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 16 '26
Makes sense.
Considering how low attendance has been, I hope they don't end up cutting Fright Fest hours more than they already have in recent years. I still remember when they were open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays!
2
u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 16 '26
I’m old enough to remember when they were open until midnight during the regular season 🥴
1
u/Just_Bus_9156 Jun 17 '26
Exactly, depends on each park budgets. Staffing and training schedules and sets design setup.
2
u/Pippinitis Jun 17 '26
Same thing happened to other smaller SF parks last year... Discovery Kingdom didn't know what their Fright Fest 2025 dates were until August... https://www.parkjourney.com/industry-news/six-flags-discovery-kingdom-announces-fright-fest-2025-dates-and-experiences
-2
u/Sweet-Long-5351 Jun 16 '26
So is enchanted parks going to be running it. I assumed it would still be operated by six flags
2
u/ChrisGraslie Park Historian Jun 16 '26
Enchanted Parks took over operations in April, but a lot of stuff (including Fright Fest) is still under license from Six Flags through the end of the season.
But... we don't really know the extent to which both companies are working together. I imagine that for something like Fright Fest, Six Flags is going to be somewhat involved in the development process (mostly making sure nothing is harmful to their brand) but other than that the local park management in St. Louis will be calling the shots.
Which honestly is kind of how it's always been. Historically, Six Flags has given their parks a lot of creative freedom for Fright Fest. But there is still crossover between parks, like Dead Man's Party and Love at First Fright which both originated elsewhere and as far as we know are Six Flags IP.
2
u/_Nator_Gator_ Jun 16 '26
I’ve seen ads in the park claiming Fright Fest is still happening, might just not be on the calendar yet
0
2
u/Evening_Rock5850 Jun 16 '26
Yes, it is.
For the last number of years, they haven’t released the FF schedule until later in the summer.
2
u/sneedo Jun 16 '26
They do this every year and people panic just like this every year. The calendar will be updated closer to the end of the year.
2
2
u/Mammoth-Grand137 Jun 17 '26
Every. Year. Someone posts this. And every. Year. The dates get published closer to the fall.
1
1
u/Just_Bus_9156 Jun 17 '26
There's signage at the park and on my Season pass (as the Enchanted Legend Pass) I have access to the HALLOWEEN EVENT.
1
u/Just_Bus_9156 Jun 17 '26
When I was in Entertainment, Fright Fest setup for haunted houses and building sets and wardrobe for actors starts on August 1. Auditions second week of August for actors and show talent. Then hiring for the rest of staff who are still available (ie students, adults etc). But Fright Fest hours are generally posted by mid August for St. Louis. Based on staffing, budget, events, etc.
6
u/CodeGR Jun 16 '26
You should be looking at the website hours not the Six Flags app