There are some invitations that arrive in your inbox which you simply cannot turn down, and after our brilliant first experience of Alton Towers' Scarefest last September, being invited back for the launch of Scarefest 2026 was undoubtedly one of them.

Having fallen in love with the event last year, the prospect of returning for another weekend of Halloween fun had us all excited for very different reasons. For me, it was the promise of a brand-new scare maze. After the terrifying experience of Edge of the Forest last year, I was intrigued to see what Alton Towers could possibly have in store this time around. For Calum, however, the family-friendly mazes were the big draw – with Trick or Treat Town remaining firmly at the top of his list – while Skye had rather different priorities. Having been captivated by all things CBeebies on previous visits, she was most excited to finally see the Bluey Rollercoaster up close and personal.

Arriving early meant we had plenty of time to meander around the grounds and take in the Halloween atmosphere before the day really got going. And, surprisingly for us, our first destination wasn't CBeebies Land. Instead, we found ourselves in Mutiny Bay, where both children quickly decided that this was somewhere they wanted to spend rather more time.

While they drew Reb over towards their holy grail, I was off to experience the new scare maze, Final Exhibit, as part of a specially invited initial audience.

And it did not disappoint.

Very different to Edge of the Forest, Final Exhibit felt perhaps less intense but considerably more eye-opening. Rather than simply throwing scare after scare at you, it takes you on a thrilling journey into the archives of the world-famous theme park, bringing Alton Towers' history to life while still delivering more than a jump or two along the way.

There is something particularly enjoyable about a maze which gives you a story to follow alongside the scares, and Final Exhibit certainly delivers on that front. My biggest piece of advice? Get yourself to the front of your party. The further forward you are, the more of the action you are likely to experience – and trust me, that makes a difference.

With my first maze of the weekend successfully negotiated, it was time to reunite with the family and get back to what Alton Towers does best – riding rides.

The remainder of the day was spent going from one attraction to another, although Mutiny Bay proved to be the clear winner with my two. Having barely ventured away from it earlier in the day, it was perhaps unsurprising that we found ourselves back there again and again. It has become a new family favourite, and watching the children's excitement as they raced from attraction to attraction was a reminder that, while the scares might be my big draw, the magic of Alton Towers for them is still very much about the rides.

There was also time for not one but two visits to the very impressive SEA LIFE Centre, which proved a welcome change of pace from the rollercoasters and rides. It was another opportunity to simply wander, explore and take everything in before the evening's activities began.

After a brief break to check into the ever-so-lovely Alton Towers Resort Hotel, we were once again greeted by a themed room which immediately won the children over. There is something about staying on-site which adds another layer to the whole experience, and the excitement of having a room that feels like part of the adventure is never lost on them.

With bags dropped off and a little time to relax, it was back to the park for another visit to Mutiny Bay before we settled in for an all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta buffet. Quite how much pizza and pasta two children can consume after a full day at a theme park is something I perhaps don't need to know, but there was certainly no shortage of empty plates.

As darkness descended, the park took on a completely different atmosphere. The Halloween decorations, spooky surroundings and evening lighting made the walk back towards the hotel feel like another part of the Scarefest experience, and after a full day of rides, food and scares, we were more than ready for a very good sleep.

The following morning, breakfast did not disappoint, although the children were already thinking about what came next. After checking out, we made our way over to Splash Landings – and if you're looking for a weekend away at Alton Towers, we'd highly recommend adding this to your plans.

A brilliant water park, there was more than enough to keep both children entertained, despite their very different approaches to the attractions.

Calum, ever the adventurous one, absolutely loved the slides. In fact, he appeared to enjoy them almost as much as he enjoyed finding the various spots where unsuspecting people could be thoroughly drenched. Several opportunities were discovered, much to his delight and occasionally to the surprise of those standing nearby.

Skye, meanwhile, was much more at home on the lazy river and the medium-sized slides. It was the perfect way to round off a busy weekend, giving us all the chance to have some fun without quite the same level of running around that had characterised the previous day.

And just like that, another Scarefest weekend had flown by.

Returning to Alton Towers for a second Scarefest has reminded us why the event has become such a highlight in our family calendar. There is something for everyone, whether your idea of Halloween heaven involves being chased through a scare maze, tackling the park's rides, hunting down family-friendly frights, or simply soaking up the incredible atmosphere.

For me, Final Exhibit provided the new scare experience I had been hoping for. For Calum, it was the family-friendly fun – and particularly those ever-popular mazes – while Skye had her own priorities firmly in place.

Different interests, different highlights, but one very happy family.

Once again, Scarefest has given us a truly unforgettable weekend, and as Halloween approaches, it is an experience we would all wholeheartedly recommend.

More information here.