Christmas Fear comes to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn Dec. 15-17
Halloween may be over, but 'tis the season for scares at Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn, where savage Santas, eerie elves, and sinister snowmen will soon overrun the haunt during its eighth annual Christmas Fear weekend, Dec. 15-17.
Christmas Fear allows thrill seekers to engage in an interactive holiday-themed haunted attraction and indulge in festive frights where characters like Jack Frost, Krampus, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus can be a lot more naughty than nice.
Early birds who act fast can claim discounted tickets are available, in limited supply only, for only $15 each over Black Friday weekend - Nov. 24, 25, and 26 - by visiting MidnightTerror.com.
"So many younger people today no longer believe in Santa and have abandoned Christmas traditions. Christmas Fear helps scare some Christmas spirit back into visitors in a fun but frightening way," says haunt creator/owner Justin Cerniuk. "It's become an increasingly popular event every December at Midnight Terror. Many of our fans say they enjoy Christmas Fear more than our Halloween attraction in October. It's a way to extend the season for horror lovers deeper into the calendar and help our guests relieve some of the stress and worries that accompany the busy holiday season."
Cerniuk and his crew redecorate every room and passage of the 26,000-square-foot haunted house for the December event, creating a properly themed immersive and interactive experience. All the classic characters and iconography associated with the holiday are represented - including Yuletide lights, Christmas trees, gingerbread men, and the North Pole, but they're given a terrifying twist and whimsically macabre spin. Christmas Fear imagines an end-of-year holiday in an alternate universe where jump scares and creeping dread dominate. Visitors must complete various activities to proceed from one phase of the haunt to the next, including building a spooky snowman, volleying snowballs at demented elves, and giving a holiday gift to Jack Frost.
A portion of the proceeds from Christmas Fear ticket sales will be donated to Christmas Without Cancer, a local nonprofit that provides holiday gifts, as well as basic necessities to local families that are stricken with cancer. This year, Midnight Terror is also partnering with Haunters Against Hate - a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating bullying, prejudice, discrimination, hate speech, and action against the LGBTQ+ community - which will have a booth in the gift shop.
Families with younger children can attend a lights-on family-friendly Christmas Fear event on Saturday, Dec. 16 from noon to 3 p.m., during which actors in non-scary Christmas costumes will take photos and high-five kids as they walk through the brightly illuminated haunt. Families can also pose for a group digital photo with Krampus, which can be downloaded later for free.
Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. General admission for Christmas Fear is $15 per person if you purchase tickets at MidnightTerror.com on Nov. 24-26.
Thereafter, a limited supply of tickets can be had online for $20 to $25. Once that ticket tier sells out, general admission will be $30 online or $35 at the on-site ticket booth. Fast Pass admission per person, which places you in a line that's three times faster than the general admission line, can be had for $40 online or $45 on-site.
Christmas Fear is wheelchair-accessible and open, rain or shine, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 15-17. Visitors can park for no charge on-site. For more information, check out MidnightTerror.com or email info@midnightterror.com.