Guide to Scarowinds 2023, with new ‘Procession of Nightmares’ parade
Scarowinds is back for the 2023 Halloween season at Carowinds, and we got a sneak peek of the event’s returning mazes and scare zones, plus the new “Procession of Nightmares” parade.
Scarowinds runs select nights Sept. 15 – Oct. 29, 2023 at Carowinds, the Cedar Fair-owned amusement park on the state line of North and South Carolina. There’s a lot to see and do as many talented artists bring the nightmare to life.
New: Procession of Nightmares Parade
Not one, but two new parades entertain guests at Carowinds this Halloween. During the daytime, the “Tricks and Treats Parade” commences as part of The Great Pumpkin Fest (check out our full coverage of that family-friendly event here).
As dusk approaches and Scarowinds materializes, “Procession of Nightmares,” the evening parade, descends upon the park. We got to attend a preview performance and hear from some of the creatives behind the production.
Cathy Lozano directed both parades. She said Scarowinds’ “Procession of Nightmares” is “a little dark, a little possessed, and a little cursed” in comparison to the daytime parade.
Ryan Allen, director of live entertainment at Carowinds, said “Procession of Nightmares” is a “really different version of a parade than you’ve seen here.” Allen noted that the floats were designed by artists at Kern Studios, who previously created floats for Carowinds’ WinterFest and Grand Carnivale parades. Kern’s designers have “completely outdone themselves,” said Allen, in their work on “Procession of Nightmares.”
The parade features 40 performers and steps off at 7:30 p.m. near Intimidator, meandering through the North Carolina side of the park before concluding near the water park.
We asked Lozano and Allen their favorite spot to watch the parade. Lozano: The whole park! Allen: County Fair, at the end of the parade route.
Monster Makeover
Carowinds selected one of our Attractions Magazine attendees, Jeremy, to become a monster (or “scare actor”) for the evening. We were escorted backstage, where rows of makeup artists were busy preparing the dozens of performers for the night’s park-wide haunts and shows.
The makeup process (not including any sort of costume assembly) took roughly a half-hour. It’s quite the operation to bring the park’s undead citizens to life (or is it afterlife?) multiple times every week.
Scarowinds Haunted Mazes 2023
Scarowinds 2023 hosts five haunted mazes: Paranormal Inc., Depths of Darkness, Silver Screen Studios: Condemned, Slaughter House: The Final Cut, and Tooth Fairy.
All of them are repeats from years’ past. The newest is Paranormal Inc., which debuted at Scarowinds in 2022 after several years at Knott’s Scary Farm (a fellow Cedar Fair haunt).
Photo courtesy of Carowinds
We got a lights-on tour of Paranormal Inc., billed as “a forsaken hospital marred by a chilling history.” The maze’s pre-show features a performer flying above guests via a rig attached to a catwalk. In the dark, the sequence is quite a scare. Exposed of its secrets, it’s more fascinating than frightening.
Multiple Scarowinds houses have pre-shows. Though brief, the pre-shows help familiarize guests with the lore of the mazes’ often-intricate storylines before they start walking through the attraction.
Experiencing Paranormal Inc. with the lights on also provided the opportunity to appreciate the detail of the scenery. What had been terrifying haunted maze now felt a bit like a macabre art installation. It’s easy to not notice the craftsmanship when it’s dark and you’re moving quickly.
Between the narrow confines of two walls within Paranormal Inc., we stumbled upon a Scarowinds associate sitting in front of a display of monitors. He had eyes on the entire maze, and could cue various scares initiated by props or special effects rather than performers.
Many haunt events use the word “maze,” when in reality their attractions are one-way walkthroughs, with no deviations of the pathway. While several Scarowinds attractions fall into the walkthrough category, Paranormal Inc. lets guests choose their path. Even with the lights on, we got turned around several times.
Scarowinds Scare Zones 2023
Six scare zones populate the park during Scarowinds 2023: Harvest FEAR, Ripper Alley, The Harlequin Club, Blue Ridge Roadkillers, The Hollow, and Blood Yard.
Photo courtesy of Carowinds
Our favorite among the five we experienced was Ripper Alley, depicting a London boulevard on which Jack the Ripper has gotten loose.
With most scare zones taking place in open spaces — designed to accommodate huge amounts of foot traffic during regular park hours — many performers openly walk about. This means you can better prepare yourself for a scare; you can see them coming. Scare zones are less-scary (but still, often, startling) alternatives to haunted mazes for those who prefer a tamer Scarowinds evening … except the chainsaw army at Blue Ridge Roadkillers. You’re on your own for that one.
Scarowinds Live Entertainment 2023
In addition to the “Procession of Nightmares” parade, an extensive lineup of live entertainment provides a nice balance to the haunted attractions (and a great detour if the mazes’ lines are too long for your liking).
Photo by Blake Taylor
The new “Conjure the Night” show is a must-see. Performed at the Plaza Stage, the revue features live vocalists and dancers. Allen proudly shared that a former version of the production was such a big hit when it debuted at Carowinds, other Cedar Fair parks duplicated it nationwide.
Other shows at Scarowinds 2023 include:
- “The Summoning,” an opening ceremony at the beginning of each event night
- “The Mane Stage,” a jazz act reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters
- “Raging Inferno,” a heavy metal band
- “Halloween Hootenanny,” a folk rock performance
Photo by Blake Taylor
Check the Carowinds app for showtimes during your visit.
Scarowinds Dining and Merch 2023
Guests can enjoy a number of specially spooky food items and drinks during their Scarowinds visit. John Loukas, executive chef at Carowinds, shared some insight behind the menu, along with a few recipes, which you can look out for in the coming days at AttractionsMagazine.com.
Among the wildest items this year are the Trick “Oreo” Treat Funnel Cake and a cotton candy turkey leg!
Evil Emporium is Scarowinds’ signature retail shop. Located near Starbucks toward the front of the park, the store sells a wide variety of park-specific items. A 2023 dated t-shirt with artwork representing all five haunted mazes seemed to be a hit among invited guests. We also like this Fury 325 t-shirt pictured above, designed in the style of a vintage horror flick. (Speaking of: Yes, many favorite coasters are open for nighttime rides during Scarowinds.)
Other merchandise available includes pins, hats, hoodies, drinkware, and more.
Scaredy Cat? Opt for “No Boo” Necklace or The Great Pumpkin Fest
Is it possible to attend Scarowinds if you don’t want to be scared? Kind of. The park sells a “no boo” necklace at Evil Emporium. Performers will not scare or approach guests wearing the necklace.
To borrow a tip from one smart guest we saw, wearing noise-canceling headphones while walking through the haunted mazes might help mitigate the experience’s sensory overload.
That being said, if the vibe itself — loud atmospheres intensely themed to horror and gore — is what you’re hesitant about, Scarowinds probably isn’t the event for you. Fortunately, there’s a daytime alternative, The Great Pumpkin Fest, with a full lineup of seasonal activities that are spooky rather than scary.
Themed to the Peanuts and featuring a new parade of its own for 2023, The Great Pumpkin Fest is Carowinds’ family-friendly Halloween event. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 – Oct. 29, 2023. Explore our guide to The Great Pumpkin Fest by clicking below:
Scarowinds Chaperone and Bag Policies
To attend Scarowinds, guests under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. That adult must bring their I.D. and stay in the park for the length of the minors’ visit. For large groups, Scarowinds requires one chaperone per 10 minors.
Guests ages 16 and up do not need a chaperone. However, guests ages 16-20 may not be a chaperone for guests under age 16. Guests ages 16 and up should also bring their I.D. to confirm their age.
Scarowinds prohibits guests from bringing bags of any kind. To reiterate: No bags allowed at Scarowinds. That includes purses, backpacks, you name it. In addition to medical bags, there’s one exception, and it involves the new “First In Fright” policy (below).
No filming or photography is allowed inside haunted mazes or scare zones. We were allowed to capture video and photos with permission from Carowinds as part of a media event. Additionally, no costumes are allowed to be worn by guests.
For a full explanation of these policies, click here.
Scarowinds Tickets 2023
Scarowinds nightly admission is separately ticketed from Carowinds daily admission. However, guests with season passes of the gold tier and above receive unlimited Scarowinds admission all season long.
Nightly Scarowinds admission starts at $44.99, depending on the date. The “Fright & Fast Lane” add-on, which grants front-of-line access to rides and haunted mazes, starts at $89.00 and does not include event admission.
Guests who purchase a 2024 Carowinds season pass through the rest of this year will receive remaining 2023 admission free — and again, for gold passes (starting at $105) and higher, that includes Scarowinds.
To purchase tickets or season passes, click here.
New “First In Fright” Holding Area
Guests who plan on enjoying Carowinds by day and Scarowinds by night can remain in the park during a new experience called “First In Fright.” In previous years, Carowinds cleared the park of all day guests prior to switching over to Scarowinds for the evening. Not so anymore.
If you’re in the park early and staying for Scarowinds, enter the “First In Fright” queue by 4:45 p.m. near the Bailey’s Barnyard gift shop (close to Afterburn). By 5:30 p.m., Carowinds personnel will escort you into Aeronautica Landing, the park’s new flight-themed land. At 7 p.m., Scarowinds will begin and you can roam the rest of the park as you wish.
Note: As stated earlier, guests entering Scarowinds are not allowed to bring any bags inside the park. However, guests who visit Carowinds during the day with bags and utilize “First In Fright” can keep their bags during Scarowinds. This policy is correct at the time of this writing and is subject to change as this new operational procedure takes effect.
For detailed FAQs about First In Fright, click here.
For those of us coming only to Scarowinds, that need to carry our phones, ID and cash; how is not a single bag allowed???? Unless you are there in the day for an additional ticket, this is a money grab and completely unjustifiable. Not even a Fanny pack.