Return of DARK promises chills as the mercury drops

As the season changes toward fall, bringing in colder temperatures and earlier sunsets, it brings with it the return of Fort Edmonton Park's scare event DARK.

Returning for its fourth year at the park, DARK this year is unearthing three immersive haunts and a Halloween festival atmosphere with food, beverages and entertainment, as well as scare zones to keep you in the spirit between the haunts.

Opening on Oct. 7, it runs to All Hallows' Eve itself, Oct. 31, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day.

“This weekend was orientation with all the scare actors, so I have all that energy, 150 people in the room, so I'm pumped up,” said Teresa Ryan, creative director of DARK.

There are three haunts to experience this year: Core Industries, Under the Big Top and Blood Harvest.

Core Industries is about a lab that had been sealed shut after a parasite outbreak mutilated its workers, and now you're part of a team that will open the doors to discover what is left of those who were locked away.

Under the Big Top has a circus coming to town, but once you enter you quickly discover all is not what it seems.

“You'll have to navigate around some sinister carnival workers and come face to face with any fears you might have around killer clowns,” Ryan said.

Last but certainly not least is Blood Harvest, where your car has broken down on a country road but you see a light in a farmhouse ahead of you. Maybe the family inside can help, or maybe you should have turned around after seeing those strange scarecrows.

“When we say a Halloween festival environment, we want you to be in it,” Ryan said.

For horror trivia fans, organizers also have quiz night returning this year, an Instagram live event that runs every Monday at 7 p.m. while DARK runs. Just follow @fortedmontonpark and tune in to maybe win some prizes.

Last year DARK was mostly digital due to the pandemic, and this year they will be participating in the Alberta restrictions exemption program and following all of its guidelines, Ryan said.

“We are just excited to be able to bring back that large-scale version of DARK.”

Tickets for DARK are now available on the Fort Edmonton Park website fortedmontonpark.ca.