Stephen Gilson Jr.
Arts Editor
Zombies, ghouls and clowns – the Fairplex in Pomona had it all during their annual Lights Out: Halloween celebration this month.
Running each weekend in October, the Fairplex opened its doors to Halloween lovers and adrenaline seekers alike.
Entering the Fairplex from Gate 9, the walkway was painted in an eerie red light, instantly creating a heightened sense of panic. After completing the walk, scare actors instantly got the show started, ripping mock chainsaws and unleashing blood-curdling and painful screams.
Some actors even rushed the portable restrooms, sliding into people leaving the restrooms and giving an unexpected scare to those unaware.
However, some guests loved the event because of its ability to scare the courageous at an affordable price.
“It has a really good, affordable price that people can afford to spend,” Jessica Orozco, Lights Out patron, said.
“I really liked the advertising, so the price and advertising convinced me to come.”
Lights Out: Halloween costs $40 at the ticket booth to enter and an additional $20-$25 to park. Comparable experiences like Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights,” range in cost from $77 to a whopping $459 depending on the ticket a patron wants to buy.
The Fairplex also allows its patrons to explore all of the mazes as much as they please. Multiple mazes were available in Expo Hall 7 and the adjacent building. Inside the Asylum of Horrors, actors would hunker down in dimly or completely dark corners. With blackout shades masking the entrance to each new room within the maze, the suspense constantly builds up dread and adrenaline. Actors would peek around corners and flinch towards patrons, giving a heart-dropping jump scare.
However, the Fairplex does a phenomenal job of creating a horrifying ambiance that adds to the constant fear of walking through the mazes.
In the same maze, one room is a complete mockup of an execution. A Death Row prisoner can be seen strapped in an electric chair. With a hood on, a patron can see the prisoner violently compulse as the fake electricity surges through the prisoner’s body. A fenced off electricity generator can be seen throwing off arcs of electricity, creating an overpowering visual of bright flashing lights that add to the overall uneasiness.
For some patrons, it was their first time celebrating the holiday since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I used to come to events like this all the time before COVID, when we couldn’t really do this,” Vanessa Alvarez, Lights Out patron, said. “Now we actually get to enjoy Halloween. Yes, it’s Sunday, but I’m still having a great time feeling scared.”
While jump scares and screams are the main reason to attend the event, different vendors sold Halloween masks, clothes and toys for patrons to take home.
One vendor reminisced on her time working in the haunted house industry, and used her experience to start her own business in Rancho Cucamonga.
“This gets people in our store and lets people know we’re here for them,” Halloween Express Owner Carie Thomas said. “We are all a part of this amazing community, and we support the Halloween lifestyle.”
While patrons enjoyed walking around feeling the fear, the scare actors seemed to have the most phenomenal time using their passion and creativity to give patrons a good experience.
“My favorite part of doing this is making the character,” Lights Out actor Kevin Avitia said. “Usually, I’ll write down in my notes [what kind of character I want to make], like a psycho slasher or an undead gunslinger. Getting all the pieces together and just applying it on stands out to me.”
Lights Out: Halloween was an extraordinary event for those looking to get their blood pumping and heart racing on a budget.
Stephen Gilson Jr. can be reached at stephen.gilson@laverne.edu.
Stephen Gilson Jr. is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism. He is the arts editor for the Campus Times, a staff writer for La Verne Magazine and a staff photographer for both publications. He has previously been a staff writer, assistant editor and LV Life Editor for the Campus Times.
