LIGHTS OUT has opened at the Pomona FEARplex, inviting guests to take in a new way to play and scream. The new event is a hybrid haunt and festival with a slice of show floor thrown in to offer something familiar yet unique. It’s also a relatively affordable Halloween activity with a peak entry fee of $39.99 at the gate, and better deals online.
The Midway
After entering the front gate, visitors will be thrust into a festive midway. There is an entertainment stage in front of us, while we have the choice to hang a left to the Zombieball shooting experience or we can head off to the right and explore three mazes, games, the Tavern of Terror, a vendor area, Esports, and VR, and a wax museum.
Zombieball Experience
Included in the admission price is the Zombieball Experience shooting gallery. We know the drill, zombies are on the loose and it is our job to scan the horizon and take them out. It’s our advice to hit this one first as the line may become long.
Tavern of Terror
Perched above the main thoroughfare is the Tavern of Terror. Here is an expansive and fully stocked bar to take in some liquid courage and watch the sun set. Our guess is that this place will become pretty popular.
MAZES
Further down the slender midway are three haunted mazes and a yeard display. The good news is that they are all located inside, so even if the sun hasn’t set, you can still fully enjoy these ones.
Zombie Escape
Zombie Escape is your typical Zombie outbreak walkthrough. Despite being a very familiar concept, the talent in Zombie Escape does a great job of making it feel fresh, playful, and fun.
Carnival of Evil
Clowns. Why did it have to be clowns? Another haunt staple is here with Carnival of Evil. Nefarious clowns stalk the technicolor halls of this substantial maze. What impressed us here was the inventive layout and the length of the attraction. Very well done.
Nightmares
The last maze on the roster is the most ambitious with Nightmares. A collection of terrifying dream sequences, this maze delivers everything from Jack the Ripper to alien invaders in order to get a scream out of you. It’s very “Haunt Stew” with almost all of the expected tropes making an appearance. That said, it was still a lot of fun.
Vendor Village, Waxworks, Esports/ VR Zone
At the far end of the midway is the Vendor Village, Esports/ VR Zone and Waxworks. This is where the event really tries to do something new by including a show floor. Unfortunately, this triad of attractions is at the opposite end of the venue and will need a lot of help from staff to make sure that guests know it exists.
Esports/VR Zone
Ya like video games? Great! The Esports/VR zone has banks of high-powered computers to play your favorite spooky game on.
Vendor Village
The Vendor Village was a collection of booths featuring an array of items that you may not be able to live without.
Waxworks
On paper, including a spooky wax museum might have seemed like a great idea. The bummer is that this sparse collection of figures would have benefited from a smaller setting and better lighting.
Tickets
General admission at the gate is $39.99 overall. But General admission tickets online are anywhere from $27-$33 depending on the night that you choose to go.
Our biggest tip here is to BUY EVERYTHING ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO!
Boos & Brews Combo Ticket – $29.99
If you plan to go on a Friday or Saturday night, make sure to just buy the Boos & Brews Combo Ticket. This will get you into two events for about the same price as admission into Lights Out alone.
PARKING
Parking at the Pomona Fairplex will run you $22 but you can save money by grabbing parking online for $17. Click HERE to purchase parking!
Overall, LIGHTS OUT is a fun night out at a reasonable price.
