Scarefest in St. Louis 2021

Haunted house season is upon us and this year Scarefest is back in St. Louis with The Darkness, Creepyworld, and The Lemp Haunted House! With so many new and different attractions this year, it is definitely time to revisit the scariest destinations in the area!

This past weekend my wife and I managed to go to two different haunted houses. Friday night we went downtown to the Soulard area and checked out The Darkness for the 2021 season. Terrifying is an understatement. With new covid precautions in place you can be worry free as you navigate the twists and turns through-out this remarkable scream inducing labyrinth of horror. We arrived early to avoid the lines and when we left you can see the crowd was getting bigger. With plenty of parking, security, and screams, The Darkness is something to embrace rather than avoid this time of the year!

The actors and performers at The Darkness were top notch. Their costumes and performances were knocked out of the park. They thoroughly scared me and my wife. That girl swinging and bouncing around in one of the areas has been ingrained in my head as absolutely terrifying. Let’s just say my heart was pumping and it took a while for the adrenaline to wear off.

After a night of getting my head straight we were back at it again. This time we ventured out to Fenton to visit Creepyworld. This place is literally like a whole other world. Fog, lights, strobes, sounds, and so much more fill so many different haunted attractions and each and every one of them lives up to the Creepyworld name. With 13 haunted attractions in one location including the all NEW Slaughter and Sons Funeral Home – Tales of Terror – The Pumpkin Barn and an all-new Krampus haunted house. Creepyworld also features St Louis’ ONLY Haunted Hayride ‘Trick R Treat Haunted Hayride.

Creepyworld is the longest haunted house in the St Louis area by far! Bring your camera as Creepyworld features multiple photo ops for you and your friends! Creepyworld features several haunted houses including Haunted Asylum, Haunted Prison, Haunted Hospital, Sleepyaway Camp, Krampus, Blackout, Silo-X, Haunted Mansion, and the new Sleepy Hollow 3D haunted house. It takes over one hour to complete so bring your friends and scream together!

While we did not get there early enough to avoid a line, we did not have to wait too long to make our way through this hellish adventure. Plus while waiting in line there was plenty of terror to be had. Actors come through and visit with guests and there is also a huge projection setup telling the story of several of the attractions.

Camp Crystal Creek was one of my favorites. Our family is big into Jason and the Friday the 13th lore, so seeing this area fleshed out with well, flesh, and of course Jason, just makes it even scarier. The Krampus house was also a highlight. With more lighting to highlight the Christmas gore and the enslaved children forced to work by Krampus, it really puts a damper on the holiday season.

REMEMBER CREEPYWORLD IS ALMOST COMPLETLY OUTSIDE UNDER THE PALE MOONLIGHT! SCREAM WITH YOUR FRIENDS THIS HALLOWEEN AT CREEPYWORLD with the biggest RENOVATION in our HISTORY!

We plan on visiting the Lemp Brewery Haunted House this year as well. We just have to fit the trip in our schedule, but judging from the photos, it looks amazing and just as creepy and scary as The Darkness and Creepyworld. Follow me on social media for more photos when we do visit!

The Darkness, Creepyworld, and Lemp are all worth visiting this season. I have got to say, props and amazing work by all that make these haunted houses possible. From the actors, designers, and builders, to the security and sales clerks. Check out some of my behind the scenes at The Darkness photos! A haunted house is a great escape from reality with all of the drama and craziness we all endure day after day, and Scarefest is the place to make that happen. It’s amazing what a couple hours of screaming your head off will do for your mental health!

You can grab tickets at the ticket booth or online at Scarefest.com

Follow The Darkness on social media for more awesome details!

Twitter @Scarefest
Instagram @Scarefest
Scarefest on Facebook.com/stlouismissourihauntedhouses
The Darkness on Facebook.com/DarknessHauntedHouse
Creepyworld on Facebook.com/CreepyworldHauntedHouse
Lemp on Facebook.com/lemphauntedhouse

Each locations has different Covid-19 precautions and rules and regulations are changing all the time. Be sure to check out their website if you have any questions!

Beyond Van Gogh in St. Louis

When you first see the photos for the Van Gogh Immersive Experience you may think to yourself that this looks interesting. What you feel when you actually see it, is something entirely different.

Vincent Van Gogh is probably one of the most well-known names when it comes to art. Just about everyone knows his Starry Night painting. But did you know he painted that while in an asylum? Or do you know what caused the infamous ear incident without searching Google? These are just a couple of facts that you will read about while making your way through the Van Gogh Experience that is now available at the St. Louis Galleria.

Reading personal letters from Vincent to his brother Theo Van Gogh is a peek into the life of an artist that you normally wouldn’t know about. It is very thought provoking and provides insight into the mind of someone just trying to make their way in the world.

Seeing Vincent Van Gogh’s art in this new a technological way is amazing. They dubbed this an immersive experience. Immersive is the perfect word for this art show. Seeing the water in his painting ripple through-out the space, stars and fields flowing with flowers growing, and if you stare long enough at a portrait you might even see it blink.

Taking my daughter to this event was something I was wanting to do since it had been announced. I am thrilled that she got to experience this with me. Seeing her eyes light up as the room changed into another spectacular scene after another was worth spending a little time out of evening. She’s my little artist and it’s so interesting to hear her thoughts on Van Gogh’s brush strokes (he uses a lot of circles, she says), his bright colors, the people, fields, and houses, he paints. She’s still a little kid, so her thoughts don’t go as deep and meaningful as mine, but they’re there, just kid versions.

The event was well attended and there were Covid-19 precautions, like wearing masks and hand sanitizer stations. You probably shouldn’t be touching anything while you’re there anyways, but still there are some spots to wash your hands if needed. There is also a gift shop so you can pick up some Van Gogh themed items like shirts, cups, necklaces, etc. They are all very cool and worth checking out before you walk out the door.

Grab your tickets from vangoghstlouis.com today and enjoy one of the most technological artistic experiences you could ever immerse yourself in!

Halloween at Union Station!

All Aboard! The Union Station Halloween Experience brings family fun to the fall season in St. Louis, October 9 – 31.

Created for children 12 and under and their families, the Union Station Halloween Experience is a themed walking journey through the historic railroad terminal’s stationary rail cars. Each train car features a spooky theme including pirates, witches, dark creatures and a candy wonderland. 
Guests can purchase tickets and start their Halloween journey inside a huge tent filled with a not-so-scary maze, a series of boo-rific decorated rooms and a big barnyard where guests 12 and under receive a free pumpkin.
Onboard the rail cars, characters read a story with clues and interactive elements to solve the Riddle of the Werewolf. Kids get a special treat at the end of the journey.

The Union Station Halloween Experience is open daily, October 9 – 31 from 1 to 9 p.m. with the last ticket sold at 8 p.m.

My two kiddos LOVED the Halloween Experience at Union Station. It was just the perfect amount of scary for them. My son is six and he was holding my hand so tight while walking through the spooky maze. My daughter is ten and wasn’t as scared but just loved how everything was setup.

With a magic show, a balloon artist, and much more, the first part of the Halloween Experience was already worth checking out. The second part, which consists of going through several train cars that are decorated with some crazy Halloween flair was just as fun. Listening to the story and putting together the clues provided a unique experience that kids and adults should really enjoy.

Ticket options allow guests to incorporate package deals with Union Station’s other attractions, adding a visit to the St. Louis Aquarium and the 200-foot-tall St. Louis Wheel at a reduced price.

Timed tickets for the Union Station Halloween Experience are $20 per person and may be purchased on site or online at: https://www.stlouisunionstation.com/halloween-train-ticketing.

With normal Halloween plans changed due to COVID-19, the new event has been created with guest safety in mind. Just 12 people will be admitted to each train car at a time to allow for appropriate social distancing. Masks are required and family groups will be seated separately. The train cars and tent areas will be sanitized throughout the day according to Union Station’s strict safety protocols.


STAY AND PLAY
Hotel room packages with Halloween Experience tickets start at $150/night for families that want to continue the Halloween fun with an overnight stay at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel after the event.
Parking for the event is $5 per car.

ACTIVITIES ON THE PLAZA
A fall festival market tent will house shopping and activities on the Purina Performance Plaza. Halloween items will be for sale, including decorating kits for pumpkins distributed during the event. 

Fun festival-style food and drinks will be available on the Plaza and Soda Fountain, Union Station’s popular retro diner, is adding Halloween Freak Shakes to the menu.


HALLOWEEN ON THE WHEEL
Scan the skies for witches and ghosts from the top of the St. Louis Wheel. The 200-foot-tall observation wheel at Union Station will be lighted in Halloween color themes during the event and a scary soundtrack will play on the Plaza. Hourly fire and light shows will entertain families on the Union Station lake. 


UNDERWATER SCARES
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station gets in on the Halloween fun with underwater pumpkin carving. The Aquarium’s talented divers will create Jack o’ Lantern treats for the fishy residents of Shark Canyon. Carving demonstrations will take place on Saturdays and Sundays during dive shows at 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m.

The Union Station Halloween Experience is located under the historic train shed at 201 S. 18th Street, St. Louis, MO 63013.

Outdoor Marketing: Tactics to Use for Your Physical Store

Some business owners focus too much on promoting their business online. They believe that the best way to win customers is to go digital. Taking your business online will provide you with impressive benefits.

However, you should never neglect other marketing tactics simply because you want to do better for online customers. If you have a physical store, you will need to make efforts to ensure that you also target local customers. Bright and eye-catching neon signs, such as these from Neon Mama, are unique and can be a great way of grabbing attention from passersby thus increasing business.  You have to make sure that you can attract more people and encourage them to visit your store. For you to do this, outdoor marketing tactics can help boost your brand’s popularity.

Outdoor Marketing Tactics

Marketing strategies nowadays are focused on increasing website traffic or making more online sales. However, you should still implement outdoor marketing whenever you can, especially if you have a physical store. Online marketing is beneficial for e-commerce businesses. However, local stores and small business owners still need to include outdoor advertising tactics to boost their brand.

Keep in mind that people are still looking for impressive customer experience from stores. To make sure that you meet their expectations, you need to ensure that people can recognize your brand. One of the best ways to do this is by building an impressive store. You need to ensure that this building stands out so that people can see it. Here are other practical ways to implement effective outdoor marketing strategies:

  • Draw more customers through outdoor signages. Let people know that your store exists by displaying large and noticeable exterior signages. Like digital signs, make sure that these signs can quickly grab anyone’s attention. You can also put up LED signage to make your store visible even during nighttime.
  • Place your ads where people can see it-If you are planning to put up a billboard or any other type of large marketing sign, make sure that you place it correctly. That means you have to ensure that you place it in a spot where there is a lot of foot traffic. This way, more people will notice it.
  • Consider guerilla marketing-This type of marketing is still one of the most effective promotional strategies for businesses. If you want to boost brand awareness, you can try this strategy and place your ad in the right locations. Make sure that it will create a strong and lasting appeal to people who can see it. Also, ensure that it gives out the right message.

You can also consider providing your customers with a parking space so that they don’t need to be in a rush when visiting your store. Make sure that you have reflective thermoplastic road marking paint on your parking lot. Place these markings in other areas outside your store as well. That will help increase road safety for your customers. Aside from this, potential customers will not mind if they stay longer while browsing your products or getting your services. Providing them with a space to park their vehicles can help them assure that their cars will remain safe while they are shopping.

Top Tips For Your Outdoor Marketing Tactics

Regardless of which outdoor marketing tactics you decide to take advantage of, it can still be somewhat overwhelming. That’s especially true if you’re new to marketing a store or if you’re using multiple strategies.

If you’re not in the position to hire marketing agencies or reputation management companies, then there’s a chance you’ll be doing things yourself. Finding tips and tricks to help simplify the process and maximize results will be more than welcome.

While some things may be specific to the exact marketing strategies, a few can be applied to almost anything. The largest of these are:

  • Consider Location: Many store premises can be relatively difficult to find unless they’re on the main street. Keep this in mind with your marketing strategies. You’ll need to make sure that your potential customers can find you. Even having a mini-map on a billboard or something similar can be worth it.
  • Keep It Simple: With most forms of outdoor marketing, information needs to be absorbed quickly. Keeping your ads simple will make sure that that’s the case. Potential customers can read these faster, which will let them take in the information much better.

To properly make sure that your outdoor marketing tactics succeed, you’ll need to properly plan out your marketing strategies. Having key goals and a way to achieve them will be paramount. Without these, you wouldn’t be able to measure the success of your campaign.

Keeping that in mind, alongside each of the above tips and tricks, will make sure that your outdoor advertising is as effective as possible. In turn, that’ll have a domino effect on your store’s foot traffic, which will eventually increase its sales.

Make sure that you always prioritize your customers whenever you have a new marketing strategy in mind. Also, if you will display advertisements outdoors, make sure that people will notice it immediately. It will also help your business if you can create an excellent and lasting impression by using useful outdoor marketing tools. Let these suggestions help your brand get all the recognition it deserves. Always deliver customers quality through products, services, and advertising tools.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.