Worlds of Fun returns with drag-inspired performances for Halloween Haunt

Haunted Homecoming performance // Photo by Maisie VanSlander

Halloween is the time for Kansas City’s performers and creatives to take over with costumes, haunted houses, and festivities. In a place I thought was built for kids, one of the most terrifying Halloween activities will have even the most depraved haunted house attendees watching their backs.

Worlds of Fun has opened its annual Halloween Haunt, and they have raised the bar on production and scares this time around. Featuring new shows, scare zones, and spooky-themed food, the night brings a whole new world to this haunted amusement park.

The star of the show, or should I say shows, are the scare actors. Over 70 of Kansas City’s most committed spooky thespians take the stage every Friday and Saturday, bringing park-goers scares on the streets and performances to the beats. 

I got the opportunity to go during Friends, Family, and Employees Night, so many of the actors, when not performing, were out of costume walking with their family and loved ones. The energy that filled that park was infectious. You can really feel the love each actor has for performing at every attraction you visit. No one is phoning it in.

Actors themed to one of the four scare zones wander the grounds, ready to run, jump, or slide when you least expect it. I had an especially jolly time watching the guests around me get brutalized by the actors of Outlaw’s Revenge, a western-themed section full of sliding rangers and cowboys. Nobody is safe. Even when you think you are alone and off to the side of the action, a ghastly malcontent will pay you a visit. It was reminiscent of a renaissance festival or living history museum, full of life, or lack thereof.

The attractions are manageable and suitable for ages 13 and up… until the fog machines start to pump out thick haze and the sun begins to set. Good luck seeing more than ten feet ahead; the actors you could once see from a mile away begin to blend into every shadow, and each scare becomes even more terrifying. I would seriously think before bringing your kids to the Halloween Haunt after dark, unless it’s as a punishment. When asked how scary some of the mazes are, many guests said they were not prepared for how scary they would be, citing the same flawed preconceived notion I had about Worlds of Fun.

I normally don’t partake in amusement park food, let alone themed, but after a couple hours of a 100+ beats per minute heart rate, I felt I needed a food-filled comedown. The standouts were the Hangman Foot-Long Hot Dog, Harvest Heat Honey Meatballs, and the Fang-tastic Donut. All of the food was better than expected and left me rejuvenated for more haunting activities.

In addition to the scare zones and themed haunted mazes, five shows are spread throughout the night. The beginning show, Overlord’s Awakening, is a scripted stage play that introduces the story of the Halloween Haunt. The leaders of the individual scare zones and mazes gather their hoard of butchers, ghouls, clowns, and skeletons to the center stage to summon the Overlord. During this opening show, you get to see every scare actor gathered together, making the scale of the night feel even more real.

Mr. Tickle’s Last Laff, Haunted Homecoming, and Spellbound are all themed musical performances that last about 20 minutes. They commandeer already existing Worlds of Fun stages and have full choreography and singing.

The performances were filled with comedic bits and unreasonable levels of camp. Drag culture and queer performance oozed out of every musical number, from the music choice to the infusion of slapstick comedy. Even the makeup and wardrobe of many scare actors used elements nodding toward common drag conventions. 

Mr. Tickle’s Last Laff included a two-story-tall blender that was designed to destroy all of the bad things in the world. The merry band of clowns then threw a labubu, the FIFA World Cup trophy, Katy Perry in space, and the numbers 6 & 7 into the aforementioned blender. Songs like Abracadabra by Lady Gaga and Unholy by Sam Smith were accompanied by theatrical choreography that left little to be desired. The stands were packed, and everyone sang along, danced, and joined the rowdy festivities.

Even with an action-packed night, I still missed so many activities. You need multiple visits to truly see everything. Worlds of Fun, in collaboration with amazing Kansas City actors, has built an impressive night that will not leave you disappointed. If you are looking for scares, thrills, fun food, or local theater, look towards the sunset horizon for roller coaster tracks.