ESCAPE: PSYCHO CIRCUS 2018 Looking To Be Expectedly Insane
Aaaah, Spooktober, the most hallowed time of year for us horror fans. Like mothers on Christmas, grandparents on Easter, and bros on St. Patricks day, we supplicants of the spooky have our own set of traditions and rituals for this most festive occasion. I can’t tell you how many film marathons I’ve muscled through, apples I’ve candy-coated, and social gatherings I’ve blacked out at. That last one was a bit of a running theme. Unfortunately, I’ve run out of parties willing to accommodate me, and, for some reason, society finds my attempts to trick-or-treat in my twenties as, “equal measures creepy and sad.” So I’ve had to find a new tradition. One that feeds my need for horror, debauchery, and house music. Thank the EDM lords for Escape: Psycho Circus.
For those of you not familiar, Escape: Psycho Circus is an annual EDM festival from the good people at Insomniac. You’re probably familiar with Insomniac for their world famous Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), which at this point is more like a legend than an actual music festival. However, unlike their other events, Escape: Psycho Circus is about 500% more spooky. I’m not kidding, they really go all in on making this not just a music festival, but a legitimate horror experience. Don’t believe me? Check out the trailer.
Having been to Escape: Psycho Circus for the past two years, I can confidently say that this is the prefect event for anyone looking to blend their love for ludicrous bass with spooky shit. The lineup is consistently stellar, with this year offering performances from the likes of Kaskade, Diplo, Excision, Kayzo, and Eric Prydz across four stages. Describing these shows as insane would be doing them a major disservice. From start to finish, each stage is a constant wave of light and sound. The crowed, the dances, the pyrotechnics… if this is your thing, you don’t want to miss it.
What sets Escape: Psycho Circus apart is that they go just as all-out on the horror side of their show. The showstopper here is the Asylum. A 32,000 square foot juggernaut of a haunted house, this labyrinth takes 120 performers to fully staff. It’s really unlike any haunted attraction you’ve ever been through. You can’t really wrap your head around the sheer scale until you step inside. If it’s anything like last year, expect a minimum of 30 minutes if you’re just rushing through.
As massive as it is, the Asylum is just part of what Escape: Psycho Circus has to offer. There’s also the titular Psycho Circus. Here you’ll find all manner of spectacles. There’s macabre carnival games, fortune tellers, contortionists, and it’s all staffed by performers that—and I really cannot stress this enough—ham the living daylights out of their performance. In the center of it all is a tent containing an endless parade of freak shows and other spectacles, in case you need a break from the more hardcore partying. They have legit sword swallowers here. I didn’t know those actually existed before I saw it last year.
As if that wasn’t enough, there are also constant streams of performers, dancers, and roaming troupes constantly adding to the spectacle of the event. Littered throughout are various smaller attractions and photo-ops, meaning whatever corner you stake your claim in is bound to have something for you. I’m constantly overwhelmed at the sheer volume of shit to do.
Wow, I didn’t even know I had that fetish!
What really gives Escape: Psycho Circus the extra little kick is that you’re never really sure what’s part of the show. Seriously, where else can you watch a tight rope walker spin fire while dressed up as the devil, and have no idea if that dude is getting paid to do it? Escape: Psycho Circus is an insane event that earns the title of Psycho. I hope to see you there.
Like do you work here bro?
Tickets can be found at EscapeHalloween.com, and at time of writing only the Friday passes remain. If you plan on going, be sure to hit us up on Facebook or Twitter, and follow us @DreadCentral for live updates from the show!
Categorized:News
