Roves Farm is typically a family-friendly venue entertaining children with lamb feeding and tractor rides but this Halloween, when the sky turns dark, something terrifying is afoot.

The tourist attraction's Fright Nights is set to return this year, and I was lucky enough to attend a preview evening to see what unsuspecting people looking for a bit of a scare this spooky season have in store for themselves. 

The Fright Night event centres around the farm's famous tractor ride, but instead of a serene trip around the countryside looking at animals, you're heading out in the dead of night to pick up much-needed supplies while the area is firmly in the throes of a zombie outbreak. 

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It begins in a holding area where a stern-looking soldier with a gun briefs you on the dire situation and tells you how best to negotiate the zombie hordes you're set to encounter to come back alive as he doesn't want to lose anyone else (some foreshadowing of what's to come) 

You're then taken to the tractor which has been imbued with some minimal lighting and a suitably sinister soundtrack that helps ratchet up the tension whenever things get a bit ropey on the road. 

One of the scenes you'll encounter on the tractor ride from hell at Roves Farm for HalloweenOne of the scenes you'll encounter on the tractor ride from hell at Roves Farm for Halloween (Image: Newsquest) The tractor is then taken to a series of locations that are dotted around the farm, which are cleverly mostly lit by torchlight from the handful of people that are escorting you - a farm worker crashes and needs medical attention, a crazy woman is keeping a zombie as a pet, buggies drive in and take people away, only to later be found crashed, an injured person comes along for the ride and a member of the public encountering two creepy girls doesn't make it back.

There are jump scares, loud music and a fair bit of blood and gore that firmly suggest it is not for young children but with it all happening within the tractor setting there is a detachment from what is happening that helps make it bearable for those who are more easily frightened. 

You come across a creepy scene with two little girls having a tabletop picnicYou come across a creepy scene with two little girls having a tabletop picnic (Image: Newsquest) It all culminates in the grand finale, a hilariously fun albeit slightly narratively unnecessary wander through a huge haybale maze that is both scary, disorientating and brilliant in equal measure. 

It's clear that a lot of time and effort has gone into the planning of the event, the storyline and the execution both in terms of costume and practical effects and the hay maze and it pays off in spades. 

I thoroughly loved the experience which was both scary at times but without going overboard and also incredibly fun so I would definitely recommend giving it a go this Halloween. 

Events are running from October 25-27 and you can get tickets here - https://rovesfarm.co.uk/whats-on/fright-nights/

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