Screamfest – running until October 31st at Canada Olympic Park – has become a tradition in Calgary over the last 5 years. It has now expanded to also be found lurking in Edmonton at Northlands Park in Hall A. Featuring haunted houses, mazes, games and stage acts it is a at times intense, always fun evening out.

I recently went to Screamfest with a group of friends – the best way to go – and picked up the VIP pass which includes front of the line admission – likely a good idea if attending this weekend as it will be busy – re-entry into three houses and $15 in killer cash to use on games, additional charity houses, and rides. The base price is $20, but with the cash back really for $5 more you get front of the line so well worth it.

The games themselves are a fun challenge. If you've attended Screamfest before you have likely seen a few of them, but they do have some new ones. The prizes are high quality, the "small" prizes are actually quite large, and we played until we got a full collection of adorable stuffed monsters including the wolfman, creature from the black lagoon, a mummy, and a leather daddy Dracula decked out for a night at The Eagle.

The tent also features an assortment of sideshows including Ryan Stock and Amber Lynn of the TV show Guinea Pig, and Fat Matt, the worlds fattest contortionist. Over the course of multiple shows stunts included Stock putting a meat hook up his nose and out his mouth, having fluid drained into and pumped out of his stomach, and a game of darts with Matt as the dart board. Stock's charisma is compelling enough to draw you in and keep you engaged even as part of you is horrified by what you are witnessing.

The same can not be said about the stage contest in which participants eat disgusting things in hopes of winning $200. On some nights it is bugs – crickets and worms – but on the night we attended it included beef and liver cat food and habanero peppers. If the food items isn't disgusting enough, the tired, repetitive and horrible schtick from the "mc" was enough to make you turn away. During the second round he sang repeatedly sang some stupid song about preventing anal tearing, implied people were gay because of the shape of the pepper, and just overall did a terrible job. So much for PG 13. Skip this stupidity and focus on the scare houses.

If you have been to Screamfest before, you've likely been in the houses that are on site. Some have been revamped, and can still be scary, but at first look can have a "been there, done that" impression. Especially repetitive is "Terror Under The Big Top" - a 3D house that has been there at least 4 of the last six years. Sure it is cool, but it is time for something new. As usual the best scares can be found in "What Lies Beneath" - a blackout house – and the outdoor "Lucifers Labrynth." Other performers wander around and stalk victims throughout the park, adding another dimension to the fear, for the observer it often has hilarious results.

For a fun night out with a group of friends around Halloween, Screamfest is well worth a visit. Just hold on tight to your loved ones and prepare to be scared.