Every year an array of Halloween events in and around Chicago offer a plethora of petrifying activities ranging from getting lost in the world’s largest corn maze to braving a bloodcurdling Haunted house experience set inside a real abandoned prison.
This October, however, a brand-new Halloween experience is premiering at none other than Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Having opened on Friday, October 13, the “Garden of Decay” offers a narrative-led, haunt-style walk-through that “explores the depths of emotion and celebrates the magic of art and storytelling.”
Taking place on 9 special dates between October, Friday 13th and Halloween, the immersive new Halloween experience invites guests to “delve into the mysteries of a once-renowned genetic plant laboratory, now transformed by grief into the Garden of Decay.”
“In this captivating journey, guests will don headsets and be guided through each room by actors, immersing themselves in the gripping narrative of a grieving botanist fueled by an unrelenting desire for resurrection” reads this week’s official Navy Pier release.
Meticulously crafted by local artists New Moon, Daniella DeLuna, Kiam Junio, Penny Gac, and Monica Paprocki, the experience fuses handcrafted art installations, captivating acting, audio narration, and artistic storytelling.
According to the release, visitors can enjoy a place called “the Garden of reCreation” after emerging from the Garden of Decay, where themed vendors will be offering “unique treasures, tantalizing botanical cocktails, and late-night entertainment.”
There are also tarot card readings, live poetry readings, entomology demonstrations, taxidermy displays, and DJ performances. Select nights will even offer live tattoos and teeth gemming by trained professionals.
Friday at 8 pm attendees can participate in a thrilling costume contest taking place on opening night only and be in with a shot of winning fantastic prizes.
Guests can compete across five different categories: Most Creative Costume, Best Couple’s Costume, Best Group Costume, Best Overall Costume and Scariest Costume.
The new experiences will unravel from 6 p.m. until midnight on the following dates:
- Friday, October 13
- Saturday, October 14
- Friday, October 20
- Saturday, October 21
- Friday, October 27
- Saturday, October 28
- Sunday, October 29
- Monday, October 30
- Tuesday, October 31
Tickets to “Garden of Decay” start at $42 before taxes and can be purchased at navypier.org/gardenofdecay.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]