Unexpected treats don't generally fall in my lap, so when Dana Martin generously offered me two free tickets to Talladega Frights, the event was made all the more special. My husband and I went on Thursday's opening night and laughingly screamed our way through the maze of rooms. The cast uses each moment as an opportunity to startle patrons, and I felt my eyes constantly darting around, bracing for the next Gotcha!

Upon entering, our first exposure was to a fog-laden graveyard, the scene of "Thriller" - complete with risen corpses doing the famous dance. From there, we felt our way through pitch-black rooms, some with flashing strobe lights or purple bulbs, surprised the entire time by spooks jumping out from the sidelines. Clutching to one another, we jumped and I shrieked, rattled but cackling through the entire experience. An insane asylum haunted by young women was the most frightening to me, while my husband enjoyed the polka-dotted, spinning room. Getting lost in the woods, being closely followed by werewolves, was particularly memorable. The spooky characters popping out of the well-done scenes don't touch anyone, but they certainly get your pulse racing.

Talladega Frights makes for a unique evening out and we would definitely recommend supporting this NOR event!

*Thanks, Dana and the Northwest Voice, for such a fun night!!