By Steve Oldfield
NKyTribune staff writer
A farm in Walton is joining forces with a most unlikely cast of characters: crafts people, horror actors and circus performers. They’re creating a festival and spooky attraction that also wows visitors with a spectacle usually reserved for a three-ring extravaganza.
The Cincinnati Circus Company is staging Scream Ridge at Sugar Ridge Family Farm, featuring everything from jugglers to stilt walkers – and of course, ghosts and other scary performers.
“The farm’s isolated setting makes it easy to feel like you’ve stepped away from everyday life and into a completely different world,” said Bretlyn Yetter, the actor/manager for the circus company of 60 performers, up from 25 last year when they started the partnership with the farm.
“As soon as you arrive on the property, the atmosphere changes, helping guests become fully immersed in the experience,” she said.
Yetter says Scream Ridge is much more than a traditional haunted house.
”Haunted houses are meant to be scary, but with how much extreme content people see on social media, genuine scares can be harder to achieve.” she said. “My goal is to offer something different, give people an experience they won’t find anywhere else, and create memories that make them want to come back year after year.”
Sugar Ridge has been celebrating the Fall season for nearly a decade with a daytime festival that features hayrides, a petting zoo, games, a pumpkin patch and corn maze along with some other family friendly experiences.
“There are lots of activities for kids,” said Lu Schreiber from Bellevue, who took her daughter, Alison and grandson, Bentley. “It’s very family oriented.”
The venue also features a general store selling locally produced honey and maple syrup and a vendor market with artisans selling everything from handmade crafts to some high-tech options like 3-D printed toys.
“I love interacting with customers and answering the questions of the curious,” said Mike Cline, the 3-D creator behind Pocket Lair Crafts. He’s turned a hobby into a side hustle. “This is a new venture for me and I love it. Everyone is here to have a good time and it has an amazing community feeling to it.”
It’s a community that continues to grow and get better if you ask Yetter.
“At Scream Ridge, we’re learning as we go and trying new ideas,” she said. “As a newer haunt, we have the freedom to experiment, get creative, and build something truly unique,” she said. “The sky’s the limit for us.”
Fall Fest runs Saturdays and Sundays through the 25th of October with tickets costing $12.
ScreamFest runs weekends 7 p.m.-midnight ‘til the 31st, with some additional nights closer to Halloween. Tickets range from $20-$35 depending on the date.
featuring 60 performers. (Photo provided)