Step right up, step right in, where laughter fades and screams begin! What happens when you mix a fairground with a dose of pure insanity? You get Carnival of Horrors – one of the wildest freak shows on earth, set inside the Stark County Fairgrounds in Canton, Ohio. Local legend claims the carnival is haunted by the vengeful spirits of performers who met gruesome ends after a string of disappearances involving both adults and children. Whether you believe the tales or not, the terror here feels all too real!
For 2025, the carnival is rolling out three brand-new attractions: Psycho Asylum, Terror Vision in 3D, and Nightmare Alley, alongside a completely re-envisioned version of The Funhouse!
The clowns and their deranged cohorts brought relentless energy and chaos from start to finish, keeping us laughing one second and screaming the next. Because at the Carnival of Horrors, one thing’s for sure, clowns and chainsaws have a lot in common… They both want to kill you! Once you enter, the show begins!
**Note: This review is based on the touch experience with only two members in our group
Overall Score Per Attraction:
Psycho Asylum: 7.48
Terror Vision in 3D: 8.05
Nightmare Alley: 8.25
The Funhouse: 8.25
The trickster clown staff inside Psycho Asylum took pure joy in our misery. They seemed to feed on confusion, taunting us every time we took a wrong turn. Just when we thought we’d found the way out, one would materialize behind us, laughing like a lunatic. At this point, we’re convinced they were ghosts gliding right through the cage maze walls! They were energetic, relentless, and engaged with both us and the steady stream of victims that followed, ensuring no one escaped without a good scare or a good laugh.
Over in Terror Vision, the tone shifted. The cast here didn’t rely on chatter. Instead, they let the chaos of color and light do the talking. And then there was Robbie the Rabbit. He’s cute the same way a nightmare is comforting – not at all! This sinister bunny stalked us at every turn, popping out of nowhere and threatening to pull us into his glowing abyss. He tried everything: luring us into the walls, splitting us up, and pretending to make us his next victims. Let’s just say, if Robbie makes eye contact with you, run!
In Nightmare Alley, we were barely through the entrance before the Slick Rat character made his grand debut, and from that moment, we knew it was on. Wild-eyed and wired like he’d had one too many energy drinks, this demented ringleader wasted no time unleashing his carnies on us.
They came from every direction – tugging at our hair, revving chainsaws inches from our faces, stalking us through thick fog, and even tossing one of us into a pen like a prize-winning pig! The rat wasn’t the friendly mascot type either; he was fast, feral, and ferociously fun to fear. Easily one of the night’s standout characters, this rat didn’t come to play; he and his friends came to torment us! Also, the clown who checked us for brains was fun!
Inside the Funhouse, the cast wasn’t amused by our shenanigans. They stalked, mean-mugged, and came at us with power tools! They had sharp timing and a few great hiding spots! The Ring Leader clown sinisterly stared at us as we entered the wrong door countless times.
In Psycho Asylum, the staff looked like they’d just escaped a radioactive meltdown! Their neon-splattered makeup and glowing masks matched the bright, chaotic environment. While some clothing could’ve used more distressing and grunge, the looks were still solid. The gothic door attendant gave us chills before we even stepped inside, and that eerie neon nurse keeping tabs on the clown patients? Total creepiness – complete with a shiny, bloody cross symbol!
Terror Vision in 3D was where color met chaos. Robbie’s recurring white rabbit costume was equally ridiculous and terrifying – picture the Easter Bunny if he traded eggs for axes! His different appearances kept us guessing. Another character in the “TV show” sported white bib overalls but minimal makeup, which made them stand out less among the otherwise wild visuals.
Nightmare Alley turned up the weird in the best way. The Slick Rat was sharply dressed, and several other creatures donned vintage-style wooden masks that looked hand-carved and unsettlingly real. The burlap bunny was downright intimidating, and a guy using a toy noise maker added strange, fun sound effects that matched his getup while a shadowy lady pounced from the dark corners.
Over in The Funhouse, the cast leaned into classic carnival creepiness. The dot man blended into the walls with impressive precision, and that giant bear costume? It looked like someone brought a teddy bear to life. The continued use of wooden-style masks tied things together nicely. And the clown who marked our tickets before entry? Let’s just say his multiple personalities were as colorful as his outfit – none of which we’d trust!
We spotted several signs leading to the fairgrounds and had no trouble finding the parking lot. While a few wanderers lingered near the entrance, there wasn’t anyone actively directing traffic, but with such a huge, free lot, we weren’t complaining!
Navigating the grounds was simple thanks to the clearly marked paths and signage. Inside the haunts, we had no trouble finding which way to go, unless it was intentional inside the mazes.
Everyone we encountered at the attraction entrances was friendly and helpful. Finding information online ahead of time was also a breeze, though we didn’t notice any accessibility details listed.
As we pulled into the fairgrounds, thick fog and colorful lights painted an ominous glow across the midway while distant screams echoed through the night. Now that’s our kind of welcome!
Before stepping inside, a variety of colorful characters gave us a small taste of the chaos to come. Several entrances were impressively decorated, with The Funhouse’s massive clown mouth entrance standing out as the most memorable!
Each attraction followed its own storyline, which aligned well with the themes described on their website. We suggest giving those a quick read before your visit, as it makes the experience feel even more alive! We especially loved the creative twist behind Terror Vision 3D: Robbie’s show that never aired, leaving a fluffy white bunny to go rogue on his revenge tour.
Between attractions, they kept the spooky energy alive with eerie lighting, background music, and a few roaming monsters. Since this isn’t a permanent setup, it really does feel like a haunted carnival has taken over the fairgrounds, and that works well here!
At the exit, guests are funneled right into a photo op guarded by a menacing clown. It’s a great touch to end the night, though we’d love to see a small pop-up gift shop added to keep that energy going a bit longer.
Each attraction within Carnival of Horrors used a mix of lighting, sound, and scenic tricks to create its own chaotic atmosphere. We also want to give major props to this crew for how much they accomplished with only four weeks to set everything up! They made impressive use of the fairgrounds’ existing buildings – at times even weaving them into the sets in clever, believable ways. The end result felt cohesive and creative, especially given the short turnaround!
In Psycho Asylum, guests were plunged into a fog-filled cage maze surrounded by blacklights and endless dead ends. The constant droning mixed with echoing screams – both from actors and terrified guests – kept the tension high. While the maze itself relied mostly on cages and bloodied sheets for visuals, its simplicity worked; confusion became the scare!
Terror Vision in 3D was a wild sensory overload. Neon-splattered walls, glowing graffiti warnings about Robbie, and heavy party beats created an almost rave-like vibe. Bass rumbled through the floors, neon props dangled from the ceiling, and under the glow of those 3D glasses, the artwork leapt right off the walls! There was a ramp that led to the vortex tunnel, but it was painted so well to look like stairs that we actually thought it was!
Nightmare Alley hit all the right technical notes. The blend of light, fog, and well-timed sound effects, especially that chainsaw e-scare, made for some great jolts. The addition of crates, hanging camo netting, and holding pens gave it a gritty, industrial feel, while the audio built in intensity as we neared the exit.
Finally, The Funhouse delivered more disorienting chaos. The dot room was executed perfectly, the carnival music looped just long enough to drive you a little mad, and the crooked rooms kept our balance in question. The laser swamp added a nice touch of atmosphere, and the “pick-a-door” sequence was genius – we picked every wrong one until the very last!
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.13
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.38
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.19
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7.38
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 6.56
Each attraction inside Carnival of Horrors delivered its own flavor of fright, keeping us guessing from start to finish!
In Psycho Asylum, there were moments we genuinely wondered if we’d ever escape. Even though we could see through the caged walls, those crafty clownified folks still managed to sneak up on us when we least expected it! The maze itself amplified that sense of panic – getting lost was half the scare. Just when we thought we were free, a sneaky double-tap scare at the finale sealed the deal!
Terror Vision in 3D threw us into a dizzying mix of color and chaos. The unpredictable white rabbit kept us on edge, popping out from drop panels, hidden doors, and places we never saw coming. Sometimes he’d eerily stare, other times he’d give us a high-five – only to come swinging moments later! The spinning vortex finale was the perfect cherry on top of this trippy terror trip!
Nightmare Alley took a more suspenseful approach, with a few crazy assaults in the mix! The combination of dense fog, flashing lights, and booming sound effects made it feel like we were being hunted. Actors used that tension perfectly; suddenly appearing from nowhere, stalking us through the darkness, and even splitting us up (one of us ended up in a cage!). While it didn’t have a distinct finale, the atmosphere stayed tense to the very end.
The Funhouse messed with our senses in all the right ways. Between the disorienting layouts, laser swamp, and unpredictable power tool attacks, we were constantly on edge. The cast’s sinister stares and quiet stalking made even the calm moments feel dangerous – and just when we thought we’d found the way out, we realized we hadn’t!
For those feeling extra brave, grab a red, glowing necklace and let it shine like a beacon to the monsters inside – it’s your signal that you want to be touched! We did it, and it was a total blast. We were hugged, grabbed, pulled, and even placed in a few confined spaces we weren’t sure we’d get out of! We highly recommend trying the Extreme Terror Touch Pass Experience if you’re up for a little extra chaos, though we did notice not many others were wearing them during our visit.
General admission was $28.99 online during our visit, with Speed Pass and group admission options also available. They even offer coupon info on their website, so be sure to check before you go!
At that price, the MPD (minutes per dollar) came out to 0.66 based on our 19-minute walkthrough, which is on the lower side (the average is 1 minute per dollar). However, there were plenty of unique scares and lots of fun to be had that helped balance out the shorter duration compared to the ticket price.
Outside of the main attractions, entertainment was minimal but fitting. We noticed some roaming characters, themed music, and a fun photo op near the exit. While not scored, they also had a food truck on-site, so come hungry and ready for chaos!
This was our team’s first visit to Carnival of Horrors, and it definitely won’t be our last! Pulling into the fairgrounds on a crisp fall night, surrounded by fog, lights, and laughter, was an experience all on its own. The clowns, carnies, and crazies truly brought this carnival to life!
The Carnival of Horrors isn’t your typical fair… The only prizes here are panic and the sweet sound of your own terrified laughter!
305 Wertz Ave NW, Canton, Ohio 44708
