Holiday Fear Arrives Dec 9 at Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas!

Starting December 9, Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (an independent, horror-themed attraction in Plant City) is hosting a spooky Christmas event! Running for two weekends only, Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas features two terrifying trails, multiple highly-themed escape games, axe throwing, laser tag, and more scarily festive fun. We were honored to attend a special media preview for this limited run holiday event. Thank you, Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, for inviting us out!

Now let’s take a closer look at all there is to see and do at Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas!

Haunted Trails

The centerpiece of any spooky attraction, Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas features two highly-themed and story-driven holiday trails: Krampusnacht II and Slay Bells.

Krampusnacht II

From Sir Henry’s Facebook Page

The Sullivan children are the most spoiled kids in town. Every Christmas, they look down upon the less fortunate and parade their new toys around for all to see, while calling the penniless children names in a cruel fashion. This year, the town’s children have begged and pleaded for Santa to give the Sullivan children lumps of coal, but someone else has heard their pleas. On Christmas Eve, the entitled children wake to strange sounds coming from their living room, and thinking that it’s Santa, they jump out of their beds. Instead, they find that Krampus has come to punish the family. He even brought along his merry band of miscreants to ensure that they learn their lesson. The screams can be heard from miles away, and there is no escape for the Sullivan family. Will Krampus get you, too?

Building on the story featured in 2021’s Krampusnacht trail, Krampusnacht II brings guests even deeper into the supernatural world of Christmas demons and holiday curses. This year’s journey explores a single family’s plight as Krampus and his minions wreak havoc on the greedy children and unfortunate caregivers.

Exploring every corner of this doomed household, guests will travel through dark hallways and ominous rooms. As always with a Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail event, the performers were incredibly talented. And I appreciate that these characters not only interacted directly with the audience but also performed small vignettes as guests walked through each scene, making it feel like I was watching the tragedy unfold before my eyes. The newly renovated and incredibly detailed “mansion” set provides a creepy atmosphere for all the gruesome action.

Slay Bells

From Sir Henry’s Facebook Page:

Once a place of happiness and merriment, the North Pole has become a place of chaos and terror. As more and more children choose to stop believing in Santa Clause, the magic is being slowly drained away. Mr and Mrs Claus have sunk into a dark depression and can’t seem to find the motivation to get out of their cabin. Leaving the North Pole to the elves, who have become insatiable with anger. Who do these kids think they are? After all that Santa has done for them? Well no more, the elves are taking revenge. Lumps of coal are just child’s play compared to the plans these elves have. They are burning down the North Pole and taking all the non-believers with them. Will you survive the horror that now reigns at the North Pole?

My favorite of the two haunted holiday trails (though both offer amazing storytelling, unique actor interactions, and detailed set pieces), Slay Bells is a terrifying journey through a depressed and disenchanted North Pole. Complete with a grumpy Santa, killer reindeer, and vengeful elves; Slay Bells is a visually stunning addition to Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas.

Including a variety of environments and multiple landscapes (such as a town square, desolate woods, a toy shop, and other fully sized storefronts), Slay Bells’ detailed sets create an incredibly immersive and themed atmosphere. It really felt like we were exploring the entirety of an overtaken and overrun North Pole. Plus, the combination of Christmas lights and cheery decor with the horror-themed props and gory scenery created a delightfully unsettling ambience.

But what really makes Slay Bells so unique is the talented (and funny!) performers. While all of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trails include a fair bit of personalized interactions and improvised conversations, Slay Bells features a variety of darkly humorous characters and dialogue. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in a haunted house, and the unexpected playfulness amongst the grisly surroundings generated a unique vibe that I don’t think I’ll ever forget!

Premium Activities

If you’d like to add a bit more holiday terror to your evening, consider one of Sir Henry’s premium activities. For a small extra fee, you can battle your friends at laser tag, solve an escape game (or two), or try your hand at axe throwing.

Frusty’s Laser Tag Combat!

If you enjoy paintball or other recreational shooter-style games, try out Sir Henry’s laser tag arena. With plenty of obstacles and strategic hiding places, this is a unique outdoor venue for this nostalgic sport.

Escape Games

For $5 per player/per room, you can add one or two highly-themed escape games (Toy Store of Terror or Big Jimmy’s Gingerbread Escape) to your Sir Henry’s experience. Featuring fun backstories, detailed environments, and teamwork inspired holiday tasks; these 3-minute long escape games are unique and festive additions to your spooky Christmastime evening.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I do want to share that these games are the best I have experienced at any Sir Henry’s event. These games are a great combination of challenging yet achievable puzzles, and the environments were delightfully decorated and meticulously detailed. If you have time, I recommend giving them a try!

Axe Throwing

Take your best shot at Sir Henry’s Axe Throwing booth. At $5 for 9 throws, guests can try their hand at hurling (blunt, plastic) weapons at small targets. It’s fun to see how close you can get to the bullseye! (Spoiler alert: I am not very good at this!)

Sir Henry’s Swag Shop

At Sir Henry’s Swag Shop, you’ll find a wide selection of branded merchandise (like candles, jewelry, ornaments, household goods, clothing, and more). With such a variety of available items, you’re bound to find something for every haunt fan on your Christmas list!

Sir Henrys’ Haunted Tales

Along with the exclusive event merchandise at Sir Henry’s Swag Shop, you can pick up your copy of Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales or its sequel Sir Henry Love’s Revenge. These anthology novels feature the origin stories and complicated histories of some of the attraction’s most beloved original characters. With stellar reviews and reception from local readers and enthusiastic haunt fans, these books are a special treat for those of us who appreciate spooky stories and Florida-born flair. If you’d like to learn more about Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales, read my previous interview with the book’s authors.

Freaky Thoughts: Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas

As a huge fan of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, I am always impressed by the attraction’s unique storytelling abilities, passionate attention to detail, and talented performers. With two terrifying trails and lots of festive holiday activities, Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas offers a satisfyingly spooky experience for horror fans and Halloween enthusiasts. Plus, the scary set pieces mixed with cheery Christmas decor adds a nice level of disassociated merriment to your eerie holiday itinerary. I highly recommend Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas to anyone looking for a unique and memorable way to celebrate this special season.

Know Before You Go

• You MUST purchase your ticket online. No admission sales are available at the gate. 
• For previous attendees, there is no more color coding system. Guests can experience the trails in the order they choose.
• These trails take place outside on unpaved paths. I highly suggest wearing closed toed, comfortable shoes. 
• Just like anywhere in Florida, there may be bugs! Wear bug spray for your comfort and protection. 
• Sir Henry’s is a popular Florida haunt and likely to experience busy evenings. You can purchase a Front of Line ticket for faster entry into the two trails.
• Parking is FREE at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail!