Starting December 8, 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, a highly-themed escape game, 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!
Let’s take a closer look at all that is waiting for you 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: Creatures of Christmas and Slay Bells Chapter II.
Creatures of Christmas
From the Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail Facebook page:
Far beyond the outskirts of civilization sat an isolated winter village. Legend has it that this is where creatures and monsters from ghost stories lived. Krampus, Abominable snowmen, Jack Frost and more are said to call this place home. A team of explorers recently went looking for these beings in hopes to disprove this strange rumor. But all that was found of them was their gear, ripped up and covered in blood. Do you have the guts to find out for yourself what lives in this snow capped village?
Taking place in the beloved “fishing village trail” (the one that housed Wicked Waters during the Halloween event), Creatures of Christmas features creepy encounters with famed winter monsters, iconic holiday characters, and plenty of terrified victims. Thrust into the center of this doomed town, guests will narrowly escape the delightful chaos caused by these fearsome beasts.
Filled with stunning special effects and innovative storytelling moments, I adored this trail’s creepy atmosphere and terrifying narrative. As you move throughout the scenes, guests will hear specific names and meet original characters who will reappear in other parts of the trail – fleshing out their storyline for a cohesive and horrifying tale!
Slay Bells Chapter II
From the Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail Facebook page:
Following the success of their rebellion, Psych and the elves began running the North Pole their way. The naughty and nice list was thrown out the window and they declared every child naughty. But the naughty children won’t be getting coal this year. Instead a whole line of new demented toys are being produced. Toys straight out of children’s nightmares! With the reindeers on their side to deliver these hellish toys, who can stop them? Is Christmas ruined forever?
A continuation of last year’s fan-favorite Slay Bells trail, this haunt features gorgeous set design, creative performer vignettes, and lots of actor-driven interactions. Full of very angry elves and bloodthirsty reindeer, I adored revisiting this disenchanted version of the North Pole.
Including a variety of environments and multiple landscapes (such as a town square, desolate woods, and other fully sized storefronts), Slay Bells’ detailed sets create an incredibly immersive and themed atmosphere. With this wide array of scenes, it really feels like you are exploring the entirety of an overrun village. Plus, the combination of Christmas lights and cheery decor with the horror-themed props and gory scenery create a delightfully unsettling ambience.
But what really makes Slay Bells Chapter II so unique is the sheer amount of performer interactions and extended character vignettes. Many of the scenes include personalized moments with the characters or the opportunity to witness a storytelling moment – full of dark humor and dialogue. These scenes create a uniquely immersive and sometimes comedic feel to the haunt, and the unexpected playfulness in some of these vignettes definitely crafts a distinctive spooky vibe that you won’t find anywhere else.
Pictures with Santa
But where is Santa during all this chaos in the North Pole? Hiding out on a nearby island, of course! Head to the Claus’ summer-themed getaway for a souvenir photo and memorable meet and greet.
Courtyard Entertainment
Between haunted trails and spooky activities, enjoy the walk-around entertainment and photo opportunities in the Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail courtyard. We found lots of winter and holiday creatures, festive decorations, and one-of-a-kind picture backdrops.
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 try your hand at axe throwing.
Laser Tag
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.
Frusty’s Great Escape
For $5 per player, you can add a highly themed escape game to your Sir Henry’s experience. Featuring a detailed environment and teamwork-inspired holiday tasks, players in this 3-minute escape room will help Frusty find the money he owes Little Jimmy before it’s too late!
Axe Throwing
Take your best shot at Sir Henry’s Axe Throwing booth. At only $5 per player, 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!
Dining Options
All that fear can work up quite an appetite! Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas offers two onsite dining options. Sir Henry’s Spooky Eats offers a variety of savory sandwiches and snacks. If you’re craving sweeter bites, head to Krampus Kafe for a selection of holiday desserts.
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 Henry’s 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, its sequel Sir Henry Love’s Revenge, or the grand finale Sir Henry: Season’s End. 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 the Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales trilogy, read my previous interview with the book’s authors.
Visiting Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
Sir Henry’s Haunted Christmas will run on select evenings from December 8-17. You MUST buy your ticket in advance at sirhenryshauntedtrail.com. Admission does require a date and arrival time reservation, and they WILL sell out! Make sure you buy your passes as early as possible to secure your preferred visit.
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 engaging (and super talented) performers. With two terrifying trails, creepy photo backdrops, opportunities to meet horrifying holiday characters, and lots of festive winter-themed 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 touch 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.
- 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 VIP ticket for faster entry into the two trails.
- Parking is FREE at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail!
