Magic Springs Magic Screams is an annual Halloween event held at Magic Springs Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This event transforms the park into a spooky and thrilling experience suitable for all ages. Visitors can enjoy a variety of Halloween-themed activities, including haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, and special shows. One of the main highlights of Magic Springs Magic Screams is the haunted houses. These houses are specially designed to create an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. Visitors can enter these houses and experience haunted rooms filled with monsters, ghosts, and other creepy creatures.
Another example of the “witch’s hat” in antiquity is the pointed hats worn by the Tarim mummies. A series of mummified humans have been found in the Tarim Basin in China in a lost city called Subeshi. Three of the female mummies wear tall, black pointed hats. One of the “Subeshi witches” also wore a thick, black glove indicating she hunted with raptors (something a shaman or mystical woman might have done during Iron Age China). While we don’t know if these women were witches, we know their hats look an awful lot like the traditional witch’s hat.
Another theory was the cone hats were filled with herbs and perfumes, that as the Egyptian went about their day, would perfume and cover any body odors. Assigned to the kitchen where they only used wood-burning fire and cooked with ingredients available way back when, Sarah became fascinated with historical food.
Visitors can enter these houses and experience haunted rooms filled with monsters, ghosts, and other creepy creatures. The attention to detail and the realistic scares make for a memorable and spine-chilling experience. In addition to the haunted houses, Magic Springs Magic Screams also features scare zones throughout the park.
On Psychedelics and Bad PR: How Witches Got Their Pointy Hats
Look for images of witches this time of year and, though there are a sprinkling of sleekly glamorous ones—perhaps Melisandre from Game of Thrones—the vast majority are hook-nosed, humpbacked, bewhiskered crones. It’s depressing and also feels like cultural ageism and even a misogynous slur. As it happens, historical gastronomist Sarah Lohman has plenty to say about that, as well as all things witchy and Halloween.
Sarah grew up in Ohio where her first job, at 16, was at a living history museum. Assigned to the kitchen where they only used wood-burning fire and cooked with ingredients available way back when, Sarah became fascinated with historical food. Since then she’s hosted Colonial dinners, done events and a podcast with The Masters of Social Gastronomy and written the bestselling Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine . Interestingly enough, Sarah said almost everything about witches and their portrayal can be traced back to food.
Take the main elements of witchiness: the hat, the cat, and the broom. In the Middle Ages, alewives were often women who stirred their water, malt, yeast and hops in the yard. And the tools of their trade? A cauldron big enough to hold their ingredients, a cat to keep away rats, and a broomstick to hang outside the door when the beer was done. These enterprising women even wore tall peaked hats so the crowds at the market could see where they sold their wares. Now enter the first brewers’ guild: a men-only association which framed these women as ugly, poison-peddling, and dangerous; a marketing gambit that happened to stick like a burr.
Speaking of witches, the Salem witch trials were supposed to be the result of a rash of hysteria amongst young girls. As Sarah Lohman says, we are often told “they were teenagers who wanted attention and all these other tropes about women that are now kind of tired.” Over the years, anthropologists have also put the accusations down to the politics, the place, and the times, but others have cited something more visceral, real, and misunderstood. Anthropologist Linda Caporael has made a strong case for ergotism as a possible cause. Ergot, a black fungus that grows on grains such as rye, has LSD-like properties. Ingesting ergot can cause hallucinations, convulsions, and a prickling pinching sensation from vascular constriction, severe enough to cause gangrene. Caporael studied weather records of the time as well as the land composition around Salem. The wettest, lowest farms in the area also happened to be owned by families with only daughters, the ones who were accused. And, to make the case even more compelling, in 1691 there was a long hot summer after an astronomical amount of rain, perfect ergot conditions, and the witch-possessions occurred only after the harvest. Children and pregnant women were generally the most susceptible, and the ergot would have had just enough time to build up in their systems and cause the havoc that ended up being so fatally misunderstood. It’s a circumstantial idea, but also one that is as credible as mass female hysteria. Who knew? Sometimes life altering events can come down to the unlikeliest things: smear campaigns and agricultural flukes.
For more of Sarah’s fascinating culinary sleuth-work and recipes (make your own candy corn!) take one of her Zoom classes at the Brooklyn Brainery or pick up her latest book.
Vintage card with witch wearing truncated hat
These scare zones are outdoor areas where visitors can encounter roaming actors dressed in terrifying costumes. These actors are trained to interact with the visitors, creating a truly immersive and gripping experience. Live entertainment is another key component of Magic Springs Magic Screams. Visitors can enjoy special performances, such as magic shows, fire performances, and acrobatic displays. These shows are specifically themed for Halloween and add an exciting and captivating element to the event. For younger visitors, Magic Springs Magic Screams offers a kids' area with age-appropriate activities. Children can enjoy face painting, pumpkin decorating, and games that are not too scary. This ensures that the event is enjoyable for the whole family and caters to different age groups. Overall, Magic Springs Magic Screams is a must-visit event for Halloween enthusiasts in Arkansas. It offers a wide range of thrilling and entertaining activities for all ages. With its haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, and special shows, this event creates a truly magical and spooky atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on its visitors..
Reviews for "Screams and Laughter at Magic Springs"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really disappointed with my experience at Magic Springs Magic Screams. The park was incredibly crowded and there were long lines for all the rides. The staff seemed overwhelmed and they were not very friendly or helpful. The haunted houses were not scary at all and felt very cheaply done. The overall atmosphere was chaotic and not enjoyable. I would not recommend this event to anyone.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars
Magic Springs Magic Screams was a complete letdown. The haunted houses were poorly designed and lacked any real scares. The park was dirty and in need of maintenance. The food options were limited and overpriced, and the staff seemed uninterested in providing any kind of customer service. Save your money and go to a better Halloween event elsewhere.
3. Mike - 2 out of 5 stars
I had high expectations for Magic Springs Magic Screams, but unfortunately, it was a major disappointment. The park was overcrowded and it was nearly impossible to enjoy any of the attractions without waiting in line for hours. The haunted houses were lackluster and the scares were predictable. The overall experience felt rushed and poorly executed. I would not recommend this event to anyone looking for a quality Halloween experience.
4. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars
Magic Springs Magic Screams was a complete waste of time and money. The haunted houses were not scary at all and seemed like they were thrown together last minute. The staff was unpleasant and disorganized, and the park itself was dirty and poorly maintained. I regret going to this event and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and spooky Halloween experience.