Kiss Haunted House is a popular Halloween event that takes place every year in October. It features haunted houses, scare zones, rides, shows, and other spooky attractions. Many people who attend dress up in Halloween costumes to get into the spirit. But do most guests actually wear costumes or dress up? Let’s take a closer look.
Overview of Kiss Haunted House
Kiss Haunted House is located in San Bernardino, California and has been running annually for over 10 years. It is open on select nights in October leading up to Halloween. The event is most well-known for its elaborate haunted houses which send guests through terrifying walk-through experiences filled with monsters, creepy environments, and lots of scares.
In addition to the haunted houses, Kiss Haunted House has scare zones outdoors where creepy characters roam around, rides like a haunted hayride, shows, food vendors, games, and more. The event has a carnival-like atmosphere but with a horror twist.
Kiss Haunted House is popular in the local area and also draws visitors from out of town. It’s advertised as one of the scariest haunted attractions in Southern California.
Costume Dress Code Policy
On their website, Kiss Haunted House encourages guests to come dressed up but does not require it. Their dress code policy states:
“Costumes are strongly encouraged but not required. Remember to dress comfortably for a night of frights!”
So while they recommend wearing a costume, it is not mandatory. Guests who do not dress up can still attend and enjoy the haunted houses, rides, and other attractions.
The event does have some costume restrictions such as:
– No full face paint or masks
– No weapons, even fake ones
– No overly revealing outfits
– Costumes must not obstruct vision or inhibit movement
These rules are for safety purposes and to ensure all guests have a fun experience. As long as costumes abide by these guidelines, Kiss Haunted House welcomes creative, spooky outfits.
Why People Dress Up
Here are some of the main reasons attendees choose to wear costumes to Kiss Haunted House:
- Get into the Halloween spirit
- Enhance the haunted experience
- Participate in costume contests and win prizes
- Show off their creativity or fandom
- Dress up with friends or on a date
- For the fun of dressing up in costume
Wearing a costume seems to be a popular way for many guests to get more immersed in the Halloween atmosphere at the event. It lets them theatrically embrace the monsters and scares. Costumes also make for great photos and memories.
The event features contests for the best costumes with prizes like front-of-the-line passes. This incentivizes dressing up for some guests.
Others simply enjoy any excuse to wear their favorite horror, villain, or pop culture costumes. Kiss Haunted House provides the perfect venue.
Observations on Costume Wearing
To estimate how many attendees wear costumes, we can turn to firsthand accounts:
Employee Perspectives
Employees who have worked at Kiss Haunted House estimate that 60-80% of guests wear Halloween costumes. One actor said that on busier nights like Halloween weekend, up to 90% of patrons dress up. They agree costumes are very popular but not required.
Guest Experiences
In online reviews, guests note that lots of people dress up but there are also some who just wear casual everyday clothing. One comment said their group felt awkward for not being in costume since so many others were.
The general consensus from patrons is that somewhere between 50-75% of people wear costumes, depending on the night. The percentage seems to go up closer to Halloween as well.
Photo Evidence
Looking at photos posted from Kiss Haunted House, there are always a mix of guests in elaborate costumes and those without. However, the majority are dressed up in varying degrees. Some wear minimal outfits like all black clothing with cat ears while others have full costumes like movie characters.
Factors That Influence Costume Wearing
Here are some factors that likely influence whether guests dress up:
- Day of the week – Weekends have a higher percentage compared to weeknights.
- Group size – People attending in bigger groups are more likely to coordinate costumes.
- Age – Younger adults tend to dress up more than older adults or families with small children.
- Halloween proximity – More dress up closer to 10/31 than early October.
- Weather – Cold weather decreases elaborate costumes.
- Repeats vs first-timers – First time attendees are more likely to wear costumes.
The most dressed up nights seem to be Friday and Saturday evenings near Halloween with groups of teens and young adults. Meanwhile, a Tuesday night in early October may see fewer costumes.
Men’s vs Women’s Costumes
Both men and women wear costumes to Kiss Haunted House. Here are some broad trends:
Women’s Costumes
- Sexy versions of characters like vampires, witches, etc.
- Gothic dresses
- Horror movie villains like Chucky or Pennywise
- Creepy dolls or clowns
- Pop culture references like Harley Quinn
Women’s costumes tend to be feminine, villainous, or play into horror archetypes. Sexy costumes that show skin are also very popular with young adult females.
Men’s Costumes
- Monsters like zombies, werewolves, mummies, or Frankenstein
- Murderers like Michael Myers from Halloween
- Clowns or jesters
- Masked characters like Jason from Friday the 13th
- Evil versions of normally good characters
Men seem to opt for monster costumes or evil/scary takes on traditional costumes. Instead of an ordinary doctor, they may dress as an insane asylum doctor for example.
Most Popular Types of Costumes
Based on accounts, photos, and guest interviews, below are some of the most common costume themes seen at Kiss Haunted House:
Costume Theme | Examples |
---|---|
Horror Villains | Pennywise, Freddy Krueger, Annabelle |
Monsters | Vampires, zombies, werewolves, mummies |
Gothic/Dark | Grim reaper, plague doctor, dark fairies |
Circus/Clowns | Scary clowns, mimes, jesters |
Masks | Michael Myers, Jason, creepy masks |
These scary, ghoulish costumes let guests embrace the frightening elements of the haunted houses and Halloween. Even when not highly elaborate, they set the mood.
Most Creative Costumes
While popular costumes follow expected horror and Halloween themes, some guests get very creative and original with their costumes at Kiss Haunted House. Here are some examples of unique costumes spotted:
- Broken doll costume with torn dress and scary doll mask
- Predator costume with full alien mask and real metal claw gloves
- A couple dressed as characters from scary video games like Resident Evil
- Bloody human buffet costume with body parts on a platter
- Dressed as the Kiss Haunted House logo, a ghostly face
- A ghostly White Lady urban legend costume
These out-of-the-box costumes certainly stand out from the crowd. They take inspiration from horror, imagination, and pop culture.
Couples and Group Costumes
In addition to individual costumes, many guests arrive and dress up in couples, friend groups, or family costumes:
- Couples as characters from The Shining like Jack and Wendy Torrance
- Groups of teens coordinate in circus or clown costumes
- Siblings dress as creepy twins like in The Shining or Alice in Wonderland
- Parents and children wear family costume themes like zombie nurses and doctors
Coordinating with others takes costumes to the next level. Matching attire shows team spirit and makes for great photos. Even couples with basic his and hers zombie costumes stand out for dressing together.
Costume Contests
One major incentive for wearing creative, well-done costumes to Kiss Haunted House is the chance to win prizes. Each night, the event holds costume contests and gives out various prizes:
- Nightly contests award winners with front-of-the-line passes to use on future nights. This allows winners to skip long waits for the haunted houses.
- On Halloween night, the grand prize is free admission for the winner and three friends to return the following season.
- Other prizes include Kiss Haunted House merch like t-shirts.
The contests encourage guests to put thought and effort into costumes that stand out. It’s motivation for dressing up beyond just getting into the spirit.
Should You Dress Up?
Based on all the evidence, dressing up in costume for Kiss Haunted House is recommended but not required. To summarize:
- The majority of guests wear costumes, but exact percentages vary each night.
- Costumes are more prevalent on peak nights like Halloween weekend.
- There are prizes and contests incentivizing great costumes.
- Costumes are encouraged by the event for added fun.
- Those without costumes still enjoy themselves but may feel left out.
If you want to fully immerse in the frightening themes and celebration of Halloween, arrive in costume. You’ll blend right in with most other guests. But if you’re unsure or short on time, you can attend without dressing up and still have fun.
If wearing a costume, review the dress code restrictions for prohibited items. Get inspired by popular themes, creative looks, and group costumes. With an awesome outfit, you may just win a contest!
Whatever you decide, Kiss Haunted House promises thrills and chills for all who dare to enter!
Conclusion
Kiss Haunted House is all about Halloween fun and fear. For many guests, wearing a costume enhances the haunting experience. Based on multiple perspectives, a majority of people do dress up but it is not required. Creative costumes are especially popular for the contests and photo ops. Certain factors like the day and who attends influence costume numbers. While an extensive scary outfit can maximize your night, even those in everyday clothes enter at their own risk for frights! Ultimately wearing a costume or not comes down to personal preference.