Wicked witches, deranged clowns, and backwood zombies gathered in the staging area at Half-dozen Flags Magic Mountain awaiting the kicking-off of Fearfulness Fest.

Inside makeup central, still more ghouls were existence realized.

  • Jose Restrepo applies makeup to Matthew Wise prior to opening...

    Jose Restrepo applies makeup to Matthew Wise prior to opening nighttime of the 26th annual Fearfulness Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain. This years Fearfulness Fest features thirteen mazes and scare-zones.(photo by Andy Holzman)

  • "Scare-actors" fix for the 26th annual Fright Fest at 6 Flags Magic Mountain. This years Fearfulness Fest features 13 mazes and scare-zones.(photo by Andy Holzman)

  • Innocence Willoughby is one of the most popular scare actors...

    Innocence Willoughby is one of the most popular scare actors at Six Flags Magic Mount's Fright Fest . This years Fright Fest features 13 mazes and scare-zones.(photo by Andy Holzman)

  • Colton Grooms is one of 500

    Colton Grooms is one of 500 "Scare-actors participating in the 26th annual Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain. This years Fright Fest features 13 mazes and scare-zones.(photo by Andy Holzman)

  • Six Flags Magic Mountain President Neal Thurman on opening night...

    Six Flags Magic Mountain President Neal Thurman on opening nighttime of Fright Fest. The park opened its 26th Fright Fest Saturday with a total of xiii mazes and scare-zones.(photograph past Andy Holzman)

From the Exile Hill scare zone favorite Innocence Willoughby to the Hell Fest Maze villain The Other, virtually 500 monsters come up alive (so to speak) each night at the easily of 45 Scream Team artists who gum prosthetics to actors' faces, use brushed-on and air-brushed makeup and tease wigs.

"The makeup really sets us apart from other events," said Neal Thurman, president of 6 Flags Magic Mountain. "And we do it and then well here."

Scream Team founder Scott Ramp, who has headed up special-effects makeup at Fright Fest for the last 26 years, spends all yr thinking about monsters.

"I want to make certain that everybody looks the manner that I desire them to look," Ramp said. "Did you see what I did for the Wise brothers?"

Ramp points to Matthew Wise who sits in the makeup creative person's chair in a new cotton wool candy-pink wig.

"We similar to change things up," he said. "We literally are already talking about things for next year."

Asked if she came up with the wait for her light-green-skinned witch with piercing light-green eyes, scare histrion Paula Wahla – she too portrays Mrs. Claus during Holiday in the Park – assumes her character.

"Oh, no!" she said in a gravelly vox. "This amazing immature makeup artist helped me."

Wahla has been appearing in Fright Fest as Lorraine Lorraine – a witch and "frustrated podiatrist" who carries around a discrete pes in a high-heel shoe – since 2004.

"I love this whole thought of becoming something else," she said, speaking as herself before heading off to the Nightmares: A Twisted Fantasy scare zone for the night. "Half-dozen Flags has been and then generous in allowing me to create this character. I decided I would brand her scary, but I do comedy with people, too. And then hopefully I can make them laugh while they're terrified."

Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest

When: Weekends through Oct. 28

Where: Half dozen Flags Magic Mountain, 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia

Tickets: Starting at $53.99 for admission, $81.99 for flavour passes, $18 for a Haunted Maze Laissez passer and $33 for an Express Haunted Maze Pass

Information: 661-255-4100. world wide web.sixflags.com/magicmoountain