Return of Fright Nights

Bay Arts Alliance Unveils Second Year of Terror On Downtown Panama City

PANAMA CITY, Florida – Brace yourselves for another season of heart-pounding fear as Fright Nights: Seven Spectres, an immersive haunted experience put together by the Bay Arts Alliance, announces its second year. This highly anticipated event, taking place at the iconic Panama City Center for the Arts in Historic Downtown Panama City, promises an intensified and spine-tingling encounter in the lore of the enigmatic Raven Queen.

For the past four years, the Raven Queen, created by Jayson Kretzer and brought to life by Misty Joy, has played an important role in the haunted experiences at the Center for the Arts. The character along with her giant spider minion, Iktomi, have captivated imaginations and weaved a web of suspense for the community. This year, Fright Nights will delve deeper into the lore surrounding the Raven Queen, promising a narrative that will immerse attendees into a world of magic, haunting secrets, and unparalleled horror.

“This year’s story takes guests back in time to reveal the origin of the Raven Queen,” said Jayson Kretzer, Executive Director of Bay Arts Alliance. “We are so excited to share this next chapter and given what we learned last year, it’s going to be an even bigger and better experience this October.”

Key Features of Fright Nights 2023:

• More Opportunities & Shorter Wait Times: The haunt will be open for eight days this year starting on October, Friday the 13th, and will be doing presale time slots only. This will help ensure that guests don’t have long wait times. 

• Enhanced Immersion: Building on the success of the first year, Fright Nights will heighten the immersive experience with cutting-edge special effects, captivating soundscapes, and stunning visuals that will blur the lines between reality and nightmare.

• Character Interactions: Guests will engage with a cast of skilled performers who bring the Raven Queen’s story to life as they unravel the truth behind her rise to power.

“Fright Nights is an experience that we never truly understand the depth of preparation required until we start laying out the story line and watching it evolve,” says Tori Haudenschild, Education and Events Manager for Bay Arts Alliance. “Getting to witness this transformation from a raw, unfinished state into a refined piece of art is magical – something that could not be achieved without the help of our dedicated Fright Nights team.”

The experience is recommended for audiences aged 12 & up. Under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bay Arts Alliance suggests that parents take into account their children’s tolerance levels for jump scares, flashing lights, and loud noises.

Those interested in joining the team or how to get tickets can learn more by visiting FrightNightsPanamaCity.com.

About Fright Nights

Fright Nights is a captivating and immersive haunted experience created by the team at Bay Arts Alliance. With a commitment to delivering unparalleled creatively curated fear and excitement, Fright Nights invites attendees to step into the heart of horror and explore the chilling world of the Raven Queen. The Experience will be open Fridays and Saturdays starting October 13, 2023.

Bay Arts Alliance

Since 1978, Bay Arts Alliance has served as the state-recognized local arts agency for Bay County and seeks to promote, support, and develop the arts as essential to the revitalization of our community. Bay Arts Alliance has brought countless national touring performances to the area and provides many cultural opportunities for Bay County schools and non-profit organizations.

Panama City Center for the Arts

Panama City Center for the Arts in downtown Panama City is housed in the beautiful 1925 historic City Hall building. The Center for the Arts is managed by Bay Arts Alliance and provides visitors and the local community with creative enrichment through monthly art shows and exhibitions, films, concerts, educational art classes for all ages, and special focus classes for Bay County school trips. The facility and grounds are under the ownership of the City of Panama City.