A Frightfully Good Time Awaits in the Woods!

Presented in partnership with Quixotic, Powell Gardens ushers in fall with Dark Forest, an immersive and multimedia walk-through experience in the woods. As the dark lush veils of nightfall sweep solemnly across an eerie Midwest sky, Dark Forest invites you to journey through a magical and mysterious wooded landscape where the channels of nature’s mortal realms are fiercely pierced by unexplainable paranormal forces and spellbinding supernatural beings. 

“We’re thrilled to continue pushing the boundaries of imagination with this year’s Dark Forest at Powell Gardens”, said Anthony Magliana, founder of Quixotic. “Our new art installations will further integrate nature and technology through cutting-edge holographic projections, alongside innovative costumes, new characters, and captivating performances. We’re also expanding the vendor area, offering even more to discover. It’s exciting to see Dark Forest continue to grow as one of Kansas City’s top Halloween festivals and immersive walkthrough experiences.”

Dark Forest (October 18-19, 24-26, 31 and November 1-2, 2024) opens portals to worlds just out of reach. Enthralling performances, captivating music, and creative technology collide to pierce the fabric of this universe, inviting in eccentric and ethereal creatures of the universe. At Dark Forest, the universe’s most coveted secrets are freely revealed to all those who wander. 

Behind the Scenes

While Dark Forest is only available select evenings, preparation occurs long before spooky season starts. As early as January, Quixotic outlines costuming framework and thematic elements integral to the Dark Forest experience.  

Artist Rachel Eilts is crucial to crafting the eerie atmosphere. In 2021, Eilts wowed visitors with her woven art installations featuring natural materials and unique designs. Now a must-see along the Dark Forest trail, Eilts carefully refreshes and reinstalls previous work while crafting brand-new installations to capture the imagination of both new and returning visitors.  

The physical landscape is a crucial element to this immersive and eerie event. Powell Gardens’ horticulture team starts early, identifying necessary projects for each performance zone along the one-mile trail. From tree pruning to brush clearing, every section of the trail is carefully maintained to fit performance, lighting, and sound specifications.  

However, the one-mile trail is not the only part of the Dark Forest experience needing horticulture experts! Garden Galleries, located past the Conifer Garden, features a seasonal display showcasing daytime blooming flowers like sunflowers and snapdragons and nighttime blooming flowers like datura and moon flowers. Design planning and production ordering begin as early as summer, with installation occurring in phases leading up to the event. 

A few weeks before the event, Quixotic will take over the one-mile loop, loading  equipment, lighting, sound, and more to create the perfect eerie experience.  

Working in tandem with horticulture, maintenance, campus services, and Quixotic, Powell Gardens’ entire staff comes together for two all-staff workdays. Tackling projects from screwing in bulbs along the lighted pathways to decorating and placing signage, it takes the entire team to bring the Dark Forest experience to life.  

Finally, this event would not be possible without the countless volunteers and parking partners. There are plenty of volunteer experiences available from supporting concessions to greeters and line managers. Get in touch with our volunteer team to find the right fit for you!  

What’s New? 

Now in its fourth year, Dark Forest featured both returning favorites like the Mystic Faire and new delights both on the trail and before you embark on your spooky experience.

Fire Feast Add-On
This year, step into the Fire Feast, where culinary delights and mesmerizing performances await you at the edge of the woods. Dark Forest’s unique dining experience features food cooked on an open wood fire, surrounded by the flickering glow of fire torches. Enjoy pop-up fire performances and indulge in specialty fire-themed cocktails and mocktails.   

The daily menu includes a wood-fire grilled supper of chicken, beef, and veggie kabobs served with chimichurri sauce, spiced rice, grilled ears of corn, and dessert. Each meal includes one drink. Meals are gluten-free and vegetarian friendly.

Know Before You Go

Whether it’s your first time or fourth time, Dark Forest provides new, enhanced, and returning experiences along the one-mile trail. Still have questions? Check out these frequently asked questions for some answers.  

What is Dark Forest?
Presented in partnership with Quixotic, Dark Forest is an eerie, immersive, multimedia hike in Powell Gardens’ woods. There are light shows, performers, and music along a one-mile unpaved natural path. 

Attraction Uses: fog, strobe lights, flashing lights, and other intense lighting features, low to no path lighting, intense sound, steep inclines/declines, and rugged, uneven, narrow, unpaved, loose, and natural terrain. 

What’s included in the VIP Fast Pass Ticket?
A VIP Fast Pass includes two drink tickets, an event t-shirt, access to VIP parking and VIP area along the Dark Forest trail, and the ability to jump to the front of the line to enter the Dark Forest experience in the woods. 

What terrain can visitors expect?
The Dark Forest experience takes place along Powell Gardens’ one-mile Family Discovery Loop. Visitors should be prepared to walk along a one-mile unpaved trail through the woodlands with rugged and natural terrain. Visitors should also be prepared to walk to and from the parking lot and entrance/exit paths to the experience. Check out more trail details here.  

How scary is Dark Forest?
Think of Dark Forest as PG-13. While there are no jump scares or gore used throughout the Dark Forest experience, the event is meant to be a creepy immersive walk through the woods, which may be considered frightening or upsetting. Parental discretion is advised. 

Can I take photos and videos?
Dark Forest is the perfect time to capture photos and videos! Please avoid any flash photography. If you stop to take photos or videos during the experience, please be considerate of others. Keep moving forward to keep the path clear and flowing.  

Do not obstruct traffic. If you would like to stay longer at a particular moment, please move to the side of the path to avoid hindering the flow of traffic. 

If you choose to share your photos or videos to social media, tag @powellgardens, @quixoticfusion, and @darkforestkc and use the hashtag #darkforestkc. 

For more details, check out the Dark Forest FAQs section on the Powell Gardens website. We can’t wait to welcome you back to the woods!