What’s it like to work in the dark with nothing but a pick axe and a headlamp all day long?

Does a person go MAD with rock fever?

Do you get the heebie-jeebies when you hear strange echos in the dark?

Explore your deepest fears at the Artichoke Festival’s all new Haunted Mine Tour at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, the last 4 weekends of October!

From the craziest bunch of dead—and not-so-dead—miners you’ve ever met, the Artichoke Festival’s Miner Madness – A Haunted Mine Tour will bring rocky scares and tunnels of fun for adults and children itching to explore a terrifying cave of underground wonders!

Produced in conjunction with the creative team of Escape Room 831 of Monterey, find this underground scare pit alongside the Cardinale and Wright Pumpkin Patch at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center. Miners and excavators age 12 and up will enjoy the all new hair raising, skin crawling thrills of their worst Halloween nightmares! Tickets will be sold online and at the gate. The extra, family-friendly Maze is free for those who’ve purchased online tickets in advance.

But, leave your shovels and pick axes at home—this Haunt will follow all recommended county health and safety protocols, with contactless scares, touchless ticketing options, and a frighteningly large number of hand sanitizing stations.

TICKET PRICES
$20 for general admission
$15 for Active Military/Seniors 62+ (must show gov’t ID)
$5 Maze entry per person
*Purchase tickets in advance online for FREE entry to the Maze

DAYS
The last four Friday and Saturday nights in October, plus Sunday, October 30, 2022.

HOURS
Mine Tours – 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Additional activities and Vendors open at 5:00 p.m.
All ticket sales end at 9:15 p.m.

LOCATION
Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey CA 93940; enter at Gate 7.

SAFETY
All guests will be required to follow Monterey County guidance for current safety protocols. Thank you for doing your part to keep your fellow miners and cave monsters safe! (See the FAQ section below for more about our safety protocols.)

AGE RECOMMENDATIONS

Artichoke Festival’s Miner Madness is recommended for adults and children 12+ years; children under 12 years are welcome at parent’s discretion. Parents of children 12 years and under will be required to sign a waiver. The Pumpkin Patch and Maze welcomes all ages.

Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey, CA 93940

ENTER AT GATE 7 | FREE PARKING ON FAIRGROUND RD.

Grab your tickets while you can, on sale at artichokefestival.org.
Tickets will also be on sale at the event with cash, credit or debit card.

Can you dig it? Get social!

Use #artichokefestival and tag us on IG @artichokefest

Sponsor Our Haunt

Sponsorship Opportunities are available now!

Click the button above for a downloadable PDF with more info on how you can promote your business and enjoy the benefits of brand exposure to potential customers. The mission of the 3rd Annual Artichoke Festival Haunted House “Miner Madness” is to raise money for the nonprofits and beneficiaries who’ve come to rely on our support.

Your sponsorship donation plays a big part in the support of this cause. All contributions are tax deductible.

Contact Kathy, direct at 888-808-7707 ext 1, or email her here.

our Sponsors

2022 Haunted House FAQS:

What are the hours for the 2022 Artichoke Festival Haunted House?

The last four Friday and Saturday evenings in October, plus Sunday Oct 30; Haunted Mine Tour hours 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM. Additional activities and vendors open at 5:00 PM.

Where can I purchase admission tickets?

All advance general admission tickets are available at www.artichokefestival.org. In an effort to offer touchless ticket sales, we encourage credit and debit card payments at the gate, cash will be accepted. Advance general admission tickets provide additional entry to the family-friendly Maze, (a $5 value per person).

Do I need to be vaccinated or wear a mask?

The Artichoke Festival’s Haunted Mine is following all Monterey County guidelines. Although the Haunt is in a well-ventilated indoor space, face masks may be worn by our scare artists inside the Haunt, per current guidance at the time of the event. Proof of vaccination is not required for entry, but is strongly recommended. Upon entry to the Haunt, all county health and safety guidelines must be adhered to as posted, or the ticket holder is subject to removal. Groups of 1-4 persons will be allowed to proceed through the course at intervals of 5 minutes each, and please no unnecessary touching, pushing or shoving of guests not within your group.

What are your COVID-19 Protocols?

Although staff and volunteers are no longer required to wear masks when coming in close contact with Haunt patrons, masking for those who are immune compromised, and touchless payment options are encouraged. Sanitizer stations are available at entrance and exit to the Haunted House, as well as in the Pumpkin Patch area. Restroom surfaces and contact points throughout the area will be wiped down and disinfected continually, and the internal surfaces of the Haunted House are disinfected nightly. Please stay at home if you have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 5 days, are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, have a temperature greater than or equal to 100 degrees and/or you’ve had known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have Covid-19 within the last 5 days.

Public Safety Program

The Artichoke Festival’s Haunted House, Cardinale & Wright Pumpkin Patch and Monterey County Fair & Event Center jointly provide a safe environment for families and all our guests, staff, volunteers and partners. The Haunted House has a public health and safety program which includes a Code of Conduct developed in conjunction with the Artichoke Festival and Fairgrounds.

What items are prohibited from being brought into the Haunted House?
  1. Guns, knives, mace/pepper spray/stream, or any items that could be considered or used as weapons
  2. Alcohol, illegal substances or cannabis products in any form
  3. Bottles, cans or hard-sided containers
  4. Non-factory sealed plastic bottles
  5. Ice chests or coolers
  6. Outside food and beverage (unless for infant/medical reasons)
  7. Chairs (wheelchairs or motorized wheelchairs are permitted)
  8. Pets or service animals
  9. Grills, charcoal and flammable liquids
  10. Fireworks, firecrackers, noise makers of any kind
  11. Unmanned aerial vehicles
  12. Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, skates/rollerblades and Segways
  13. Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by personnel
Can I rent a stroller or a wheelchair?

No, strollers and wheelchairs are not available to rent, although they are allowed in the Pumpkin Patch and the Haunted House. (Please see question about young children below.)

Is the Haunted Mine Tour Wheelchair Accessible?

Yes, the Mine Tour is wheelchair accessible with a minor exception:

  1. In the Mine Tour, there are portions that may be difficult to pass due to uneven surfaces and guest traffic. There will be a by-pass in place for this section of the attraction. Assistance is available for this portion of the Haunt, upon request at admissions.
  2. We recommend push chairs while attending the Haunted Mine Tour and the Halloween Maze.
Where can I park and how much does it cost?

Free parking is available on Fairgrounds Road daily.

Can I bring in my own food and beverage?

No. All food and beverages must be consumed or thrown away before entry into the Haunted House.

Can I bring my young child into the Haunted House?

Our family-friendly Maze is welcome for all ages, however, the thrills and chills of the Artichoke Festival’s Haunted Mine Tour are designed for adults and children 12 years and up, therefore children younger than 12 years old are welcome only at their parent or legal guardian’s discretion. We do not offer a separate child’s ticket price, and all tickets are non-refundable. Children 12 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult, and their parents or legal guardians will be asked to sign a waiver of liability.

Can I bring in a pet?

Valid service animals and pets are permitted in the Pumpkin Patch area. However, no animals will be allowed into the Haunted House due to the extreme multi-sensory experience which may be very frightening to them.

Is re-entry available?

The Haunted House utilizes a one-time pass-through ticket. Exit and re-entry into the Haunted House is not available. However, the Pumpkin Patch area is free to all for browsing as long as you like.

Is smoking allowed on premises?

The Haunted House and the Pumpkin Patch are smoke free and vapor free events. Smoking of any kind, including the use of pipes, e-cigarettes, vapors or similar devices of any kind is prohibited. Thank you for your consideration of others!

Do you accept cash?

Yes, we do accept cash, however debit/credit cards are preferred.

Is the event open during rain or other inclement weather?

Miner Madness: A Haunted Mine Tour and the Halloween Maze are open rain or shine. The Haunt and Maze attractions have indoor (covered) segments. However, only small portions of the Haunted Mine Tour queue lines are covered under a high roof overhang. If there are long lines, there is a chance you could be waiting in whatever weather the Central California Coast provides us with in October. Umbrellas are allowed, however they must be closed and kept closed throughout your time inside the attractions. Prior to your visit, please check the weather and dress appropriately!

How long does it take to experience the event?

We recommend guests make a full night of it and experience ALL the Halloween Attractions we have to offer; Miner Madness Haunted Mine Tour, the Halloween Maze, the Pumpkin Patch and the arts & crafts vendors. However, for guests who only go through the main Haunted Mine Tour, be prepared to stay at the event for at least (1) hour, depending on queue lines and any other attractions you may wish to visit.

While all groups travel at different paces, our haunted mine tour takes approximately 10+ minutes to complete, depending upon your pace.
We have a HARD CLOSE at our listed closing times. Guests should try to show up at least an hour prior to closing to ensure that they have ample time to experience as much as possible at the Pumpkin Patch and Haunted Mine Tour this year!

PURCHASE POLICY: By placing an order, you are confirming that you received this policy and are agreeing to abide by the clauses within. This Purchase Policy is a binding contract between you and event Producer. NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. ALL SALES ARE FINAL: There are NO REFUNDS, NO CANCELLATIONS, no credits, no exchanges, and no transfers after the order has been made.

*ABOUT TOUCHLESS TICKETS: You must provide the name and email address used to purchase the ticket. Alternatively, the e-ticket that was emailed to you from us when your order is placed can be shown to us from your smart phone. The name and email must match the name and email on your purchased tickets, in order to gain entry to the event. If there is no match, you will be denied entry to the event without a refund.

EVENT BOOKING: By purchasing a ticket, you are entitled to entry for the event on the night you are purchasing it for. At the time of your order, we will place an order for your ticket(s) in our system, reducing the number of tickets available for the chosen event. Before purchasing your ticket(s) we urge you to confirm the title, time and location of the event you wish to attend, as there are no refunds. Each event has a definitive date, start time and end time. If you do not show up to the event, you understand that you are forfeiting your ticket(s) and therefore your ticketing fee (the entirety of what you paid) will not be returned to you. If you do not attend your event, you are still 100% financially liable for your purchase. If you cannot attend the event, or you change your mind once you arrive, you will not receive a refund.

By purchasing a ticket to attend the Artichoke Festival Haunted Mine Tour, permission for past use and for present and future use is hereby granted to Castroville Artichoke Festival, Inc. (and all persons acting under its permission and authority) to use a photo or other image of myself, of the likeness of the minor under my guardianship, for use in published or video works in any medium and for any lawful purpose in trade, exhibition, illustration, promotion, publicity, advertising and electronic publication. I understand that I have waived any right that I or my representative(s) may have to inspect or approve Castroville Artichoke Festival, Inc.’s use of the likeness or the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in connection with the use and/or publication of this likeness.