Picture it: a weekend off, a face full of paint and a theme park gate in front of you, with 6,000 other members all arriving for the same reason. That was Thorpe Park on 7th and 8th November, when Blue Light Card and Defence Discount Service members travelled from all over the country for the Fright Night Member Days.
Some came in full spooky costume, some in face paint, and plenty brought friends and family along for the ride. There was low fog drifting through the park, fire performers lighting up the evening, and free scare mazes for anyone brave enough. Mostly, though, there were members enjoying a day made for them. Here’s how it went.
From the moment the gates opened, the park filled up fast. Families walked in together, friends turned up in costume, and plenty of members had planned their whole weekend around these two days. Discounted tickets and free parking got everyone in, and our team was there to say hello and hand out freebies as they arrived.
For some, it was a first:
“What an incredible perk this is. This was my first time, and I hope not my last one. It made for a very special day for our family! Thank you.”
Free face painting brought some of the biggest smiles of the weekend. Members of every age sat down and walked away wearing all sorts of fabulous designs, from ghosts and skeletons to brilliant takes on Thorpe Park rides. With face paint and spooky costumes everywhere you looked, the whole park felt like a celebration of Fright Nights.
The low fog stayed for pretty much the whole weekend, drifting between the rides and giving the park an eerie feel that suited the occasion perfectly. It’s the kind of weather we’d usually grumble about on a day off, but here it was the best set dressing going. Thorpe Park’s famous Crows roamed the park too, popping out to surprise members as they wandered by.
The carnival stands gave everyone something light-hearted to try between rides, with members winning prizes at hoopla and other games. Anyone wanting a keepsake of the day also got 10% off retail, so you could take home themed jumpers or mugs.
Free access to the scare mazes was a highlight for many. Members could go around as many times as they liked, whether they were seasoned thrill-seekers or trying a maze for the very first time.
“Loved the free scare mazes, never done any before so that was fun.”
Once the sun went down, the spooktacular atmosphere really ramped up. With incredible fire performers and dancers on stage, and scare actors walking around the park, members had plenty to gasp, laugh and scream about. The mood stayed warm all evening, and more than a few members stayed to soak it all in.
One described their day:
“The event was amazing, the staff are super friendly, and the scare mazes were an incredible experience! The fact that we got so much for such a small ticket price was honestly such a nice change in the current world.”
Rides had shorter queues than normal, which goes a long way when a day out has to fit around shifts and early starts. For members who’d come straight from work, or squeezed the trip in around a rota, that made all the difference.
“Love the quieter atmosphere of the day. Means even with working and getting here later you didn’t miss out.”
On Sunday 8th November, at 11 o’clock, the park paused to mark Remembrance Sunday. Every ride stopped, and the whole park went completely silent for two minutes. A quiet, respectful moment in a weekend otherwise built around excitement.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Thorpe Park Member Days.
Keep an eye on the Events section of the app for future Member Days and VIP events. If you were at Thorpe Park, we’d love to hear how your weekend went at yourstories@bluelightcard.co.uk.
A Member Day is a day at a partner venue set aside for members. At Thorpe Park, that meant discounted tickets, free parking, free face painting, 10% off retail and free access to the scare mazes.
Check the Events section of the app for Member Days and VIP events, or keep an eye on the Member Days page.
