CREEPY PHOTOS: ‘Fright Fest’ starts at Great Adventure this weekend

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Six Flags Great Adventure's annual "Fright Fest" returned Saturday with 22 Halloween-themed attractions, including three new haunts and five new shows.

It's a seven-week festival — and it gets spookier as the day goes on The family-friendly "Thrills by Day" segues to the gorier "Fright by Night" in the evening (parents — you may want to think twice about clicking through the gallery above in front of the little ones if they're easily spooked). Fright Fest continues through Nov. 1.

This year includes two major events at the Jackson theme park:

Sept. 19: Central Jersey Blood Center’s annual Fright Fest Blood Drive. Guests can donate a pint of blood to earn a free ticket to Fright Fest between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Reservations must be made online. Up to 200 donors are needed and will be taken on a first call, first serve basis. Donors must be 16 years of age or older, at least 110 lbs. and in good health to donate.

Oct. 4: Ninth annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which Six Flags says is New Jersey’s largest 5k run/walk. The day honors breast cancer survivors, those lost, and unites a community in the fight against breast cancer. In 2014, approximately 10,000 participants and spectators turned out to support the Race for the Cure.

Think you've got what it takes to be undead? Sept. 23: is the final Fright Fest zombie audition and technician call at 6 p.m. in the park’s employment center. Scare-actors and support staff are needed to fill remaining positions from the undead who roam the midways to terror trail performers and technicians. If interested, complete the pre-employment application prior to attending the open audition, or schedue an interview for technician positions, at sixflagsjobs.com.

Louis C. Hochman is digital managing editor for NJ1015.com. Reach him at louis.hochman@townsquaremedia.com or on Twitter @LouisCHochman.