When I heard that 13th Room—the escape room company already known for its creativity and unique themes—was launching a new immersive experience, I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store. Their latest production, Carnival, is a 75-minute interactive theatre piece with plenty of quirky characters in Upland, California.

At the top of the show, the Carnival Barker greeted us with flair, setting the stage and introducing us to the five tents we’d need to explore. It’s primarily an open world experience—guests are free to roam from tent to tent in any order, guided along the way by the performers inside. The goal is to visit each tent, participate in the scenes, and piece together the simple challenge of how to escape the sinister carnival.

Each tent offered something distinct, and the variety made the experience feel rich and playful. The ventriloquist impressed me with his dedication to his characters, bringing both humor and charm to his act. The marionette was incredibly fun with her playful banter and clever improv that had me belly laughing, especially when she poked fun at my partner’s less-than-graceful attempts at basic movements. I’ve always enjoyed a good theatrical séance/tarot reading and the fortune-telling tent scratched that itch nicely with an atmospheric performance. On the creepier side, the spider wrangler was both unsettling and dedicated. His storytelling pulled me in even as I tried not to squirm. The final tent we visited surprised me most: a unique artistic element that felt different from the other playful carnival antics and left me with something deeper to reflect on.

Between tents, guests can enjoy classic carnival games that added a fun interactive touch to help round out the evening along with the additional wandering characters.

Overall, Carnival is different than the guided immersive events at historic buildings in Los Angeles. What it offers instead is intimacy, creativity, unique choices and heart. It’s also wheelchair accessible. The creator and performers clearly care about making each guest’s experience memorable. If you’re looking for something a little different this October, Carnival may just be the perfect spooky delight for you.

Carnival runs Thursday through Sunday, from September 26 through November 2, 2025. For tickets and more details, visit nightofthecarnival.com.

Arrive early to enjoy pre-show alcoholic drinks, sodas and snacks available for purchase. There were also tarot readers available for genuine tarot readings in the waiting area. VIP guests receive complimentary treats in a special lounge area. Parking was easy in the venue’s lot.

Thank you to Carnival for inviting us out to experience the show. We had fun!

*Sensory notes below. Includes possible spoilers.*

*This event includes possible physical contact with characters, strong scents, fog, low light, loud noises, startles, blindfolds, you may be sprayed with wet “stuff” and you may be taken away from your group by yourself.