Spooky, Sexy, Slidey: How Hershey Amusement Park Is Driving Ticket Sales

Sliders draw crowds

Hersheypark employs the Decayed Brigade for Dark Nights, its Halloween event held in September and October. The performers charge toward guests in a sliding move that began as a scare tactic at Knott’s Scary Farm in California.

Over time, sliding developed into athletic tricks and choreographed performances, spreading to haunted attractions around the country. At Hersheypark, the crew’s popularity now extends beyond the scares.

Social media fuels interest

Hersheypark is aware of the group’s online reach: the most-viewed videos on the park’s official TikTok account feature the sliders, including during the off-season. Performer Fryboy said visitors increasingly tell the crew they traveled more than eight hours or came specifically to see them.

Fans meet performers

For the past three years, Fryboy and some of the sliders have met fans after weekend performances. Visitors can wait up to an hour for photos and a chance to meet the crew.

The park also offers professional photography and related products, including keychains and photo prints. Its photography service had taken more than 4,000 photos for fans this fall so far.

Stunts and suggestive fandom

The online following is not based on scares alone. Fan videos often use suggestive music, and commenters make sexual remarks about the performers, including Fryboy and Archer. Fryboy described how sliding grew from simple movements into more elaborate stunts, with performers adding rolls and jumps over multiple people. He said the group format and social media helped build the crew’s following.