Feeling Any Goosebumps?

Times Square is about as touristy as it gets, but it's the heart of New York. Smack dab in the middle of Manhattan and packed with people, stores, cars, music, food, theaters, and lights, it can be a little overwhelming. So imagine how cool it was to see Goosebumps take it over!

On Halloween, Times Square turned into Goosebumps HorrorLand. There were signs, screens, and events everywhere. I headed into the city that morning to check it all out.

The first thing I saw was a group of people gathered on what's called the "fence island" in the middle of Times Square itself.

As I approached, I noticed a bunch of pumpkins lying on the ground nearby  — and then I saw the Goosebumps sign!

Stephen Clarke was attempting to break the world record for number of pumpkins carved in one hour. He holds the current record (42), which works out to an average of 85 seconds a pumpkin. Phew! Stephen was carving like mad, turning out high-quality pumpkins with ease. It looked exhausting! I've carved a few pumpkins myself, and it usually takes me hours for each one. Plus I'm usually completely wiped at the end. I have no idea how he does this  — watch him carve a pumpkin in less than 30 seconds in this interview from The Today Show, a few hours before I saw him in Times Square.

Ridiculous! So I watched as he tried to break his own record. It was really exciting  — assistants tossing pumpkins to him, a carnival barker calling people over and shouting out the number of pumpkins he had finished, TV cameras jostling to get the best angle, and a big crowd cheering him on. Take a look at the video.

As the clock wound down, Stephen finished up his 50th pumpkin! A judge from the Guinness World Records was on hand to present him with an official award.

When that was finished, the Goosebumps street team stayed behind so people could get pictures taken as a Horror. I couldn't resist.

Then it was off to Toys R Us, where Goosebumps had taken over the bottom floor. On the way, I kept running into Goosebumps signs.

Once inside Toys R Us, I had a chance to play the new Goosebumps video game for a while. The minigames are "easy to learn, hard to master," as they say, and each one will definitely keep you entertained for a while. And there's 30 of them! I found myself laughing a lot too. The Horrors are hilariously rude, and the terrible vampire jokes — delivered in a really thick Dracula accent  — crack me up every time ("What is a vampire's favorite sport? Casket-ball! Muahahaha!"). The game definitely has its share of scares, though. I don't want to give anything away, but this definitely isn't just your average "spooky" amusement park. Freaky things happen, and they get way worse before they get better (if they get better at all). It's definitely worth checking out.

Before long, it was time to leave and head back to the office. But what a blast!

Want to see more?

— Jack, STACKS Staffer

Comments

[Comment #1]

i love reading goosebump books beacause i love mysteries i'v read like all the goosebump books

GOOSEBUMPS
ROCK!!!

[Comment #2]

i love the books their awesome and cool

[Comment #3]

awesome books i love them i have read all of them

[Comment #4]

I love R.L.STINE'S BOOKES

[Comment #5]

R.L.STINE, I love your books!
my favorite one is probably
knight in Tearer Tower.

[Comment #6]

AWESOME! WISH I COULD VISIT:)

[Comment #7]

I LIKE YOUR MOVIES AND BOOKS.KEEP IT UP.

[Comment #8]

I think that the Goosebumps Horrorland videogame will make success in the videogame market!! I want to buy it! (alvin h)

[Comment #9]

goosebumps is a very spine-chilling series .

[Comment #10]

i love goosebumps i am 9 i love them i wish i lived in new york