Write a story about a character who gets lost at a carnival or festival.

Posted in Horror on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 189 stories

“Victor VanLorn's Lunar Circus” by Nicholas Westbrook

Submitted to Contest #93

Victor VanLorn’s Lunar Circus was known for taking its customers away. Natalie didn’t think it would be quite so literal. The circus was a collection of blue and grey tents with strings of lights that looked like mason jars filled with fireflies. Natalie had been so enamored with it all: the joyous cries of laughing children, the smell of funnel cake and popcorn, and the sparkling wonder of the circus that made Natalie wander around so bravely. She’d drifted through the carnival games, followed behind a trio of performing acrobats, and...

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“Flamelight” by Amalee Bowen

Submitted to Contest #93

In other years, the light of moon and stars would shine upon the white stone path, illuminating the processional way through the dark to the place where the first lights would be lit. Or in other years, the thick clouds would brighten the sky, heavy with the promise of snow. Or in other years, the snow-packed plains would glimmer palely in the night and the path would form a trench, a way through. This year, the dark was complete. The ground was frozen solid, but barren, a scorched stain. The sky was obscured by the lingering billows of...

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“Emma” by Madison Mannino

Submitted to Contest #93

Have you ever experienced this feeling? This sinking feeling of dread as it settles at the bottom of your stomach like a rock? I don’t know what even got me into this horrible situation in the first place. The last thing that I remember is walking around the Ringling Brothers Carnival, alone. I don’t have any friends, you see, so I was completely and utterly alone. I have nobody to help me now…..after all, I was taken by the lost ones, and the lost ones never let anyone go. Alive, that is. As I’m lost in my thoughts of the outside ...

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“The Decider's Hidden Carnival Attraction” by Bernadette Beauchamp

Submitted to Contest #93

Chloe was wandering aimlessly past the rides and attractions. It was a carnival, not the forest. There was no reason to worry about getting lost and anything was better than listening to her sister's brand of wisdom about how she should conduct her life. It wasn't like she was going to put herself in danger. She just wanted a chance to feel like she was doing something that mattered to her. For her theory of a carnival not being like a forest, it was changing in odd ways. The rides were far behind her, and the attractions were getting furthe...

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“Pain” by Ishika Kaur

Submitted to Contest #93

"Sweetheart, come and have your dinner,” called Mrs. Allen. Harper was a nine year old girl. She went to the dinner table. Her mother served her the beef. “Where’s Daddy?” she asked. “Daddy’s working. An emergency rose up. He must be on his way,” “I want to wait for him,” He soon came rushing in the house. He rang the doorbell. His wife ran to answer it. “Your daughter waiting, doc,” she said laughing. He ran to his daughter. “I’m so sorry, Harper. Daddy had a emergency,” he said. “It’s okay Daddy,” he smiled. Harper was a very understandi...

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“The Commune in the Woods” by Tatiana Olin

Submitted to Contest #93

They said the Solstice festival was the safest to go to. The most normal. Virtually the whole town disappears into The Commune in the Woods during the Summer Solstice. For a week, the roads are empty and the smaller businesses are closed, and you can tell who doesn’t really live here, because they’re left wandering the streets, wondering where the hell everyone has gone. I’ve never gone before; I stay outside, with the outsiders. The Commune in the Woods is a place where people think they mean well. They don’t. I’ve gone there for softer o...

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“Evil Enters In” by Virginia Rand

Submitted to Contest #93

"The devil waits for us. He lives in our pride, our hate, our jealousy, and tempts us. He pulls us in with lies and false promises, turns us away from our god and our fellow man, and then we are lost." Raphe stands at the pulpit, staring down at the blank, sagging face of his followers. They stare back with bovine eyes, feeling none of the rapture he's used to. God lives everywhere, but rural Missouri and middle England's Wingston-on-the-Brook are different down to their very souls. "We must resist the dark temptations that Satan bring...

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“Lost” by Emily Hu

Submitted to Contest #93

Lost. That’s how I feel. I don’t know where, or who I am. The last thing I remember before losing consciousness is that I felt extremely dizzy. I took a second to look around where I am, and noticed it was nighttime. I could tell by how bright the lights are. Lights? Wait, that means I must be in a city. But this place didn’t just have lights, it was an explosion of lights. I stood up, my legs felt weak and tired. Not knowing where to go, I picked up my legs and started to walk closer to the lights. I walked past a row of trees and on the ot...

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“Watch the Fireflies” by Rosie Garcia

Submitted to Contest #93

You're lost. You're lost. Lost among the lights that shield you from the void overhead. Lost from your companions. Lost from the cheerful babble that accompanies such a cluster of people. Lost, lost, lost. Maybe you lost them, maybe they lost you. There's a lot of losing going on. Shhh, calm down. Calm down. It's okay, there's nothing in the shadows. There's nothing to jump out at you. You've not been kidnapped by some kind of nightmarish clown. Everything is fine. Now, think. Where are you? What were you doing beforehand? You were with ...

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“Joyce's Revenge” by Elizabeth Etzwiler

Submitted to Contest #93

COME ONE, COME ALL! TO CHANGLINGS CARNIVAL! SURPIRISES FROM EVERYWHERE! CARNIVAL FOOD AND GAMES!! PRIZES TO BE WON!!! U DON’T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THIS FUN!! FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!! THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY NIGHT FROM DUSK to MIGHNIGHT “Hey Wanda do you see this?” John asked “Yeah, I saw one of those signs at the store earlier.” Wanda replied “Well, do you want to go?” John asked “I don’t know. Carnival's kind of scare me. You know, clowns everywhere. Fire...

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“The Ferris Wheel” by Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #93

"Lucy, Lucy! Where are you?" I screamed until my vocal chords were raw. Time has stood still since I saw you last. My throat is hoarse from screaming your name. A gigantic crowd of onlookers has gathered around me.Its already been five minutes.This isn't real. I know this isn't real. You'll come barreling into one of us at any moment. Then I will feel foolish for having caused all this chaos. The police and K9s have arrived on the scene. My ears start to ring as the adrenaline courses through my veins. The smell of buttered popcorn and sweet...

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“Kingdom of trees” by Grace Gropper

Submitted to Contest #93

The lights from the Ferris wheel glittered through the tree leaves, making the forest look almost menacing in the dying afternoon light. Behind me, someone laughed loudly, enjoying their cotton candy or caramel apple or whatever people eat at a carnival. Glancing at my phone, I saw I had nine unread messages, all from my sister Sophie. "Where are you?" "We are really worried about you." The truth was, I didn't know where I was. I had wandered off to think and the time flew by as I looked into the forest, looking for something, but I wasn't...

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“Too Many Wrong Turns” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #93

Too Many Wrong Turns Like a long, black curtain the pandemic of 2020-2021 had shrouded the area around Ocean City, Md.--and the ...

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“Fireworks in the Fortune” by Sevv E

Submitted to Contest #93

"Pauline, I see sparks in your future. A colorful one filled with twists and turns. Be careful not to get lost in it all," the fortune teller's creaky voice whispered to me from across the old table made from a crate and a dark purple blanket. I can’t believe I just spent $15 to be told that I’m going to see fireworks later. Everyone is, I mean that’s always how the summer carnival ends. What’s so special about that?I quickly scoot the old stool back as I stand up, thanking the elderly fortune-teller as I leave a tip for her hospitality. I m...

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“Resort party at the forbidden forest” by Badrinath R

Submitted to Contest #93

Resort party at the forbidden forest It was a huge resort near a dark forest that was said to be haunted and no one dared to visit that forest and the one who visited it never comes back alive and if he returns alive, he dies in a weird manner. Roney was trying to sleep, it was 12:00 night wolves where hauling and the door opened slowly. Roney was in the peak of fear then suddenly a music and that where his friends outside. A night party was arranged in the occasion of Schai festival celebrated by the local tribal which was spon...

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Write a story about a character who gets lost at a carnival or festival.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 189 stories

“Victor VanLorn's Lunar Circus” by Nicholas Westbrook

“Flamelight” by Amalee Bowen

“Emma” by Madison Mannino

“The Decider's Hidden Carnival Attraction” by Bernadette Beauchamp

“Pain” by Ishika Kaur

“The Commune in the Woods” by Tatiana Olin

“Evil Enters In” by Virginia Rand

“Lost” by Emily Hu

“Watch the Fireflies” by Rosie Garcia

“Joyce's Revenge” by Elizabeth Etzwiler

“The Ferris Wheel” by Joyce Schook

“Kingdom of trees” by Grace Gropper

“Too Many Wrong Turns” by Bob Faszczewski

“Fireworks in the Fortune” by Sevv E

“Resort party at the forbidden forest” by Badrinath R

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a party that has gone horribly wrong.

Write about a reluctant party-goer who ends up being the star of the show.

Write your story about two characters tidying up after a party.

Write a story about a character who’s nervous to attend a party - their first in a long time.

Contest #93

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

797

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: