Things to Do in Crystal Lake

As red inflatable obstacles shield snipers on the Speedball field, the Hyperball field's blue barrels protect players from enemy fire. Tipped-over speedboats litter the greenery of the Docks, and thickets of woods shelter the wooden walls of the Amazon and colorful fragments of children's play structures scattered throughout the Playground.

Each of the six fields hosts a variety of gaming scenarios, ranging from elimination and capture-the-flag rounds to attack-and-defend sessions or multiple flag-station contests. Laser-tag players itching to compete on terrain other than H2 Paintball's 10 acres can call upon its Mobile Command Option, wherein H2 personnel convert offices or empty basement shark tanks into miniature laser-tag arenas.

Designed for mature audiences, Realm of Terror's maze winds past zombies hovering over hospital patients and masked madmen adorned in scarlet-stained clothes. A creative team of filmmakers, makeup artists, and set designers collaborates on the gory, over-the-top attraction, which uses actors, strobe lighting, startlingly loud noises, and whispered Danzig lyrics to spook guests as they duck, climb, and crawl through. While waiting in line to enter the critically lauded haunted house, guests can sip beverages from an onsite bar, which is stocked with soft drinks and alcohol for visitors of drinking age.

World Domination Events boosts adrenaline levels across the country by placing guests behind the wheel of high-end exotic cars. Customers climb into sleek Lamborghinis and Ferraris and send them hurtling down the turns of a racetrack or spinning through a designated autocross course to test horsepower-handling skills. Meanwhile, corporate packages allow companies to boost employee morale or settle conference-room scheduling conflicts with invigorating laps in a luxury ride.

Booming top 40 hits echo throughout Just For Fun Roller Rink’s two vast arenas, amping up the entertainment as skaters glide and showcase moves in open-skate sessions and parties. The glittering of disco balls and the surreal glow of black lights transform the colored wheels of rental roller skates, speed skates, or roller blades into vibrant blurs as they spin across polished floors. While smooth movers hold hands and stack themselves into speedy human pyramids, video-game enthusiasts can get their fix at the arcade games along the side of the rink, and food enthusiasts can whet their palate with pizza, hot dogs, and snacks. Come Saturday night, the rink transforms into a live-music venue for local bands, and on holidays and special occasions such as New Year's Eve, Halloween, and Insomniac-Appreciation Day it puts on all-night celebrations.

As soon as kids set foot in Kids Club Party and Fun, a kid-size library, fire station, and princess palace invite them to unleash pent-up energy while parents relax. Youthful drivers zip around the room in miniature cars, whereas a climbable playhouse with a cushioned floor lets budding explorers test out methods for scaling kitchen counters in pursuit of cookies. Chaperones sink into soft leather coaches as their offspring frolic, sipping on complimentary coffee or tea while surfing the web using free WiFi.

Outside of the packed theatre, a sleek sedan glides its way to the curb. An expectant hush falls over the gathered masses as the door opens to reveal the car's famous passenger. There is a pause, and brief silence, before frenzied cheers are punctuated by a flurry of popping flashbulbs. Scenes like this, common in entertainment capitals all over the world, are what the photographers at Photo Booth of the Stars seek to replicate on a small-scale at private event engagements throughout Chicagoland. Their brand of memory-making has proven especially popular at weddings, where reception guests can pose in front of backdrops that celebrate matrimony with pictures of hearts, rings, and the best man giving a thumbs up.