Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for March, 6th.
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Conventions & Mixers
Passes are now on sale for Midsummer Scream 2023, which takes place July 28th – 30th at the Long Beach Convention Center (Long Beach, CA). “This year, we’re putting a new spin on our theme, which we’re calling ‘Ghoulish Games,’ celebrating horror in gaming,” says David Markland, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Midsummer Scream 2023. “That includes creepy board games and toys from our youth, all the way up to video games that feature zombies, monsters, and terrifying creatures!” The Ghoulish Games theme will be a common thread during the weekend in various to-be-announced panels and presentations, a gallery and game room, and experiences throughout the event.
Hall of Shadows
The Hall of Shadows will expand to all three days, featuring the underlying theme of “Demons & Dragons.” Guests will enter the darkened scare zone through a foreboding dungeon presented by CalHauntS. Once inside the hall, fans will find nearly 20 haunts and attractions to visit and explore. In the middle of it all, the Decayed Brigade slider team will perform three shows daily Saturday and Sunday. Get your tickets and stay up-to-date on event news at Midsummerscream.org.
The Cleveland Haunt Club will host its 3rd Annual Halfway to Halloween Flea Market on May 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Medina County Fairgrounds (Medina, Ohio). The event will feature 75+ vendors, food trucks, and photo ops. Admission will be $2 at the door. Those interested in vending can download the application on the group’s official website.
The Ohio Haunters Association announced their Halfway to Halloween Character Contest. The contest will be part of their Halfway to Halloween event on April 29th in Columbus, Ohio. Scareactors will be given 30 seconds to show off their character. They will be judged on costume, accessories, movement, voice, detail, and fidelity to the character. The contest is sponsored by Backwoodz Oddities and judged by Alan Zeus Shell. A sign-up sheet will be available at the event.
U.S. Haunts & Events
Spooky-Land, sponsored by Valley Fright Nights and featuring TWO mazes, opens as part of Springtopia in Woodland Hills, California from March 29th – April 16th. Explore 200,000 square feet of exciting and immersive fun in 7 immersive lands – Fun-Land, Holiday-Land, Puppy-Land, Lightshow-Land, Pirate-Land, 3D Circus-Land, and Spooky-Land. Tickets to Springtopia will go on sale on March 7th. Prices start at $35. Join the ticket waitlist here.
Wells Township Haunted House (Brilliant, OH) will host a lights out tour on St. Patrick’s Day weekend – March 17th – 18th. You can make your way through the haunt with only one glow stick to light the way for your group. Guests must sign a waiver. General Admission is $16 at the door, or advanced tickets featuring reduced wait times start at $22 or $27 for VIP admission. Buy your tickets here.
International Haunts & Events
Last week Netflix announced a new stage play coming to the Phoenix Theatre (London, UK) in late 2023 – Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Based on an original story by The Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Kate Trefry, the new play will be rooted in the mythology and world of the show, set in Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959. “Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach. This gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end. Sign up for priority access to tickets when they become available at the play’s official website. Further ticket information, on-sale details, performance schedule, full creative team, and casting will be announced later.
Haunted Attraction Association
The Haunted Attraction Association is working on adding both a Home Haunt committee and a Vendor committee this year. HAA members who want to volunteer on these committees may submit their applications online.
Jobs
Do you love haunted houses, Halloween, scaring people, and/or the incredible feeling of working in sync with a dynamic team? Do you appreciate getting your hands dirty, doing the work that often goes unnoticed, and usually being behind the spotlight? Fear Factory (Salt Lake City, UT) is now hiring two General Maintenance & Build Apprentices to their year-round maintenance crew. Pay starts at $12 per hour, with exciting advancement opportunities in the future. Duties include general maintenance, groundskeeping, security, assisting the build/creative team, and basic tech show operations. Submit your application on Fear Factory’s online form.
Film & TV
Look alive, foolish mortals! Walt Disney Studios released the teaser trailer for Haunted Mansion this past week. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Justin Simien, the film features an all-star ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, and Dan Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost. Director Simien says, “As a lifelong fan of the Haunted Mansion attraction, I’m beyond excited to share the teaser trailer for our new film adaptation featuring an incredible cast. Our team has worked tirelessly to create a scary, funny, and cinematic otherworldly adventure for both new and die-hard fans to enjoy! I can’t wait for audiences to experience this big screen version of the iconic Disney attraction.” Haunted Mansion will appear in theaters on July 28th.
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Upcoming Events: February 2023 - April 2023
March 23 – 26: Fear Expo (Owensboro, Kentucky)
April 29 – 30: Spooky Swap Meet (Los Angeles, California)
Spring Haunts
All Saints Lunatic Asylum (Apple Valley, CA) – March 31 – April 2
Castle Blood (Monessen, PA) – March 17 – 18
Wells Township Haunted House (Brilliant, OH) – March 17 – 18
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