Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for June, 5th.
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Conventions & Mixers
Midsummer Scream (Long Beach, CA) debuted their first-ever television commercial, now running on Pluto.tv’s Horror channel. The Haunted Attraction Network provided the footage and Josh Quillin (director of Epic Home Haunts) edited it. The spot also features music by LVCRFT. Midsummer Scream will occur at the Long Beach Convention Center on July 28th – 30th. The theme of this year’s event is “Ghoulish Games.” Guests can explore an enormous array of horror-themed games-from video and role-playing games to board and tabletop games. A special game area on the show floor, along with game-themed presentations, all join a full lineup of Midsummer Scream weekend activities that include: The Hall of Shadows mini haunts, The Screaming Room, panels, presentations, performances, Paranormal Pixie’s Pumpkin Patch children’s zone, exhibitor floor, Black Cat Lounge, Saturday-night party, and more. Tickets are on sale now with single-day passes starting at $35 for adult admission to $140 for a three-day VIP “Gold Bat” pass.
Creep It Real OC (Santa Ana, CA) announced a new addition to its programming. On Sunday, September 17th, they will present “Black Flame Campfire Tales: 30 Years of Hocus Pocus” hosted by Jeff DePaoli of Dizney Coast to Coast podcast. Hear what it was like to film Disney’s Hocus Pocus with original cast members Vinessa Shaw, Jason Marsden, and Omri Katz. Tickets for Creep It Real OC are on sale now, starting $15 for single-day passes, $25 for weekend passes.
Theme Parks
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort will return September 1st – October 31st. In Disneyland, Mickey, Minnie, and their pals will cast a ghostly glow in all-new outfits made with luminescent fabrics and bat details. The Main Street Pumpkin Festival will bring a horde of hand-carved gourds to Main Street, U.S.A., including the giant Mickey Mouse Pumpkin. Haunted Mansion Holiday will continue its annual tradition with another deliciously diabolical gingerbread house on display in the ballroom. Disneyland Park will also pay tribute to Día de los Muertos with its traditional, vibrant display in Frontierland, adorned with marigolds and banners of papel picado.
In Disney California Adventure, Halloween decorations and projections will evoke an air of eeriness in Buena Vista Street. Cars Land will become Radiator Screams, where the residents and establishments are decked out in their Haul-O-Ween best. Three attractions throughout the park will undergo seasonal transformations: Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, and Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. Honoring the Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos, the vibrant Plaza de la Familia cultural experience will once again bring brilliant marigolds, heartwarming live entertainment, and family crafts to Paradise Gardens. “A Musical Celebration of Coco” will feature a talented company of Folklórico dancers, plus Mariachi singers and musicians, that recount Miguel’s adventure to the Land of the Dead. Guests can also take photos with Miguel, enjoy Mariachi music, add remembrance notes to the Memory Wall, and more.
Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party will return to Disney California Adventure 25 select nights September 5th – October 31st. This separately-ticketed, limited-capacity event welcomes kids and guests of all ages to wear their Halloween costumes and enjoy a wickedly fun evening of attractions, special food & beverages, entertainment, and more. Highlights include: treat trails and character sightings; “Mickey’s Trick and Treat” show; the “Frightfully Fun Parade” led by the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow; immersive Villains Grove; and unique photo ops. A limited number of tickets will be sold for select Magic Key Holders on June 27th. Tickets will go on sale on June 29th to the general public. The current list of event dates is: September 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, and October 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31.
The Knott’s Scary Farm Season Pass will go on sale this week. Current 2023 Knott’s Berry Farm Season Passholders will have the opportunity to purchase the pass as an add-on for $149 beginning on June 6th; non-season passholders will have the chance to buy standalone Scary Farm Season Passes for $159 starting on June 9th at 10:00 a.m. Quantities are limited – get your tickets before they disappear into the fog!
U.S. Haunts & Events
Get ready for a spine-tingling night of horror trivia with Creepy Kingdom on June 21st at The Copper Door in Santa Ana, California. Immerse yourself in the captivating ambiance, test your knowledge across various horror subgenres, and compete with your team of up to four members for thrilling prizes. Discover spooky vendors, indulge in delicious bites from food trucks, sip on chilling signature cocktails, and capture haunting memories with immersive photo opportunities. Tickets are on sale now for $6 per person. The Haunted Attraction Network will be participating as well!
Get ready to howl with delight because the spooktacular Pageant of the Monsters is clawing its way back to Laguna Beach, CA this fall! Mark your calendars for October 27, 28, 29, and 31, 2023, when this monstrously delightful Halloween event will return to the Festival of Arts grounds. This beloved tradition, resurrected every five years, holds a special place in the cobweb-covered hearts of locals and visitors. Prepare to be spellbound as you venture into the Pageant’s backstage area and scenic workshops, transformed into a family-friendly haunted house. It’s a bone-chilling celebration of creativity that’ll send shivers down your spine! Ticket sales and further information will be available on the event’s official website in the coming months.
HellsGate Haunted House (Lockport, IL) is hosting its first annual Spooky Garage Sale June 16th – 18th. The sale will feature over 25 years of Zombie Army Productions’ collection of spookiness from their flagship attractions: HellsGate Haunted House and Statesville Haunted Prison. Items for sale include Halloween décor, animatronics, props, costumes, yard décor, furniture, antiques, and more.
Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group (North Hollywood, CA) proudly presents Doctor Smegma’s Human Petting Zoo and “Sparkling Waters” Waiting Room June 9th – 11th. Step into the horrifying realm of Doctor Smegma’s macabre hospital, where the boundaries between creation and destruction dissolve into a nightmare of unimaginable proportions. In this ghastly cat-cafe style immersive experience, guests find themselves trapped within the hospital’s nightmarish “Sparkling Waters” Waiting Room, an air-conditioned purgatory teeming with unfathomable monstrosities that yearn for human touch. As you sink deeper into the dramatic ambience, sip on some refreshing sparkling water and surrender to the unhinged-charm of the deformed creatures that hunger for your calming, therapeutic affection. Brace yourself for a “treat” unlike any other, where the boundaries between pleasure and horror blur, leaving you forever scarred by the insidious secrets within! Directed by Zombie Joe and Charlotte Cocker, for audiences ages 18+. Tickets are on sale now for $20 in advance ($25 at the door).
Searching for a perfectly ghoulish getaway? Join The Ghostly Retreat Airbnb rental for an open house on Saturday, June 10th. Enter the popular Haunted Mansion-themed Airbnb, meet Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr (the mastermind behind the magic of the original Haunted Mansion Doom Buggies), and receive an autographed Haunted Mansion attraction poster. Explore the retreat with designer Jeff Schiefelbein to hear stories and insights from the creation process of this enchanting experience. Light refreshments will be provided as you enjoy the eerie atmosphere and mingle with fellow Disney enthusiasts. It’s an ideal occasion to share stories and make new connections. Tickets are available online for $45 per person.
Pirates Dinner Adventure (Buena Park, CA) is adding a brand-new character to their dinner theater adventure – the dreaded Leviathan. Starting this summer, guests can experience an epic adventure as the brave, swashbuckling pirates face their biggest challenge yet. Watch in awe as the animatronic dragon moves its long neck across the ship and snaps its harrowing jaws full of sharp teeth in an all-new finale. Pirates Dinner Adventure is an interactive, family-friendly dinner theater that has entertained the Buena Park area for nearly 20 years. Learn more and book your tickets on their official website.
Save the date – Krampus Tavern at the Globe Theater (Los Angeles, CA) will return on December 10th, 2023. Follow @midnightsoulsproductions for event announcements and ticket sales in the coming months. Event organizers have also shared the following message to vendors via social media, “In order to improve our guest experience and ensure a safe open floor plan – we will not be opening vendor applications for our cocktail experiences at Globe Theatre. A very small group of vendors will be curated by invitation only to best fit the theme of the experience.”
Auditions
Calling all monsters! Knott’s Scary Farm (Buena Park, CA) is hiring scareactors for their 50th anniversary event. In-person auditions will be held on June 16th – 17th & 24th – 25th. To secure an audition reservation, individuals must submit an application via Knott’s Berry Farm’s official job website.
Livestreams
The next episode of TransWorld Live: The Road to Midwest Haunters will take place Tuesday, June 6th at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Special guests include: Jennifer Luke (Graffiti FX), Michael Chaille (Ghost Ride Productions), Andy Martingello (Midnight Terror Haunted House), Tim Rasch (Soul Reapers Haunted House), and Peter Dunn (Twisted Crypt Haunted House). Plus Jen and Rich of the Midwest Haunters Convention will make an appearance with last-minute show updates.
Film & TV
A recent article from Movieweb featured 10 chilling horror films that take place in haunted attractions.
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Upcoming Events: June - August 2023
June 10 – 11, 2023: Midwest Haunters Convention (Rosemont, Illinois)
July 15 – 16, 2023: Texas Haunters Convention (Mesquite, Texas)
July 21 – 23, 2023: HorrorWeen Con Idaho (Boise, Idaho)
July 28 – 30, 2023: Midsummer Scream (Long Beach, California)
July 29 – 30, 2023: Ghosts of Summer (Portland, Oregon)
Spring / Summer Haunts
June
Castle Blood (Monessen, PA) – June 9 – 10
Dark Castle (Elgin, SC) – June 10
Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park (Smithville, TX) – 9 – 10, 16 – 17
Frightmare Farms (Fulton, NY) – June 16 – 17
Wicked World Scaregrounds (Nicholasville, KY) – June 17
Necropolis Underground (Indianapolis, IN) – June 23 – 24
SRD’s Haunted Attractions – Pocatello (Pocatello, ID) – June 23 – 24
July
AMS Haunted Attractions (Maryville, TN) – July 8
Blood Prison (Mansfield, OH) – July 14 – 16
Cinema of Horrors Haunted House (Kelso, WA) – July 14 – 16
Everhaunt (Angola, NY) – July 21
Podcast Episodes You Might Be Interested In
Gain Control Of Your Haunt’s Queue Line
Timed Ticketing VS Virtual Queues – which is best for you? Today Alex from Hauntpay and Justin Hill from Haunted Hills Haunted Attraction give their insights from both the vendor and haunter’s point of view, so you can decide which service is suitable for your haunt. This episode is courtesy of Hauntopic Radio – hosted by Brian Foreman from Haunter’s Toolbox. Become a haunt master at haunterstoolbox.com.
News Roundup: Monsterpalooza This Weekend & Scary Farm Auditions
News Roundup: HHN Auditions; ScareCON Awards
Read more here.
Partner Stations
Craving more haunt goodness? We’re thrilled to be partnered with HaunTopic Radio, ScareTrack, The Scare Factor, and A Scott in the Dark. Give them a listen.
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