Long Beach, CA — Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, producers of The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, have announced Dark Masquerade, a new limited-run immersive experience debuting Valentine’s Day weekend aboard the Queen Mary.
According to the announcement, Dark Masquerade will operate as a special off-season event, opening Friday, February 13, and running through Saturday, February 14, offering guests “a hint of dark romance” through an after-hours takeover of the ship.
An After-Hours Immersive Takeover of the Queen Mary
Dark Masquerade is described as a story-driven, immersive experience rather than a traditional haunted attraction. Guests will move through multiple environments aboard the Queen Mary, blending music, character interaction, and atmospheric encounters featuring Dark Harbor’s established icons.
“Dark Masquerade gives our fans the chance to dive further into the world of Dark Harbor than ever before,” said Brett Bertolino, Director of Special Projects for Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. “This all-new, immersive, story-driven experience expands the lore of our legendary icons through intimate scenes and unexpected encounters and offers a chilling glimpse of what awaits this fall aboard the Queen Mary.”
General Admission to Dark Masquerade includes access to the following experiences:
- The Ringmaster’s Dark Masquerade Dance Party
A high-energy masquerade dance event led by the Ringmaster and henchies, with DJ Kiltrina (LVCFT), fog effects, and character interactions. - Gale’s Requiem
An atmospheric encounter set in a rarely accessed area of the ship, featuring live music, immersive storytelling, and direct character interaction tied to Dark Harbor lore. - The Search for Mary
A guided experience through the lower decks of the Queen Mary using a single red glow stick while guests search for Scary Mary through darkened corridors. - Sweethearts’ Slaughterhouse
An interactive experience combining themed storytelling, character interaction, and a small curated tasting woven into the narrative.
The press release notes that these experiences are not mazes, though they may include complete darkness, fog, strobe lighting, monsters, and startling effects. Dark Harbor’s traditional in-season mazes will not be open during this event.
VIP Admission Adds Exclusive Experience
VIP admission includes expedited entry, priority access to Gale’s Requiem, and an additional exclusive experience titled Pressure Test: Bound Below.
In this experience, VIP guests are cuffed together and subjected to darkness, noise, and proximity as part of a story-driven encounter led by the character Half Hatch Henry, with the Queen Mary’s machinery setting the pace of the scene.
Dark Masquerade is a 21+ event. Tickets start at $59 plus fees. The event will take place at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
The Valentine Haunt Trend (Analysis)
Dark Masquerade is part of a growing pattern of haunted attractions extending their brands beyond the Halloween season through limited-run, themed events. Rather than relying on traditional walk-through mazes, these off-season offerings emphasize immersion, character interaction, and social experiences that feel distinct from October programming.
Dark Masquerade will lean heavily on intimate storytelling, direct interaction with characters, and spaces that encourage guests to linger, talk, and engage rather than rush through scenes. The inclusion of a dance party, guided exploration with minimal lighting, and curated tasting moments reflects a broader shift toward experiential formats that blend nightlife, theater, and haunt design.
By offering exclusive scenes, priority access, and proximity-based encounters, Dark Masquerade positions premium admission as a narrative upgrade rather than simply a line-skipping benefit.
This approach mirrors other Valentine’s-themed haunted events announced this season, including Fright Nights WV’s Final Cut: ’Til Death, which similarly centers on immersive storytelling, character interaction, and upgraded experiences layered into the core attraction.
While many haunts still offer the basic reskin (or simply lights-out), these events are less about reskinning Halloween content and more about creating socially driven, story-forward experiences that justify premium pricing and attract guests looking for something beyond a standard date night or party.
