Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for June, 19th.
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Theme Parks
The Last of Us will be coming to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood this Fall. Enter the world of Naughty Dog’s video game in real life as you fight to survive and navigate through an abandoned Pittsburgh with Joel and Ellie. “The world inside the game offers a multitude of suspenseful and horrifying opportunities to provide guests with a one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Halloween Horror Nights,” John Murdy, executive producer of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, said in a statement. HHN Orlando will take place on select nights from September 1st – October 31st. HHN Hollywood will take place on select nights from September 7th – October 31st. Tickets are on sale now with single-night passes starting at $79.99 for HHN Orlando and $74 for HHN Hollywood.
Halloween on the High Seas will return to the Disney Cruise Line in mid-September through October 2024. Chart a course to tropical locales on a Bahamian or Western Caribbean voyage from Fort Lauderdale or discover dazzling destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean and The Bahamas on sailing from Port Canaveral. Families will dress up and join Disney characters in their Halloween costumes; dance the night away at a spooky celebration on the upper decks; enjoy spinetingling themed food and beverages; and immerse themselves in a ghostly ship takeover with elaborate décor and a magical Pumpkin Tree. Bookings will open to the public on June 26th, 2023.
U.S. Haunts & Events
This Halloween season, a brand-new immersive experience will be coming to the Chicago area – Terror Roulette. This spine-tingling event is a partnership between The Arboretum of South Barrington and IWG Productions, running Thursdays – Sundays, September 29th – Halloween. Designed for horror fans, this event thrusts participants wishing to test their fate into an interactive story where they become the selected victims of a bloodthirsty secret society. At the heart of this bone-chilling experience is the enigmatic villain, “The Dealer,” who holds all the cards. The Dealer presides over a sinister realm filled with maniacal slayers, each with their killer specialty. Terror Roulette combines heart-pounding challenges with the thrill of an ever-changing narrative. Groups of 8 guests (ages 16+) will be separated and reshuffled as they face different challenges. Some may even be forced to face their fears alone. Each card assigned by The Dealer will expose the guests to the lurking horrors awaiting them in the next room. Tickets will be available soon on the event’s official website. Stay tuned to the Haunted Attraction Network for more on this experience – they will be featured on this year’s Hauntathon!
Conventions & Mixers
Horror in Color will host their 3rd annual Pride or Die – a free horror-themed event celebrating LGBTQIA+ identity – on Saturday, June 24th from 4:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Media Pollution in Los Angeles, CA. Guests will be treated to a mini-marketplace of horror vendors, immersive art, health resources from Aids Healthcare Foundation Pharmacy & Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a live podcast from AfroHorror, special performances from MAJOR, Lights Out, & more, all in a haunting atmosphere. The proceeds will support local LGBTQIA+ organizations. RSVP online to attend.
Livestreams
The next Haunters Toolbox Master Class will occur on Tuesday, June 20th at 5:30 p.m. PDT. This month’s topic is Build Props and Sets Like Haunted Overload. A few of the core set construction crew at Haunted Overload will share ideas on using natural materials to make unique sets and props that will make your haunt something to scream about while on a budget. Sign up for Haunters Toolbox Membership to access each month’s live session, past recordings, and more.
Retail
Disguise, Inc., the costume division of toy and consumer products manufacturer JAKKS Pacific, Inc announced a partnership with Mob Entertainment to offer a new line of Poppy Playtime costumes and accessories for the 2023 Halloween season. “Year after year, Disguise keeps expanding its collection of costumes in this ever-growing genre of episodic horror games,” expressed Tara Cortner, President and GM of Disguise, Inc. “As the popularity of this genre continues to surge, we are thrilled to be a part of it. Our passion lies in developing costumes that bring kids, adults, and fans into the world of their favorite characters. Poppy Playtime is sure to be a hit this year.”
Home Haunters
Mary Simmons of Piqua, Ohio, made the news this week when she refused to take down her 10-foot tall werewolf decoration after receiving a warning from the city. Simmons said the werewolf, nicknamed “Phil,” has become her house mascot. She has left the prop up year-round and decorates it for each season/holiday. The city told the local news station that it issued Simmons a warning due to an anonymous complaint, but the city has no plans to enforce the decoration’s removal further. Simmons says she won’t remove the prop unless it becomes a safety hazard. You can follow Phil’s story and seasonal outfit changes on his official Facebook & Twitter accounts.
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Upcoming Events: June - August 2023
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
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
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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