Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for June, 7th.
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Conventions & Mixers
The Midwest Haunters Convention takes place this weekend (June 11th – 12th) at the Donald E. Stephens Memorial Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Friday, June 10th will feature the Pre-Convention Haunt Tour – taking attendees to Massacre Haunted House, Basement of the Dead, Evil Intentions Haunted House, and Disturbia Haunted House. The show floor exhibits and education seminars take place June 11th – 12th. View the list of MHC’s 80+ exhibitors and check out the floor plan to map out your route. Traditional Seminars include “YouTube for Haunters” presented by Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios and Eduardo Talbert of Monster Tutorials (Saturday, June 11th at 2:15 p.m.); and “Character Creation Power Hour #1: Broadview Approach for Directors, Designers and World Builders!” presented by Allen Hopps of Stiltbeast Studios (Sunday, June 12th at 9:45 a.m.). Sunday, June 12th at 1:30 p.m. there will be a “Creating a Foam Stunt Prop Workshop” presented by Michael Burnett of Frightnight Studios. Home Haunter Seminars will include: “Bringing Your Home to Life: Introduction to Pneumatics for the Home Haunter” presented by Jim Slanker of Chicago Haunt Builders (Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 a.m.); “Corpsification: How to Create a Cool Skeletal Corpse on a Budget” presented by Michael Burnett of Frightnight Studios (Saturday, June 11th at 1:00 p.m.); and “PVC Pipe Mannequin for Dummies… Pun Intended!” presented by Rudy Vanderbiest of Chicago Haunt Builders (Sunday, June 12th at 12:15 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased online at the MHC official website.
HauntX DIY Haunters & Halloween Expo returns this weekend, June 11th – 12th at the Pomona Fairgrounds in Pomona, California. From Halloween enthusiasts to home haunters to pros, come out to HauntX for a weekend of scare-based learning, haunt and Halloween exhibitors, Saturday night costume party, and all-around good fun for the whole family. Educational programming highlights include: “Homemade Dark Rides” presented by Brett Coble (Saturday at 11:15 a.m.); “From my Parent’s Garage to Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom” presented by Garner Holt (Saturday at 2:00 p.m.); and “Blood Gore and More” presented by Ralis Kahn (Sunday at 3:45 p.m.). The popular DIY: Make-it & Take-It zone is back as well for hands-on workshops. New for 2022 is “Haunters Row”, a Photo-Op style experience for Haunter & Halloween fans to come and see all the local home haunts and haunters that operate in the area. Tickets are available online prior to the event and then at-the-door Saturday and Sunday.
Mark your calendars: Creepie Con will return to the Ontario Convention Center (Ontario, California) February 4th – 5th, 2023. New for 2023: High Desert’s very own Fear Farm Haunt will be creating a brand new Haunt experience for the event. Tickets will be on sale later this summer and exhibitor sign-ups begin July 1st. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the coming months from the event’s official website, Instagram, and Facebook page.
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Auditions / Casting Calls
Dark 2022 (Alberta, Canada) is now accepting applications for Scare Actors. Apply to lurk in the shadows & frighten and delight guests in one of their scare zones or haunts. Dark is seeking a wide variety of individuals ages 15+. Improv or acting experience is beneficial but not required. A positive team-oriented attitude is a must as haunting is a team sport! Auditions will take place June 13th, 15th, 20th, and 22nd. To secure your audition time slot, fill out their online form. Auditions will take a total of 30 minutes.
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood is currently seeking performers to portray various monsters for this year’s event. Scareactor auditions will be held on Friday, June 17 & Saturday, June 18 in Universal City, California. Performers will be asked to do some improvisation and demonstrate scare-abilities. All auditions are by appointment only and applicants must be 18+ years old. Schedule your appointment on Universal Studios Hollywood’s official website.
U.S. Haunts & Events
Scareventure’s Fright Nights at Alesmith Brewing Company (San Diego, California) will return for seven nights of frights: October 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th, and 30th. The haunted attraction will feature a major expansion of the footprint, and include all new immersive interactions and activations. Three different ticket tiers will be offered this year – including a haunt-only option for younger attendees and designated drivers. New for 2023 will be The Haunted Beer Garden, with admission included with all ticket levels. October 29th & 30th from Noon – 6:00 p.m. the family friendly “The Trick-or-Treat Trail at AleSmith Booery” will feature a monsterless haunted attraction, pumpkin carving, and more. Follow Scareventures Haunts & Events’ official website and Instagram page for more updates and news.
Madworld Haunted Attraction (Piedmont, South Carolina) will officially open for their 12th year September 9th, 2022. They made the announcement with a Youtube promo video. More announcements and information (including full schedule) will be available in the coming weeks via their official website.
Terror Vault (San Francisco, California) has teased their theme for the 2022 Halloween season: The Summoning. Go beyond the veil of darkness in this all-new show. Stay tuned for more announcements and ticket sales information in the coming weeks.
The former “Perdition Haunt” is returning to SoCal rebranded as The Haunted Harvest. Bigger and scarier than ever before, this haunted corn maze is located at Frosty’s Forest Pumpkin Patch in Chino, California. The event runs Thursday – Sunday nights from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. this October. Tickets will be sold onsite.
Paranormal Cirque is coming to California select nights this June – July. This fusion between a circus, theatre, and cabaret will transport audiences to a dark world inhabited by creatures with incredible circus art abilities. Paranormal Cirque will come to Indio, California June 9th -12th, Hemet, California June 16th – 19th, and Ontario California June 23rd – July 4th. Purchase your tickets online today. Tickets vary by date and location and range from $10 – $60.
Little Rascals Pumpkin Patch and Halloween Haunt will return to the Ontario Mills Mall (Ontario, California) October 1st – November 1st. The event features food trucks, inflatable jumpers, music, a petting zoo, rock wall, and more. Brave souls can also enter the event’s signature haunt, “Carnival of Darkness”. More information – including ticket prices – will be announced in the coming months on the event’s official Facebook page.
Now through June 19th, SugarMynt Gallery (Pasadena, California) is hosting their Spooky Kids Club exhibition. The exhibition will feature special event days each weekend. This week’s upcoming special events are:
Before watching “Hocus Pocus” under the stars surrounded by SugarMynt’s Halloween-filled atmosphere, enjoy a conversation with the film’s production designer, William Sandell, as he shares behind the scenes stories. SugarMynt Gallery’s intimate backyard allows for an extremely unique and rare experience watching the film with one of its creators.
Saturday, June 11th: “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” 40th Anniversary Screening
Most people may not think of “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” as a Halloween movie, but it is. E.T.’s journey on earth begins just days before Halloween and concludes soon after. Join SugarMynt Gallery on June 11th, exactly 40 years to the day since the film’s original theatrical release, to watch this Steven Spielberg masterpiece under the stars.
Haunt Industry Report
The HauntPay 2022 Haunt Industry Report submission page is now live. This anonymous survey will gather data regarding how your haunt fared this past year and your biggest challenges for the 2022 season. Respondents will receive early access to the report and will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card. Take the survey here. View last year’s report here.
Theme Parks
Haunt construction for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood is well under way. Construction images are surfacing showing the various tents and facades. A well and wagon have appeared, along with a dilapidated house façade in one area and a brick façade with lettering reading “Alucard Trading Co.” is complete in the area next to Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. Only one house has currently been confirmed for the event (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide). The other 7 houses will be announced in the coming weeks. Check back often to Universal Studio’s Hollywood’s official website for news and up-to-date information.
Shopping
The time has come: Spirit Halloween has announced the grand opening date for their flagship Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey location – July 30th. The festivities start at 9:00 a.m. EDT and doors will open at 11:00 a.m. EDT.
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