Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for December 19th.
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Conventions & Mixers
Universal Orlando is coming to TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show! TJ Mannarino, Vice President of Art & Design, Entertainment Division at Universal will be teaching 3 seminars at this year’s show: Emerging Trends in the Haunted Attraction Business (Thursday, February 2nd @ 12:45 p.m.), Universal’s Great Movie Escape: Story is the Adventure (Friday, February 3rd @ 10:15 a.m.), and Horror is Universal: Evolving the Nightmares of Halloween Horror Nights (Friday, February 3rd @ 3:15 p.m.). During his 25 years at Universal Orlando, TJ Mannarino has led a team of artists, scenic and costume designers, creative and concept developers, and show producers working in tandem to deliver some of the industry’s most compelling live entertainment experiences.TJ and his design team are highly regarded for their continued successes in the uniquely innovative design and development of Universal Orlando’s award-winning Halloween Horror Nights. Seminar tickets are on sale now. Be sure to sign up early, as seminars will sell out.
Mark your calendars – The Spooky Swap Meet will rise again on April 29th & 30th at the Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Shop, snack, have your fortune told, and trick or treat at the Victorian manors of Heritage Square. Vendor applications and attendee tickets will be available in the coming weeks. Announcements and more will be posted to the event’s Instagram account.
A new year means new Creep It Real events at the Heritage Museum of Orange County (Santa Ana, CA). Creep It Real O.C. will return September 16th – 17th and Creep It Real Festive will return November 17th – 18th. Creep It Real events feature a variety of spooky vendors, live entertainment, haunts, food trucks, and more. Event lineup announcements and tickets will be available on the event’s official website in the coming months.
Haunted Attraction Association
The Haunted Attraction Association is seeking donations for its annual auction. Your donation is tax-deductible, and helps the HAA raise funds for operating expenses, marketing for members, ensuring vendors and attraction members have access to 24/7 crisis management in the fall, and more – all while also promoting your products and brand to a room full of potential buyers who may have missed you on the busy trade-show floor. A donated amount of $250 or more renews your annual HAA membership. Donations worth higher value receive even more perks and promotions. Read the full list of donation tiers and perks on the online submission form.
Want to learn more about the Haunted Attraction Association? A presentation from HAA Board President Spencer Terry provides an overview of what HAA entails, from the benefits and resources available to you as a member to the different types of memberships available.
Haunt Awards
The Canadian Haunters Association‘s 2022 Home Haunter Awards Contest is now accepting entries. The Home Haunter Awards Contest is the CHA’s annual event celebrating the imagination, innovation, originality, passion, and hard work – not to leave out dead-ication – of Home Haunters and their supporting cast and boo crew. Awards categories include: Best Static Prop, Best Animated Prop, Best Set Design, Best Female Scare Actor, Best Male Scare Actor, Best Canadian Rookie Home Haunt, Best Canadian Yard Haunt, Best International Haunt, Best Canadian Walkthrough Haunt, Spirit Award, and Hall of Fame Awards. The submissions will be judged by the CHA Chapter Presidents and some guest judges based on theme, originality, detail, realism, props, actors, music and effects, lighting, Haunt-cycled materials, photography/videography, and more. The winners will receive a custom CHA trophy and/or an award certificate, depending on the category. Entries will be accepted until February 26th, 2023. Entrants must be home haunters that are part of the CHA Facebook group, and all photo and video content must be from the current 2022 haunt season. Full rules and category descriptions can be found on the CHA’s official website.
U.S. Haunts & Events
Factory of Terror (Canton, OH) will open on Friday, January 13th, for a Glowstick Night Combo Event. Experience 1300 Lost Souls and Lafayette 13 in Blackout/Glowstick mode. Make your way through these two full-contact haunts in complete darkness with only a single glowstick. Then experience Massacre on Mahoning and The Abyss as they are during the Halloween season – with full show lights, sounds, animatronics, actors, and music. Two bars will be available at the event (Forsaken Bar on Bourbon & One-Eyed Jack’s Pirate Bar). Tickets are on sale now for $25 per person. 2023 Season Passes are also available for $150 per person.
Black cats, broken mirrors – what is your scariest superstition? At All Saints Lunatic Asylum (Apple Valley, CA), it is the Boogeyman. Join All Saints Lunatic Asylum on Friday, January 13th from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. as the Boogeyman and 13 superstitions take over the asylum. Tickets will be available soon online or at the door for $13 per person.
Retail
Distortions Unlimited debuted their second new prop of 2023 in late December: Mutant Legend. This static prop is modeled after the company’s popular Mutant animatronic. Made of latex and foam with armature, the prop stands six feet, three inches tall, and is expertly hand-painted. This display has a full head and neck but is flat-backed. Bendable arms allow the prop to be posed in different positions. It comes apart in half for easy transportation & storage. The prop is on sale now for $574.00.
In Memoriam
Scareactor George “Snap” A. Deskins passed away on Saturday, December 24th at the age of 41. He spent six seasons with Blood Prison as actor, zone leader, and acting coach. We at the Haunted Attraction Network send our deepest condolences to George’s family and friends during this difficult time.
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Upcoming Events: January 2023 - March 2023
January 10 – 12: Halloween & Party Expo (Las Vegas, Nevada)
February 2 – 5: Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show (St. Louis, Missouri)
March 23 – 26: Fear Expo (Owensboro, Kentucky)
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