Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for February, 28th.
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Industry News
Blumhouse and Lionsgate have opened a 2-story haunted house in Los Angeles to celebrate the upcoming “Imaginary” movie. The experience has six rooms and uses a mix of actors, jump scares, and practical effects to introduce the movie’s antagonist “Chauncey.” Guests work through various scenes (a therapy session, Alice’s room, a mirror maze, and the blue doors) before coming face to snout with Chauncey’s final fearsome form. The experience is free to experience and is available through March 2, 2024. The experience underscores how brands continue to use physical experiences to connect with customers despite (or perhaps because of) the increasingly digital world. Watch our walkthrough here.
Conventions & Mixers
Pre-sale tickets for Midsummer Scream (Long Beach, CA) will go on sale on Saturday, March 2nd. This year’s event is July 26th – 28th at the Long Beach Convention Center. It’s all the thrills and chills of October packed into one summer weekend – featuring walk-thru haunts, celebrity guests, spooky vendors, live performances, educational programming, and more.
Attendee registration opens on March 1st for the Texas Haunters Convention (Mesquite, TX), happening July 13th & 14th at the Mesquite Convention Center. Texas Haunters Convention features over 55,000 square feet of family-friendly vendors, events, demonstrations, and classes targeting Halloween and cosplay enthusiasts. Ticket prices start at $10 – $20 for Single-Day Adult Passes, $25 for Weekend Adult Passes, and $115 for VIP Passes.
2024 marks 25 years of Bats Day in the Fun Park / Goth Day at Disneyland (Anaheim, CA). This year’s Bats Day in the Fun Park will take place on May 5th – but the spooky goth fun won’t stop there! The team plans a full year of surprises, celebrating their anniversary through their 2025 event. Follow the event’s Instagram account for announcements and more in the coming months.
U.S. Haunts & Events
Vegas Theatre Company (VTC) and Las Vegas Horror Show, LLC have announced the return of ABANDON, a frightening, kinky, and darkly humorous theatrical production. ABANDON will take audiences on a terrifying journey through the life and writings of the Marquis de Sade during his imprisonment in an asylum. Delivered in rapid-fire, wordless vignettes and enhanced by an original, killer soundtrack and terrifying visual effects, ABANDON mixes psychological terror, grotesque beauty, and edgy kink to create a horror production like no other. The show is directed by Jana Wimer (Urban Death), and features composer Joseph Bishara (The Conjuring and Insidious) and sound designer Katie Haliday (Stranger Things). The production will run on select dates from May 18th – July 28th. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $39.99 for General Admission and $79.99 for VIP Admission (which includes a complimentary alcoholic drink, front-row seating, and a backstage tour of the Vegas Theatre Company).
Circus Circus Las Vegas will debut their new SpongeBob Squarepants-themed Dark Ride on Friday, March 1st. Created by Sally Dark Rides, SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride will utilize vibrant sets, special effects, animatronics, and vivid integrated projections to bring Bikini Bottom and its characters to life. Learn more about this exciting new family attraction from our Haunted Attraction Network IAAPA interview with Sally Dark Ride Chief Creative Officer Rich Hill.
The national tour of SAW The Musical is coming to Los Angeles, CA from February 29th – April 7th. The musical parodies the first film’s events in the iconic horror franchise. A love story with fluidity (and lots more fluids), SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw is “Little Shop of Horrors meets Avenue Q,” pushing the boundary on sexuality and how to love. Due to the explicit content, parental discretion is advised. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $35 – $95.
“What’s your favorite scary musical?” Scream’d: An Unauthorized Musical Parody is now at the Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Fridays and Saturdays throughout March. From the team that created the long-running The Craft: An Unauthorized Musical Parody, Screamed parodies the hit 90s teen horror movie-turned-millennial franchise set to a pop playlist accompanied by a live rock band. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $49.95 for General Admission and $59.95 for VIP Cabaret Seating. This show is a parody of an R-rated movie that contains violence, language, and adult themes. Although the theater has no age restriction, it is suggested for ages 16 and above.
Film / TV
A teaser trailer for the upcoming horror film Oswald: Down the Rabbit Hole has been released. The film, directed by Lilton Stewart III, features a sinister version of the now public domain Walt Disney creation, “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.” The film centers around a main character named Art and some of his friends who get transported to a place shrouded by dark Hollywood Magic. They come across Oswald’s come-to-life cartoon Rabbit and must work together to escape their magical prison before the Rabbit gets to them first. They are still in the process of casting, and filming is planned to start in the Spring. Visit the film’s official website for updates and announcements in the coming months.
Retail
The Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Collection from Allure Bridals has released its first-ever line of dresses inspired by Disney Villains. Brides-to-be can currently choose from four designs inspired by the Evil Queen, Jafar, Maleficent, and Ursula. The gowns come in black and ivory variants, allowing brides to embrace their sinister beauty or opt for a more traditional elegance. See the entire line and the 2024 Princess-Inspired Gowns at Disney Fairy Tale Weddings’ official website.
Upcoming Events: February - April 2024
March 7 – 10: Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show (St. Louis, Missouri)
April 12 – 24: Fear Expo (Owensboro, Kentucky)
April 26 – 28: The Spooky Swap Meet (Los Angeles, California)
April 27 – 28: East Coast Haunters Convention (Oaks, Pennsylvania)
