West Coast Halloween Convention Returns, May 13TH – 15TH

After two years away, the West Coast Halloween Convention returns this coming weekend, May 13th – 15th, in Portland, Oregon. From home haunters to pros, attendees will enjoy the Halloween Marketplace vendor floor, three days of education, haunt tour at The FearPDX, Halfway to Halloween Costume Ball, charity auction, and the Nightmare After WCHC movie night. Attendees have their choice of over 30 classes, workshops, and make-and-takes. Purchase your WCHC tickets online today – single-day tickets start at $45 presale, $65 at the door; 3-Day Passes start at $99.00 presale, $119.00 at the door; and Deluxe Tickets start at $235 presale, $265.00 at the door. The WCHC is a 501(c)3 organization that gives grants to professionals who work with children with hearing impairments and/or autism.

Europe’s premiere trade show for the scare attraction and horror industry, ScareCON, returns May 9th – 11th at Thorpe Park Resort in the U.K. The event will feature exhibitors, a comprehensive workshop and seminar program, and the iconic ScareBall with the annual SCAR awards ceremony. View all the 2022 nominees on the ScareCON website. 

The Haunted Attraction Association will host their next virtual Monthly Mixer on May 23rd at 8:00 p.m. EDT. These Members-only virtual get-togethers feature industry experts, Q&As, round tables, and how-to learning opportunities. At this upcoming event, Philip Hernandez of the Haunted Attraction Network will join to talk about building an effective press release for your attraction. Attendees will be introduced to the basics of a press release, discover how to find newsworthy elements of their attractions, and have plenty of time for a Q&A. 

The Midwest Haunters Convention has announced their complete seminar lineup for this year’s event. Traditional Seminars include “Undressing Distressing: Learning How to Create Creepy and Aged Costumes” presented by Katie Lane (Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 a.m.); “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. In this demonstration workshop, Special Makeup Effects artist Michael Burnett demonstrate how to mold, cast, seam, assemble, and finish your very own realistic film quality urethane foam stunt hatchet. Attendees will receive a kit of materials to take home to use what was learned in the class to create a unique stunt prop. 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 I(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.).  Seminars are $30 per person if ordered by Thursday, June 9th at 11:59 p.m. CDT, afterwards they are $40 per person. The Sunday Workshop (Creating a Foam Stunt Prop) is $70 per person through June 9th at 11:59 p.m. CDT, afterwards it will be $80 per person. A Seminar Pass (including all seminars except the Sunday Prop Workshop) is available to the first 100 purchasers for $160 per attendee. Register for seminars and events here.