The East Coast Haunters Convention returns to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania for four days of haunt tours, vendor exhibits, seminars, live entertainment, and after-hours events running April 23-26, 2026. Produced by TransWorld Trade Shows, the convention is co-located with the East Coast Christmas Show and open to the public, drawing haunted attraction owners, operators, home haunters, actors, and Halloween enthusiasts.
Between pre-show haunt tours on Thursday and Friday, a show floor packed with over 150 Halloween vendors, free and paid programming across the weekend, and a Saturday night tour and party at Shocktoberfest, the week offers more than any single attendee can cover. This guide breaks down what’s happening, when, and how to make the most of your time in the Philadelphia area.
Quick facts
- Four days of programming: Thursday and Friday haunt tours kick things off, followed by the trade show floor, seminars, and events on Saturday and Sunday.
- Co-located show: Your badge also grants access to the East Coast Christmas Show, running Saturday and Sunday on a separate section of the show floor.
- 150+ Halloween vendors on the show floor, plus the Pit, where haunted attraction exhibitors bring their icon characters for up-close interaction.
- Free Learning Lab sessions running on the show floor Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Saffire.
- Paid seminars on Saturday and Sunday covering scare acting, scenic design, AI, marketing, and operations.
- Haunt Olympics across Saturday and Sunday, with competitions exclusive to Pit exhibitors.
- Friday after-party at Arnold’s, directly across from the Expo Center.
- Saturday night haunt tour and party at Shocktoberfest, featuring four attractions, behind-the-scenes access, and a catered party at Club Shock.
Show floor hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, April 25 | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, April 26 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
Registration hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Friday, April 24 | 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday, April 25 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, April 26 | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
Week at a Glance
| Date | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Thu, April 23 | Pre-show haunt tour: Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill and Lehigh Valley Scream Park. Bus departs 1:00 PM, returns ~11:30 PM. |
| Fri, April 24 | Haunt tour: Lincoln Mill Haunted House and Pennhurst Asylum, with dinner stop at Manayunk Brew Pub. Bus departs 3:00 PM, returns ~10:05 PM. After-party at Arnold’s (8:00 PM). |
| Sat, April 25 | Show floor opens. Learning Lab sessions. Paid seminars all day. Haunt Olympics. Stage presentations and ticket giveaways. Saturday night haunt tour and party at Shocktoberfest (6:30 PM bus). |
| Sun, April 26 | Show floor (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM). Paid seminars. Learning Lab. Costume contest. Haunt Olympics finals and awards. Last chance to shop. |
Haunt Tours
The convention’s haunt tours run Thursday and Friday ahead of the show floor opening, with the Saturday night event serving as both a haunt tour and the weekend’s signature party.
Thursday Pre-Show Tour (April 23): Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill and Lehigh Valley Scream Park
Bus: $215 | Self-Drive: $165 (prices increase $20 after April 17)
The Thursday tour visits two Pennsylvania attractions. Lehigh Valley Scream Park in Orefield is in its 11th season with four attractions: Condemned Haunted House, Bio-Purge Haunted House, Hollow of Horror Hayride, and Psycho Path Haunted Corn Maze. The tour includes full walkthroughs of the two haunted houses with live actors, followed by a lights-on behind-the-scenes tour with the owner and build crew. Time permitting, wagons will be available for the hayride.
The evening continues at Kim’s Krypt Haunted Mill in Spring Grove, where dinner is served on site. Kim’s Krypt features five attractions across 62.5 acres, anchored by the Haunted Mill, a building dating to the 1700s with four floors. Now in its 33rd year of operation, the property also includes escape rooms, a midway, a gift shop, and hearse and coffin rides.
Buses depart the Hilton Garden Inn at 1:00 PM and return around 11:30 PM.
Friday Haunt Tours (April 24): Lincoln Mill Haunted House and Pennhurst Asylum
Bus: $190 | Self-Drive: $150 (prices increase $20 after April 17)
The Friday tour visits two of the region’s most recognized haunted attractions. Lincoln Mill Haunted House in Philadelphia is entering its fifth season inside a historic textile mill on the Schuylkill River. The story-driven attraction is built around the narrative of former mill owner Viktor Kane, with guests moving through shadowed corridors and forgotten spaces. The property includes the Mill Yard, an open-air scare zone, and the River Deck.
After a dinner stop at Manayunk Brew Pub, the tour continues to Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City. Located on the historic grounds of the Pennhurst State School, the attraction features four distinct experiences: The Asylum, The Morgue, The Tunnels, and The Catacombs. The tour includes a lights-on tour of the Asylum, described as never before offered, followed by an after-hours party at the Speakeasy (21+ to drink).
Buses depart the Hilton Garden Inn at 3:00 PM and return around 10:05 PM.
Saturday Night Haunt Tour and Party (April 25): Shocktoberfest
Bus: $180 | Self-Drive: $140 (prices increase after April 17)
Saturday’s event combines a haunt tour with the convention’s signature party at Shocktoberfest in Sinking Spring. Owner Patrick Konopelski and his team have put together a night that includes four attractions with live actors: the Zombie Safari Hayride, The Unknown Haunted House, Prison of the Dead (a 50,000-square-foot haunted compound), and Midway Massacre Scare Zone. The tour also includes behind-the-scenes access to the actor area, a mini escape room viewing area, and Ground Assault Zombie Laser Tag viewing area.
After the tours, the party moves to Club Shock with a professionally catered meal, food stations, music, and a cash bar.
Buses depart the Hilton Garden Inn at 6:30 PM and return around 12:30 AM.
Free Programming
Several of the convention’s most engaging activities are included with any show badge.
The Learning Lab runs on the show floor Saturday and Sunday with hands-on and interactive sessions led by working professionals. Saturday sessions include Airbrush in Action with ProAiir/ShowOffs Body Art (10:30 AM, 30 min), DMX Petting Zoo with Garrett Coons of Haunted Hayrides of Greater Rochester (12:00 PM, 60 min), Bruise Control with Bobbie Weiner of Bloody Mary Makeup (2:00 PM, 30 min), and a Q&A with Tom Fallenstein, CEO of HalloweenCostumes.com (4:00 PM, 60 min). Sunday sessions include Brushwork Basics with European Body Art (10:45 AM, 30 min) and Scrap to Scare: 3 Minute Escape Games with Nicole Ginsburg of Intrigue Experiences (12:00 PM, 60 min). All Learning Lab sessions are sponsored by Saffire.
The Pit is the show floor’s haunted attraction hub where exhibitors bring their icon characters for up-close interaction. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, Pit haunts take the stage for short promotional features with ticket giveaways. Each attendee receives a free entry ticket at the side of the stage for a chance to win two tickets to each participating attraction. The Grand Prize drawing on Sunday at 2:55 PM awards two tickets to all 19 Pit attractions.
Stage entertainment includes The Apocalyptic Side Show from T3 Entertainment and Productions (Saturday 11:15 AM), Scary-oke open-mic karaoke (Saturday 1:15 PM), Frightening Facts phone trivia (Sunday 12:15 PM), and the Costume Contest (Sunday 11:15 AM) with prizes for adults, teens, and kids.
Haunt Olympics events run across Saturday and Sunday, exclusive to Pit exhibitors. Teams compete in the Graveyard Dash obstacle courses, the Screamin’ Hot Sauce Challenge (a “Hot Ones” style progression through 10 levels of hot sauce), the Creepy Creative Costume, Make-Up, and Dance Challenge, The Great Build-Off birdhouse competition, and the Battle for the Pit relay finale. Trophies courtesy of Ghost Ride Productions are awarded to first, second, and third place teams during Sunday’s closing ceremony at 2:45 PM.
Paid Seminars
Paid seminars run Saturday and Sunday, with individual sessions at $40 each at the Early Bird rate (through April 17) and $50 after. All seminars are sponsored by the Haunted Attraction Association.
Saturday Seminars
- “Scare Actor Training Lab” with Shawn Fenner, Empire State Haunters Association (9:45 AM, Room 7). Practical training methods for improving timing, character development, and performance.
- “The Art of Lifecasting” with Michael Burnett, Frightnight Studios (9:45 AM, Room 5). Materials and techniques for completing full head and facial lifecasts.
- “AI Isn’t the Future, It’s Your New Seasonal Advantage” with Kim Shapiro, Factory of Terror (11:00 AM, Room 5). Using AI for marketing campaigns, SOPs, budget testing, and brainstorming premium experiences.
- “An Actor’s Toolkit For Scaring Haunt Customers” with Ben Armstrong, Netherworld Haunted Attraction (11:00 AM, Room 7). Props, sound scares, phobias, and character techniques.
- “Building Worlds, Not Walls: Cinematic Set Design” with Alejo Casalotti and Mandy Gibson, Laurel’s House of Horror (1:00 PM, Room 7). Layout, detail, and atmosphere for environments that strengthen storytelling.
- “Enhancing Customer Experience Through Audio Visual Communication” with Ben Bates and John Walsh, Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride (1:00 PM, Room 5). QSYS control systems for BGM, DMX lighting, paging, and emergency announcements.
- “Perfectly Ruined: The Art of Distressing Haunt Costumes” with Fright Kingdom (2:15 PM, Room 7). Aging, tearing, staining, and weathering techniques for character costumes.
- “Beyond October” with John Eslich (Factory of Terror), Ben Bates (Bates Motel), moderated by Ben Armstrong (Netherworld) (2:15 PM, Room 5). Expanding into Christmas events, escape games, and other seasonal experiences.
- “Screams, Smiles, and Service” with Stephanie Wentworth, Dana Thomas, and Katie Wentworth, Frightmare Farms (3:30 PM, Room 7). Training frontline teams to deliver customer service while maintaining strong scares.
- “Projection Mapping for Your Home or Haunts” with Todd Fedyshyn, His and Hearse Designs (3:30 PM, Room 5). Equipment, setup, and content design for dynamic projection effects.
Sunday Seminars
- “Selling the Season Before It Starts” with Scott Simmons, ScareHouse (10:15 AM, Room 5). Year-round brand building and preseason marketing strategies.
- “Texture for Terror: Scenic Layers that Sell the Scene” with Taelor Cansler, RCFX (10:15 AM, Room 7). A hands-on speed painting session on layering techniques for depth and realism.
- “Managing the Mayhem: Leading a Crew of Monsters” with Erin Davis, Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary (10:15 AM, Room 1). Strategies for leading actors and maintaining energy throughout the night.
- “Scaring the Whole Neighborhood” with Jim Slanker, Canyon Trail Cemetery / Chicago Haunt Builders (11:30 AM, Room 5). Turning a home haunt into a community event.
- “Aging, Rust, and Rot” with Ryan Visingard, Woods of Terror (11:30 AM, Room 7). Fast, effective techniques for making props and sets look aged and decayed.
- “Monster Maker: Build Your Signature Look” with Alejo Casalotti and Mandy Gibson, Laurel’s House of Horror (12:45 PM, Room 7). Building a durable makeup kit and creating looks that hold up through long nights.
- “Hidden Revenue in Your Midway” with Angela Dunne, Fright Kingdom (12:45 PM, Room 5). Add-ons, upgrades, and micro-experiences that boost per-guest spending.
Parties and After-Hours Events
Friday After-Party at Arnold’s | 8:00 – 11:00 PM | $15
The convention’s Friday night gathering takes place at The Water Tower at Arnold’s, directly across from the Expo Center. The ticket includes two drink tickets (house wine, beer, or fountain drinks), with a full menu available for purchase including cheesesteak egg rolls, subs, wings, and pizza. Arnold’s Family Fun Center activities are also available for purchase, including go-karts, laser tag, bowling, and an arcade. Self-drive only.
Saturday Night Marchwood Lights Tour and Netflix House Experience | 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
A separate Saturday evening option for those interested in the Christmas side of the convention. The tour visits Marchwood Lights for a behind-the-scenes look at an animated holiday light show, with an optional add-on to the Netflix House ONE PIECE escape room experience in King of Prussia. Multiple ticket options are available ranging from $40 (self-drive lights tour only) to $125 (bus combo with both experiences). Box dinner included on tours with the Marchwood Lights stop.
Important Details
- Early Bird pricing on seminars and events expires April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT.
- Haunt tour prices increase $20 after April 17.
- All children under 12 are admitted free on the trade show floor but must be accompanied by an adult.
- No recording devices are permitted in seminars.
- All seminar and event payments are final at the time of purchase and are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- The Haunted Attraction Association has a booth on the show floor (#530) and sponsors all convention seminars.
Register Now
Registration and tickets are available at eastcoasthauntersconvention.com. Haunt tour tickets, seminars, and party tickets are sold separately. With Early Bird pricing expiring April 17, now is the time to lock in your schedule.
