TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show returns to America’s Center in downtown St. Louis for five days of vendor exhibits, educational seminars, industry networking, and after-hours events running March 25-29, 2026. The show remains the only trade event of its kind in the world, drawing hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of buyers from across the haunted attraction, escape room, Christmas installation, and agritainment industries.
Between pre-show haunt tours, dozens of paid and free seminars, nightly parties, and a show floor packed with over 450 exhibitors, the week offers more programming than any single attendee can cover. This guide breaks down what’s happening, when, and how to make the most of your time in St. Louis.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts & Event Overview
- Five days of programming: Wednesday’s pre-show tours kick things off, followed by four days of trade show floor access, seminars, and events Thursday through Sunday.
- Three shows, one badge: Your pass also grants entry to the co-located TransWorld Christmas Show and Interactive Entertainment Show, covering escape rooms, axe throwing, VR, and other experience-based entertainment.
- 450+ exhibitors on the show floor, with free makeup demonstrations running daily on the Makeup Demo Stage.
- Free and paid seminars spanning haunted attractions, Christmas installations, interactive entertainment, safety certification, and business operations.
- Nightly events including the City Museum party, a murder mystery experience, the Heaven & Hell Costume Ball, and the Moonlight Mingle after-hours lounge.
- OSCARES Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening, free for all attendees, celebrating the best in the haunted attraction industry.
Show Floor Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Thursday, March 26 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday, March 27 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday, March 28 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, March 29 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
Week at a Glance
| Date | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Wed, March 25 | Pre-show Talon Falls Haunt Tour (bus departs 2:00 PM, returns ~midnight). Experience STL interactive entertainment tour (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM). |
| Thu, March 26 | Show floor opens. C.H.A.O.S. Safety Seminar (8:30 AM). Paid seminars all day. Agritainment Mixer, Interactive Entertainment Mixer, VIP Happy Hour (evening). City Museum Party (7:30 PM). Moonlight Mingle (9:00 PM). |
| Fri, March 27 | Show floor. HAA State of the Industry (9:00 AM, free). Paid seminars all day. HAA Live Auction (5:15 PM, free). Bloodlines & Blackmail murder mystery (8:00 PM). Santa’s Beach Bash Christmas party (8:30 PM). Moonlight Mingle (9:00 PM). |
| Sat, March 28 | Show floor. AI Advantage Keynote (8:30 AM). Paid seminars all day. OSCARES Awards Ceremony (5:00 PM doors, free). Christmas Show Mixer (5:30 PM, free). Heaven & Hell Costume Ball (8:00 PM). Moonlight Mingle (6:00-8:00 PM and 11:45 PM). |
| Sun, March 29 | Show floor (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM). Last chance to shop. |
Passes & Pricing
TransWorld offers several tiers of admission, and it’s worth understanding what each includes before registering. All passes grant four-day access to the Halloween & Attractions Show, Christmas Show, Interactive Entertainment Show, and the Dark Zone, plus free makeup demos on the show floor and free Early Bird Seminars.
General Admission: $109. The baseline pass. Includes four-day show floor access across all three co-located shows, free Early Bird Seminars, and free makeup demonstrations. Paid seminars and events are purchased separately.
VIP Pass: $450. Everything in General Admission, plus a dedicated VIP registration counter and show floor entry line, first-row seminar seating, access to the on-floor VIP Lounge (with complimentary coffee, snacks, Wi-Fi, and charging stations), a VIP-only Happy Hour Mixer at The Over/Under Bar & Grill on Thursday, one ticket to Saturday’s Heaven & Hell Costume Ball, and your choice of three one-hour paid seminars (a $165 value). A limited-edition VIP bag is included for pre-show purchasers while supplies last.
VIP + Unlimited Seminars: $700. The best value for education-focused attendees. Includes everything in the VIP Pass, plus access to all paid one-hour seminars Thursday through Saturday (a $550 standalone value) with no need to pre-select. Just show up. Note that the C.H.A.O.S. Safety Seminar and workshops are sold separately and not included in any seminar pass.
Seminar-Only Options. For those who want to build their own education schedule without the full VIP package:
- Seminar Super Pass ($550): All one-hour seminars Thursday through Saturday. Limited to the first 200 buyers. No pre-selection required. Does not include C.H.A.O.S. or workshops.
- Seminar 5-Pack ($250): Choose any five one-hour seminars. Must pre-select before March 19 at 11:59 PM CDT to lock in the discounted price. Available for pre-show purchase only (through 11:59 PM CDT on Thursday, March 26).
- Individual seminars: $55 per attendee (Early Bird through March 20) or $65 per attendee after that date. One-hour sessions only; workshops and the keynote are priced separately.
Register at haashow.com. Already registered? Add seminars and events at registration.haashow.com/events/hs21. Prices on most events increase after March 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT.
Free Programming
Not everything at TransWorld costs extra. Several of the week’s most valuable sessions and events are included with any show badge:
Free Early Bird Seminars run each morning before the paid seminar blocks begin:
- Thursday 9:00 AM: “Insurance Horror Stories: The Claims That’ll Haunt You” with Todd Patton and Kim Ayers (Room 123). A candid roundtable on real haunted attraction insurance claims and how to prevent them. Qualifies for C.H.A.O.S. credit.
- Friday 9:00 AM: “Legal & Safe Scares: HR Basics Every Haunt Needs” with Kelly Hookham, SHRM-SCP (Room 120). Core HR fundamentals for seasonal attractions, from compliant hiring to managing employee relations during peak season.
- Friday 9:00 AM: HAA State of the Industry Seminar (Room 231). See the Haunted Attraction Association section below.
- Saturday 9:00 AM: “Safety Supercharge: Boosting Protection Without Busting the Budget” with Dale Little and Mike Quill (Room 123). Practical, affordable strategies for strengthening safety practices. Qualifies for C.H.A.O.S. credit.
- Saturday 9:00 AM: Bloody Mary’s “Virus of the Dead” Workshop with Bobbie Weiner (Room 130). A hands-on makeup workshop where pairs receive a Bloody Mary F/X Makeup Kit and learn fast, durable application techniques for haunt actors. Arrive early for seating.
Free daily events include makeup demonstrations on the show floor (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily, sponsored by TicketSauce) and the Moonlight Mingle after-hours lounge at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, open nightly with a cash bar. The Moonlight Mingle runs 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM on Thursday and Friday, with adjusted hours on Saturday (6:00-8:00 PM and 11:45 PM-1:30 AM to accommodate the evening’s events).
Free mixers on Thursday include the Agritainment Networking Mixer (5:30-7:30 PM, Magnolia Hotel Ballroom, complimentary pizza and cash bar) and the Interactive Entertainment Mixer (5:30-7:30 PM, Embassy Suites Ballroom, light appetizers and cash bar). On Saturday, the Christmas Show Networking Mixer runs 5:30-7:30 PM at the Embassy Suites Ballroom.
Haunted Attraction Association Events
The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA) anchors several of the week’s most important events. Whether you’re a current member or considering joining, these are worth building your schedule around.
C.H.A.O.S. Safety Seminar | Thursday, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Room 120 HAA Members: $20 | Non-Members: $75
The Certified Haunted Attraction Operator Safety (C.H.A.O.S.) Program is the industry’s gold standard in safety training. This four-hour seminar covers fire marshal regulations, insurance requirements, emergency preparedness, and the incidents that have shaped current safety law. Completing the full eight hours of C.H.A.O.S. coursework earns a three-year certification, which is required for HAA’s Top Haunts designation and can qualify operators for insurance discounts. Additional C.H.A.O.S. credits are available through select seminars throughout the week (look for the C.H.A.O.S. logo in session descriptions).
HAA Member’s Meeting | Friday, 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Room 231 | FREE
Join the HAA Board for the annual membership meeting.
State of the Industry | Friday, 9:00 – 10:00 AM | Room 231 | FREE
HAA President Jim Werner of Pennhurst Asylum and the HAA Board of Directors host the annual membership meeting, then open the floor for a wide-ranging Q&A on what operators are seeing across the country, from marketing and safety to operational strategies and industry trends. This session consistently fills to capacity and qualifies for one C.H.A.O.S. credit. Free coffee is provided courtesy of Stiltbeast Studios. Get in line early.
HAA Live Auction | Friday, 5:15 – 6:30 PM | Room 231 | FREE (Doors at 4:30 PM)
One of the week’s most energetic events. Vendors donate props, animatronics, services, and one-of-a-kind items, and everything goes to the highest bidder, often at below retail. One hundred percent of funds raised benefit HAA members and operations. Cash bar available. The room regularly hits standing-room-only, so arrive when doors open at 4:30 PM.
OSCARES Awards Ceremony | Saturday, 5:00 PM Doors / ~5:30 PM Ceremony | Room 241 | FREE
The OSCARES are the highest achievement in the Halloween and haunted attraction industry, recognizing excellence across attraction categories from home haunts to mega attractions, vendors, and lifetime achievement. The 2026 ceremony features an expanded format with new awards for mid-tier and small-tier attractions, all nominated by HAA members.
The event is free for all TransWorld attendees and includes a light carving station and cash bar. HAA members who have recently renewed receive a complimentary drink and priority seating. Pick up your drink wristband at the HAA booth (#2031) before Saturday. Take the convention center main entrance escalators to the second floor to find Room 241.
The OSCARES are co-produced by HAA board member Ashley Long and HAN’s Philip Hernandez.
Featured Keynote: The AI Advantage
Saturday, 8:30 – 10:00 AM | Room 120 $90/attendee (Early Bird through March 20) | $110/attendee (after March 20)
Keynote speaker Rider Harris, founder of GoBananas.ai, will walk attendees through the AI tools that are changing how attraction owners run their businesses. The 90-minute session covers platforms like ChatGPT and Claude from the ground up: what each tool does, how to get the results you actually need, and the real-world applications operators are already using to write marketing copy, build social media calendars, develop puzzle concepts and storylines, train staff, streamline booking communications, and manage the off-season workload.
Harris has led AI workshops and consulting engagements for over 100 organizations and brings a business-first approach to the topic. Whether you run a haunted house, escape room, seasonal attraction, or family entertainment center, the session is designed to send you home with immediately usable skills.
Paid Seminar Highlights
With over 30 paid seminars spanning haunted attractions, Christmas installations, interactive entertainment, and agritainment, there is far more education available than any single attendee can absorb in a weekend. Individual seminars run $55 each at the Early Bird rate (through March 20) and $65 after that. Here are some of the sessions drawing attention across different tracks:
Haunted Attraction Track
- “Terror Under the Open Sky: Crafting Multi-Element Outdoor Haunted Attractions” with Eddie McLaurin and the Woods of Terror team (Thursday 11:30 AM, Room 123). Planning, building, and executing immersive outdoor haunts using natural terrain.
- “Perfecting the Haunted Attraction Experience” with Ben Armstrong (Netherworld), TJ Mannarino (Universal Studios), and Chris Stafford (Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group) (Thursday 12:45 PM, Room 120). A roundtable on enhancing guest satisfaction from arrival through exit.
- “Keep ‘Em Screaming: Top Ways The Dent Schoolhouse Wows Returning Fans!” with Bud Stross (Thursday 2:00 PM, Room 123). Scare-focused strategies for keeping repeat customers jumping.
- “Visual Impact: Scenic Finish Tools and Techniques That Sell the Scene” with Teddy Summers of Outerworlds (Friday 12:45 PM, Room 127). Cost-effective methods for creating depth, texture, and realism.
- “Cast Director: The Most Important Job That No One Wants” with Allen Hopps, Dark Hour Haunted House (Saturday 10:15 AM, Room 123). Building and leading a strong cast program.
- “From Good to Unforgettable” with panelists from Thirteenth Floor, Demski Creations, and 13th Gate (Saturday 11:30 AM, Room 127). An interactive Q&A on the finishing touches that make haunts believable.
- “Year-Round Fear: Making a Living in Horror Beyond October” with Tim Dunne and the Fright Kingdom team (Saturday 3:15 PM, Room 127). Strategies for turning a seasonal haunt into a year-round revenue generator.
Interactive Entertainment Track
- “60 Secrets in 60 Minutes” with operators from Mystery Mansion, Durham Escape Room, and Extreme Escape (Thursday 10:15 AM, Room 131). Sixty actionable insights covering operations, design, guest experience, and revenue.
- “Projection Mapping for Interactive & Immersive Experiences” with Ross Arroyo, illumibot (Thursday 12:45 PM, Room 131). Designing dynamic content and integrating triggers for immersive storytelling.
- “REMIX: Marketing” with operators from Hour to Exit, Escape Games PDX, and Durham Escape Room (Thursday 2:00 PM, Room 131). Cutting through the noise with practical marketing strategies.
Pre-Show Tours (Wednesday, March 25)
Talon Falls Screampark Haunt Tour Bus: $215 | Self-Drive: $160 (prices increase $20 after March 19)
Buses depart America’s Center at 2:00 PM for Talon Falls Adventure Park in Melber, Kentucky, where attendees will experience 10 haunted mazes (including the all-new Blood Creek Haunted Hayride), a behind-the-scenes tour of the makeup and wardrobe production area, dinner at the General Store, and the Christmas in the Country light experience. Buses return around midnight. Sponsored by Saffire.
Experience STL: Interactive Entertainment Pre-Show Tour Bus: $190 | Self-Drive: $160 (prices increase $20 after March 19)
A curated full-day tour (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) designed for interactive entertainment professionals. The itinerary includes escape-style gameplay at St. Louis Escape, lunch and tactical activities at 18 North Central in O’Fallon, and a choice between immersive gameplay or a live Game Show experience at The Escape Game.
Combo: Experience STL + Talon Falls Self-Drive Only: $320 (prices increase $20 after March 19)
Join the first two stops of Experience STL in the morning, then self-drive to Talon Falls for the evening haunt tour.
Parties & After-Hours Events
City Museum Party | Thursday, 7:30 – 11:30 PM | $65 (before March 19) / $75 (after)
The always-popular private takeover of St. Louis’ City Museum returns. Your ticket includes one food item (choice of hot dog, pretzel, popcorn, nachos, chicken tenders, or pizza) and complimentary soda. Cash bars are spread across multiple floors, and DJ Psych Jam from Basement of the Dead provides music in the Architectural Hall. Tickets purchased after March 19 will not include a food ticket. Sponsored by FearWorm Hauntvertising and TicketLeap.
Bloodlines & Blackmail: A Night of Intrigue | Friday, 8:00 – 10:00 PM | $65 (before March 19) / $75 (after)
New for 2026. A Knives Out-style interactive murder mystery at the Hotel St. Louis Ballroom. Players investigate a murder, uncover crimes, and navigate social manipulation and layered reveals over approximately 90 minutes. Nacho station and cash bar included. Costumes encouraged (polished, upscale, “East Coastal” attire).
Santa’s Beach Bash | Friday, 8:30 PM – 12:00 AM | $60 (before March 19) / $75 (after)
The Christmas Show’s signature party at the Magnolia Hotel Ballroom. Tropical holiday theme with island-style bites, a slider station, summer games, and cool cocktails. Hawaiian shirts and beachwear encouraged.
Heaven & Hell Costume Ball | Saturday, 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM | $50 (before March 19) / $60 (after)
TransWorld’s signature Saturday night event at America’s Center Ballroom. The venue splits into angelic and demonic realms with music, dancing, appetizers, desserts, and cash bars. ProAiir/ShowOffs Body Art provides six makeup artists to help attendees achieve their vision. Come dressed as heaven or hell. Sponsored by Froggy’s Fog, TicketSpice, and ProAiir/ShowOffs Body Art. VIP Pass holders receive a ticket to this event.
The Darkness Haunted House Tours
The Darkness, one of the country’s most recognized haunted attractions, is located less than five minutes from the convention center and offers tours during show week. Note that these events are not affiliated with TransWorld Trade Shows and tickets are sold separately through darkness.fearticket.com.
- Thursday, 6:45 – 9:00 PM: Behind the Screams tour (lights-on, no actors). Limited to 275 guests. Photos and video allowed.
- Friday, 6:45 – 9:15 PM: The Darkness with live actors. Limited to 500 guests.
- Saturday, 6:45 – 9:15 PM: The final Darkness tour for TransWorld. This will be the last time The Darkness opens for the show, featuring a massive high-tech renovation.
Co-Located Shows
A single badge grants access to all three co-located shows at America’s Center:
TransWorld’s Christmas Show covers holiday lighting, decorations, and seasonal event production. A full track of Christmas-focused seminars runs Thursday through Saturday in the L.I.T.E. (Lighting Institute Technology Education) program, with sessions on permanent lighting installations, holiday projections, commercial light shows, and building six-figure seasonal businesses. The Christmas Installers at the Flamingo Bowl networking event runs Thursday evening ($75 before March 19, included with L.I.T.E. package purchases). More info at TWChristmasShow.com.
The Interactive Entertainment Show features exhibitors and seminars focused on escape rooms, axe throwing, VR, and other experience-based entertainment. More info at TWIEShow.com.
Important Details
- Prices increase on most events and seminars after March 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM CDT. Early Bird registration saves $10-$20 per item across the board.
- Seminar wristbands are picked up at the Seminars & Events Registration Counter during the show.
- Children: All children over age one require a paid attendee wristband. Children under 10 are not permitted in seminars. Children 10-15 must show proof of age. Children 16-18 need valid identification.
- No recording devices are permitted in any seminars.
- Photo ID is required for seminar packages and VIP passes.
Register Now
Registration is available online at haashow.com with options for General Admission, VIP, and VIP + Unlimited Seminars packages. Individual seminars, tours, and party tickets can be added after registering. With Early Bird pricing expiring March 19, now is the time to lock in your schedule and save across the board.
Whether you’re a first-time attendee mapping out your must-see booths, an operator loading up on education, or an industry veteran heading straight for the HAA Live Auction and the Moonlight Mingle, TransWorld’s 2026 show has more on offer than ever.
See you in St. Louis.
