Industry News
COVID's Impact
Shipping delays are causing issues for the Halloween industry supply chain. Retailers such as Spirit Halloween are seeing increased delays on products due to port closures and slow container processing times. These port delays due to issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have a ripple effect and are compounded by ground-shipping logistics once the items have arrived in the U.S. This results in items hitting store shelves sometimes much later than expected. Affected items include animatronics and fog machines. William George, analyst at Import Genius explained, "Spencer Gifts' import volume shows that they were preparing for an enormous Halloween season. August import volume was nearly the size of their 2017 season-high. But [with] the heavy reliance on LA/Long Beach and delays continuing to mount, Spencer's may be hard-pressed to keep shelves and online supplies stocked as we enter peak Halloween season." Despite the delays, Spencer's is optimistic about meeting its delivery windows. Michael Preston, Media Officer of Spencer Gifts, commented, "We are working closely with supply chain partners and our logistics and operations teams across the country to explore every available option in order to expedite shipments and provide our fans the full range of Halloween items they come to expect — at no additional cost to customers."
The City of West Hollywood, California has once again cancelled their annual Halloween Carnival due to COVID-19 concerns. “At this time, the city of West Hollywood remains in a declared local emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic and is focused on efforts to protect public health and safety,” the city said in a news release. Last year the city warned it would issue a curfew for Halloween night if large crowds still descended upon the city despite the cancellation. The Halloween Carnival began in 1987 and since grew to attract tens of thousands of revelers in elaborate costumes each year.
The Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri has cancelled its annual Scare-It Halloween event for the second year in a row due to COVID-19 safety concerns. For 27 years Scarritt has partnered with Kansas City Parks and recreation, the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF), and the Kansas City Museum to host a car-free evening of trick-or-treating, food trucks, performances, and more down one of the city's historic streets. In lieu of the event this year, the association will host virtual fundraising for next year's event. They hope to raise $5,000.
Sexual Harassment Headlines & Training Resources
33-year-old haunt actor Shawn Derrick Green has been charged with three counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of dealing in harmful material to a minor. According to charging documents, Green worked with the 14-year old girl at a haunted house in Draper, Utah last fall. Green allegedly sent the teen inappropriate photos and inappropriately touched the girl. In a later interview, Green admitted to inappropriately touching the girl, calling it a “lapse in judgment,” as written in the report.
Stories like the one above highlight just how important sexual harassment training is for haunted attractions to help protect staff and help prevent these situations from occurring. This week the Haunted Attraction Association released a Sexual Harassment Training Video as part of their education series. While the free video can be viewed by anyone, HAA members have access to a 40-page staff/employee/volunteer handbook which includes a multi-page sexual harassment policy to support this content. The video can also count towards 1 hour of online C.H.A.O.S. (Certified Haunted Attraction Operator Safety) recertification credit.
U.S. Haunts & Events
Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia celebrates a milestone anniversary this year with Halloween Haunt 20 Years of Fear. New for 2021 is the dark fairytale-themed maze, Grimm Woods, the zombie-infested Uprising scare zone, four shows, and an opening "scaremony" featuring the iconic Majesty herself. The event runs select nights from September 25th - October 31st.
The Rainforest Car Wash is bringing back its popular Haunted Car Wash for its third year. While last year the event ran at the franchise's Medina location, for 2021 the event is slated to take place at the Avon, Ohio Rainforest Car Wash. Due to high demand last year, this year the event is switching to pre-sale tickets only. Running only two weekends in October, Oct. 15th - 17th and 22nd - 24th, tickets are expected to sell out quickly once they go on sale in the coming weeks.
A new immersive horror experience is coming to Garrison, New York this Halloween season. The team behind Nightmare Haunted House in NYC will present The Dark House a 45-minute experience adapted from W.W. Jacob's short story, The Toll House. Groups of 4 will explore a haunted house while blindfolded and wearing audio headsets. All senses except sight will be used - including a vegan-friendly "taste" experience. For health & safety only vaccinated individuals or those with proof of a same-day negative COVID test will be permitted to enter. Masks must be worn at all times and groups will be spaced five minutes apart to limit capacity. All performers will be fully vaccinated and wearing masks. The event will run Wednesdays through Sundays starting Thursday, October 7th - Sunday, October 31st. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased online in advance.
The Dalton Massachusetts' Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously denied a special permit request for the Purgatory Road haunted corn maze. Operating as a fundraiser for local charities for over eight years in its previous location, the event did not operate in 2020 and for 2021 the owners sought a new location at Berkshire Money Management. Neighbors and community members voiced opposition to the relocation to this A-1 zoned property - citing concerns about traffic, decreased property values, and attracting "gangs" and "strangers from other towns". As of September 1st, no discussions of an alternative location have been made public.
After having closed last year due to the pandemic, The Nevermore Haunt in Baltimore, Maryland returns Friday, October 1st for its 5th season. This year's event promises to be 50% longer than before with a new expansive cemetery scene and giant creature puppet. Returning for this year is the free sideshow entertainment as well as their bar and various food vendors. Organizers expect similar attendance numbers to their 2019 season. The event runs for 14 nights in October. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door.
13th Floor Haunted House in San Antonio, Texas announced 2 new mazes for their 2021 season: The Dollmaker and Bad Blood. In addition to these haunts, guests can purchase tickets for Class Axe Throwing and Great Escape Room experiences, and visit Bar 13 for spooky drinks. The event runs select nights September 17th - November 6th. Tickets are on sale now.
Dark Harvest Haunted Attraction will be sprouting up in Chico, California this Halloween season. The team behind independent haunts The Fleshyard and Perdition Home have collaborated with Frosty's Forest and Pumpkin Patch to create this 1+ acre haunted corn maze, zombie paintball attraction, scare zone, and more. The event will also feature carnival rides, inflatables, food vendors, a petting zoo, sunflower patch, and pumpkins. Dark Harvest is open select nights September 30th - October 31st. Tickets will be available on site.
The Georgia Renaissance Festival organizers have teamed up with the creatives behind 13 Stories Haunted House to transform the festival grounds into The Village for a new outdoor haunted experience open Fridays - Sundays in October. In addition to the haunt, there will be a courtyard area with games, snacks, and beverages available for purchase. Tickets are on sale now for $15-$30 per person.
The creators of Beware the Dark Realm are celebrating 50 years of haunting this upcoming season, creating unique haunted horrors ina dn around the Los Angeles area since 1971. Beware the Dark Realm is a free high-intensity walkthrough attraction filled with scareactors, special effects and medieval castle-themed sets. The haunt raises funds for the local non-profit Family Promise SCV. Guests who donate $10 or more will receive a front of the line pass. The haunt operates 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. October 15th - 16th, 22nd - 23rd, and 29th - 31st.
Shopping & Retail
Why should humans have all the Halloween fun? PetSmart has launched their 2021 line of Halloween costumes & accessories for pets. The new line includes costumes, toys, and treats for dogs, cats, guinea pigs, reptiles, and even fish. Horror lovers can dress their pet as Dracula, Frankenstein, or a Scary Clown. Cute and classic looks include cowboys, bumblebees, or bananas. Want your cat to look like a hot dog? PetSmart has you covered. Licensed costumes include Darth Vader, Dory & Nemo, Deadpool, and Wonder Woman. Even fish can join the festivities with pumpkin aquarium decorations.
Everyone knows Black Friday and Cyber Monday as the start of the Christmas shopping season. HalloweenCostumes.com and their sister site Fun.com want to kick off the Halloween shopping season for the masses by declaring the Tuesday after labor day "Orange Tuesday". September 7th, they will offer 20% off sitewide on all purchases - including sale and clearance items (but excluding pre-order products). Like many other companies this year, HalloweenCostumes.com and Fun.com have already seen strong sales in 2021. Tom Fallenstein, CEO of Fun.com commented, “Our sales are already trending up this year, and our products are selling fast."
Halloween Treats
What candy will you be handing out this year? In a recent press release, the National Confectioners Association revealed Americans' favorite treats for the 2021 Halloween season. 60% of Americans preferred Chocolate candy over non-chocolate candy. Gummy Candy was the second most-craved candy on the list with classic Candy Corn coming in third place. The research also showed some heated debate over the proper way to eat candy corn - with 52% of respondents eating the whole piece at once, 31% starting (correctly) at the narrow white end, and 17% starting at the wider yellow end. Additional findings include that 82% of people plan to celebrate Halloween this year and 79% plan to fill a Halloween candy bowl.
In celebration of Day of the Dead, Pop-Tarts is releasing a limited edition Día de Muertos box featuring nine festive pastry designs atop the Frosted Chocolately Churro flavor Pop-Tarts. Iconic imagery from the holiday will be featured on the frosting, including designs based on Papel Picado (tissue paper decorative crafts), Calaveras de Azúcar (sugar skulls), Flor de Cempasúchil (marigold flowers), Veladora (the Mexican religious candle), and Alebrijes (brightly colored Mexican folk sculptures). Pop-Tarts is partnering with the National Association of Latino Art and Cultures (NALAC) as part of this celebration and will provide grants to four Latinx arts organizations in Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, and Houston. “Día de Muertos is an indigenous practice of remembrance in communities across the Americas that many hold incredibly dear. This living tradition has inspired artists, communities and cultures for thousands of years,” explains María López de León, President and CEO of NALAC. “We are pleased that Pop-Tarts is engaged in helping us enrich knowledge to fuel understanding, creativity and passion.” To learn more about NALAC and its continued efforts to stabilize and revitalize the U.S. Latino arts and cultural community, visit https://www.nalac.org.
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Upcoming Events: September - November 2021
September 12: Creep It Real OC Expo (Santa Ana, California)
October 8 - 10: Son of Monsterpalooza (Burbank, California)
November 16 - 19: IAAPA Expo (Orlando, Florida)
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Hauntathon 2021
Day 1: Haunted Attraction Industry News for Sept 1st
A roundup of industry news plus a memorial for Steve Koci.
Watch on Youtube, Facebook, or IGTV. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player
Day 2: Haunt Hacks: Use a Brick Stamp for those Pesky Patterns
Are you struggling to paint that pesky brick pattern? Today’s haunt hack is for you.
Watch on Youtube or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player
Day 3: Fear Factory Salt Lake City has a New Season Pass for Their 10th Season
The Fear Factory in Salt Lake City is celebrating its 10th season and beyond remodeling, they’ve added a season pass ticket option. Spencer Terry is the General Manager and President of the HAA; Spencer’s team was the first haunted house to reopen after the start of the pandemic and they’ve helped countless haunts around the world with their reopening plans.
Watch on Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player
Day 4: Three Haunting Poems
Three haunting poems from whispers of a witch: The Amber Witch, The Haunted Oak, and The Two Witches.
Watch on Facebook, IGTV, or Youtube. Listen on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite player.
Day 5: Reviewer Pet Peeves: Costuming & Makeup
Have you ever wondered what drives haunt reviewers crazy? On today’s show, reviewers from The Scare Factor discuss their haunt pet peeves! While these pet peeves are simple fixes, they’re easy to lose track of.
Watch on Facebook, IGTV, or Youtube. Listen on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite player.
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