Industry News
Conventions & Mixers
New dates for the Midwest Haunter Convention have been announced. MHC will now take place June 10th - 12th, 2022, one week later than originally planned. The Pre-Show Haunt Tour will take place Friday, June 10th, and the trade show floor will be open June 11th - 12th. In a February 19th website news update and social media post, Midwest Haunters Convention stated that the date change was "so as not to conflict with other major horror conventions taking place on the first weekend in June". Registration for this year's event will open on March 17th at TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show with discounted tickets available at the MHC Booth #2407.
TransWorld Live returns today, Monday, February 21st at 2:00 p.m. CST featuring Ken Alvey of Gore Galore and Doug Anderson of FrightProps. Both guests will take viewers on tours of their respective warehouses. Tune in live and comment for a chance to win prizes during the stream.
This Thursday, February 24th at 5:00 p.m. PST Fear Expo Haunt Master Classes will present "Vendor Spotlight with David Quinn from Monsters Alive". Learn more about Monsters Alive's offerings of custom haunt props, masks, decor, design, and more by tuning into the livestream available via Fear Expo's Facebook page.
Haunted Attraction Association
The Haunted Attraction Association is accepting vendor donations for the 2022 Annual HAA Auction at Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show. This annual auction is the HAA's biggest source of fundraising outside of member dues. The HAA has implemented a new Vendor Membership Program for donations. Vendors who donate a minimum of $350 in products or services can receive free or discounted annual memberships along with other benefits - including eblast inclusion, social media posts, video highlights in collaboration with the Haunted Attraction Network, and more. Full program details can be found on the donation submission form.
U.S. Haunts & Events
The San Francisco Dungeon, a popular tourist attraction at Fisherman's Warf in San Francisco, California, has permanently closed its doors. The attraction featured theatrical actors, special effects, stages, scenes, and rides all drawing inspiration from the history of the San Francisco Bay Area. The attraction's parent company, Merlin Entertainment, announced the closure on the attraction's website in a statement that read, "Like The Gold Rush of 1849 and a saloon brawl, all good things come to an end! The San Francisco Dungeon has told its last tales and is now permanently closed. But, be warned, like the ghosts of Alcatraz, our mischief may find new ways to haunt you." Merlin Entertainment's ten other Dungeon attractions across the U.K., Europe, and Asia continue to operate.
On Monday, February 28th Raven's Manor in Portland, Oregon will present "My Bloody Valentine - Till Death Do You Part", an interactive murder mystery. With the wife of a world-famous surgeon found dead, attendees will take on the roles of various suspects as they try to deduce which member of the group is the murderer. The 3-hour interactive experience will include a glass of Champagne, a specialty cocktail, and light appetizers. Tickets for the murder mystery are currently sold out. Visit Raven's Manor's website for updates and announcements regarding future events.
International Haunts & Events
Scarefest will return to Alton Towers select dates October 7th - 31st, 2022. This Halloween season marks the 15th year of the haunt event. Brave guests will once again be able to experience creepy scares and "spooktacular" fun with live entertainment, rides in the dark, and a brand-new scare maze. Details on the new maze's theme have not yet been released. While day passes are currently on sale for the theme park, scare maze tickets will be available in the coming months.
Job Listings
FearWorm has posted a job listing for a Service Representative. Interested individuals may e-mail their resumes to admin@fearworm.com to apply.
Retail / Vendors
Spirit Halloween raised more than $50,000 for the Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas with their annual fundraiser. Spirit has partnered with the hospital since 2010 and has donated nearly $200,000 to date. All local donations raised through the Halloween retailer's annual fundraiser stay in the Lubbock community. The hospital hopes to use the donation towards creating a child life specialist position for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and developing a program for a facility therapy dog.
Special effects makeup artist Bobby Wiener AKA Bloody Mary is gearing up for a busy TransWorld's Halloween & Attraction Show. In a recent interview with the Haunted Attraction Network, Bobby discussed her Saturday morning workshop, Haunted Attraction Association Auction donation, and the Bloody Mary Makeup Scholarship. "Bloody Mary's Wicked FX Wound & Burn 'How To' Workshop" is scheduled for Saturday, March 19th from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. In this free hands-on seminar attendees will receive a free makeup kit and learn the steps of creating realistic and gruesome burns and wounds. At the end of the class, attendees will vote for their favorite FX creations and the winner will be featured in the next issue of "The Tales of Bloody Mary" comic book. Bloody Mary is also a Haunted Attraction Association vendor member. This year Bobby has donated a $500 Bloody Mary gift certificate to the annual HAA Auction at TransWorld; the winning bidder will be able to visit the Bloody Mary booth (#530) and pick out up to $500 worth of products. In addition to the auction, for the second year in a row Bobby has partnered with the HAA to offer the "Bloody Mary Makeup Scholarship". "It’s expensive [to go to makeup school]," Bobby said in the interview, "When I went to makeup school - you know 29 years ago - it was a lot of money then, and today it’s crazy, and it’s a lot more competitive." Her scholarship is a way to support the next generation of talented makeup artists.
Jack o' Lantern Journey is a creator of family-friendly Halloween pumpkin-themed events. From photo ops to full-scale events, Jack o' Lantern Journey can create memorable fall-themed experiences for haunts, attractions, or businesses. In a recent interview with the Haunted Attraction Network, Owner & CEO Debbi Katz and Creative Director Bill Bywater discussed the process of working with their company - including the timeline of when to first reach out (ideally December or January), what types of displays are best close-up versus viewed at a distance, and the general lifespan of their foam pumpkin products. Jack o' Lantern Journey's next trade show will be TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show, where they will be located at booth 914.
Film & TV
Part One of the highly anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things is set to premiere on Netflix on May 27th with the second half of the season following on July 1st. The show's creators posted a letter to fans on their social media accounts with details regarding the upcoming release: "With nine scripts, over eight-hundred pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots, and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season, Stranger Things 4 was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding," Matt and Ross Duffer wrote. "...we are now hurtling towards our finale. Season 4 will be the penultimate season; season 5 will be the last." While the main series is ending, the brothers did hint that there were still further stories to tell in the Stranger Things universe, and with with books, comics, and a scripted podcast already released, there will still be plenty of ways for audiences to get their fix of the Upside Down.
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Follow our podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, iHeart Radio, using RSS, or by searching "Haunted Attraction Network" in any podcast player. We publish twice weekly year-round.
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Spring Haunt Events
St. Patrick's Day
Castle Blood (Monessen, PA) - March 18 - 19
Easter
All Saints Lunatic Asylum (Apple Valley, CA) - April 8 - 9
Want to add your haunt to our list? Simply reply to this e-mail with your haunt's information.
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Follow our podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, iHeart Radio, using RSS, or by searching "Haunted Attraction Network" in any podcast player. We publish twice weekly year-round.
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New Podcast Episodes
...Tearing Them Down
While Disney continues to build walls around experiences with ‘Storyliving by Disney,’ attractions across the world are tearing them down by inviting guests to engage in cultural festivals.
Watch on Youtube, Instagram, or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player.
Granite Aims to Streamline Insurance for Haunted Attractions
Insurance has been tricky for haunted attractions. Many places are unsure how to classify haunted attractions, and others don’t reward haunts for following safety practices. Granite Insurance is hoping to offer a solution for the industry.
Watch on Youtube, Instagram, or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player.
Midnight Syndicate: 25 Years of Dark Symphonic Soundtracks
2021 was one of the busiest years ever for Midnight Syndicate. Beyond releasing their new Bloodlines album, they also branched out by releasing videos and music from their live shows at Cedar Point. And let’s not forget the custom music they made for Universal Studios Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 30th. Coming up, we’ll learn more about each of these and the evolution of Midnight Syndicate over the past 25 years.
Watch on Youtube, Instagram, or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player.
My Deceased Valentine at Deceased Farm in Lexington South Carolina
My Deceased Valentine returns to Lexington South Carolina this weekend. As we mentioned yesterday- Valentine’s Day is over, but there are still haunts around the country open this weekend. Yesterday we shared a haunt that created an entirely different low-capacity event for Valentine's, but many haunts offer layovers instead. That’s the case with Deceased Farm. Deceased Farm in Lexington, South Carolina opened last weekend but will open again this weekend for their “My Deceased Valentine” event.
Watch on Youtube, Instagram, or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player.
My Zombie Valentine at Dark Castle in Elgin South Carolina
Valentine’s Day is over, but there are still haunts around the country celebrating spooky romance this coming holiday weekend. One of those haunts is Dark Castle in Elgin, South Carolina, and they have one of the most unique off-season experiences we’ve seen. Dark Castle’s My Bloody Valentine puts couples through a 2-hour zombie survival scenario.
Watch on Youtube, Instagram, or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player.
Haunted Attraction Industry News for Feb 15th
Read more here. Watch on Youtube, Instagram, or Facebook. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, or your favorite player.
Subscribe to the Haunted Attraction Network on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, or Podcast RSS.
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Upcoming Events: February - April 2022
March 17 - 20: Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show (St. Louis, Missouri)
April 30 - May 1: Spooky Swap Meet (Los Angeles, California)
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