There is no shortage of horror conventions, but one of the great thing about the convention circuit is that like film festivals, they each have their own unique flavor. Southern California's Midsummer Scream stands out as a convention geared not just toward horror fans but for Halloween fans in general.
One of the convention's highlights is the aptly dubbed “Hall of Shadows.” In addition to the convention floor, panels, vendors, and celebrity guests you'd expect to find at a horror convention, Midsummer lures guests into the fog where mini haunts await.
The Hall of Shadows can be found just off the main convention floor. The lights are off, the fog machines are cranked up to 11 and the screams are echoing. The area offers mini versions of walkthrough haunts, both from local independent haunts as well as experiences from large studios and haunts, offering a sneak peek of what's to come in October. The Hall of Shadows is a very cool addition to the mix and unlike anything I've experienced at any other conventions.
This year, the con is promising “the most ambitious collection of haunted attractions in Midsummer Scream’s history.” What does that entail!? Read on for an official breakdown from the press release:
Creating the entry portal experience this year is Eulogy Collective, Southern California’s only year-round haunted attraction. With each step deeper into the hall, guests will encounter vignettes and characters from its various seasonal overlays, each more twisted and macabre than the other.
Universal Horror Unleashed is bringing the heat from Las Vegas with a terrifying character encounter that marks the attraction’s blood-soaked debut at Midsummer Scream. Guests will get up-close-and-personal with some of the attraction’s most infamous icons.
Lionsgate Entertainment returns for their third year with an all-new walk-through attraction, inviting guests deep into the woods, where they’ll come face-to-face with an ancient evil.
• A visit to the Hawkins National Laboratory for some photographic fun provided by Rawl of the Dead
• A terrifying witch hunt through a cursed forest led by H&L’s Realm of Horror
• Kooky, spooky home haunt fun with the return of Clowns v Skeletons
• A shot of fear and a round of terror as guests explore a ramshackle Floridian distillery presented by Straite to Hale
• The eerie, hallowed grounds of a long-forgotten Celtic graveyard known as The Haunt With No Name… Yet
• The Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns Bar, serving up spooky libations for guests 21 and older, in the glow of dozens of grinning gourds, courtesy of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment
• A blood-sucking horde hidden away for generations within a dilapidated manor fromFear Farm
• Another go-around with your favorite soapy and sudsy monsters from The Haunted Carwash
• A totally tubular romp through an old movie theater showcasing some of the best horror flicks of the 1980s, presented by The Dreich Society
• A chilling exploration through whisper-filled halls of the Shadows Hollow Asylum, created by Realm of Shadow
• The continued twisted cinematic misadventures of Sid from Toy Story, from Monclova Media Group
• And an abandoned old morgue where forgotten souls refuse to decay in silence, from Black Casket Productions.
We were already counting down the days to Midsummer Scream, now our excitement is at an all time high. The official FANGORIA booth will be on the convention floor with issues, merch, and goodies on hand. And you can catch me screaming in the dark through the Hall of Shadows and seated for all the epic panels coming our way.
All passes for Midsummer Scream include admission to every attraction in the Hall of Shadows. Guests holding Gold Bat VIP credentials will enjoy priority access to most attractions in the Hall of Shadows, bypassing General Admission standby queues. Hall of Shadows will be open to guests all three days of Midsummer Scream — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 7 to August 9.
“I sound like a broken record every summer,” says Rick West, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Midsummer Scream. “But yet again, this year’s Hall of Shadows is absolutely the most intense and ambitious lineup of haunts and attractions we’ve ever assembled at Midsummer Scream. It’s so exciting to welcome the team from Universal Horror Unleashed — this is the first time we’ve hosted an attraction from Las Vegas; a very important bridge between the SoCal and Southern Nevada haunt communities. Of course, we’re also thrilled to have Lionsgate returning with a brand-new walk-through for fans to experience. Our friends at Eulogy Collective will set the tone for everyone’s descent into the darkness and fog-filled belly of the beast, where fans will find more than 15 unique attractions created by some of the most talented haunters anywhere in the world.”
We'll see you in Long Beach! Get your tickets for Midsummer Scream right here.
