We are just a couple of weekends away from the official kick-off of the annual haunting season with the arrival of Midsummer Scream, the world's largest annual Halloween and horror fan convention. This year's event returns to the Long Beach Convention Center on August 3-4 and includes several presentations that theme park fans will not want to miss.
Midsummer Scream this year celebrates the 1969 opening of the Haunted Mansion by welcoming Disney Legends Bob Gurr and Tony Baxter to "A Chilling Legacy: 50 Years of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion" on Saturday, August 3 at 12:30pm (all presentation times are tentative). They will be joined for this tribute to one of Disney's most enduring attractions by producer Don Hahn and Imagineer Tania Norris, who worked as an interior designer for New Orleans Square, creating the iconic Mansion wallpaper that's become a Disney merchandise staple.
Later that afternoon, at 5pm, John Murdy and Chris Williams will take the Grand Ballroom stage for their Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Presentation. John and Chris will review what's been announced for this year's event... and if past presentation are any guide, will reveal some new attractions from the upcoming event as well.
Then 24 hours later, on Sunday at 5pm, Knott’s Berry Farm will share its own sneak peek with its annual Scary Farm Presentation. Knott's Jeff Tucker will host the presentation, which will welcome Jon Cooke and Jon Asperin from the Knott's Scary Farm design team.
If you don't want to wait for scares, hit the Hall of Shadows, a dark zone themed this year to Tiki Terror and featuring more than a dozen haunted attractions and displays. The adjacent show floor will double in size this year, hosting more than 350 exhibitors offering everything home haunt creators and Halloween fans need for the season, from props to makeup to clothing and original artwork.
Midsummer Scream also includes dozens of other presentations and seminars, including DIY and how-to panels, as well as a 30th anniversary celebration of Tales From the Crypt and an all-new Halloweenland retrospective from Charles Phoenix.
Tickets for Midsummer Scream are on sale now, with one-day general admission selling for $33-38 and weekend general admission available for $55. A $95 Gold Bat pass gets you early admission to the hall, plus priority access to panels and presentations and admission to the Saturday night party.
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