Horror fans need not wait for Halloween to experience the thrills and frights of the spooky season.
Midsummer Scream, the Halloween and horror convention, returns on July 26-28 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Tickets for the event ($35-$145) go on sale Saturday, March 2, at midsummerscream.org with a special early purchase discount of 40% for general admission passes. Non-discounted VIP “Gold Bat” passes, which sell quickly, will also be available beginning Saturday.
This year’s convention theme is “A Haunting,” exploring real and fictional ghost stories and other paranormal activity. The theme will be woven in throughout the event and activities during the weekend. It will also be featured in official event art created by Suspiria Vilchez (aka Suspirialand) in panels, presentations and special experiences.
Midsummer Scream will also include presentations covering all of the season’s biggest news by the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group (creators of LA Haunted Hayride, Delusion, Shaqtoberfest and the Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns); Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest; Winchester Mystery House, and more.
Returning this year is Midsummer Scream’s Hall of Shadows — a 75,000 square feet of haunted attractions created by professional and home haunters with an entry experience created by Fear Farm. Other attractions include the “Pumpkin Patch” scare-free kids’ zone, the Black Cat Lounge, with kitten adoptions from Kitten Rescue, and the Screaming Room Film Festival, presented by HorrorBuzz.
An estimated 350 vendors will also be on-site to offer their wicked wares, including Trick or Treat Studios, the Halloween Shirt Company, Backstitch Bruja, Sin City Props and Froggy’s Fog.