September 30, 2025 • 19 mins
The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA) has certified 67 haunted attractions nationwide as 2025 Top Haunts - a record year. Since its inception, the Top Haunts program has been the benchmark for professionalism and safety in the haunted attraction industry.
Also this week: Halloween & Costume Association Highlights How Adults Embrace the Spooky Season; IAAPA Brass Ring Awards Deadline is October 10th; Scooby-Doo x Universal Monsters Mash-Up; "Krampus & Kin" Comes to Universal Horror Unleashed; "People in the Dark: An Immersive Ghost Story"; "Winne-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" Haunted House Comes to UK; Canada's Wonderland Adds New Chaperone, Costume, and Bag Policies; Midnight Syndicate Releases "Darkened Corners" Rare Tracks EP; "LVCRFT Kids" Releases on October 1st; Customers Frustrated Over Lack of Accountability for The Scarefactory; Read more here.
Also this week: Halloween & Costume Association Highlights How Adults Embrace the Spooky Season; IAAPA Brass Ring Awards Deadline is October 10th; Scooby-Doo x Universal Monsters Mash-Up; "Krampus & Kin" Comes to Universal Horror Unleashed; "People in the Dark: An Immersive Ghost Story"; "Winne-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" Haunted House Comes to UK; Canada's Wonderland Adds New Chaperone, Costume, and Bag Policies; Midnight Syndicate Releases "Darkened Corners" Rare Tracks EP; "LVCRFT Kids" Releases on October 1st; Customers Frustrated Over Lack of Accountability for The Scarefactory; Read more here.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the
haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the
HN Show. We bring you the hant news, information and
education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we
bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read
(00:28):
more about these stories and so much more in our
free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes,
and as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it
off to Darryl.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
The Halloween Attraction Association AHAA has certified sixty seven haunted
attractions nationwide as twenty twenty five Top pnts. Since its inception,
the Top PUNTS program has been a benchmark for professionalism
and safety in a haunted attraction industry. For twenty twenty five,
the AHAA broadened the program to include an Iconic tier
(00:59):
to include an Iconic or Platinum tier with ten years
or more in operation and ten thousand or more annual guests,
the Gold Tier five years in operation and five thousand
or more annual guests, and Silver Tier two years in
operation and three thousand or more annual guests. Being named
a Top Haunt as one of the highest honors in
(01:20):
our industry, said Jim Werner, president of the Haunted Attraction Association.
The new Gold and Silver categories allow us to recognize
more attractions that are doing incredible work while upholding our
shared values. Every certified top punt, regardless of tier, meets
a set of rigorous requirements that go beyond entertainment value,
including active HAA membership and operation as a commercial Haunted attraction,
(01:44):
proof of at least one million dollars in general liability insurance,
completion of the Chaos Safety Program, registration and inspection by
state and local authorities, staff training with employee handbooks and
documented emergency programs, and a commitment to reinvestment, professional conduct
and raising industry standards. This year's honorees include fifty three
(02:05):
Iconic or Platinum attractions, seven Gold attractions, and seven Silver attractions.
Follow the links in our show notes to view the
full list of honorees. Halloween in Costume Association highlights how
adults embrace the spooky season. The Halloween in Costume Association
HCA released new data from Prosper Insights and Analytics showing
(02:25):
that Helloween continues to engage adults in a study of
eight thousand individuals aged eighteen and over. Thirty three hundred
and seven adults indicate they enjoy and participate in celebrating Helloween.
Key findings include fifty one percent of adults who celebrate
Halloween plan to dress in costume this year, with thirty
two percent dressing their pets in costume. Millennials thirty nine
(02:47):
and a half percent and gen Z twenty six point
seven percent are most likely to dress in a costume.
Forty six percent of adult Helloween costume wears plan to
throw or attend to Halloween party well fifty four percent
plan to decorate their homes or yards. Halloween shopping starts early.
Forty five percent of these adults who dress up began
purchasing costumes in September, and thirty six percent shop during
(03:10):
the first two weeks of October. These fun loving adults
spend an average of sixty dollars and thirty cents on costumes,
fifty dollars and fifty five cents on decorations, and thirty
nine dollars and fifty five cents on candy. This data
shows that Helloween is a holiday that brings out the
creativity in community spirit of adults, not just children, said
Michelle Boilstein, HTA's executive director. From dressing up and decorating
(03:33):
to attending parties and celebrating with pets, adults are embracing
every aspect of Halloween. The steady increase in participation since
twenty twenty shows that Helloween is stronger than ever. Scooby
Doo in Universal Monsters mashup comes to fan Fest Nights
twenty twenty six. Scooby Doo will face the Universal Classic
Monsters for a new attraction at Universal fan Fest Nights
(03:54):
twenty twenty six in Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California.
In a September over twenty sixth announcement, Universal described the
New Mystery Incorporated experience as an innovative mashup of Scooby
Doo and Universal Monsters that will take guests into Universal's
iconic backlot. The park has not yet announced which of
the iconic Universal monsters will make an appearance. The studio's
(04:16):
classic monsters include Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein's Monster, the Bride
of Frankenstein, and the Mummy, among others. The announcement is
the first of a slate of all new and returning
adventurers for Fan Fast Night twenty twenty six. The debut
of our second annual Universal Fan Fest Night event is
just months away, and Universal Studios Hollywood is knee deep
(04:37):
in its development, fine tuning the very details that we
know make a difference for fans, said Scott Strobel, Executive
VP and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood. We are
passionate about creating a top notch fan event for our
guests and can't wait to share how incredible Year two
will be. Fan Fast Nights and After Hours HHN meets
(04:57):
Comic Con event brings fandoms to life through exclusive immersive activation.
This year's inaugural event feature a Back to the Future
live theater experience on the historic backlot sets, a Yoshi
scavenger hunt and Superintendo World encounters with magical creatures in
the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and a walk through
Dungeons and Dragon's Experience. Pre sale tickets for fanvest Nights
(05:20):
are on sale now through December seventeenth. Prices start at
seventy four dollars. Six flags questions, Iappi Europe and Lego's acquisition.
On this week's episode of The Green tagged podcast. Philip
and Scott respond to comments from last week's show regarding
six Flags. Scott recaps his visit to Iappa Expo Europe.
Lego invests two hundred million pounds in the acquisition of
(05:42):
Lego Discovery Centers from Merlin, and a new immersive art
venue at Las nine opens in Kansas City, Kansas. Crampis
and Kin come to Universal Horror Unleash this holiday season.
Experience the darker side of winter folklore with the all
new Crampis and Kin and immersive holiday experience coming to
Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, Nevada, November fifteenth through
(06:06):
January three, Brave guests will encounter yell born horrors, capture
eerie photo ops, and indulge in seasonal food and drinks
inspired by the monstrous myths of dark Yule. Pose with
Crampis on his twisted throne, step into Greila's cauldron, or
stand beneath the cursed canopy of the Cali Cansonois rotting tree.
Witness a grand processional that will fill the abandoned warehouse
(06:28):
as creatures and their unearthly followers parade through, leaving behind
tokens of their legend. Throughout the new Sinister Holiday experience,
regional storytellers will bring the folklore to life and share
the eerie in fascinating origins of each creature as guests listen.
They'll also have to indulge in flavors rooted in centuries
of winter folklore, including a campus themed desert snow globe,
(06:51):
Griila's char grilled suvlacikos, and more. We are excited to
bring these creatures of the dark ele to life at
Universal Horror Unleashed, said Kim Scott, general Manager. Whether guests
are braving the experience as part of their Las Vegas
itinerary or booking an ultimate Las Vegas holiday party, this
limited time experience offers a unique blend of folklore, food
(07:12):
and fright, making it the perfect holiday experience for those
who crave something new this holiday season. Tickets for Universal
Horror Unleish drare on sale now, starting at sixty nine
dollars for one time access general admission and ninety nine
dollars for unlimited access general admission. Drowned Out Productions presents
people in the Dark and immersive ghost story Discover the
(07:34):
horrors of Old Hollywood with Drowned Out Production's newest experience,
People in the Dark and Immersive Ghost Story in Los Angeles, California.
Join the Lost Legends Ghost Tours as they uncover the
forgotten stories of LA's Gilded Age. However, one of the
stops takes the group off course as the horrors of
Hollywood Haunter group face to face. Rooted in premiere elements
(07:56):
of immersive theater and traditional haunted houses, this is a
ghost story like no other. This show is a huge
step up from anything we've done before, says director and
owner Jack Mancuso. This show incorporates every tip and trick
we know to create a compelling cinematic horror experience. Most
of our team has day jobs working as theme park designers.
This is our chance to step out and create our
(08:18):
own little love letter to all things horror and immersive.
People in the Dark will run October tenth through thirty
first in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale now
for sixty six dollars and sixty cents per person. That's
only six hundred and sixty six dimes. Source Filter Music
Collective returns with operatic double feature Big Deaths and Alice Riley.
(08:40):
Source Filter Music collective. The Women Led Arts Collective, reimagining
opera and classical music, returns to the Heritage Square Museum
in Los Angeles, California, November seventh through ninth with a
chilling double feature. The night opens with Big Deaths, a
haunted House style tour of operatic murder scenes. In small
group guests will wander through the museum's Victorian homes, encountering
(09:03):
iconic operatic death In each room, expect scenes from Carmen,
The Creans of Borgia, Rusalka, The Turn of the Screw,
and more. Afterwards, grab a drink at concessions and join
a dance party in the lawn before stepping into the
museum's eerie Lincoln Avenue Church for the West Coast debut
of Michael Ching's chilling ghost story Alice Riley. Based on
(09:26):
a haunting me true story, the opera recounts the final
days of Alice Riley, an Irish immigrant and indentured servant
in eighteenth century colonial America, condemned as the first woman
hanged for murder in what would become the United States.
Our ghost is still said to wander Savannahs Town Square
to this day. We are absolutely thrilled to guide these
(09:47):
projects forward with the support of our incredible collective of artists,
said Britis Sterling, founding artistic director. We hope to create
a place of belonging for local performers and to foster
across disciplinary artistic community with works that challenge and excite audiences.
The performances last approximately two hours with intermission. Halloween costumes
(10:08):
are strongly encouraged. Tickets are on sale now starting from
twenty to forty five dollars. Zombie five K benefits Hope
Services at Cruise Lake Wilderness Park. Run from the undead
and reach into you a heart with Run for Hope
and Your Life Zombie five K. This family fund zombie
run benefiting Hope Services takes place on Saturday, October twenty
(10:29):
fifth at Cruise Lake Wilderness Park in spring Hill, Florida.
Our Zombie five K is more than just a thrilling
run for your Life. It's a race that brings our
community together to change lives. Every step helps raise money
in our scholarship fund, opening doors to vocational training and
employment opportunities for those who need it the most. At
Hope Services, Executive director of Operations David Caldas, The event
(10:52):
features a five k and one k walk run, plus
a community vendor fair, all designed to promote inclusion and
raise funds for life saving vocational programs with a spooky twist.
Zombie themed costumes are encouraged. All proceeds benefit Hope Services
Life Skill and Vocational Training Center, a nonprofit dedicated to
vocational training and job writiness for individuals living with disabilities
(11:16):
and those struggling in West central Florida communities. Register or
become a sponsor in the event's official website. Winnie the Pooh,
Blood and Honey Haunted House Comes to Halloween Hotfest. A
brand new scare maze based on the viral horror films
Winnie the Pooh, Blood and Honey and Blood and Honey
two is coming to Halloween Hontfest in Saint Albans, UK
(11:36):
from October seventeenth through November. First, follow Christopher Robin as
he returns to the Hundred Acre Wood, only to find
that time and abandonment has twisted his childhood friends into
something fairal and vengeful. The maze plunges visitors into a
decaying forest filled with long forgotten memories turned monstrous, with
face to face encounters with bloodthirsty versions of Pooh, Piglet
(11:57):
and more. Organizers warn this isn't the storybook nding you remember,
and you're not getting out unscathed. This maze joins three others,
the UK's only officially licensed Texas Chainsaw Massacre scare Mays,
and two original concepts, Eden and The Trial of Jane Wenham,
The Herfordshire Witch. Created by a team of award winning designers,
I mean to deliver movie quality horror in a full
(12:19):
scale festival format. Halloween Hauntfest features four scare mases, roaming performers,
Sinister Street Theater, a carnival style phantom funfair, and a
DJ powered dance floor. Guests can enjoy themed street food
and drinks from a haunted bar, warm up at fire pits,
and pose for haunted snapshots at secret photo points. Tickets
are on sale now starting at thirty nine pound fifty,
(12:42):
which is approximately fifty US dollars. Canada's Wonderland adds new chaperone,
costume and bag policies. Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Canada, is
implementing new safety policies for their Halloween Haunts season. The
park will now require anyone age fifteen or under to
be accompanied by an adult. Chaperones must be twenty one
or older, provide id at the entrance, and can accompany
(13:06):
a maximum of ten people. Anyone over the age of
sixteen visiting Halloween Haunt after six pm must bring a
piece of identification. Grace Peacock, director of public Relations at
Canada's Wonderland, that the policy looks to minimize the risk
of disruption and bad behavior. We've looked at what's taking
place not only at amusement parks but also other entertainment venues,
(13:26):
and because this is a sort of rolling out as
a best practice, we wanted to try that here as well,
she said. The new policies also prohibit anyone over the
age of eleven from wearing a costumer mask while visiting
the park, and limits guests to one bag no larger
than twelve by twelve by six inches, regardless of material,
whether that's clear or opaque. These policies are similar to
(13:48):
those implemented at not Scary Farm and other property owned
by the park's parent company Six Flags. The i APPA
Brass Ring Awards deadline as October ten, The application deadline
for the IAPPA Brass Ring Awards is fast approaching on
October tenth. Those awards honor the creativity, innovation, and dedication
that set new standards in the global attraction community. The
(14:11):
Haunted Attraction Network's own Philipernandez will be a judge for
the Live Entertainment Awards category. Live Entertainment Excellence categories include
Most Creative Helloween Production. This category honors excellence and innovation
in a production that features exceptional entertainment value with a
Haunt or Helloween theme, including haunted houses, mazes, atmospheric and
(14:32):
interactive entertainment, stage shows, haunting grounds, and more. Performances will
be judged on characterization, physical appearance that supports the performance,
creative show content, overall production value, and audience engagement. Brass
Ring Award Excellence program products and campaigns must have been
created or were active within the IAPPA member facility between
(14:56):
November one, twenty twenty four, and October thirty first. Twenty
fi five finalists and winners will be celebrated AAPPA Honors
May twelfth, fourteenth, twenty twenty six in x Care, Mexico.
To make your application for consideration by following the links
in our show notes. Midnight Syndicate Releases, Darkened Corners, Rare
(15:17):
Tracks EP. Gothic horror instrumentalists Midnight Syndicate have released Darkened
Corners and EP, compiling previously unreleased and rare material spanning
two decades. The EP features music originally composed for amusement
and theme park, selections from the band's live shows, and
unreleased tracks from film projects that never reached completion. It
(15:37):
also includes a remix from the score to the band's
twenty ten horror film The Dead Matter. Album artwork is
created by French artist Pascal Cassillari. We wanted to share
this material and make it more available for a while now,
the band said in a statement. It gives fans a
glimpse into some of the projects we've undertaken when not
working on studio albums. Darkened Corners is available for screaming
(16:00):
and purchase. Lovecraft Kids releases on October first. Get ready
for Halloween hits for the whole family with the October
first release of Lovecraft Kids. Lovecraft's seventh album features family
friendly fun from spoopy dance party bops to how Sweet Lullabies,
and even includes Halloween puppet personality Bury under Your Bed.
(16:24):
You can pre save the album now wherever you listen
to music. Lovecraft is a sinister spawn of spooky obsessed
hit makers. Evan Kidd, Bogart, Amanda minder Warner, and Peter
Wade united to create a year round supply of hook filled,
creepy pop bops that will keep your bones tapping well
beyond helloween. Learn more about Lovecraft on their official website.
(16:49):
In business news, customers are frustrated over the lack of
accountability for the Scare Factory. NBC four of Columbus, Ohio
has once again investigated complaints from customers of the Scare Factory.
For the past three years, the news agency has interviewed
customers who claimed they were ghosted by the Scare Factory
after submitting payment for orders, and this year is no different.
(17:11):
Business' NBC four investigates spoke with say once the money
was sent, communications stop and orders don't show up. One
such customer, Sabrina Herrera, from a Texas restaurant, has waited
a year to finally receive an almost eight thousand dollars refund,
but only after several reports from NBC Investigates and her
taking legal action, moving to file a felony charge with
(17:34):
all the customer's complaints. NBC four Investigates contacted the Ohio
Attorney General to understand why the agency has been enabled
to help these business customers of the Scare Factory. The
Ohio Attorney General's Office responded stating that business to business
complaints are not within the agency's purview. A spokesperson stated,
in some case, we can offer assistance as a courtesy,
(17:56):
but our legal options for business to business complaints are
limited to the Consumer Sales Practices Act. The Ohio Revised
Code defines a consumer transaction as a sale to an
individual for primary, personal, family, or household uses. Therefore, despite
the mounting number of complaints and court cases against the
owner of the Scare Factory, the Ohio Attorney General's Office
(18:19):
cannot take further action. While the owner of the Scare
Factory declined to be interviewed for this recent article, when
NBC four has spoken to him in the past, he
claims that he always delivers orders. Some upcoming events this
September through November include the Son of Monster Palooza October
tenth through twelfth at Burbank, California, IAPPA November seventeenth through twentieth,
(18:41):
and Orlando Florida and Creep at Real Festive November twenty
first through twenty third in Santa Ana, California.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode
was produced by me Philip Bernandez, with reporting by Daryl
Plunky post production by David Swope. This hot news update
is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network and you
can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Hantattractionnetwork dot com.
Support for this episode comes from Gantam Lighting and Controls.
(19:09):
Until next time, Haunters Stay Scary. This is a Haunted
Attraction Network production.
Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the
haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the
HN Show. We bring you the hant news, information and
education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we
bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read
(00:28):
more about these stories and so much more in our
free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes,
and as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it
off to Darryl.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
The Halloween Attraction Association AHAA has certified sixty seven haunted
attractions nationwide as twenty twenty five Top pnts. Since its inception,
the Top PUNTS program has been a benchmark for professionalism
and safety in a haunted attraction industry. For twenty twenty five,
the AHAA broadened the program to include an Iconic tier
(00:59):
to include an Iconic or Platinum tier with ten years
or more in operation and ten thousand or more annual guests,
the Gold Tier five years in operation and five thousand
or more annual guests, and Silver Tier two years in
operation and three thousand or more annual guests. Being named
a Top Haunt as one of the highest honors in
(01:20):
our industry, said Jim Werner, president of the Haunted Attraction Association.
The new Gold and Silver categories allow us to recognize
more attractions that are doing incredible work while upholding our
shared values. Every certified top punt, regardless of tier, meets
a set of rigorous requirements that go beyond entertainment value,
including active HAA membership and operation as a commercial Haunted attraction,
(01:44):
proof of at least one million dollars in general liability insurance,
completion of the Chaos Safety Program, registration and inspection by
state and local authorities, staff training with employee handbooks and
documented emergency programs, and a commitment to reinvestment, professional conduct
and raising industry standards. This year's honorees include fifty three
(02:05):
Iconic or Platinum attractions, seven Gold attractions, and seven Silver attractions.
Follow the links in our show notes to view the
full list of honorees. Halloween in Costume Association highlights how
adults embrace the spooky season. The Halloween in Costume Association
HCA released new data from Prosper Insights and Analytics showing
(02:25):
that Helloween continues to engage adults in a study of
eight thousand individuals aged eighteen and over. Thirty three hundred
and seven adults indicate they enjoy and participate in celebrating Helloween.
Key findings include fifty one percent of adults who celebrate
Halloween plan to dress in costume this year, with thirty
two percent dressing their pets in costume. Millennials thirty nine
(02:47):
and a half percent and gen Z twenty six point
seven percent are most likely to dress in a costume.
Forty six percent of adult Helloween costume wears plan to
throw or attend to Halloween party well fifty four percent
plan to decorate their homes or yards. Halloween shopping starts early.
Forty five percent of these adults who dress up began
purchasing costumes in September, and thirty six percent shop during
(03:10):
the first two weeks of October. These fun loving adults
spend an average of sixty dollars and thirty cents on costumes,
fifty dollars and fifty five cents on decorations, and thirty
nine dollars and fifty five cents on candy. This data
shows that Helloween is a holiday that brings out the
creativity in community spirit of adults, not just children, said
Michelle Boilstein, HTA's executive director. From dressing up and decorating
(03:33):
to attending parties and celebrating with pets, adults are embracing
every aspect of Halloween. The steady increase in participation since
twenty twenty shows that Helloween is stronger than ever. Scooby
Doo in Universal Monsters mashup comes to fan Fest Nights
twenty twenty six. Scooby Doo will face the Universal Classic
Monsters for a new attraction at Universal fan Fest Nights
(03:54):
twenty twenty six in Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California.
In a September over twenty sixth announcement, Universal described the
New Mystery Incorporated experience as an innovative mashup of Scooby
Doo and Universal Monsters that will take guests into Universal's
iconic backlot. The park has not yet announced which of
the iconic Universal monsters will make an appearance. The studio's
(04:16):
classic monsters include Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein's Monster, the Bride
of Frankenstein, and the Mummy, among others. The announcement is
the first of a slate of all new and returning
adventurers for Fan Fast Night twenty twenty six. The debut
of our second annual Universal Fan Fest Night event is
just months away, and Universal Studios Hollywood is knee deep
(04:37):
in its development, fine tuning the very details that we
know make a difference for fans, said Scott Strobel, Executive
VP and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood. We are
passionate about creating a top notch fan event for our
guests and can't wait to share how incredible Year two
will be. Fan Fast Nights and After Hours HHN meets
(04:57):
Comic Con event brings fandoms to life through exclusive immersive activation.
This year's inaugural event feature a Back to the Future
live theater experience on the historic backlot sets, a Yoshi
scavenger hunt and Superintendo World encounters with magical creatures in
the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and a walk through
Dungeons and Dragon's Experience. Pre sale tickets for fanvest Nights
(05:20):
are on sale now through December seventeenth. Prices start at
seventy four dollars. Six flags questions, Iappi Europe and Lego's acquisition.
On this week's episode of The Green tagged podcast. Philip
and Scott respond to comments from last week's show regarding
six Flags. Scott recaps his visit to Iappa Expo Europe.
Lego invests two hundred million pounds in the acquisition of
(05:42):
Lego Discovery Centers from Merlin, and a new immersive art
venue at Las nine opens in Kansas City, Kansas. Crampis
and Kin come to Universal Horror Unleash this holiday season.
Experience the darker side of winter folklore with the all
new Crampis and Kin and immersive holiday experience coming to
Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, Nevada, November fifteenth through
(06:06):
January three, Brave guests will encounter yell born horrors, capture
eerie photo ops, and indulge in seasonal food and drinks
inspired by the monstrous myths of dark Yule. Pose with
Crampis on his twisted throne, step into Greila's cauldron, or
stand beneath the cursed canopy of the Cali Cansonois rotting tree.
Witness a grand processional that will fill the abandoned warehouse
(06:28):
as creatures and their unearthly followers parade through, leaving behind
tokens of their legend. Throughout the new Sinister Holiday experience,
regional storytellers will bring the folklore to life and share
the eerie in fascinating origins of each creature as guests listen.
They'll also have to indulge in flavors rooted in centuries
of winter folklore, including a campus themed desert snow globe,
(06:51):
Griila's char grilled suvlacikos, and more. We are excited to
bring these creatures of the dark ele to life at
Universal Horror Unleashed, said Kim Scott, general Manager. Whether guests
are braving the experience as part of their Las Vegas
itinerary or booking an ultimate Las Vegas holiday party, this
limited time experience offers a unique blend of folklore, food
(07:12):
and fright, making it the perfect holiday experience for those
who crave something new this holiday season. Tickets for Universal
Horror Unleish drare on sale now, starting at sixty nine
dollars for one time access general admission and ninety nine
dollars for unlimited access general admission. Drowned Out Productions presents
people in the Dark and immersive ghost story Discover the
(07:34):
horrors of Old Hollywood with Drowned Out Production's newest experience,
People in the Dark and Immersive Ghost Story in Los Angeles, California.
Join the Lost Legends Ghost Tours as they uncover the
forgotten stories of LA's Gilded Age. However, one of the
stops takes the group off course as the horrors of
Hollywood Haunter group face to face. Rooted in premiere elements
(07:56):
of immersive theater and traditional haunted houses, this is a
ghost story like no other. This show is a huge
step up from anything we've done before, says director and
owner Jack Mancuso. This show incorporates every tip and trick
we know to create a compelling cinematic horror experience. Most
of our team has day jobs working as theme park designers.
This is our chance to step out and create our
(08:18):
own little love letter to all things horror and immersive.
People in the Dark will run October tenth through thirty
first in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale now
for sixty six dollars and sixty cents per person. That's
only six hundred and sixty six dimes. Source Filter Music
Collective returns with operatic double feature Big Deaths and Alice Riley.
(08:40):
Source Filter Music collective. The Women Led Arts Collective, reimagining
opera and classical music, returns to the Heritage Square Museum
in Los Angeles, California, November seventh through ninth with a
chilling double feature. The night opens with Big Deaths, a
haunted House style tour of operatic murder scenes. In small
group guests will wander through the museum's Victorian homes, encountering
(09:03):
iconic operatic death In each room, expect scenes from Carmen,
The Creans of Borgia, Rusalka, The Turn of the Screw,
and more. Afterwards, grab a drink at concessions and join
a dance party in the lawn before stepping into the
museum's eerie Lincoln Avenue Church for the West Coast debut
of Michael Ching's chilling ghost story Alice Riley. Based on
(09:26):
a haunting me true story, the opera recounts the final
days of Alice Riley, an Irish immigrant and indentured servant
in eighteenth century colonial America, condemned as the first woman
hanged for murder in what would become the United States.
Our ghost is still said to wander Savannahs Town Square
to this day. We are absolutely thrilled to guide these
(09:47):
projects forward with the support of our incredible collective of artists,
said Britis Sterling, founding artistic director. We hope to create
a place of belonging for local performers and to foster
across disciplinary artistic community with works that challenge and excite audiences.
The performances last approximately two hours with intermission. Halloween costumes
(10:08):
are strongly encouraged. Tickets are on sale now starting from
twenty to forty five dollars. Zombie five K benefits Hope
Services at Cruise Lake Wilderness Park. Run from the undead
and reach into you a heart with Run for Hope
and Your Life Zombie five K. This family fund zombie
run benefiting Hope Services takes place on Saturday, October twenty
(10:29):
fifth at Cruise Lake Wilderness Park in spring Hill, Florida.
Our Zombie five K is more than just a thrilling
run for your Life. It's a race that brings our
community together to change lives. Every step helps raise money
in our scholarship fund, opening doors to vocational training and
employment opportunities for those who need it the most. At
Hope Services, Executive director of Operations David Caldas, The event
(10:52):
features a five k and one k walk run, plus
a community vendor fair, all designed to promote inclusion and
raise funds for life saving vocational programs with a spooky twist.
Zombie themed costumes are encouraged. All proceeds benefit Hope Services
Life Skill and Vocational Training Center, a nonprofit dedicated to
vocational training and job writiness for individuals living with disabilities
(11:16):
and those struggling in West central Florida communities. Register or
become a sponsor in the event's official website. Winnie the Pooh,
Blood and Honey Haunted House Comes to Halloween Hotfest. A
brand new scare maze based on the viral horror films
Winnie the Pooh, Blood and Honey and Blood and Honey
two is coming to Halloween Hontfest in Saint Albans, UK
(11:36):
from October seventeenth through November. First, follow Christopher Robin as
he returns to the Hundred Acre Wood, only to find
that time and abandonment has twisted his childhood friends into
something fairal and vengeful. The maze plunges visitors into a
decaying forest filled with long forgotten memories turned monstrous, with
face to face encounters with bloodthirsty versions of Pooh, Piglet
(11:57):
and more. Organizers warn this isn't the storybook nding you remember,
and you're not getting out unscathed. This maze joins three others,
the UK's only officially licensed Texas Chainsaw Massacre scare Mays,
and two original concepts, Eden and The Trial of Jane Wenham,
The Herfordshire Witch. Created by a team of award winning designers,
I mean to deliver movie quality horror in a full
(12:19):
scale festival format. Halloween Hauntfest features four scare mases, roaming performers,
Sinister Street Theater, a carnival style phantom funfair, and a
DJ powered dance floor. Guests can enjoy themed street food
and drinks from a haunted bar, warm up at fire pits,
and pose for haunted snapshots at secret photo points. Tickets
are on sale now starting at thirty nine pound fifty,
(12:42):
which is approximately fifty US dollars. Canada's Wonderland adds new chaperone,
costume and bag policies. Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Canada, is
implementing new safety policies for their Halloween Haunts season. The
park will now require anyone age fifteen or under to
be accompanied by an adult. Chaperones must be twenty one
or older, provide id at the entrance, and can accompany
(13:06):
a maximum of ten people. Anyone over the age of
sixteen visiting Halloween Haunt after six pm must bring a
piece of identification. Grace Peacock, director of public Relations at
Canada's Wonderland, that the policy looks to minimize the risk
of disruption and bad behavior. We've looked at what's taking
place not only at amusement parks but also other entertainment venues,
(13:26):
and because this is a sort of rolling out as
a best practice, we wanted to try that here as well,
she said. The new policies also prohibit anyone over the
age of eleven from wearing a costumer mask while visiting
the park, and limits guests to one bag no larger
than twelve by twelve by six inches, regardless of material,
whether that's clear or opaque. These policies are similar to
(13:48):
those implemented at not Scary Farm and other property owned
by the park's parent company Six Flags. The i APPA
Brass Ring Awards deadline as October ten, The application deadline
for the IAPPA Brass Ring Awards is fast approaching on
October tenth. Those awards honor the creativity, innovation, and dedication
that set new standards in the global attraction community. The
(14:11):
Haunted Attraction Network's own Philipernandez will be a judge for
the Live Entertainment Awards category. Live Entertainment Excellence categories include
Most Creative Helloween Production. This category honors excellence and innovation
in a production that features exceptional entertainment value with a
Haunt or Helloween theme, including haunted houses, mazes, atmospheric and
(14:32):
interactive entertainment, stage shows, haunting grounds, and more. Performances will
be judged on characterization, physical appearance that supports the performance,
creative show content, overall production value, and audience engagement. Brass
Ring Award Excellence program products and campaigns must have been
created or were active within the IAPPA member facility between
(14:56):
November one, twenty twenty four, and October thirty first. Twenty
fi five finalists and winners will be celebrated AAPPA Honors
May twelfth, fourteenth, twenty twenty six in x Care, Mexico.
To make your application for consideration by following the links
in our show notes. Midnight Syndicate Releases, Darkened Corners, Rare
(15:17):
Tracks EP. Gothic horror instrumentalists Midnight Syndicate have released Darkened
Corners and EP, compiling previously unreleased and rare material spanning
two decades. The EP features music originally composed for amusement
and theme park, selections from the band's live shows, and
unreleased tracks from film projects that never reached completion. It
(15:37):
also includes a remix from the score to the band's
twenty ten horror film The Dead Matter. Album artwork is
created by French artist Pascal Cassillari. We wanted to share
this material and make it more available for a while now,
the band said in a statement. It gives fans a
glimpse into some of the projects we've undertaken when not
working on studio albums. Darkened Corners is available for screaming
(16:00):
and purchase. Lovecraft Kids releases on October first. Get ready
for Halloween hits for the whole family with the October
first release of Lovecraft Kids. Lovecraft's seventh album features family
friendly fun from spoopy dance party bops to how Sweet Lullabies,
and even includes Halloween puppet personality Bury under Your Bed.
(16:24):
You can pre save the album now wherever you listen
to music. Lovecraft is a sinister spawn of spooky obsessed
hit makers. Evan Kidd, Bogart, Amanda minder Warner, and Peter
Wade united to create a year round supply of hook filled,
creepy pop bops that will keep your bones tapping well
beyond helloween. Learn more about Lovecraft on their official website.
(16:49):
In business news, customers are frustrated over the lack of
accountability for the Scare Factory. NBC four of Columbus, Ohio
has once again investigated complaints from customers of the Scare Factory.
For the past three years, the news agency has interviewed
customers who claimed they were ghosted by the Scare Factory
after submitting payment for orders, and this year is no different.
(17:11):
Business' NBC four investigates spoke with say once the money
was sent, communications stop and orders don't show up. One
such customer, Sabrina Herrera, from a Texas restaurant, has waited
a year to finally receive an almost eight thousand dollars refund,
but only after several reports from NBC Investigates and her
taking legal action, moving to file a felony charge with
(17:34):
all the customer's complaints. NBC four Investigates contacted the Ohio
Attorney General to understand why the agency has been enabled
to help these business customers of the Scare Factory. The
Ohio Attorney General's Office responded stating that business to business
complaints are not within the agency's purview. A spokesperson stated,
in some case, we can offer assistance as a courtesy,
(17:56):
but our legal options for business to business complaints are
limited to the Consumer Sales Practices Act. The Ohio Revised
Code defines a consumer transaction as a sale to an
individual for primary, personal, family, or household uses. Therefore, despite
the mounting number of complaints and court cases against the
owner of the Scare Factory, the Ohio Attorney General's Office
(18:19):
cannot take further action. While the owner of the Scare
Factory declined to be interviewed for this recent article, when
NBC four has spoken to him in the past, he
claims that he always delivers orders. Some upcoming events this
September through November include the Son of Monster Palooza October
tenth through twelfth at Burbank, California, IAPPA November seventeenth through twentieth,
(18:41):
and Orlando Florida and Creep at Real Festive November twenty
first through twenty third in Santa Ana, California.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode
was produced by me Philip Bernandez, with reporting by Daryl
Plunky post production by David Swope. This hot news update
is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network and you
can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Hantattractionnetwork dot com.
Support for this episode comes from Gantam Lighting and Controls.
(19:09):
Until next time, Haunters Stay Scary. This is a Haunted
Attraction Network production.
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