Midsummer Scream ushers in the 2024 Halloween season with a spooky vibe [Review/Recap]

For us in Southern California, Midsummer Scream kicks off the Halloween season. All of the biggest and best Halloween events were represented, including horror movie actors, icons, shopping, the Hall of Shadows, panels, and more. This year's event included huge panels from Knott's Scary Farm, Six Flags Fright Fest, Dark Harbor, Thirteenth Floor, Winchester Mystery House, and Halloween Horror Nights.

The Hall of Shadows, which is basically a preview of other haunted houses in the area hosting mini haunted houses, was great for another year. This time Lionsgate was there with Gears of Fear, a showcase of their various horror properties such as Seen, My damn Valentine's DayAnd The strangers. This particular maze was basically the same thing you see at Halloween Horror Nights or other theme parks. It was high quality, had some really good scares and showcased all of their different horror features really well. I enjoyed it so much that I went through it four times just to experience everything. Also, it was a great experience to meet the miner from My damn Valentine's Day was a pleasure.

Midsummer Scream was expecting record attendance this year and they were spot on. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Long Beach Convention Center was packed with people. Saturday was the busiest day, with the exhibit floor and panels seemingly at capacity. If you had a Gold Bat pass, getting to any of the panels seemed to be no problem. The only panel that was really completely full was Halloween Horror Nights at the very end of Sunday.

The show floor was filled with many different booths selling everything from books, movies, shirts, candles, cakes, coffee (shoutout to Horror Vibes Coffee; their booth seemed to be full all day, every day of the fair), magazines (shoutout to Fangoria's booth as well), and anything else you can imagine under the horror night sky. It was heaven (or hell) for anyone who loves these types of fairs. Even the theme park ghost trains got in on the action, with booths showing off what they had planned for the 2024 Halloween season. Outside the hall were food trucks that were just as busy, but kept people fed all weekend long.

As far as panels go, Knott's Scary Farm was the weakest. They didn't announce anything new and it was really just about last year and not the year ahead. They even went so far as to announce that they have an event in August to showcase their 2024 lineup. This was disappointing considering they had a high-energy and great panel last year for their 50th anniversary. The other major Halloween haunts, Thirteenth Floor (LA Haunted Hayride, Dark Harbor, Delusion, Magic of the Jack O'Lanterns), Halloween Horror Nights, Fright Fest, and Winchester Mystery House, all had exceptional panels showing what guests could expect. I was particularly impressed with the Winchester Mystery House and the storyline they have planned for 2024.

And if you fancy a bit of nightlife, you will find what you are looking for at the Saturday party; this time under the motto BeetlejuiceThe party for the recently deceased. They had a film screening of For sale by Exorcist by some of the filmmakers behind WNUF Halloween Special. There was also a costume contest and a dance party with drinks in the main ballroom. It was a nice way for guests to relax after a long day of conventions.

If you're looking to kick off the Halloween season, Midsummer Scream is the absolute best way to go. There's something for every horror fan at the convention. We hope next year's event is even better (and not on the same weekend as San Diego Comic-Con either). It will be held August 15-17, 2025 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

For more Halloween information, visit That Hashtag Show.

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