Review: ‘Horror Made Here’ Festival Of Frights (Burbank, CA)

What’s that, you say?  More haunted houses???  Why yes.  ‘Tis the season!  Ok, so I have to say that I went to the Warner Brothers backlot Horror Made Here festival last year (which was their first year doing it) and even though I did have fun – I felt that it was lacking in the ‘ooomph’ department.  Well, I am here to tell you that this year’s festival has ‘ooomph’ and then some!   Continue reading

Review: The Queen Mary’s ‘Dark Harbor’ (Long Beach, CA)

There’s nothing creepier than going through a haunt on something that is actually said to be haunted.  Such is the case on the legendary Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California.  You can go on real ‘haunted’ tours year-round, but around Halloween……things get kicked up a notch with Dark Harbor! (said in super scary voice)   Continue reading

Review: Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival (Long Beach, CA)

Halloween is only about 3 months away!  And if you can tell by the excitement in my voice (even though I wrote that and didn’t really speak it), then you know that I’m more than ready for all of the ghosts and ghouls to come out and inhabit their haunted houses.  Good thing that the Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival came to downtown Long Beach in California this weekend, because it definitely got me in the mood!

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The Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival is a brand new addition to the convention circuit, put on by folks who have experience in previous horror and Halloween festivals.  Being that I live in downtown Long Beach, how convenient was it that this was right up the street?  What makes Midsummer Scream different is that they have a huge section dedicated to local Southern California haunted houses, in mini form of course, so you can have a taste and see if you want to shell out the money for the real thing come Halloween time.

In addition to the bite-size editions of the haunted houses, there were tons of artists and vendors on hand selling their merchandise, stilt walkers and knee-sliders mingling with the crowd, and tasty Halloween-themed pastries.  Oh – and a few celebrities popped up like Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp) and David Naughton (An American Werewolf In London).  Being that this was the first year for Midsummer Scream, I would personally have to say it was a success (minus the wonky air conditioning in the convention center) and from the look of the crowd, it will return next year.  Now let’s end this with some sexy cosplay no-face nurses from Silent Hill!

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