Midsummer Scream was this past weekend and it was so much fun! I've already shared what day one was like (read all about it HERE!), and now I'll be sharing my Sunday at the event with you. Just like Saturday, day two was a whirlwind of activities! I got to hang out with amazing people, score some amazing Halloween and horror products, go through more mini haunts, attend Hocus Pocus' 25th anniversary panel as well as getting the scoop on Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Sunday was just as crazy (if not crazier) than Saturday, with Halloween fans descending on the Long Beach Convention Center in droves. Like Saturday, Sunday completely sold out!! If you weren't able to make it, I have a huge giveaway coming up that will make it feel just like you were able to attend! Make sure you are following me on Instagram to enter!
And now, take a look at day two at Midsummer Scream:
Ready for Day 2! Stay Creepy LBC gifted me this adorable bracelet!
I arrived at Midsummer Scream a little after 10 AM on Sunday, right after Gold Bat (aka VIP ticket holders) were let in. There was already a very long General Admission line (who were let in at 11 AM) wrapping around the outside of the building. It really pays to have the VIP tickets - the show floor and Hall of Shadows were both really manageable and not too crowded during that golden hour before GA was let in. The Gold Bat passes were new this year, and if they continue using them I highly recommend them so you don't wait in line as long.
Sunday's show floor
When I got in, I shopped a little, caught up with friends, and did some mini haunts before heading upstairs to a few panels that afternoon. I will say that the lines seemed a little longer and less organized on Sunday, for both the panels and the haunts. While I like having all the major panels inside the main convention building and close to everything else, maybe moving them back to the Terrace Theater (like last year - coverage HERE and HERE), where there is more room to allow for queue lines is a good idea. I do hear that next year Midsummer Scream may have rented out the entire convention, so this may be a possibility!
Krampus came to visit and punish naughty children!
Midsummer Scream is a scary good time!
Wicked Pumpkin Hollow
What a boo-tiful bride!
Local Boogeyman (pssssst, did you know they have a Vegan Zombie tee?!)
Some of the best tees from my friends at Drklght Clothing!
Disney Goth for life!
Gone batty at the Play it By Fear booth!
The Best Little Horrorhouse has the best masks and props!
The booth of one of my favorite artists, Drew Rausch!
Eeeeek, just walking through the Six Flags scare zone for the hundredth time
since it was so fun!
I did the Trick 'r Treat maze on Saturday, but I enjoyed it so much I did it
again on Sunday! Murder House Productions did an incredible job!
Murder House Productions' Trick 'r Treat maze
Mr. Wilkens' house in Murder House Productions' Trick 'r Treat maze
"My, what big eyes you have." - Murder House Productions' Trick 'r Treat maze
Sam in Murder House Productions' Trick 'r Treat maze
Slashback Video did a pop-up at Midsummer Scream and announced they
will be returning for another exhibit at Mystic Museum, called
"Revenge of Slashback Video" which will run September through December.
Slashback Video exhibit (with creator Ryan Turek in the background)
Splatterhouse at the Slashback Video pop-up exhibit
The Hocus Pocus panel was really enjoyable and featured some of the crew as well as Thora Birch talking about their experiences on-set, working with Bette Midler, and about the possibility of a Hocus Pocus 2 (note: they want fans to express their interest in a sequel to Disney to make it happen!). There was also a fun opening number with some Sanderson Sisters singing "I Put a Spell on You!"
Sanderson Sisters at the Hocus Pocus panel performing "I Put A Spell On You"
Moderator with producer/co-writer David Kirschner, actress Thora Birch,
co-executive producer/co-writer Mick Garris, composer John Debney,
production designer William Sandell, and make-up/animatronic cat effects
artist Tony Gardner at the delightful Hocus Pocus panel
Monster Posse and their rad Art the Clown pinata!
BEATNGU
After the Hocus Pocus panel, I headed straight into the Universal Studios' panel. The lines for that were NUTS, but press were luckily let in first. Unfortunately, the Universal panel featuring both Hollywood's and Orlando's creative directors wasn't very exciting. They spent most of the time answering Twitter questions (snooze) and then went through the creative process from conception to execution with examples from their mazes. It was stuff I had all seen and heard before, so I was let down, especially since the only exclusive news they let drop was that there will be a Trick 'r Treat scare zone (in addition to the maze that was already announced). The banter between the three was entertaining, but after two hours I was over the whole thing.
Mike Aiello (Senior Director of Entertainment Creative Development for
Universal Orlando Resort) joins Chris Williams (Art Director, Universal
Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights) and John Murdy (Creative
Director, Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights) for
the Universal Halloween Horror Nights panel.
However, despite that panel, I had a ton of fun at Midsummer Scream 2018. Yes, crowd control could have been improved throughout the event, and yes, the lines to the panels were atrocious, and yes, it was hot as balls inside the convention center despite the AC being on full blast, but those are issues all other conventions face as well. What puts Midsummer Scream above the rest is that everyone is so friendly and genuinely excited to be there and celebrate their love of Halloween and all things spooky! The convention is just three years old, and they have already shown so much improvement from the first year that I am confident they will continue to work the kinks out and continue delivering a fangtastic convention for many years to come!
And now, I wanted to share the goodies I picked up from Midsummer Scream! I went a little beyond budget this year, but I am really excited about the things I bought! Check out my goodies below:
I picked up a jack-o-lantern tote bag from Fiendies, exclusive Midsummer
Scream tee from Tee No Evil, Disney Goth tee from Drklght Clothing,
wood art print from Yosiell Lorenzo, Elvira sleep mask from Kreepsville 666,
coffin pouches from Ghoulish Crafts Co., scare fresheners from
Little Shop of Gore, The Horror Corner, VHS matchbooks
from Little Shop of Gore, phone stands from Monster Posse, Leatherface
hoodie from Monster Tease, bath bombs from Porcelain Wolf, incense from
Sam print from Bat in Your Belfry, Sam decor and ornaments from Abbybelle,
Foolish Mortals documentary DVD, and more! Close ups of some of the
items are below...
These itty bitty matchbooks featuring VHS covers are genius! And I love my
new stickers - both matchbooks and stickers are from Little Shop of Gore.
Scare fresheners from Trick or Treat Studios
Amazing stickers and phone stands from Monster Posse
Sticker from The Horror Corner
Ring and necklace from Little Haus of Horrors
Sam figure and cat and Sam ornaments from Abbybelle
Trick 'r Treat bath bomb and soap from Porcelain Wolf - aren't these amazing?!
Teeny tiny VHS cover pin from Little Haus of Horrors
Swoon, this is one of my favorite items I picked up. It is wood art from
Yosiell Lorenzo and marries two of my favorite things - Halloween
and carousels!
Coffin pouches from Ghoulish Crafts Co.
Stickers from Hallow Woods
Bat planchette key chain from Fiendies
Makeup pouch from KMSxCo
It was another marvelous year at Midsummer Scream, and I already can't wait for next year (next year's dates have already been announced - mark your calendars for August 3rd and 4th, 2019!). To everyone that said hi, to all the incredible vendors, to all the phenomenal haunt operators and scare actors, to all the special guests, to all my fantastic friends I was able to see, and most of all, to all the Midsummer Scream staff and volunteers that worked their butts off for all us Halloween fiends to have an unforgettable weekend, THANK YOU from the bottom of my Halloween heart!!
Stay spooky, fiends, and remember to keep an eye on my Instagram for a Midsummer Scream prize pack giveaway!
Thank you for your photos -- I attended both days of Midsummer Scream and was so busy looking, enjoying and gasping, that I didn't take many photos. I did, however, speak to a few vendors about custom items. It is nice to see your photos: they bring back wonderful memories of an amazing event. I was even excited to meet Kimberly J Brown from "Halloweentown." All in all, it was a great 'Con and thank you for posting the dates for the 2019 event. I will get my tickets the day they go on sale and reserve the hotel. A spellbinding time is guaranteed for all!
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