NEWS: Dark Harbor expands, Valentine haunts, & retail trends

0:07 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 haunt news, information, and education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read 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 Haunts Nationwide. We'll open for the first off season events of the new year with Friday the thirteenth and Valentine's Day offerings. Operating dates range from February sixth through February twenty first, suggesting some Haunted hoses will try to extend the holiday. Keep on listening to hear our full list of over one hundred haunts. Queen Mary's Dark Harbor launches the Dark Masquerade Valentine's Event. Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group is extending the Dark Harbor brand beyond Helloween with Dark Masqarade, a new Valentine's Day weekend event, debuting February thirteenth and fourteenth aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.

1:14 Unlike Dark Harbor's Fall season, Dark Masquerade is designed as an after hours immersive takeover of the ship, replacing traditional mazes with story driven encounters, character interaction, music, and social spaces. According to thirteenth Floor, the event is intended to deepen engagement with Dark Harbor's established characters and lore. Dark Masquerade gives our fans the chance to dive further into the world of Dark Harbor than ever before, said Brett Bertolino, director of Special Project. This all new, immersive, story driven experience expands the lore of our legendary icons through intimate scenes and unexpected encounters, and offers a chilling glimpse of what awaits this fall aboard the Queen Mary. The event includes multiple experiences spread throughout the ship, such as a masquerade dance party hosted by Dark Harbor Icons, guided exploration of rarely accessed areas of the vessel, and interactive scenes that encourage guests to linger and engage rather than push from point to point. Rather than rush from point to point, vip admission adds an exclusive proximity based experience that emphasizes physical closeness, darkness and narrative tension. Dark Massquerade reflects a broader shift of off season Haunt programming towards immersive social formats that feel distracted from October operations, rather than reskinning existing mazes. Thirteenth Floor is using Valentine's weekend to experiment with character forward storytelling, premium upgrades, and nightlife inflected design, positioning the event as both a date night experience and a deeper extension of the Dark Harbor brand. To learn

2:46 more and sign up for early ticket access, go to the event's official website. Tickets will start at fifty nine dollars plus fees. This event is for attendees aged twenty one and older. The Cinema of Horrors brings back the Hearts of Horror Valentine's event. Cinema of Horrors and Kelso Washington is returning with Hearts of Horror, a Valentine's Day blackout event that sends guests through four haunted houses using only a single candle for light. The limited run experience takes place February thirteenth and fourteenth inside the attraction's former movie theater and continues to outperform some of the haunts others off season offerings, including its Christmas event. In an interview with a Haunted Attraction Network President and creative director, Brandon Treadway pointed to the building itself as the foundation of the experience. The building is super thematic. It is an old regal movie theater, he said. We've got all the sloped floors, which really add to the experience as you walk through the attractions, especially once you combine it with fog and all the lights and all that kind of stuff. By turning off the lights rather than rebuilding the attraction, Hearts of Horror gives repeat guests a new way to experience the space, and according to Treadway, it does better than Christmas without requiring our major off season build out. Discounted admissions for thirty dollars and ninety six seven cents is available online now through January thirty first.

4:04 General admission after January thirty first is thirty six dollars and fifty two cents when purchased online. Follow the links in our show notes to get your tickets today. Brass Ring Excellence Awards finalists announced, named for the rings given to carousel writers at the first Amusement Parks I app of Brass Ring Awards give outstanding achievements to the attractions industry. Finalists for the category of Live Entertainment Excellence Most creative Halloween production are Six Flags Parks with their Conjuring Beyond Fear, Universal Studio Singapore Once Upon a Time to Die, and Tokyo Disney Resort The Villains Helloween Into the Frenzy Parade. This category honors excellence and innovation in a production that features exceptional entertainment value with a Helloween or Haunt theme, including Haunted houses, Maze's atmospheric and interactive entertainment, stage shows, haunting grounds, and more. Performances will be judged on careization, physical appearance and support for the performance, creative show content, overall production value, and audience engagement. Winners who will be celebrated at IAPPA Honors May twelfth through fourteenth. In ex Carey Mexico, Universal's Fan Fast Nights doubles down on core fans.

5:18 Universal's Fan Fast Nights returns to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal City, California for twelve select nights April twenty three through May sixteenth, offering immersive walkthrough experiences, themed shows, and IP activations across the Park twenty twenty six lineup includes four new experiences, Scooby Doo Meets the Universal Monsters, Mystery on the Backlot, replacing last year's Back to the Future Backlot experience, one Piece Grand Pirate Show, a full scale live show at the water World venue, upgrading from last year's character Meet and Greet, a Forbidden Forest walkthrough in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Colorful Yoshi Celebration in Super Nintendo World. Dungeons and Dragons. Secrets of Water Deep also returns by popular demand. The twenty twenty six lineup suggests a shift towards concentrating on Universal's core fandoms, the smaller but deliberate emphasis on new audiences through one piece, rather than spreading investment across multiple unproven fandoms. Universal appears to be prioritizing depth over breadth, focusing on known demand of core Universal fandoms such as Universal Monsters and Harry Potter, while selectively layering on communities such as anime and cosplay where crossover potential already exists. Universal's twenty twenty six adjustments suggest that fanfast Nights could spark a new renaissance in spring hard ticket events industrywide, if you focus on what you already do well, with a little bit of experimentation mixed in. According to an article by mart CV for Licensing International, despite Halloween falling on a Saturday this year,

6:52 Halloween retailers only expect a slight increase in business in twenty twenty six. Companies have had a year to adjust to tariffs, which have ranged between the thirty one hundred and forty five percent, but suppliers are unsure if ordering will return to pre tariff levels. The general pulse of the industry was felt in this year's Halloween and Party Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, which offered a glimpse of potential trends for this Halloween season. We've seen growth and easy to wear, affordable costumes, along with replica and cosplay level of products, said Mark Vanolan, brand licensing manager at Ruby's. Costume trends showed a broadening of licensed brands with a focus on nostalgia and horror film Rubies showcased costumes based on classic Hasbro and Mattel toys and games, while Trick Retreat Studios debuted costumes inspired by Stanley Cubrick's a clockwork, Orange rob Zombies, House of a Thousand Corpses, and Netflix Stranger Things. Between all of the new costumes and more expensive outdoor animatronic figures, Some executives are optimistic as slight upturn in business is on the horizon. However, they believe will not be as much as normally would be. Some behavior is changed with delayed buying, holding onto wallets, and or mindful spending by the consumers. There may be a decrease in daycorse spending because people feel they have to cut it somewhere, a licensing executive said, but the Halloween business feels recession proof. Slasher's Ax Throwing in Ales to host three Valentines Weekend events. Slasher's Ax Throwing in Ales and cost them as A California is offering three unique events to round out your Valentine's Day weekend next month.

8:23 On Friday the thirteenth, pay homage to your favorite hockey masked killer and throw a camp Crystal Lake inspired atmosphere. Treat your Valentine to a killer date night on Saturday, February fourteenth, not in the romantic mood. On Sunday, February fifteenth, you can enjoy ax your X, bring in a digital photo of your ex and make them your target. Reservations are now available for all three events. Prices start at forty dollars for a one hour session, fifty five for a ninety minute session, and seventy dollars for a two hour session. The HAA to add new paid administrator role. As the Hunted Attraction Association's membership and programs continue to expand, the HAA is issued a request for proposal for a new paid administrator role. According to the haa's monthly newsletter, this administrative manager will improve consistency, communication, and long term sustainability, allowing volunteer leadership to focus on strategy, advocacy and serving the membership more effectively. The part time position will support the authority of the boarder, directors, President, and executive officers.

9:25 Interested candidates must have a minimum of fifteen years professional experience and nonprofit administration. In addition, they must demonstrate strong organizational skills, experience with membership management systems, professional communication and correspondence capabilities, and willingness to travel for approved association business. A full list of minimum qualifications and submission requirements can be found by following the links in our show notes. Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format. The submission deadline is February twelve, of twenty twenty six. The HAA Live Auction date has changed. The Traction Association's annual live Auction will now take place on Thursday, March twenty seventh, from five point fifteen to six thirty pm at trans World's Halloween and Attraction Show in Saint Louis, Missouri. Grab a drink and support vendor members as the AHAAA as you bid on unique, often one of a kind props, animatronics, and services. All proceeds benefit HAA members and operations by providing funding for education, safety initiatives, advocacy, and programs that benefit the entire industry. The Silent Auction will take bids from Thursday, opening to Saturday at two pm. Creep I e Con returns this weekend. Creep I e Con returns to the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California, this weekend January thirtieth through February first. The event features horror celebrities and expansive show floor, Q and A panels, photo ops, food trucks, and more. Fear Farm in Hesperia California will host a mini Haunt. Creep Ie tickets or on sale now starting at forty one ninety nine to fifty two

10:57 twenty four for single day general admission ticket. It's eighty dollars ninety nine cents for three day general admission tickets. VIP weekend passes are currently sold out now. Our list of twenty twenty six Friday the thirteenth and Valentine's Day haunts Coming to You from Alabama is Arx Mortis from killin Alabama, the City of Chaos and EASTA Boga Conjure Haunted Attraction in Birmingham East to Boga Manor in East to Boga Helbilly Hollow, and Vincent Pope's Haunted Farm in Salem, Spook Trail in Quintin, Wet Dreams Haunted House in Joppa, and Warehouse thirty one in Pelham, Alabama. Arkansas Haunted houses bringing the Scare include The Asylum Haunted House in Cave Springs, Arkansas, Asylum X and Fort Smith and Folklore Slaughterhouse in Gravesville, California's Haunting You with the All Saints Lunatic Asylum in Apple Valley, California. Black Casket Productions in Ukaipa Eulogy Collective and anaheim Here Overload in Newark, The Haunt at Atesca Darrow and a Tescadero High Desert Haunted House in Apple Valley, Sacramento, Scream Park and Sacramento and Screams in Fairfield, California. Colorado has got the thirteenth Floor Haunted House in Denver and Find Your Fright in Loveland, Colorado, Connecticut. Haunted Houses Bring You Fright Haven from Stratford, Connecticut. Well Florida has got the thirteenth Floor Haunted House Jacksonville and Jacksonville, Florida, Creepy Hollow Woods in Jay and Sir Henry's Haunted Trail in

12:28 Plant City, Florida. Georgia. Valentine's Haunted houses include Helen Helen in Helen, Georgia, Lake Joy, Trails of Terror in Kathleen, Paranoia Haunted House in Canton, and Wicked South in Pembroke, Georgia. Illinois Haunted houses have the thirteenth Floor Haunted House Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, Disturbia Haunted House and Downers Grove Factory of Beer in Moline. The Massacre Haunted House in Montgomery, Sinister Acres in DeSoto and the Vibe Haunted House in crev Coor, Illinois. Indiana has got the House of Lector in Evansville, Indianasterium, Haunted Asylum in Fort Wayne, Malice Manor and Clarksville Necropolis Underground in Indianapolis. In the Thirteenth Hour in Indianapolis, Indiana. Iowa is bringing you the Hillside House of Hell in Glenwood, will Kansas has the Haunt at Walters in Eldorado, Kansas. Kentucky haunted houses include the American Horror Plex in Louisville, the Haunted Hotel Ky in Louisville, and Kentucky Fear Tower in Winchester, Kentucky. Louisiana bringing everybody the Necro Manor Haunted House in Bossier City, while Maryland has got Bennett's Curse in Baltimore, Era's Nightmare in Westminster and Laurel's House of Horror in Laurel, Maryland. Massachusetts is bringing you the Factory of Terror and Fall River, while Michigan has got the Awaken Haunted Attraction in Leslie, Factory of the Dead in Saginaw, and Hush Haunted Attraction in Westland.

13:55 In Missouri, the Terror on Route sixty six is coming to you from Sullivan and the Darkness Resides in Saint Louis, Missouri. Nevada is bringing everybody the Helloween Maze in Las Vegas, Nevada and Tom Devlin's Monster Museum in Boulder City. New Jersey is rocking the Thirteenth Hour Haunted House in Wharton, New Jersey, and the Brighton Asylum in Passaic, while New Mexico has got the Haunted Scarecrow in Albuquerque, and New York has got the Bayville Screen Park in Bayvale, New York. North Carolina can haunt people with the Haunted Forest and Panic Point in Youngsville, Hollerin Haunts Hay Ride, and Clinton the Hotel in a Haskie Panic Attack in Nikina, Pinhead's Graveyard in Canton, in the Woods of Terror in Greenboro, North Carolina. Ohio has got the Akron Haunted School House in Akron, the Area thirteen Project in Oxford. Hear Columbus Haunted House in Columbus, Ohio, Hell's Dungeon and Dayton and Nightmare on Main Street in Pomeroy, Oklahoma is bringing you the Asylum from Newada in the Chamber of Terror from Moore, while Oregon is bringing the Fear Peace TDX from Portland, Oregon.

15:01 Pennsylvania has got the Field of Screams from Mountville, Haunted Hills Estate, Screen Park and Uniontown Horror Ween Haunted Warehouse and Mount Union, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Mail, Haunted House in Philadelphia, Penhurst Asylum from Spring City, and Spookhaven from mill Hall. South Carolina. Haunted houses include the Dark Castle in Elgin, the Deceased Farm in Lexington, and Nightmare Dungeon from Greenville, South Carolina. Tennessee is bringing you the Fear Zone in Memphis, Tennessee, Fright Works from Powell, Hell's Bar Dam in Guild Nashville, Nightmare and Madison, Tennessee, and the Scream Chamber in Athens, Texas. Haunted houses have the thirteenth Floor Haunted House Houston in Houston, Texas, Cutting Edge in Fort Worth, Dark Hour and Plano, Doc Wilkes House of Horror in Longview, Hangman's House of Horrors and Fort Worth, Imminent Doom in Kilgore, Nightmare on Nineteenth Street in Lubbock, Silo of Screams in Temple, and Texas Scare Grounds in Mineral Wells, Utah has got Asylum forty nine from two al Utah and Castle of Chaos in Midvale, Virginia.

16:09 Has Fright Mayor in Chesapeake, Virginia, Spooky Acres, Haunted House in Norfolk, Saint alban Sanatorium in Radford, and The Terror Manor Coming to You from Roanoak, Virginia. Washington State has got the Cinema of Horrors in Kelso, Washington and Frightville from Oak Harbor, while West Virginia has got Fear on the Farm w V from Winfield, West Virginia and Fright Knights WV from Daniels. Is your Haunt opening an off season event? Simply let us know here at the podcast or follow the links in our show notes to let us know. Some upcoming events from January through March include creep i Econ This Weekend January thirtieth through February first, from Ontario, California, and trans World Talloween and Attraction Show March twenty six through twenty ninth in Saint Louis, Missouri.

16:57 And that's all for the news. This Week Today episode was produced by me Philip Bernandez with reporting by Daryl Plunky, post production by David Swape. This Haunt News update is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network and you can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Haunted Attraction neetwork dot com. Support for this episode comes from Gantam Lighting and Controls. Until next time, Haunters, stay scary. This is a Haunted Attraction Network production.