April 9, 2025

NEWS: OSCARES 2025 Ceremony; Halfway to Halloween Events

NEWS: OSCARES 2025 Ceremony; Halfway to Halloween Events

This week: The full OSCARES 2025 Awards; Dark Harbor returns on Sept 19th; Halfway to Halloween at Winchester Mystery House & Reign of Terror; The Mystic Museum's Horror High Prom; Previews begin for Dark Universe at Universal's Epic Universe;...

Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Castro podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Amazon Music podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
iHeartRadio podcast player badge
Podcast Addict podcast player badge
Podchaser podcast player badge
Castbox podcast player badge
Deezer podcast player badge
YouTube podcast player badge
Soundcloud podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconYouTube podcast player iconSoundcloud podcast player icon

This week: The full OSCARES 2025 Awards; Dark Harbor returns on Sept 19th; Halfway to Halloween at Winchester Mystery House & Reign of Terror; The Mystic Museum's Horror High Prom; Previews begin for Dark Universe at Universal's Epic Universe; Zagone Studios to close. Read the stories here.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:10.279
Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the

2
00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:17.399
haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the

3
00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:21.199
HN Show. We bring you the haunt news, information, and

4
00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.839
education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we

5
00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:28.320
bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read

6
00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:30.640
more about these stories and so much more in our

7
00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:34.240
free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes,

8
00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.039
and as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it

9
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:37.679
off to Darryl.

10
00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:41.759
The Haunted Attraction Association honored leading figures in the haunt

11
00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:45.679
industry at the annual OSCARS Awards on Saturday, March first

12
00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:48.960
of twenty twenty five during trans World's Halloween and Attraction

13
00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:52.920
Show in Saint Louis, Missouri. Widely considered the highest honors

14
00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:56.240
in the halloween and haunted attraction world, the OSCARS Awards

15
00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:01.359
recognize excellence across multiple categories, celebrating new, established and legacy

16
00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:05.480
businesses and remarkable individuals. The Haunted Attraction Network produced this

17
00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:09.040
year's awards ceremony with Froggy's Fog as the premier sponsor.

18
00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.079
Learn about all the honorees and view the full ceremony

19
00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:15.000
by following the links in our show notes. The Queen

20
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.519
Mary's Dark Harbor Ride dates have been announced. Mark your calendar.

21
00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:23.079
The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor in Long Beach, California will

22
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:27.079
return on select nights September nineteenth through November two of

23
00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:30.400
twenty twenty five. The event features haunts, hundreds of monsters,

24
00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:36.599
immersive attractions, live entertainment, VIP experience, themed bars, carnival rides,

25
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:39.920
festive foods, and more. Put on your boots and cowboy

26
00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:43.159
hat for the wildest haunt in the Florida Wilderness. Sir

27
00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.879
Henry's Haunted Trail in Plant City, Florida has announced a

28
00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:50.519
brand new experience for twenty twenty five. Sir Henry's Haunted

29
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:54.640
ghost Town and Barbecue. On April eleventh and twelfth, experienced

30
00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:57.799
Western horror story themed trails in a high stakes Old

31
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.879
West showdown in the Common Area. It will also feature

32
00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:03.680
two escape games and some of the area's best barbecue

33
00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:06.359
food trucks. Tickets are on sale now, starting at twenty

34
00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:09.360
seven dollars for general admission and thirty seven for front

35
00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:13.360
of line. The Winchester Mystery House hosts Halfway to Helloween

36
00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:17.280
flashlight tours. Step into the Shadow of the Winchester Mystery

37
00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:21.120
House in San Jose, California, on April nineteenth and twenty

38
00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:24.439
sixth and May third and tent for Halfway to Helloween

39
00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:27.759
Flashlight Tours. Explore the mansion in your own pace, with

40
00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:30.520
only a flashlight to guide you through the twisting corridors

41
00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.520
and room. The experience will include access to areas that

42
00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.800
are off limits on the standard mansion tour. The grounds

43
00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:39.719
outside the mansion will be covered in ghostly decor and

44
00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:43.639
hauntingly beautiful photo ops and themed cocktails and treats inspired

45
00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.680
by the Halloween season. Tickets are on sale now starting

46
00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.439
at forty nine ninety nine for adults and twenty nine

47
00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:52.599
ninety nine for children ages five to twelve. The Mystic

48
00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:56.039
Museum in Burbank, California will bid farewell to their Horror

49
00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:59.000
High Reunion exhibit with a night of thrills, chills, and

50
00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:02.840
killer fun at the Horror High prom taking place on Friday,

51
00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:05.680
May tenth. The dance will feature a live band in DJ,

52
00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.919
photo ops, professional prom photos, bar and refreshments, and a

53
00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.360
night market with eerie exclusive horror goods. Tickets are on

54
00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.439
sale now starting at thirty five dollars for school spirit

55
00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:20.199
general admission, forty five for Junior Varsity admission which includes

56
00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.039
a prom photo and early access, and one hundred and

57
00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:27.039
twenty five dollars for VIP bundles. All tickets will automatically

58
00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:30.520
enter guests into a raffle style drawing to be selected

59
00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:33.639
for the Horror High prom Court. The dance also serves

60
00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.919
as a fundraiser to bring the next Mystic Museum exhibit

61
00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:39.680
to life, which is set to debut on May thirty

62
00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:43.879
first of this year. The Reign of Terror in Thousand Oaks, California,

63
00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.719
will return for two nights on May second and third

64
00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:50.479
to celebrate their Halfway to Halloween Brave the Haunts, eleven

65
00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:53.639
interconnected attractions with one hundred and forty two rooms of

66
00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:56.680
pure terror and Fright. Tickets are on sale now, starting

67
00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.719
at forty two dollars for regular admission and sixty seven

68
00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:03.879
for mediate access. Double m Haunted hay Rides and Haunted

69
00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:07.560
Houses in Boston, SPA, New York will host its second

70
00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.319
annual Halfway to Halloween event on May sixteenth and seventeen.

71
00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:14.120
The event will open with an outdoor screening of Friday

72
00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:17.360
the Thirteenth, Part two from nineteen eighty one, complete with

73
00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:20.639
roaming monsters to add to the scares and thrills. Next

74
00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:24.000
guest will brave two haunted houses that continue the slasher theme,

75
00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:27.720
including a visit to Camp Crystal Lake itself. Tickets are

76
00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:31.319
on sale now for thirty dollars each. Media previews have

77
00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:36.879
begun for Universal's Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida. Attractions Magazine

78
00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:40.240
attended an April fifth preview event and have posted pictures

79
00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.920
and videos of the horror themed Dark Universe section of

80
00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.519
the park. Take a sneak peek at the Burning Windmill

81
00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:49.519
and monsters unchained The Frankenstein Experiment pre show featuring Doctor

82
00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:54.759
Victoria Frankenstein, Igor and Frankenstein's Monster. Epic Universe will open

83
00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.959
on May twenty second, twenty twenty five. Learn more and

84
00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.480
purchase tickets from the park's official way website. This week's

85
00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:05.360
Green Tagged podcast discusses key takeaways from the recent AYAPPA

86
00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.839
and North American Summit at the Disneyland Resort. Philip SHARE's

87
00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:12.199
first hand insights from Disney executives on the thoughtful redesign

88
00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:16.560
of Toontown and how small intentional changes created significant guest

89
00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:21.160
experience improvements. Discover how Disney balances operational necessities with guest

90
00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.040
comfort through innovative solutions from stroller parking zones to decompression spaces,

91
00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:30.160
to mix and match cast costumes that enhance storytelling. Explore

92
00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:33.519
why seemingly simple elements like tables, chairs, and even non

93
00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:38.279
flat grassy areas based resistance yet proved crucial for guest satisfaction.

94
00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:41.920
Scott provides industry contexts in these practices, making these high

95
00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.920
level insights applicable to the attractions of all sizes. Zegon

96
00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.680
Studios Masks and Costumes from Melrose Park, Illinois, will be

97
00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:52.680
closing in the near future. For over fifty years, the

98
00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:56.920
company has delivered comfortable, lightweight, and breathable masks, costume and

99
00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.199
accessories to members of the haunt industry. In an email,

100
00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.560
Tony Zagone informed the Haunted Attraction Network that they have

101
00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:07.079
ceased manufacturing and taking custom orders and they will be

102
00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:11.160
selling off their existing inventory at a discount. Disclosure due

103
00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.439
to unforeseen circumstances, comes in a wake of a difficult

104
00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:17.560
year after the passing of the company's co founder, Philip

105
00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:21.680
Anthony's Agone last June. In a Facebook post, Michael's Agone

106
00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.759
thanked their fans, customers, partners and employees for their years

107
00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:27.839
of support and loyalty. Official statements have not yet been

108
00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:31.560
posted to the company's social media profiles or website. You

109
00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:34.439
can take a look inside this year's trans World's Halloween

110
00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:37.680
and Attraction Show from Saint Louis, Missouri with a full

111
00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:40.160
length video by following the links in our show notes.

112
00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:43.720
Sample highlights of this year's show floor with detailed interviews

113
00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:47.199
with over twenty five exhibitors, and venture beyond the vendor

114
00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:50.720
hall with a taste of trans World signature events including

115
00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:55.279
the Zombie prom and the Vampire Circus performances. Just a reminder,

116
00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:59.240
ask the haunt expert, Philip Heernandez will be on Haunter's

117
00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:03.360
Toolbox on April eighth. Haunters Toolbox is hosting a live

118
00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:06.120
Q and A session with Philip Hernandez of Gantem and

119
00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:10.040
the Haunted Attraction Network on Tuesday, April eighth, starting at

120
00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:13.560
five thirty pm Pacific time. Join this informative one and

121
00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:16.199
a half hour live session to learn tips and tricks

122
00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:20.959
from Philip, whose experience includes social media, marketing, video and audio,

123
00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:26.000
theme parks, Haunted attractions, public relations, press releases, and much more.

124
00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:30.240
Some upcoming events this April through June. Include the Spooky

125
00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:34.279
Swap Meet in Los Angeles, California, April twenty five through

126
00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:39.199
twenty seven, West Coast Haunters Convention in Oaks, Pennsylvania April

127
00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:42.959
twenty six through twenty seven, halfway to Halloween Expo in

128
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:48.600
Ann Arbor, Michigan coming up May ten, Monster Palooza in Pasadena, California,

129
00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.240
May thirty through June one, and the Midwest Hunters Convention

130
00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:55.720
in Rosemont, Illinois, June sixth through June eighth.

131
00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:57.759
And that's all for the news this week.

132
00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:01.680
Today's episode was produced by me Philip Hernandez, with reporting

133
00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:05.480
by Darryl Plunky. Post production by David Swope.

134
00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:06.839
This Haunt News Update.

135
00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.199
Is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network and you

136
00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.000
can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Hantattractionnetwork dot com.

137
00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.519
Support for this episode comes from Gantam Lighting and controls.

138
00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:23.120
Until next time, Haunters Stay Scary. This is a Haunted

139
00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:25.639
Attraction Network production.