NEWS: Tariff Terror: Will Halloween Decorations Double in cost this year?

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. Tariffs are threatening to raise prices on Halloween costumes and decor. In a recent press release from the Halloween In Costume Association, it sounded an alarm that newly proposed tariffs on Chinese imports could severely disrupt the Halloween season, with products potentially costing double in the twenty twenty four pricing. This is an existential moment for our industry, said Robert Berman, Halloween In Costume Association board member and president of Rasta, Impasta and Impasta Costumes. Halloween isn't like other holidays. If products don't land on time or become too expensive for families, Halloween simply doesn't happen. There is no backup plan with millions of dollars already spent on raw materials and production.

1:16 Many companies are now facing sudden, unexpected costs that will make their ranges unviable. Retailers are reacting by canceling orders and cutting volumes. It's brutal, says Berman. These are goods that are weeks from shipping, not months. And because Halloween is a one night event, you miss that window. There's no way to recover. When Halloween meets Easter, the results are deadly. Our so cal creepy creators present Easter Nightmares, a short horror comedy anthology we filmed during our last meetup at Halloween Express. Our talented local creators brought characters from Alien, the Exorcist, and Terrifier to life with extra twisted Easter spin. We are so proud of everyone that helped create these three terrifying tales. This week, the East Coast Hunters Convention the ECCHC returns to its second year the Greater Philadelphia expos Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, with pre con tours starting April twenty fourth and twenty fifth, and the convention days of April twenty sixth and twenty seven.

2:14 The Haunted Attraction Network has created a comprehensive guide to this year's festivities. Produced by trans World Trade Shows LLC. The convention brings together professional haunters, home enthusiasts, actors, and Halloween fans for a celebrations of all things spooky, six months before the traditional haunting season begins. Our guide contains everything you need to know to plan your trip, including Haunt tour information, expo flour highlights, and a list of educational seminars, pricing, travel information and more. Registration for ECCHC is still available at the events official website. Whether you're a professional looking to enhance your haunt business, a home decorator seeking new ideas, or simply a Halloween enthusiast who can't wait until October, the East Coast Haunters Convention offers something for everyone one in the haunt community. Follow the links in our show notes to find everything that we're talking about. Horror legend John Carpenter will make it an exclusive one day appearance at Midsummer Scream in Long Beach, California, on Saturday, August sixteenth, as part of Storm King Comics presence at the event. Founded by film producer and wife John Carpenter, Sandy King, Storm King Comics together talent from the films, novels, and comics to create unique horror and sci fi titles. During his appearance, Carpenter will sign autographs and promote the new graphic novel John Carpenter Presents George A.

3:35 Romeros the amusement Park. We're thrilled to welcome horror legend John Carpenter, Sandy King, and Storm King Comics to Midsommer Scream for the first time, said David Marklund, co founder and executive producer of Midsommer Scream. Their presence, especially with this year's theme focused on horror comic books, is a dream pairing taking place August fifteenth through seventeenth at the Long Beach Convention Center. Midsummer Scream will spotlight horror comic books and its twenty twenty five theme, with horror comic inspired artwork throughout the event and an official poster designed by Los Angeles based artist d W Friedendahl. Local comic shop Revenge of will host additional creator signings and provide pinball machines for attendees. All this is in addition to the Halloween fun fans have come to expect including three hundred plus exhibitors, olive shadows, mini haunts, live entertainment panels, and more. Tickets for this year's event are on sale now.

4:32 Tokyo Disney Resort in Tokyo, Japan has released new dress code restrictions for guests visiting during the Halloween of September seventeenth through October thirty first. While in the past guests have been able to wear costumes throughout the period, twenty twenty five I'll see a more structured approach to the policy with specific costume blackout dates during September sixteenth through thirtieth and October sixteenth through thirty first, Guests will be allowed to wear costumes will visiting the park during the peak dates of October first through fifth, However, guests are asked to refrain from wearing costumes to the park. Furthermore, guests are prohibited from using public facilities. Restrooms are storage lockers for changing into costumes or applying make up. Full costume guidelines, as well as details regarding official changing spaces available for a fee reservations required, will be announced in the coming months. While new to the Tokyo Parks costume restrictions have been in place for years at Disney's US theme parks, with adult costumes only allowed during the separately ticketed Halloween event days. Merlin Entertainment has appointed RWs Global as its preferred entertainment production partner for six global destinations, Alton Towers Resort and Alton, United Kingdom, Chessington World of Adventure Resorts and Chessington, United Kingdom, Lego Land Windsor Resort in Windsor, United Kingdom, Lego Land California Resort in Carlsbad, California, Lego Land New York Resort in Goshen, New York, and Legoland Florida Resort in winter Haven, Florida. This partnership will

6:06 compliment Merlin's core in house entertainment offerings, allowing the resorts to scale up brand and guest experiences throughout the year, including seasonal special events. Merlin is committed to providing world class entertainment for every guest, said Kathy Bagshaw, Global Director of Events and Entertainment Operations at Merlin Entertainments. Through this exciting new partnership, we have the opportunity to continue delivering first rate entertainment that guests have come to know and love at our resorts and elevate it to an even higher level. URWS Global's vast network of creative talent, innovative production resources, and operational expertise will help us bring bigger and better entertainment experiences to life, ensuring that guests enjoy new innovative offerings year after year. While specific details on these new offerings has yet to be released, all six parks do celebrate the spooky season with Halloween events, with RWs Global developing more than a one hundred time experiences at these parks for twenty twenty five alone, it is likely that the Halloween seasonal events will include new innovative productions, immersive storytelling, and exciting new shows. As part of the partnership.

7:11 After four years in Glendale, Arizona, thirteen Floor Entertainments, Fear Farm will be moving to a new location for twenty twenty five. Jason Rove, owner of the land that previously housed the Haunt, said that the lease was canceled because we desire to do multiple events a year there and the way that Fear Farm was historically on its original spot and the way it was for several years on our spot to have a corn maze and to have a corn maze, you have to grow corn, so it takes a bunch of the year and it kind of limits how many things can potentially happen on the property. Thirteenth Floor spokesman Samantha Baronex said that they're currently looking at several potential new venues. In the past, we have operated roughly on forty acres, including both events space and parking.

7:51 We are looking to maintain that amount of space, but do have the flexibility to operate on a slightly smaller footprint. Once the new venue has been selectednouncement will be made on the event's official website. Zombie Joe's Underground Theater Group presents Dark Dark Ride Ride datney Land Buckle in Brave Souls. Zombie Joe's Underground Theater Group in North Hollywood, California is proud to present the Dark Dark Ride Ride datney Land, a gleefully twisted, adults only horror parity experience that takes you on the most disturbing joy ride of your life. Climb into a two seater doom Buggie and journey through the unhinged satire of the world's most beloved theme park empire. Each twisted corner of the ride reveals a new demented scene featuring sinister princesses, deranged mascots and parody music gone Horrifyingly Wrong. Directed by Charlotte Cocker and produced by Zombie Joe, this experience for audience's eighteen plus contains nudity, dark themes, adult content and close up encounters. Dark Dark Ride Ride datney Land takes place two weekends only, April twenty fifth or twenty seventh, and May second through fourth. Tickets are on sale now for thirty five dollars per two person doom Buggy totaling thirty eight twenty five with online fees.

9:04 Leatherface will make his UK debut and a brand new scare maze at this year's Halloween haunt Fest and Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Guests will be transported into the world of the nineteen seventy four classic That Texas Chainsaw Massacre and face one of the horror's most feared families in iconic scenes from the film. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the most terrifying films of all time, and we are thrilled to bring its sheer horror to Halloween haunt Fest, said Nick Doherty, CEO of Nick Doherty Productions, producers of Halloween haunt Fest. Our team has worked tirelessly with the filmmakers and franchise owners to recreate the fear, suspense, and chaos of Leatherfaces World, and we can't wait for guests to experience at firsthand. Halloween haunt Fest will take place select nights October seventeenth through November First. Tickets are on sale starting at thirty nine pounds fifty for standard tickets.

9:53 The Southland Helloween Parade in South End, on SA, United Kingdom is set to return on Saturday, October TI twenty fifth, Bigger, bolder, and spookier than ever. The parade is now open for entrance from the local community. Companies, dance troops and creatives are welcome to join in the Halloween Fund for free as long as they register before October fifth. Every entrant must be illuminated, dressed in family friendly costumes, entertain and interact with spectators, and be sure their outfits and designs are weather resistant. See the full list of terms and congitions and submit your registration form on the event's official website by following the links in our show notes. Some upcoming events this April through June include East Coast Haunts Convention in Oaks, Pennsylvania, from April twenty four through twenty seven, The Spooky Swap Meet in Los Angeles, California, April twenty fifth through twenty seven, Wicked New England in Salem, Massachusetts.

10:47 May third, halfway to Halloween Expo in ann Arbor, Michigan. May tenth, Shutter Con in east Ridge, Tennessee, May tenth and eleventh, scare Con in Birmingham, England, May twentieth and Nive twenty first, Monster Palooza in Pasadena, California, May thirtieth through June first, and the Midwest Haunters Convention in Rosemont, Illinois, June sixth through eight. And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode was produced by me Philip Hernandez, with reporting by Daryl Plunky. Post production by David Swope. This Haunt News Update is a production of the Haunted Attraction Network, and you can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Hanta Attractionnetwork dot com.

11:28 Support for this episode comes from Gantum Lighting and Controls. Until next time, Haunters Stay Scary. This is a Haunted attraction, network production,