Midsummer Scream is officially kicking off the haunt and Halloween season this week as it returns to the Long Beach Convention Center, bigger and better than ever. With an expected attendance of 50,000 people over the three-day event this year, you’ll need a solid attack plan to ensure you see and do everything that matters. Scare Zone is here to provide you with some tips and the information you need to make the most out of your visit to Midsummer Scream.
Tip 1: Consider attending more than one day.
Midsummer Scream is MASSIVE. With hundreds of vendors, a nonstop schedule packed with panels and presentations, and an entire exhibit hall consisting of actual haunts to walk through, there is really no way to see the entire convention in a single day. The convention takes place from Friday night through Sunday, and if you don’t attend at least 2 days, you’ll have to make some heartbreaking cuts to your wish list. We suggest downloading the Midsummer Scream app to help plan your day and ensure you experience what’s most important to you.
Tip 2: Arrive EARLY.
Traffic and parking around the convention center can be a nightmare, so GET THERE EARLY. There are also long lines to get in, although they move relatively quickly. If there’s an early panel or presentation you want to catch, plan enough time to drive, park, and wait in line. Also consider upgrading to a VIP Gold Bat Pass, which gets you into the convention an hour early and lets you skip many lines, including those for the attractions in the Hall of Shadows.
Tip 3. The Black Cat Lounge has a waiting list!
Did you know there’s a room at Midsummer Scream where you can hang out with cute cats awaiting adoption? If you didn’t, you’re probably the only one. Everyone loves this, and so there’s yet another long line for this. Typically, to access this room, you’ll either have to get in line first thing in the morning or put your name on a waiting list…so if the Black Cat Lounge is on your list to see, hit this up FIRST!
Tip 4: Skip the biggest presentations.
This one might be controversial; after all, everyone wants to be in the room when John Murdy announces the next maze at Horror Nights. But these presentations take up a lot of valuable convention time, and there will literally be dozens of influencers, bloggers, and YouTubers in the audience livestreaming the entire thing. Instead, we suggest using your time to check out some of the cooler (and smaller) presentations, learn how to crafting your own haunt props, visit the “Screaming Room” to watch an original short film, or catch one of the amazing slider shows in the Hall of Shadows.
Tip 5: Don’t miss the “After Dark” party.
Some haunt convention “dance parties” are full of caring and empty dance floors. But Midsummer Scream’s after party is typically packed and has an awesome fun and laid-back party vibe. The costume contest is the highlight, and there’s even an original “immersive experience” available only for party attendees. And with Midsummer Scream’s awesome guest list, you never know who might show up on the dance floor; one year we were lucky enough to bump elbows with Disney legend Bob Gurr! Gold Bat and VIP passes include admission to the After Party.
Our Midsummer Scream Top Picks for 2024
Here’s what’s on the top of our list to see this year!
Hall of Shadows: With multiple walk-through haunted attractions, detailed displays, and interactive exhibits, this fog-filled hall of the convention center is the MUST-SEE stop for all true haunt fans! You can also catch slider performances in the Hall of Shadows multiple times a day. You could spend hours in here, so be sure to check it out early and get a Gold Bat pass for front-of-the-line access.
Haunt Presentations: This year, there are panels and presentations by all the big names: Universal’s Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Castle Dark, Winchester Mystery House, and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. There’s even a panel on taking a home haunt to the professional level.
Urban Death by Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group: One of our absolute favorite experiences in Los Angeles, Urban Death is not to be missed. (But if you do miss it at Midsummer Scream, be sure to put it on your haunt schedule for October!)
Walk the Show Floor: There are more than 300 vendors this year, and checking out all the cool and spooky stuff for sale is one of our favorite activities. Be sure to bring your wallet and buy something to support local artists!
To make your own schedule, be sure to download the Midsummer Scream app. We also suggest purchasing a Gold Bat pass to get the front of the line for panels and the experiences in the Hall of Shadows as well as a shorter line to get into the convention center itself. Be sure to follow Scare Zone on social media as we’ll be posting live from Midsummer Scream all weekend!
