Halloween may be five months away, but the Halloween season begins July 26 to July 28 with MIDSUMMER SCREAM. The world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, has unveiled its official app, which allows attendees to plan and schedule their spook-filled days at this year’s event — and with all there is to do, a schedule is a must.
The Midsummer Scream app can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices. To download, guests can either search the Apple or or Google Play app stores for “Midsummer Scream,” or download links provided at midsummerscream.org/app (a link to an online, app-less version can be found at that link).
“It’s shaping up to be our most thrilling Midsummer Scream yet,” said David Markland, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Midsummer Scream. “We have almost 100 hours of different panels, presentations, and performances, over 300 vendors to browse from, along with haunted houses to visit. We highly encourage downloading and using the app to help organize a single day or a whole weekend’s visit to Midsummer Scream.”
Always among the most popular highlights of Midsummer Scream are presentations and panels by the most popular — and most terrifying — Halloween events throughout California. This year’s Midsummer Scream is no exception, with planned presentations from (in alphabetical order, per day):
Saturday, July 27
- Castle Dark at Castle Park, Riverside
- The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
- Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest
Sunday, July 28
- Knott’s Scary Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm
- The Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, with a presentation covering three of their local events: LA Haunted Hayride, Delusion and the Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns
- Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights
- Winchester Mystery House
The app includes info on these presentations, as well as panels and talks with with Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Dark); a reunion of cast from Universal Studios theme parks’ Beetlejuice Revue shows; a live performance by composer Alan Howarth (Halloween II-VI, Escape from New York) of some of his most famous scores;, a panel with Hispanic horror filmmakers; and more.
This year’s Midsummer Scream theme is “A Haunting,” exploring real and fictional ghost stories and other paranormal activity. Midsummer Scream also boasts a celebrity guest lineup that includes Roger L. Jackson (the voice of Scream’s Ghost Face); John Kassir (Tales from the Crypt); Boulet Brothers (Dragula); Garret Sander, creator of Monster High, accompanied by voice cast from the animated TV series; Victoria Price, daughter of horror movie legend and cinema icon Vincent Price; cast members from M3GAN and The Black Phone; plus many more surprises.
Midsummer Scream’s renowned Hall of Shadows — a massive dark zone filled with haunted attractions created by some of the world’s most talented professional and home haunters — also boasts extra added elements this year, which will be announced soon.
Favorite Midsummer Scream attractions will also be on hand throughout the Long Beach Convention Center, including the “Pumpkin Patch” scare-free kids’ zone; the Black Cat Lounge, with kitten adoptions from Kitten Rescue; and the Screaming Room Film Festival, presented by HorrorBuzz. What’s more, some 350 vendors will be on site selling their spooktacular wares.
General admission passes for Midsummer Scream, along with a limited number of VIP “Gold Bat” passes, which sold out in 2023, are available now at www.MidsummerScream.com. Children under 10 are free with an accompanying adult.
Midsummer Scream is presented by David Markland (Co-Founder/Executive Director), Gary Baker (Co-Founder/Executive Producer), Claire Dunlap (Co-Founder/Producer), and Rick West (Co-Founder/Creative Director). Their goal is to showcase the diversity of Southern California’s haunt and horror community as a welcoming beacon for fans around the world to converge on Los Angeles for a weekend of excitement, networking, and non-stop spooky fun!
