Scare LA 2015 coverage!

Just got back from Scare LA, the biggest Halloween convention in SoCal! Had a lot of fun, it was my first time at Scare LA and my first time at a convention. It's a really fun and well put together event, especially for haunted attraction fans. The "mini-haunted attractions" from local SoCal haunts were really cool! It was cool to see little two or three room snippets of different haunted houses I haven't seen before. It was sort of the best commercial you could have for something like that!

 

Obviously the biggest stories from the convention were the Halloween Horror Nights and Knotts Scary Farm panels. Horror Nights was the last panel of the day Saturday with creative director John Murdy and production designer Chris Williams. They announced that Halloween was returning as a maze. Although they did say new elements would be added to this version like Michael eating a dog, (Which we'll be able to smell in classic HHN fashion.) a peppers ghost effect to make Michael disappear and projection effects on the facade like they had in Orlando last year.

 

Knott's Scary Farm was the big story Sunday with announcements that a new maze called "The Dead of Winter" will be premiering this September and Gunslinger's Grave, Toothfairy and Special Ops: Infected will be back with plenty of improvements. Gunslingers Grave "A Blood Moon Rises" is somewhat of a sequel maze where werewolves have overrun the town. Tooth Fairy has a new finale and a new Skeleton Key Room. Special Ops: Infected has the most changes, there will be one giant course this year as opposed to the two courses they had last year. Newer high tech guns, more zombies and check points and re-spawn points like an actual video game. It was also confirmed that Trapped will NOT be returning to the farm. Other non maze announcements included Knotts Spooky Farm, the return of the Scary Farm season pass and Elvira's Asylum! Knotts Spooky Farm is a daytime family oriented experience that is all over the park and includes Trick or Treating, arts and crafts, costumes contests etc. The rest of Scary Farm will be announced August 26th!

 

Check out the photos:

 

Scare LA day 1!

Got the credentials.

Lots of make-up demos through out the con...very cool to watch!

And scareactors!

This mini-haunt was sort of a showcase of different Halloween props and special effects.

Although one scene was rather shocking.

First panel of the day was the Legend of the Hatbox Ghost.

Disney Imagineers were on hand including Tony Baxter!

Lots of concept art and other cool photos.

Tony Baxter and Tim Burton.

Very cool panel!

Next was Making Monsters moderated by Rick West!

Creative directors from Fright Fest, Dark Harbor, Knotts Scary Farm, and Halloween Horror Nights took part.

More concept art and pictures!

Dark Harbor!

Knotts!

HHN!

Great Panel!

More make-up demos to check out.

Checking out the LA Haunted Hayride booth.

Perfectly normal to see body parts all over the place at Scare LA.

 

Fright Fest had a booth set up.

Plus scary chicks!

 

This dude was killin it.

What's up Bill?

I made a couple friends.

This dude's really happy about that HHN announcement!

Cosplayers were everywhere!

Any takers? Just 15 cents a day and this monster can find the home he needs.

HHN panel's about to start!

Very cool to #ScareLA trending!

Packed house for this panel!

John Murdy and Chris Williams ready to do some announcing.

Honestly I had no idea Michael Myers lived at Universal Studios.

Halloween producer Malek Akkad stepped on stage to talk about Halloween.

Halloween 3 Easter eggs be back.

Then it was time for trivia, winner won front of the line passes and a backstage tour of a maze.

Question was: "What is Michael Myers' middle name?" Correct answer: Audrey...the more you know.

To finish off the day it was world record breaking time for most candies opened at once!

John and Chris stayed to help.

Where's my candy at??

Sounds like an episode of Dexter.

This costume...amazing.

These two were also killing it!

Wouldn't be Halloween without masks!

 

With that, day 1 comes to a close!

Edited August 10, 2015 by DallasAlvey

Day 2 coverage!

 

Back to check out day 2 of Scare LA1

Dark Harbor panel was first up.

The Ringmaster took over the presentation.

Dark Harbor mazes.

The newest addition to Dark Harbor.

Then Scary Mary came on stage.

Paintball and monsters? I'm down!

We also got to see where the Ringmaster went on Vacation.

Getting stalked by the Sinister Twins..I'm told that's not good.

What's up Mr. Scareactor?

Drunken Devil was one of the mini-haunts.

There's the drunken devil himself!

Hi Mr. Satan!!

Insert fart joke here:_________

Do you know how I got these scars?

Coulrophobia anyone?

Evil eyes of evilness.

Maze selfie!

Spooky Hallow

Spooky indeed!

Another amazing costume!

Knotts panel...very exciting!

All the Scary Farm maze designers!

Hosted by the one and only Jeff Tucker!!

Knott's Spooky Farm.

Moving on from spooky to scary.

Pass is back!

With parking...yay!!

Then Elvira popped in to announce her new show!

Jeff "I want to see an Elvira bouncy house attraction."

Hey Elvira!

 

That's Scare LA, had a great time and I highly recommend attending in the future if you're a fan of haunts! Thanks to the Scare LA staff and Theme Park Adventure for putting on an awesome event!

Edited August 10, 2015 by DallasAlvey

Awesome update! Thanks for sharing!!

Can't wait for Scary Farm and Dark Harbor. Special Ops: Infected was the craziest thing I've ever done in a theme park! Running through the park with zombies dropping out of trees, blowing up a bridge, being chased through the lodge, defending a downed helicopter, just wild!

Really cool TR!! Can't wait till Fright Fest, etc

scary farm looks like alot of fun and you cant beat having an evil elsa

Thanks for the look at Scare LA, Dallas. I've always been intrigued by Dark Harbor, but haven't had a chance to see it for myself yet. Need to get back to Scary Farm one of these days, too.

Wow I loved seeing the coverage from Scare LA!!! I was supposed to go and then other things happened so I was able to but I'm definitely looking forward to the Halloween season and I will have to make it out there next year. Awesome pictures, you captured it all!!

I was there both days. Enjoyed it a lot, despite not being able to get in to the HHN panel. I was actually the most entertained by the Queen Mary panel, the Ringmaster was hilarious!

 

Did you not do the Alone experience? I did it for my first time this year, and even managed to do it twice. Probably not for everyone (no gore or scares, just "unsettling"), but I rather liked it.

 

I do think that while they definitely have a few kinks to work out at they continue to grow an expand, it was an overall good weekend. The new venue was a big improvement. Next time, I wish there could be more entrance points to the vendor floor and mini mazes. The mini maze area still felt cramped. Maybe that should all just be next door?

 

They also need more clarity on the Fear Freak/Student Scare passes... we were under the impression that as long as we were at a panel 15 minutes before the show, we'd get in. We got at the HHN panel 20 minutes before, and were told that 1) they had already let in the FF/SS people, 2) they were already letting in the GP, and we were SOL unless there was space after all the GP were in. Turned out there wasn't. That kinda sucked. And we weren't the only people with this problem, there were about 15-20 other people in our same boat that were equally upset.

 

Oh, and there's probably not much they can do about this, but it seemed like there weren't enough bathrooms. Surprising for a convention center.

^Dark Harbor definitely offers the most value of any of the So Cal haunts. Great talent to go along with a great setting.

 

I will also second Dallas comments that any haunt fan in so cal should check out ScareLA. You get coupons for all the local haunts, get to mingle with the creative minds and talent from all those haunts, experience all the mini haunts, hear the panels, and there are all sorts of vendors to help you complete your Halloween costume.

Great coverage! My favorite time of the year. Halloween is Like Christmas for my brother and I. Its gonna be a very busy month, can't wait!

Great report Dallas! ScareLA looks like a lot of fun.

Yay! It's the most wonderful time of the year! Awesome TR Dallas. Thanks.