This week: The Complete Guide to the Midwest Haunters Convention; Decreased Production of Halloween Goods; Disney's Stock Jumps 7% After a Blockbuster Quarter 2; Jack Skellington Gets a Makeover for Disney Halloween 2025; Paint The Night returns to Disneyland; Danny Elfman, John Carpenter, and More to Perform at "Future Ruins" Festival. Read the stories here.

Recently, I joined Tyler Barnett on the Fearworm Wormhole show to discuss how major theme park innovations could transform haunted attractions, and this is the full recording. We unpack Universal’s new Fan Fest Nights, Horror Unleashed, Dark Universe, and the rise of off-season activations like music festivals and “summer slasher” events. You’ll hear how IP partnerships, luxury-tier VIP add-ons, and even tariff pressures on materials can reshape your pricing and value proposition this fall—plus tactics for leveraging local brands when Hollywood licenses feel out of reach. Fearworm streams Wormhole episodes live every other Friday on Facebook. I wrote an article based on this as well, available here.

Today we're playing the FULL audio from a marketing masterclass I recently hosted for Haunter's Toolbox, answering YOUR QUESTIONS on marketing strategies for haunted attractions.  This is the complete, unedited recording! If you're a haunt owner or operator looking to boost ticket sales and reach new audiences, you'll find tactics you can immediately implement. Examples from Hush, Woods of Terror, and Transworld included. 
Haunter's Toolbox hosts monthly sessions at haunterstoolbox.com, and you can watch this video version here.

Director Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs Evil) breaks down his new slasher film, "Clown in a Cornfield," in this exclusive interview. Discover how he balances horror and comedy, creates authentic Gen Z characters, and draws inspiration from classics like Jaws. This is essential listening for haunted attraction creators and horror fans alike, with insights on the modern horror renaissance and the enduring power of communal fear experiences.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Begins Aug 15, following Aug announcements for Horror Unleashed & HHN; Marketing Your Haunted Attraction; Six Flags America To Close
- ScareCON comes to Birmingham May 20th - 21st; Midwest Haunters Convention's Exhibitor List; Eli Craig Talks Clown in a Cornfield and Modern Horror; FX’s Alien: Earth Brings Immersive Sci-Fi Horror to AREA15. Read more here.
https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/halloween-starts-in-august-now-disney-says-so

This week: Can Universal turn Spring into Second Halloween with Fan Fest Nights?; Theme Parks Turn to Diversification Amid Uncertainty Epidemic; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Howl-O-Scream Mayhem Sale; Midwest Haunters Convention Friday Haunt Tour to Feature Abandoned Haunted House Complex; Fright Nights WV "Fright Nights Final Cut: Summer Slaughter"; Mars releases Tricks, Treats, and Trends Report. Read more here.

East Coast Haunters Convention delighted attendees with haunt tours, programming, vendors, and more; Comcast's Stock Dips Despite EPIC Universe Opening; Wicked New England comes to Salem this Saturday; Creep It Real OC Tickets; The VHS Society presents "Mother of Evil" on May 16th; Street Food Cinema's "Boo-ze, Bites & Frights: Half-O-Ween;" Read the stories here.

This week: Tariffs Threaten to Raise Prices on Halloween Costumes & Decor; Creepy Creator Group Brings Easter Screams in Horror Parody Anthology; Complete Guide to the East Coast Haunters Convention; John Carpenter Comes to Midsummer Scream; Tokyo Disney Resort Limits Halloween Costumes; Merlin Entertainments Partners with RWS Global; Fear Farm Attraction Seeks New Venue; Texas Chainsaw Massacre Comes to the U.K. at Halloween Haunt. Read more: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/tariff-terror-will-halloween-prices-double

Halloween convention season is underway with a myriad of events that are partnering with haunts for programming and attractions; TransWorld's East Coast Haunters Convention takes place next week with pre-con haunt tours on April 24th & 25th and convention days on April 26th-27th; The Spooky Swap Meet returns to Los Angeles on April 25th-27th; Universal plans for strategic geographic diversification with the newly announced Universal Studios UK; Meyer2Meyer Entertainment brings "Little Shop of Horrors" to The Nocturne Theatre; Reapers Realm to hold an online eminent domain liquidation auction; Field of Screams hosts Halfway to Halloween Haunt & Music Fest; Discover Spooky Spots with The Scare Factor's newest directory; Picklenose Halloween House creator Dale Parker passes. Read the full stories here.

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.