The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Returns to Long Beach This Fall!
After four long years, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor returns to Long Beach. Opening on September 20th and running select nights until November 2nd, The Queen Mary and City of Long Beach will transform the almost 100-year-old haunted vessel into the most exciting and sinister destination that ever pulled into port. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 14th. You can view the all-new 2024 trailer here.
From 2010-2019, Dark Harbor captivated the residents of Long Beach and beyond, offering an immersive Halloween experience like no other. Now, the haunted ship creaks to life once more, welcoming the bravest of souls to enjoy a spooky night both on board the ship and in the surrounding harbor. Prepare for the return of beloved icon characters, haunted mazes, live entertainment, themed speakeasy bars and lounges, ghostly experiences, and themed, sinister eats and treats.
Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the world’s largest Halloween-themed entertainment company, will be coordinating the return of the event and raising the spirits at the legendary SoCal Halloween celebration. This year’s mazes will both continue the stories of the past as well as introduce new characters and storylines. To the delight of fans, Dark Harbor’s speakeasies will also make their return in 2024. Secret speakeasies are hidden inside and around Dark Harbor’s mazes and attractions. Entry is granted only to guests with one of Lady Mabel’s mystic tokens, some of these tokens will be given out each night during the Maiden Voyage Launch Party at 8:08 pm in the ShipYard. For guaranteed access, guests can purchase a “Foresight Four Pack,” which includes a group astrology reading with Lady Mabel herself and four speakeasy tokens.
“We’ve said from day one that we will honor the history, legacy, and stories of this legendary event,” said Brett Bertolino, Director of Special Projects for Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. “But we’re also committed to guiding the event’s evolution by adding new and cutting edge experiences.”
Aside from mazes and attractions, Dark Harbor will feature a nightly variety of entertainment, including the return of the legendary Dark Harbor Sliders and the popular percussion of the Voodoo Sound Company in the VooDoo Bayou. Fire Spinners will light up the fire stage with nightly performances. Magicians and sideshow performers will entertain and heckle the crowd in the Bizarre Bar in the Circus area, while resident DJs in the ShipYard provide beats alongside pop-up performances.
The Ringmaster has returned to unleash a twisted Halloween-themed carnival complete with a unique collection of new and returning rides such as Sinister Swings, Scary Mary’s Ghost Rider, Black Widow, and Rampage Double Wheel.
Join the Captain each night in the ShipYard at 8:08 pm to experience the Maiden Voyage Launch Party. This ghoulish spectacle is not to be missed! The Captain will call upon his monsters to rise from their graves, slide into the streets and terrify the guests of Dark Harbor! This only happens once a night, so don’t be late! Or else…
End your night in the ShipYard with a dance party celebrating The Queen Mary’s final voyage to Long Beach, which included stops in Brazil, Mexico and Peru. The Final Voyage begins one hour before the festival closes and features modern Latin music, reggaeton and an appearance by el Diablo.
New experiences and highlights for Dark Harbor The Spirits Rise include:
- Lullaby – new for 2024! In the depths of the Queen Mary’s first-class swimming pool, the sinisterly playful ghost of Scary Mary rises to accost passengers and guide them toward a watery abyss – a vortex that leads to the chilling underworld. Listen carefully and you may hear your final Lullaby.
- Feast – reimagined for 2024! Step inside the backend of the ship’s kitchen to witness the origin story of Chef, who started out as a young, ambitious, Butcher with his eyes on the head chef role aboard the luxury cruise liner. After chopping up flesh for years on the ship, The Butcher grew resentful towards the ungrateful First Class Passengers who consumed his meticulously prepared meats. Frustrated, The Butcher takes recipe creation efforts into his own bloody hands by adding a special ingredient that no one can quite put their finger on. Will you be able to escape the wrath of The Butcher or will you be served up next? After completing the maze, the Feast path descends into the historic Engine Room where guests can hear the last whispers of Half Hatch Henry while walking through Door 13 if they dare.
- Infirmary – new for 2024! The wicked spirits of a sadistic surgeon and his accomplice in life, Graceful Gale, torment the living with ghastly echoes of their gruesome procedures. Their path of destruction stretches from the First-Class decks to the eerie depths deep inside the bowels of the Queen Mary as they accost the living with their unrelenting rage. While the spectacle of Dr. Edwin Master’s specialized surgeries in the operating theater dazzles spectators, they have no idea what’s happening below in the third class corridors. Injustice will not stand for long. Will the third class patients overthrow this maniacal medic or will he and Gale continue their gory game in this violent, disturbing and macabre masquerade?
- Big Top Terror – new for 2024! Step right up and uncover the terrors that lurk within the shadows of Big Top Terror. This Halloween carnival is no ordinary circus—it’s a trap, a deadly labyrinth of jack o’lanterns designed to ensnare the souls of the innocent. The Ringmaster, with their hypnotic charisma and enchanting performances, lures the unsuspecting into this dark maze, where doom awaits. Proudly displayed within the Circus is the Ringmaster’s sinister collection of cursed objects, amassed over the ages. Learn the tale of the Pumpkin Carver, see the death defying stunts and avoid the Ringmaster’s Henchies at all costs!
- Breakout – new for 2024! The mystery behind what happened in the infamous stateroom, B340 continues… The notorious murderer, Samuel The Savage has been arrested, dragged off the ship, thrown into a prison cell, the heavy iron door slamming shut behind him. But to no surprise, the rusted shackles inside this seaside village jail are no match for this world famous criminal. He escapes his cell scavenging through the small town – YOU are now in his footsteps trying to avoid the long eye of the law as you seek safe haven, hiding places and if nothing else, REVENGE! How does it feel to step into the shoes of Samuel The Savage? Will you listen to the twisted voices in your head or can you resist the urge to KILL in Breakout!
- The Spirits of Dark Harbor
Step aboard the Queen Mary, learn about the ship’s fascinating history and grab a cocktail or mocktail at the Spirits Bar while you explore the real stories of paranormal experiences and ghost sightings about this notoriously haunted ship and learn how they’ve inspired the stories and characters of Dark Harbor.
- Lady Mabel Presents: The Summoning of Samuel – Step into the supernatural atmosphere of our Summoning circle, where the veil between the living and the dead grows thin. Guided by our gifted psychic Lady Mabel, participants will gather around a dimly lit table adorned with flickering candles and artifacts from the ship herself. As Lady Mabel begins the ritual, a chilling silence fills the room, broken only by the soft, haunting melodies playing in the background. With each whispered incantation, the presence of a malevolent spirit draws closer. The psychic summons forth the vengeful ghost of a notorious murderer, whose restless soul seeks retribution. Brace yourself for an unforgettable ten minute experience of spine-tingling suspense and supernatural encounters, where the boundary between life and death is perilously blurred.
Tickets will be available to the public on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. For more information and event updates, sign up at www.darkharborhalloween.com and follow Dark Harbor on Facebook and Instagram. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is located at The Queen Mary – 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, CA
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor – SoCal’s Ultimate Halloween Event (darkharborhalloween.com)
Knott’s Scary Farm
Select Nights September 19 – November 2, 2024
Knott’s Scary Farm is the longest-running and most haunting Halloween theme park event in Southern California. With over 50 years of nightmares, unimaginable scares and innovative thrills, Knott’s Scary Farm has left no tomb unearthed, no crypt un-rattled and no fear untouched.
Experience the fully transformed theme park, with uniquely haunted mazes and attractions, sinister shows, and more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding across every inch of the park.
Knott’s Scary Farm is not recommended for children under 13. All guests, regardless of age, need to have their own paid admission ticket.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit: Halloween Events & Activities | Los Angeles, CA | Knott’s Scary Farm (knotts.com)
The Countdown is on to the Highly Anticipated Opening of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 5 and the Time is Now to Purchase Coveted Event Tickets Including the Popular Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass
Prepare to Scare with Eight All-New Terrifying Haunted Houses, the Menacing Terror Tram, Frightening Scare Zones and Daring Live Entertainment
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is just around the corner and this year’s event will be scarier than ever. Beginning on Thursday, September 5 and continuing on select nights through Sunday, November 3, guests are invited to step into the place where horror lives when they purchase available event tickets, including the popular Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass where they can relive the terror over and over again.
With eight all-new terrifying haunted houses, a reimagined Terror Tram, multiple scare zones and live entertainment, Halloween Horror Nights is Southern California’s scariest Halloween event that features a killer line-up, inspired by the biggest names in horror.
At a glance, here’s what guests can expect at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights:
- “The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy,” an immersive experience curated by the multi-award-winning artist.
- “A Quiet Place,” a terrifying new experience based on Paramount Pictures’ critically acclaimed franchise that will incorporate American Sign Language (ASL) into a haunted house for the very first time.
- “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” inspired by Sony Picture’s latest installment of the Ghostbusters franchise.
- “Insidious: The Further” based on the latest films in the hit supernatural horror film series produced by Blumhouse Productions in association with Sony Pictures.
- “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” an all-female monsters led haunted house inspired by Universal Pictures’ classic monsters, featuring music by Slash.
- “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface,” which pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the iconic maniacal monster.
- “Monstruos 2: The Nightmares of Latin America,” a sequel to the 2023 hit haunted house.
- “Dead Exposure: Death Valley,” an original concept house with petrifying radioactive zombies.
- “Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse,” a terrifying experience taking fans on a close encounter with characters from Blumhouse Production’s popular franchises, including M3GAN, The Black Phone, Freaky, The Purge and Happy Death Day.
- “The Purge: Dangerous Waters,” a live stunt show that takes visitors on a fiery, rock-fueled adventure while they fight to survive the night, inspired by Blumhouse Production’s popular film franchise.
- “Luchadores Monstruosos,” an all-new scare zone.
- “Skull Lordz,” a scare zone featuring a gothic inspired royal court of the dead.
- “Chainsaw Punkz,” a troop of chainsaw killers will confront guests as they enter the event.
- “Murder of Crowz,” a flock of menacing crow stilt-walkers will terrify guests.
Tickets are on sale now with a variety of ticket offerings available. Click here to purchase tickets and for Terms and Conditions. Details for each ticket type are subject to change.
- General Admission: general admission ticket to Halloween Horror Nights
- Universal Express: One-time (per day) express access to each participating haunted house, ride and attraction. Does not include early event access.
- Universal Express Unlimited: Unlimited express access (per day) to each participating haunted house, ride and attraction. Does not include early event access.
- Frequent Fear Pass: Experience up to 33 nights (based on your selected first visit date during purchase) of General Admission to this year’s event. Valid on select nights only; blackout dates apply. Does not include early event access.
- Ultimate Fear Pass: Experience the scares over and over for up to all event nights (based on selected first visit date during purchase). No blackout dates on return visits. Does not include early event access.
- After 2 PM Day/Night: Daytime General Admission to the Theme Park after 2:00 p.m. and same day evening General Admission to Halloween Horror Nights.
- Early Access Ticket: Early access (beginning at 5:30 p.m., subject to change) to select haunted houses prior to event opening. A Halloween Horror Nights admission ticket must be purchased separately.
- I.P. Tour: Enjoy V.I.P treatment with an evening of first-class horror, expert shared guided tour of the haunted house, exclusive experiences along the way and a gourmet dinner.
- Pass Member Special Pricing: Platinum Annual Pass Members can reserve their complimentary Halloween Horror Nights General Admission ticket, select nights apply.
Adding to the scares, guests also can experience select theme park attractions open during the event, including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” the highly immersive land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” featuring “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride™.” The interactive land SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will be accessible to guests purchasing select tickets.
Universal Studios Hollywood Introduces Universal Fan Fest Nights, An All-Original, Immersive and Interactive After-Hours Experience, Tapping into Fan Favorite Genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming and Anime; Inaugural Event to Debut in Spring 2025
This All-New, Separately Ticketed Event, Leaps to Life from the Innovative Creators of Halloween Horror Nights
Visit Universal Fan Fest Nights to Sign Up and Be Among the First to Learn About the Event as Details Become Available
Universal City, California, August 23, 2024 – In Spring 2025, Universal Studios Hollywood will introduce guests to Universal Fan Fest Nights, an all-new interactive and immersive separately ticketed event that brings the most compelling worlds of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming and Anime to life from the creators of its highly-acclaimed Halloween Horror Nights event.
Featuring a slate of all-new, thrilling and unique fan favorite experiences, the inaugural Universal Fan Fest Nights 2025 at Universal Studios Hollywood will debut these exciting properties with more to be announced soon.
- Star Trek: This experience is inspired by the Star Trek universe, one of television’s most enduring franchises, which is known for its groundbreaking storytelling that addresses social, political and cultural issues as well as entertaining millions of fans. Star Trek’s optimistic view of the future and reflection on what it means to be human has inspired generations of dreamers and doers.
- Back to the Future: This exciting experience is inspired by the blockbuster 1985 Back to the Future movie. The groundbreaking adventure sparked one of the most successful trilogies in film history, won an Academy award and launched a franchise that would go on to generate almost $1 billion globally.
- DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: 2024 has been a banner year for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D). On the heels of the acclaimed film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and the smash hit video game Baldur’s Gate 3, D&D is celebrating 50 years of the WORLD’S GREATEST ROLEPLAYING GAME. More than 64 million D&D fans love rolling dice, slaying monsters and envisioning themselves as the amazing heroes they all are inside.
Universal Fan Fest Nights will be a limited-time, after-hours experience, exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood that will showcase a dynamic line-up of captivating, immersive in-world experiences along with engaging celebratory activations throughout the theme park, from live entertainment to cosplay, inviting guests to embrace their favorite characters and share their enthusiasm with like-minded fans.
“For decades, Universal Studios Hollywood has been a leader in creating and executing innovative special events that are consistent with our brand,” said Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood. “From our esteemed Halloween Horror Nights event to this all-new Universal Fan Fest Nights experience, we are thrilled about how this breakthrough program will continue to elevate the guest experience in an all-new way.”
Additionally, fans can look forward to an enticing menu of themed foods and new merchandise, including collectibles, apparel, drinkware, accessories and more, to show off their fandom during Universal Fan Fest Nights and beyond.
Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests and fans to visit Universal Fan Fest Nights to sign up and be among the first to learn about Universal Fan Fest Nights as details become available.
More information about this unique, breakthrough themed event will be shared soon.
Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more information. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).