Midsummer Scream

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Midsummer Scream is a Halloween and horror film fan convention held annually in Long Beach, California at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. [1] [2] [3] Widely considered to be the world's largest convention dedicated to the holiday and the horror genre, [4] [5] it is associated with the haunted attractions of Southern California. [6] [7] [8] [9] It is also linked to the trend of "Summerween" (Halloween celebrations in summer). [10] [11]

In addition to panels featuring notable speakers like John Carpenter, [12] as well as film screenings of classic horror features and new short films, [13] the convention has a large show floor that is divided between a retail space and the Hall of Shadows. [14] The Hall of Shadows is an immersive dark space, [15] which has featured haunt mazes by film studios including Lionsgate Films [16] [17] and New Line Cinema. [18]

References

  1. Painter, Alysia Gray (March 10, 2025). "March takes a monstrously fun turn as 'Midsummer Scream' passes go on sale". KNBC . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  2. Sayre, Will (July 25, 2023). "Midsummer Scream horror convention descends on Long Beach". Spectrum News . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  3. "Midsummer Scream". Time Out . May 23, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  4. Feinblatt, Scott (July 26, 2024). "Midsummer Scream scares up a horror-filled fright fest for every level of Halloween fanatic". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  5. Foreman, Alison (July 30, 2024). "Midsummer Scream 2024: World's Biggest Halloween Convention Hits Record Attendance". IndieWire . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  6. White, Abbey (October 10, 2024). "Halloween Wars: Theme Parks Are Fighting for Bigger Share of Scream Economy". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  7. Soderstrom, Erika (October 31, 2024). "The business behind Halloween scares". Marketplace . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  8. Guzman, Richard (January 13, 2025). "Macabre Daily says 4 of the 10 best horror conventions are here in Southern California". Los Angeles Daily News . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  9. Painter, Alysia Gray (June 15, 2021). "Midsummer Scream Scares up an Eerie August Expo". KNBC . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  10. Graves, Sabina (July 11, 2025). "There's No Need to Wait for October: Summerween Is Here". Gizmodo . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  11. Vasquez, Jennifer (August 6, 2024). "Midsummer Scream Slays Another Summerween". Vamp Jenn's Corner. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  12. DiVincenzo, Alex (April 17, 2025). "John Carpenter to Appear at Midsummer Scream in Long Beach This August". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  13. Davis-Friedman, Samantha (May 26, 2023). "Midsummer Scream 2023 creeps into California in July". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  14. Guzman, Richard (July 21, 2022). "13 frightfully fun things to see and do at Midsummer Scream in Long Beach". Press-Telegram . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  15. Painter, Alysia Gray (June 3, 2024). "Peek (and eek) inside the 'Hall of Shadows,' the huge haunt space at Midsummer Scream". KNBC . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  16. Squires, John (August 12, 2025). "Lionsgate Brings Horror Maze to Midsummer Scream This Week Featuring Strangers, Rejects & Crazies". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  17. Schuster, Kat (July 9, 2024). "Midsummer Scream returns to Long Beach with Lionsgate haunt, 'Dragula' stars and more". Long Beach Watchdog. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  18. Wilton, Mike (August 6, 2025). "Midsummer Scream to Kick Off the Halloween Season in Long Beach with Horror Icons, Haunted Attractions, Wicked Panels and more". All Hallows Geek. Retrieved August 12, 2025.