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HAUNTED HAPPENINGS N
ow one of three haunted attraction conventions in the United States (the other
two have been and gone),
HAuNTCon is now in its 17th year and takes place this time in Louisville, Kentucky, staring on April 29. Yet much of the action takes place away from the trade show floor. Kicking off on April 27, a two-day tour of local attractions is promised, including an overnight bus trip and lights on/lights off tours of 10 haunts. Attendees will meet the team of the Haunted Hotel in Louisville during the Thursday Night Kick-off Tour, while the Friday Night Spotlight Tour will be a trip to Indiana’s Industrial Nightmare and Fear Fair, two local legends.
Saturday night, April 30, will see haunters from across the USA show off their most creative costumes at the massive HAuNTcon Costume Ball, a rocking party. It’s like Halloween in April! The, on Sunday afternoon, the hotel parking lot fills with a collection of creepy vehicles for the Hearse and Parade Car Rally. Sunday night will be capped off with a special trip to another local haunting sensation, Indiana’s PsychoMania. Another key component of HAuNTcon is the education sessions that run alongside the trade sho, with over 40 hours of seminars, workshops and demonstrations included in the price of admission. Delegates will be able to learn new techniques on make-up and actor training, prop and set building, advertising and marketing, as well as tips and tricks to make their attractions more successful. “HAuNTcon is an opportunity for haunters to network, share tips and stories, get fresh ideas and check out the latest in haunting props,” explains event co-coordinator Leonard Pickel. “If you own a haunted house, or would like to find out how to get started in the haunt business, then HAuNTcon is the best investment you can make.”
W
hile the United States remains the centre of the “haunted universe,” haunt and scare attractions are catching on across the Atlantic, both as seasonal events and standalone
Dare you visit one of these trade shows?
Operators of haunted attractions on opposite sides of the Atlantic will be meeting for respective industry events in the coming weeks. Park World looks ahead to HAuNTcon in the US and ScareCON in the UK
Some of the hosts at ScareCON 2010
attractions. ScareCON, Europe’s only trade show for this sub- sector of the industry, returns to the UK this May, featuring a costume ball and – for the first time ever – “haunted” hotel rooms for guests.
Delegates at this one-day event on May 12 will be able to participate in a full timetable of seminars from industry professionals and browse from a selection of displays and trade stands in-between sessions. At the end of the day, ScareCON will morph into a late night costume “ScareBall” where delegates can let their hair down. Then, as night draws in, guests can take advantage of discounted hotel accommodation at the venue or a night of fear in a “ScareRoom”! The area around the hotel has a horrible history and as the clock ticks over into Friday the 13th, who know what spirits may emerge? You might not get much sleep. Now in its fourth year, ScareCON is intended for anyone currently in the scare and haunted attractions industry as well as those just starting out. Whatever your level of experience, there will be something of interest and assistance. The event is promoted by scare consultant Michael Bolton, whose last two projects included PrimEVIL at Norfolk Dinosaur Adventure Park and Ghosts of Christmas in Glasgow.
A make-up workshop at HAuNTcon 2010 APRIL 2011
HAuNTcon runs from April 27 to May 2 (trade show April 29 to May 1), based at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. For registration details, prices and the full education/event schedule, visit
www.hauntcon.com ScareCON takes place at the Village Hotel, Dudley, England, on Thursday, May 12. For seminar sessions, ticket prices and ScareRoom/ScareBall bookings see
www.scarecon2011.co.uk
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HAUNTcon’s Hearse Parade
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