Tag: midsummer scream

Midsummer Scream’s phone app available for download!

On By TimothyIn Cons, HalloweenLeave a comment

About 4 Weeks togo! Plan ahead with the New App!

Midsummer Scream, returning July 29-31 at the Long Beach Convention Center, has just released their schedule of nearly 100 panels and presentations via a brand new app available for both Apple and Android devices.

The app, developed by FanGuru/Eventology Solutions, allows guests to create their own schedule – an essential tool to make the most of an event that spans over 250,000 square feet, several stages and performance spaces, and 350 exhibitor booths.

Newly added and still unannounced panel and presentations include:

  • A one-hour discussion with The Walking Dead’s Executive Producer and special effects makeup legend Greg Nicotero led by LeeAnna Vamp on Friday, July 29.
  • A “keynote” presentation on the history of Halloween and haunted attractions from experts Lisa Morton and Ted Dougherty on Saturday, July 30.
  • A look at how songs are selected for inclusion in horror film and TV projects from a lineup of professional musicians and music supervisors at the panel “Spooky Music In Visual Media presented by LVCRFT” on Saturday, July 30.
  • A special sneak peek of the trailer for SPIRIT HALLOWEEN: THE MOVIEpresented by screenwriter Billie Bates on Sunday, July 31.
  • An all-star lineup of horror screenwriters, including SCREAM creator Kevin Williamson, discussing “Making Horror Fun Again” in a panel curated by Fangoria on Sunday, July 31.

The Midsummer Scream app includes a showfloor map and guide to finding and highlighting favorite vendors, celebrities meeting with fans for autographs, plus more features to be rolled out.

The Midsummer Scream app can be downloaded by searching for “Midsummer Scream” on your mobile device’s app store or through the following links:

A desktop friendly, web version of the full Midsummer Scream program is also available here.

Midsummer Scream 2022’s Hall of Shadows details!

On By TimothyIn Cons, Halloween, Haunted AttractionsLeave a comment
  • Admission to Hall of Shadows and its attractions is included in General or Gold Bat tickets to Midsummer Scream. Gold Bat VIP passes will grant guests “fast lane” access to most attractions in the Hall of Shadows. Additionally, Gold Bat pass holders will be granted access to Hall of Shadows each morning 1 hour prior to General Admission guests; this is a great opportunity to beat the crowds.
  • Hall of Shadows will be in operation Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31 from show open to close; it will not be operational Friday July 29th as haunters put the final touches on their amazing creations.
  • The Hall of Shadows is a massive, darkened space featuring displays and mini experiences by pro and home haunters from all over California. Hall of Shadows is almost 100,000 square feet in size.
  • The “theme” of this year’s Hall of Shadows is “Halloween Comes Home”.
Lights Out

  • CalHauntS will once again be creating the entry portal from the show floor into the Hall of Shadows. This year’s entry is called “Midsummer Estates” and will feature a small neighborhood with homes decorated for the community’s annual Halloween Festival. Beyond “Midsummer Estates”, guests will find 17 other haunts and attractions waiting within the darkness of Hall of Shadows. They include:
  • Bones Gulch (Castaic) – From the minds that brought you Beware the Dark Realm, Restless Souls Manor, and The Farm home haunts, a brand-new attraction is coming! Bones Gulch is proud to bring a small display of what we have in store for you this October to the Hall of Shadows.
  • Fear Farm (Victor Valley) – Venture deep into the cold earth beneath the farm, where a labyrinth filled with pure evil awaits your arrival.
  • Temecula Terror: The Crypt (Temecula) – A church and catacomb themed walk-through. Explore the carnage of a church’s botched exorcisms.
  • Reichland Asylum: The Return of Sarah Crawford (Riverside) – They said she worshipped the occult, locking her deep in the wards of Reichland Asylum and throwing away the key. Little did they know she was the least of their worries… Unearth the secrets of the Crawford family and the dark powers that lie deep in the corridors with Reichland Asylum: The Return of Sarah Crawford.
  • Straight to Hale Productions: Demon Creek (Alta Loma) – The town of Casket Creek has a sordid history, rife with witches using black magic and wreaking havoc. The townsfolk fear they may never escape the wickedness that hangs like a menacing cloud over their once-peaceful town, but it appears that an even more sinister entity looms in the shadows.
  • The Witching Hour: HALLOWEEN – A Terrifying Walkthrough Experience (Atwater) – Encounter the Myer’s home and come face-to-face with The Shape himself. Enter if you dare: everyone is entitled to one good scare!
  • Casa Calaveras: A Walk-Thru Art Experience – Stroll through an intimate series of glowing, peek-in dioramas and uncover the heart-filled tale of José & Gloria, the couple from the hereafter. A great way to introduce your kids to Día de los Muertos – Since 1999.
  • Gothic Hills Cemetery (Riverside) – Gothic Hills Cemetery returns to the Hall of Shadows with a new interactive theatrical display based on their Riverside, California haunt. This Halloween guests will experience the prequel to the Fitzroy story in their biggest season ever.
  • The Quail Run Carnival (Agoura Hills) – Come win some Halloween candy in a handmade, vintage-style, Halloween Carnival! Play either MASH THE MONSTERS or THE SEANCE, play a spooky vintage ARCADE CABINET, or spin our FORTUNE WHEEL to see your future! New games added every Halloween!
  • Exquisite Corpse: REDWATER! Vol. 1 – In the first part of this three-part walk-through series Obadiah, Elijah, and Beauregard Manning (children of the infamous crazed scientist Dr. Joseph R. Manning) set out on a strange and gruesome journey to find their recently missing father. Step back into 1985 and join us in Redwater, Louisiana, to embark through the ratty pages of a mysterious old comic book titled: REDWATER! Vol. 1
  • Boomers! Parks – Guests begin training as new overnight security for Boomers! and encounter paranormal entities!
  • Lights OUT: ICON – Welcome to Club ICON. Tonight’s category is Battle Royale, where two legendary houses compete to be the most ICONIC house of them all. Who will slay, or sashay, away?
  • Santa Ana Haunt: Shades of Hell (Santa Ana) – Shades of Hell serves as the gateway to your worst nightmares. Everyone has different fears – and they are all here, waiting for you.
  • Corona Haunt: Tales of Halloween (Corona) – A modern look into the horror stories that kept you up at night as a child. Brave the ghosts, witches, and demons of Halloween night!
  • The Dreich Society: Nightmare (Ontario) – Deep in the woodlands of Japan stands an ancient temple, originally designed to trap the land’s spirits of the night. Will you survive a peek behind the curtain in their realm, or be trapped forever in their eternal nightmare?
  • The Haunt With No Name… Yet (Tarzana) – Wandering on a eerie night, you find an unknown place. It is forgotten by time but seems haunted and filled with mysterious and spooky things. You decide to take the time to explore what is happening at the Haunt With No Name.. Yet.
  • Realm of Shadow: Hamre Manor (Norwalk) – The Lord of Shadow and his Matron have returned to the attic space of Hamre Manor. Come find your way through his minion-filled hallways, and prepare to confront the evil within!
  • The Decayed Brigade slider team will return to the Hall of Shadows with three incredible exhibitions on Saturday July 30th, and three on Sunday July 31st – show times to be announced soon.

o “The Hall of Shadows is a cornerstone of Midsummer Scream. It’s one of the main things that separates us from any other convention out there. The incredible haunters that work tirelessly to create displays and walk-through attractions for our guests to experience are truly masters of their craft, and we are so grateful to this community that steps up each year and knocks it out of the ballpark time and again.”

o “The overall theme for Hall of Shadows this year is ‘Halloween Comes Home’. That couldn’t be more on-the-nose as we return to the Long Beach Convention Center for the first time since 2019. This July, guests will experience the biggest and most incredible Hall of Shadows yet with more thrills and chills than ever before! It’s a fantastic mix of home and pro haunts, walk-through experiences, and spooky displays that everyone is going to want to see for themselves!”

o “Hall of Shadows is a celebration of the creativity on display by some of the amazing haunters here in SoCal each year. I truly feel that what they accomplish in such a short amount of time is a temporary art exhibit; it lasts for a couple days, and then is gone forever.”

MIDSUMMER SCREAM RETURNS TO LONG BEACH JULY 29-312022! 

On By TimothyIn Cons, HalloweenLeave a comment

WORLD’S LARGEST HALLOWEEN AND HORROR CONVENTION CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AT LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER WITH THREE DAYS OF GHOULISH FUN – TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY MARCH 5TH AT 10AM!

Midsummer Scream has announced its return to the Long Beach Convention Center July 29-31, 2022. The three-day event will mark the Fifth Anniversary of Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 5th at 10:00AM at MidsummerScream.org. For a limited time, General Admission tickets will be 40% off. VIP Gold Bat passes will be available while supplies last (discounts not available for Gold Bat tickets).

“As Midsummer Scream returns we’re putting a renewed focus on what made us love Halloween as kids, and the traditions we’ve continued through our lives,” says David Markland, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Midsummer Scream. “That includes, the magic of trick-or-treating, celebrating the classic monsters of our childhood, and preserving the history of our favorite holiday.”

The Hall of Shadows returns with the theme of “Halloween Comes Home”. Guests will step into a darkened realm filled with fog, haunted attractions, and lurking monsters. Over a dozen home and pro haunters including CalHauntS, Fear Farm, Reichland Asylum, Temecula Terror, and Corona Haunt will create stunning mazes and displays for guests to explore. The Decayed Brigade will thrill audiences with incredible displays of sliding prowess and showmanship daily.

“The excitement for the return of Hall of Shadows is palpable,” says Rick West, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Midsummer Scream. “The haunters, the fans – everyone is more than ready for this, and these amazing teams are ready to bring it home and create the best Hall of Shadows experience yet! Let’s go!”

Continuing Midsummer Scream’s tradition of world-class presentations, “Original Monster Kids” will be an unprecedented gathering of the Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr./Sr., and Vincent Price families on stage to share pictures, home movies, and discuss what it has been like growing up the children and grandchildren of the most famous horror and pop-culture icons in the world.

Other thrilling presentations throughout the weekend include the Winchester Mystery House, LA Haunted Hayride, and “Composers of the Apocalypse” which will feature legendary horror genre musicians… and perhaps even a live performance or two!

Brand-new for 2022 is the Museum of Halloween, displaying a variety of vintage collectibles, costumes, and more, alongside original artwork created just for the event, celebrating the culture, community, and even commercialism of the spooky season.

Featuring more than 350 vendors and artists, the Midsummer Scream show floor is a stunning collection of shirts and apparel, artwork, masks, posters, toys, oddities, and decorations for all Halloween and horror lifestylers as well as haunted attraction creators.. Vendors and companies found on the show floor will include The Mystic Museum, Tee No Evil, Vamp and the Fiends, Trick Or Treat Studios, Backstitch Bruja, Discount Cemetery, Nocturnal DesignZ, and Immortal Masks.

Also on the show floor, guests will find notable film celebrities such as James Jude Courtney (Michael Myers in Halloween 2018, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends), Jeff Daniel Philips and Daniel Roebuck (Rob Zombie’s The Munsters), Eileen Dietz (Pazuzu’s face, The Exorcist), Instagram legend Christine McConnell, and popular YouTubers Dead Meat and Grimm Life Collective.

More fan favorite components of Midsummer Scream will include the Black Cat Lounge kitten adoption space, Paranormal Pixie’s Pumpkin Patch children’s zone, and the Screaming Room Film Festival presented by HorrorBuzz. Midsummer Scream’s educational lineup of classes and workshops on creating haunted attractions and other Halloween skills will be developed in conjunction with the university themed entertainment organizations TEA@USC and TEA@UCLA.

For breaking information about Midsummer Scream, sign up for our digital newsletter at MidsummerScream.org. Follow Midsummer Scream on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by searching @midsummerscream.

About Midsummer Scream Branded Events
Midsummer Scream and Season’s Screamings are presented by David Markland (Founder/Executive Director), Gary Baker (Founder/Executive Producer), Claire Dunlap (Founder/Producer), and Rick West (Founder/Creative Director). Their goal is to showcase the diversity of Southern California’s haunt and horror community as a welcoming beacon for fans around the world to converge on Los Angeles for a weekend of excitement, networking and non-stop spooky fun!

‘Haunted’ Victorian Manors and Ghostly Residents Set the Scene for Southern California’s New Immersive Trick-or-Treating Experience: Cemetery Lane!

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Safe, secure… and spooky. Cemetery Lane, a Halloween experience featuring 13 trick-or-treating stops along a private, gated row of Victorian manors rumored to be haunted, takes over Heritage Square Museum (3800 Homer St. Los Angeles, CA 90031) October 27-31, 2021 – with hourly timed entry ticketing making the eerie event even more exclusive. 

Both day and nighttime ticket options are available to guests who dare traverse through the “neighborhood” of residents dying to celebrate Halloween. A plethora of photo ops as well as interactions with the terrifying townsfolk are part of the ghoulishly fun event.

Cemetery Lane is for all ages – young and old alike are highly encouraged to dress up in costume and enjoy the event which is mostly outdoors. All applicable local health guidelines will be enforced. The trick-or-treating element will last about an hour for each guest; but they are welcome to stay longer to mingle among the spirits.

Producing the event are David Markland (co-founder and executive director of Midsummer Scream) Claire Dunlap (co-founder and producer of Midsummer Scream and Spooky Swap Meet), and Ian Momii (Thea Award-winning technical director for The Nest) with decor and effects by Jeff Schiefelbein (owner/producer of Sinister Pointe).

“Living in an apartment setting (code for no trick-or-treaters), for years I’ve wanted to find an eerie old house to rent for Halloween to hand out trick-or-treats. I also fantasized about taking over an entire neighborhood for a spooky block party,” said David Markland. “My dream came true for both when Heritage Square agreed to collaborate with us on this event and now I get to hand out candy from a half dozen actual haunted houses!”

A limited shopping experience will be found on Cemetery Lane, including snacks for purchase. More information and tickets are available at CemeteryLane.com.

Children under age 2 receive free admission; all other guests must purchase a ticket: Wednesday, October 27, 4pm-6pm: $25/6pm-9pm: $30; Thursday, October 28, 4pm-6pm: $25/6pm-9pm: $30; Friday, October 29, 4pm-6pm: $25/6pm-10pm: $30; Saturday, October 30 1pm-6pm: $25/6pm-10pm: $30;  Sunday, October 31, 1pm-6pm: $25/6pm-9pm: $30. A $3.50 ticketing fee is non-refundable.

Refund and exchange requests honored until October 13; all sales are final past this date. The event takes place rain or shine, and organizers encourage guests to review full terms posted at CemeteryLane.com before making a ticket purchase.

Dark Harbor to Unveil 2018 Season Scares and Surprises at Midsummer Scream Sunday, July 29 at 12:00PM

On By TimothyIn Cons, Queen Mary's Dark HarborLeave a comment
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, SoCal’s most terrifyingly authentic haunt, will unveil its highly anticipated 2018 season at Midsummer Scream in Long Beach on Sunday, July 29 at 12pm PST with the welcome of a new, dark, surprise guest, character appearances, and a behind the scenes look at all the wicked frights to come.

Join the producers and directors of Dark Harbor for a featured presentation and discussion of all that’s new and exciting for Dark Harbor in 2018.  Be one of the first to learn all the gruesome details of Southern California’s authentically haunted attraction and the malevolent details of who will haunt the Dark Harbor shipyard, and haunt attendees nightmares, nightly.
Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival is a weekend-long celebration of everything Halloween, haunts and horror on July 28-29 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California.

TICKETS:  

Sunday, July 29, 12pm

WHERE:  

Midsummer Scream
GRAND BALLROOM
Long Beach Convention Center
300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary’s signature restaurants include Chelsea Chowder House, Observatory Bar, as well as, a weekly Champagne Sunday Brunch served in the ship’s Grand Salon. History buffs enjoy the ship’s museum with various daily tours, and currently the ship is featuring the renowned Diana: Legacy of a Princess exhibit. The Queen Mary features 80,000 square feet of event space in 17 remarkable Art Deco salons as well as a tri-level, 45,000-square- foot Exhibit Hall. The Queen Mary boasts 347 staterooms including nine full suites. For more information or for reservations, see www.queenmary.com or call (800) 437-2934. The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.

Knott’s Scary Farm will feature standalone Skeleton Key Rooms that are separate experiences from the mazes!

On By TimothyIn Halloween, Haunted Attractions, Knott's Scary FarmLeave a comment

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On Sunday, July 31, the creative team of the 44th annual world-renowned event, Knott’s Scary Farm, hosted a special panel at the first annual weekend-long Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival in Long Beach, California. Over 1,000 passionate Scary Farm fans attended the panel where it was revealed that for the first time ever, Knott’s Scary Farm will feature standalone Skeleton Key Rooms that are separate experiences from the mazes when you purchase the Fright Lane with Skeleton Key. The four terrifying new Skeleton Key Rooms will each feature a unique story and theme delivering unparalleled scares, interactive secrets and other blood-curling surprises:

Visions: Guests must bravely investigate the Green Witch Museum in Ghost Town where it is not the building that is eerily haunted, but the mystic items enclosed within. Using a Phantom Finder augmented reality device guests will be able to identify and witness paranormal activity connected to artifacts from the Sarah Marshall Witch Trial.

ZOZO: People from all over the world claim to have been visited by the Ouija demon ZOZO after a spirit board session. Is the demonic entity known as ZOZO real or are spirit boards just a myth?

Slasher: Guests are invited to step into a blood filled 80s’ slasher horror film. The masked Angel Maker Killer is on the loose. Every lead has run cold and that’s when you step into the picture. Will you become his next victim?

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Prey: Navigate a wicked hay maze packed with dead ends while equipped with only a faulty lantern as your guide. You are not alone. Mutant beasts are released to prey upon wandering visitors, the only way out is by facing your worst nightmares.
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Fright Lane with Skeleton Key allows the holder priority access to all mazes plus ONE time access to the four exclusive standalone Skeleton Key Rooms. Separate theme park admission is required and not included.

Returning 2016
The team also revealed that last year’s groundbreaking Paranormal Inc. maze will return to Knott’s Scary Farm this year. Featuring high flying aerial stunts and scares, guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff prowl for new patients to torture.

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Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 24 horrifying nights from September 22 – October 31 with a thousand monsters lurking in the fog. Whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…at Knott’s Scary Farm.

Check out our Highlight video from MidSummer Scream!

OINGO BOINGO DANCE PARTY ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINER FOR MIDSUMMER SCREAM’S NOCHE DE LOS MUERTOS BASH!

On By TimothyIn Cons, Halloween, Knott's Scary Farm, Queen Mary's Dark Harbor, Six Flag's Fright Fest, The Fright Zone, Universal Halloween Horror NightsLeave a comment

Johnny Vatos, Steve Bartek, John Avila and Other Original Members of Oingo Boingo Set to Rock Long Beach Convention Center During Nighttime Party on Saturday, July 30th, 2016

LOS ANGELES, May 11, 2016 – Let’s have a party, there’s a full moon in the sky! Midsummer Scream is thrilled to announce Oingo Boingo Dance Party will headline its Noche de los Muertos (Night of the Dead) celebration and costume contest at the Long Beach Convention Center Saturday evening July 30th, 2016.
Oingo Boingo Dance Party is comprised of former Oingo Boingo members Johnny Vatos, Steve Bartek, John Avila, Sam “Sluggo” Phipps, Carl Graves and Doug Lacy, along with a host of other wildly-talented musicians that keep the legacy of the iconic band alive and thriving for fans of multiple generations.
Known for their unique sound which includes explosive percussion, electrifying guitar riffs and a full horns section, Oingo Boingo’s extensive song catalogue includes Only a Lad, Little Girls, Weird Science, No One Lives Forever, and the venerable Dead Man’s Party. The band hosted Halloween shows in Irvine each year at the height of its popularity, with thousands of “Tender Lumplings” – the given nickname for their adoring fans – showing up in costumes and skeletal makeup, as the underlying thematic style of the group commonly centered around Dia de los Muertos.
“Oingo Boingo was synonymous with Halloween here in Southern California in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” said Rick West, Creative Director of Midsummer Scream. “What better way to launch our event than a concert featuring these legendary performers doing what they do best as Oingo Boingo Dance Party? To me, bringing these musicians and the haunt and horror community together under one roof is a no-brainer. They’re going to bring the house down!”
Oingo Boingo Dance Party will headline Midsummer Scream’s 21+ nighttime event, Noche de los Muertos, featuring a Best & Worst of the ‘80s Costume Contest, which will be judged by the band members themselves during the middle of their 90-minute concert performance. Midsummer Scream attendees are encouraged to dress up in their best – or worst – ‘80s Halloween costumes and strut their stuff across the stage as Johnny Vatos, Steve Bartek, John Avila, Sluggo and the gang cast final judgment!
For the ultimate Boingo fans in attendance, a limited amount of “Tender Lumpling Experience” passes are now available for purchase, which offers admission to the Noche de los Muertos party, as well as a personal meet-and-greet opportunity with the band that includes photos and autograph signing prior to the concert.
“Having Oingo Boingo Dance Party as part of our event was something the team wanted to do from the get-go,” said Gary Baker, Executive Producer of Midsummer Scream. “Very quickly, Johnny Vatos and the band were interested, which set everything in motion. We’re going to put on a show that no one will soon forget.”
Face-painters will be on hand to transform guests into fearsome skeletons or sweet sugar skulls if they’d like before and during the party for a small price – perhaps a golden coin, or a shiny silver dollar on either eye.
Tickets for Noche de los Muertos featuring Oingo Boingo Dance Party are now on sale at http://www.MidsummerScream.org, and will be sold throughout the day Saturday July 30th including at the door. Tender Lumpling Experience passes will sell out extremely fast – there is a frightfully limited supply!
Midsummer Scream is California’s premier Halloween, haunt and horror festival featuring more than 100,000 square feet of artisan vendors, live entertainment, specialty workshops, makeup demonstrations, a multipurpose theater, haunted attraction previews and experiences, Hall of Shadows darkened scare zone and more.
One of the biggest draws to Midsummer Scream are its world-class theme park panel presentations throughout the weekend. They include Knott’s Scary Farm (Sunday July 31st), Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor (Saturday July 30th), Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest (Sunday July 31st), Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights and Walt Disney Imagineering (Saturday July 30th).
Tickets are now on sale, with new information regarding Midsummer Scream is being updated frequently at MidsummerScream.org.
Fans may sign up on the site for email notifications and announcements, including discounts and other special offers. Be sure to follow Midsummer Scream on social media as well – Twitter/Periscope: @MidsummerScream, Instagram: @MidsummerScream, and Facebook: facebook.com/midsummerscream.

About Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival
Midsummer Scream is a large-scale summer festival celebrating the spirit of Halloween, haunts and horror, drawing thousands of guests to Southern California for a weekend of thrills and chills. Featuring a massive show floor of vendors and exhibitors, haunted attractions and experiences, live entertainment and world-class panel presentations, Midsummer Scream is the West Coast’s premier Halloween/horror event, offering something for fans of all ages. More information can be found at MidsummerScream.org.

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