“MIDSUMMER SCREAM ANNOUNCES “AWAKEN THE SPIRITS!” A POP-UP EVENT TO BE HELD AT THE PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER AUGUST 14-15! FEATURING HUNDREDS OF VENDORS, PANEL PRESENTATIONS, AND MORE!

On July 29, 2021 By TimothyIn Cons, Halloween, Haunted AttractionsLeave a comment

The producers of Midsummer Scream are thrilled to announce a surprise event kicking off the Halloween season to take place the weekend of August 14-15, 2021 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Awaken the Spirits!

It will feature over 200 spooky vendors, live entertainment, and a presentation stage where fans will learn what’s in store for Halloween 2021 from the likes of LA Haunted Hayride, Delusion, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Winchester Mystery House, and others.

Tickets and more info available at: midsummerscream.org/awaken

“The entire team is excited to be able to create live events once again,” says David Markland, Executive Director of Midsummer Scream. “Awaken the Spirits! will allow us an opportunity to bring together fans and professionals from the Halloween and haunt community to celebrate and prepare for what will be a great ‘spooky season’.”

After the pandemic caused Midsummer Scream to cancel their flagship event for the past two years, the team has ramped up production on several related projects for a strong end to 2021. Midsummer Scream’s Screaming Room Film Festival presented by HorrorBuzz will be held at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana July 10-11. Season’s Screamings, Midsummer Scream’s dark holiday convention, takes place December 17-19, also at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Next summer, Midsummer Scream returns to Long Beach for its highly anticipated 5th Anniversary show July 29-31, 2022. “Once we were certain Southern California was allowing live events again, we felt it was extremely important to do something for our longtime supporters, and create a showcase for the theme parks and attractions to inform the public what each of them will be doing for Halloween,” says Gary Baker, Executive Producer of Midsummer Scream.

“Since there are so many questions concerning haunted attractions and events this year, we really wanted to create a solid platform for that information to be relayed directly by our partners.” Midsummer Scream and the Pasadena Convention Center are working in accordance with all CDC, state, and local guidelines governing requirements for events and gatherings of this type. For breaking information about Awaken the Spirits! and other upcoming Midsummer Scream events, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @midsummerscream and sign up for the newsletter at MidsummerScream.org.

About Midsummer Scream and Awaken the Spirits!:
Midsummer Scream and its branded events are presented by David Markland (Founder/Executive Director), Gary Baker (Founder/Executive Producer), Claire Dunlap (Founder/Supervising 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! Be sure to follow Midsummer Scream on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for breaking updates and information.

Universal CityWalk Hosts a Free Concert Featuring Rising Stars from its Renowned Street Performers Program for One Night Only at the “5 Towers” Stage on Friday The 13th of July ;)

On July 9, 2018July 9, 2018 By TimothyIn Universal Studios HollywoodLeave a comment

Universal CityWalk’s prolific Street Performers program will feature today’s brightest up-and-coming stars in a free concert performance at the “5 Towers” outdoor concert venue. Hailing from across the globe, an array of eclectic artists will take to the stage to perform original and cover songs as well as collaborated sets in front of an enthusiastic, standing-room-only CityWalk audience.

With its innovative platform for emerging artists, Universal CityWalk’s renowned Street Performers program has emerged as a beacon for aspiring talent who migrate to Los Angeles in the hopes of finding fame and fortune.

Today’s diverse roster of performers runs the gamut from singer-songwriter to Latin jazz, folk pop, steel drums, pop viola, country, blues and R&B soul, and will include the following.

Featured artists:

Brother Yusef (Bakersfield, CA)

Cass Miller (Pittsburgh, PA)

Daniel Morris (Pine Bluff, AK)

Drea Rose (Salinas, CA)

Beautiful Fragile (Chicago, IL)

Jackii Kennedy (Key Largo, FL)

John Russel (Savannah, GA)

Katie Ferrara (Los Angeles, CA)

Nico Franc (Portsmouth, RI)

Ricky England (Seattle, WA)

Riot Child (Stockholm, Sweden)

Sajama (Santiago, Chile)

Sarah Lightman (Highstown, NJ)

Shani Rose (Los Angeles, CA)

Shashaty (Miami, FL)

Steegs (Grand Bend, Ontario)

Streetlight Cadence (Honolulu, HI)

Zen Thomas (Fort Lee, NJ)

For more information on Universal CityWalk, visit www.CityWalkHollywood.com. Regular updates can be found on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Twitter @UniStudios, Facebook-Universal Studios Hollywood and Instagram @UniStudios.

WHEN: Friday, July 13 at 7:00pm

WHERE: “5 Towers” concert stage at Universal CityWalk

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Ghost Town Alive! Returns, along with New Live Entertainment, Music, and More this Summer!

On May 24, 2017May 24, 2017 By TimothyIn Knott's Berry FarmLeave a comment

Starting May 27th through September 4th, Ghost Town Alive! returns to Knott’s Berry Farm for another action-packed summer complete with bandits, cowboys, robberies, judges, a good ol’ western hoedown, and much more! Guests can visit the beloved town of Calico and experience an authentic western adventure by becoming a star in this summer’s story of the Wild West, where the power to unlock adventures is in the hands of every guest.

This summer, the story continues a year after the notorious Mayfield Gang escaped the custody of Sheriff Wheeler. Word around town is the Mayfield’s have been spotted back in Calico and the townsfolk are in need of some help in capturing the bandits and keeping the town safe. Ghost Town Alive! will offer guests a firsthand experience to play an important part in this unfolding story of the wild west, with specific tasks and activities and an essential role as an honorary citizen of Calico.
“Ghost Town Alive! has taken Knott’s summer entertainment and the idea of ‘playing in a theme park’ to a whole new level. Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to not just interact with the citizens of Calico, but will have the ability to influence how the story takes shape,” said Jon Storbeck, General Manager of Knott’s Berry Farm. “Our Entertainment team has been working all year in developing new storylines, adding new characters and activities that make up the lively town of Calico”.

Along with the return of Ghost Town Alive! The park will also debut Snoopy’s Magnificent Magical Revue, a jaw-dropping magic show starring the World’s Most Famous Beagle, Snoopy and showcasing the mystifying and amazing magic of Magician Extraordinaire Greg Wilson! The whole PEANUTS GANG will amaze and confound with their magical exploits and lavish musical production numbers in this family friendly show! And who knows, guests might find themselves part of the act! Snoopy’s Magnificent Magical Revue will mesmerize on select dates, staring June 10 – August 20 in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. (Dark Wednesdays)

The circus returns to town! The renowned “Traveling Circus” returns for another season of exhilarating performances. Set on the Calico Mine stage in Ghost Town, come witness a spectacle; see awe-inspiring stunts, and death defying acrobatics in “Circus of Wonders.” The astonishing 30 minute spectacular will be action packed with all-time favorite circus attractions such as the Trapeze, Tightrope, Aerial Acrobatics, Trampoline, and of course, clowns, incorporating lighting and pyrotechnics, making this nighttime show a totally unique event! Select dates, June 10 – August 20.

The live entertainment continues with the explosive Wild West Stunt Show and the high kickin’ Calico Saloon Show, all in Ghost Town. At the Wagon Camp Stage, get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more! In the evening a group of krazy talented performers will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos!

Knott’s also invites guests to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend at the park for a special nighttime firework display. The Buena Park skyline will glow with a brilliant fireworks show on May 28th, July 1-2 & 4, and September 3rd, exclusively at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Guests can experience Ghost Town Alive! and much more with a 2017 season pass. A Knott’s Regular Season Pass includes unlimited 2017 admission to Knott’s Berry Farm and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited 2017 admission to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Soak City Waterpark with six thrilling new slides and an all new family raft ride.

KNOTT’S OFFERS EXPANDED SEASONS OF FUN, SUMMER INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND THRILLING NEW RIDES IN 2017

On November 1, 2016April 29, 2017 By TimothyIn Knott's Berry FarmLeave a comment

Exciting New Details about Next Year’s Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, The Return of Ghost Town Alive! And Expansion of Knott’s Soak City Waterpark

There’s farm fresh fun for everyone coming to Knott’s Berry Farm in 2017 with a brand new thrill ride, an extended Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, the exciting return of Ghost Town Alive! next summer, and the expansion of Knott’s Soak City Waterpark.

Sol Spin will bring brand new hair-raising thrills to the Fiesta Village area of the park next season. The new ride will send brave guests on a thrilling topsy-turvy adventure over 6 stories high as they rotate in all directions on one of six spinning arms. Sol Spin will be the newest addition to the theme park’s world-class line up of more than 40 rides and attractions when it opens in spring 2017.

But that’s not all! Knott’s Berry Farm is also expanding the park’s Seasons of Fun. For the first time ever, the mouthwatering Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, exclusively dedicated to celebrating Knott’s delicious roots, will be expanded to 23 days. Celebrate the historic berry with countless one-of-a-kind boysenberry inspired dishes, drinks and more, plus limited-time live entertainment the whole family will love!

This past summer to celebrate Ghost Town’s 75^th anniversary, Knott’s debuted the one-of-a-kind interactive experience Ghost Town Alive! The extremely popular interactive experience returns for a second year packed with new characters and even more interactive old west fun. The citizens of Calico return to take guests on an immersive journey back in time to the old west of the late 1800s when bandits and cowboys battle for control of the west. This summer the wild- west gets a little wilder, as new story lines and plot twists will be revealed throughout the season insuring guests will never experience the same adventure twice. Ghost Town Alive! offers something for everyone in your posse.

Also, coming to the park next summer, is the all new Boardwalk Barbecue restaurant located in the Boardwalk area of the park near Xcelerator. This new fast-casual dining location will offer various BBQ favorites including smoked pork ribs, tri-tip and rotisserie chicken along with a selection of sandwiches and side dishes. Boardwalk Barbecue will also be featuring a selection of local and well known craft beers. The restaurant will include a new covered seating area with a stage for live entertainment. The location will replace the existing Boardwalk Barbecue restaurant. Construction is set to begin this year.

Next year’s new enhancements also include an extensive expansion, renovations and new additions in store for Knott’s Soak City Waterpark, which were announced earlier this summer. Orange County’s largest water park will debut two water slide towers offering exhilarating attractions geared for families and thrill seekers. Shore Break will tower over seven stories and offer six different thrilling water slide experiences. Four of the slides on the tower will feature an Aqua-Launch chamber which will innovatively launch guests as the floor under their feet drops them into an almost vertical free fall through a series of flat loops and S-curves in a translucent flume. Shore Break will also feature dueling tube slides that will zip riders through an enchanting series of drops and turns. The height requirements for Shore Break slides are 48 inches. The Wedge slide tower will take the location of the current Pacific Spin and will be an open air family raft ride. Up to six guests at a time will descend down navigating twists and turns and unexpected drops. The minimum height requirement is 40 inches and 40 – 48 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person. The expansion project will also include updated shaded seating areas, cabanas and a remodeled Longboards’ Grill. Guests will be able to experience both water slide towers when Knott’s Soak City Waterpark opens for the summer season in May 2017.

A 2017 Season Pass is the best way to experience all of the new additions coming to Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark next year. A Knott’s Regular Pass includes unlimited 2017 admissions to Knott’s Berry Farm and a Gold Pass includes unlimited 2017 admissions to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City Waterpark. Right now you can get either a Regular or Gold Pass at the lowest price of the year: a Regular Pass for as low as 6 payments of $15, or a Gold Season Pass for as low as 6 payments of just $17.62. And when new passholders purchase before 12/31/16, you get one free admission during 2016 season to Knott’s Berry Farm. Hurry, offers end Jan 8, 2017. Applicable taxes and fees apply. The payment plan is only available online at knotts.com

Ghost Town 75th Update!

On February 29, 2016 By TimothyIn Knott's Berry FarmLeave a comment

Knott’s Berry Farm Announces Opening Dates for Ghost Town’s 75thAnniversary, GhostRider, Ghost Town Alive!, and Starbucks!

Knott’s Berry Farm announced today that its celebration of the 75thanniversary of the historic old west Ghost Townwill run May 27 through September 5. To mark 75 years of Ghost Town, Knott’s will reopen GhostRider, the longest, tallest, and fastest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast on May 27 following a complete restoration. As part of the summer 2016 celebration, Knott’s will alsointroduce a new interactive entertainment experience called Ghost Town Alive!. Ghost Town Alive!allows guests to play an active role in shaping what happens throughout the town everyday through September 5.Knott’s also announced that its first Starbucks will open on March 18in the California MarketPlace, just outside the Park’s main entrance, and will offer Starbuck’s world class coffee drinks and entrees.Adjacent to Starbucks is Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, which is currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation and will open in spring 2016.

This morning we had a chance to check out what they have been up to, and a few insights on “Ghost Town Alive” as well as a look at Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

Jason talks about the opening dates:

Ghostrider and “Ghost Town Alive” – May 27th

Starbucks – March 18th

Calico Saloon – Boysenberry Festival

Chicken Dinner Restaurant – Spring Time

Calico Stage with new summer show – Summer Time

Afterward we got to tour a few areas they have been working on.

Our first guide was Lara Hannerman, (Creative Director), she guided us through Ghost Town main street to tell us about “Ghost Town Alive.” First stop was Wagon Camp Theater, an all new stage is being built with updated safety for the performers and a new show is coming, no details on that… don’t want to spoil everything 😉 All those classic peek-ins will have real life characters, some of them you will even be able to go inside! The Shootin Gallery will be redone and themed, I have a feeling it’s going to look like the old one but a little smaller! Miss Doolittles will turn into a Textiles store, Miss Goldies you will be able to go inside and see who rules the town this summer! The Toy Barn will have real life Horses inside, and at the post office you will be able to send out real mail! Ghost Town really is going to be alive this Summer! Making our way to School House Road, The Old Haunt Museum will turn into The City Hall where you can meet the mayor and his wife! The pan for gold will go back to its original location, Turquoise Jewelry will turn into a Bank, they will be relocated to another sight in the park!

Then we got handed off to Jeff Shadic (Manager,Park Deco)

He showed us inside Calico Saloon, a lot of y’all will be happy with these upgrades.

New sound system, stage lighting, general lighting, A/C, Beer on tap, new furniture and so much more …the details are great, we can’t wait to check it out soon. It will be opening back up Spring time with an all new show!

Then off to the new Calico Stage area! The stage will face towards the water tower at the rail station, to keep that feel that you’re in Ghost Town still.New tech building will go to the left of the calico mine ride (far left) and it will be themed to match the mine ride!

also all the back stage ares are new and modernised for the performers and techs! The left of the backstage area buildings will be themed to match Ghost Town! New show will be coming this summer. The old Calico Stage will turn into a park, seating area, etc, we will see more on that later when they start working on it, not till after spring break!

Also, they are replacing a lot of the roofs around Ghost Town!

Next we meet up with Russ Knibbs, ( Vice President,Food and Beverage) over at Chicken Dinner Restaurant. I love this guy, he’s done some amazing stuff at Knott’s with the food, he came along with park General Manager Ralfi from Canada’s Wonderland! I remember what the food was like before they came and put it this way I went to Del Taco all the time after my knott’s updates.

We are looking forward to the refurbished Mrs Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, they finally created an alternative to having to wait in those long lines, they will get your number and text you when you are ready to be seated, now you can walk around the market place and shop, maybe even go in the park depending how long the wait is. The new outdoor seating area will be a nice place to eat on a summer night! One of the most major upgrades is a full service bar area! The seating capacity is about the same as before, the deco will not be modernized , keeping it to the classic theme! Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant will re-open this Spring!

Now off to Jeff Gahagan, (Vice President, Maintenance) to talk about Ghostrider :)))

As most of us know, they are re-tracking, new trains, as well as re-profiling some of the layout. The midway break run has been removed, so instead of slowing down you will go straight through it. After that mid break course drop the re-profiled that crazy turn right after to make it more smooth but still intense, if you have been on Gold Rusher at Califorina’s Great America you’ll know whats in store. New trains will be from Great Coasters Internatioal, old trains are going to Valleyfair. All kinds of general maintence is being done throughout the coaster, new motors for the lift hill chain, new lights around the track and much more! Ghostrider will re-open May 27th along with the rest of Ghost Town 75th anniversary!