Midsummer Scream was, well, a scream in so many ways! 2026 was their 10th year and they went all out to celebrate (as did us)! Wifey and I splurged on Gold Bat Passes this year and if you think it doesn't make a difference - it really does! With the convention getting bigger and bigger each year, Gold Bat is the way to go so you can see everything and not get FOMO. It comes with admittance for the entire weekend, priority entrance for Friday night, entrance an hour early on Saturday and Sunday, entrance to the Saturday night after-party, and priority entrance for panels and mazes. We booked a room at the hotel next door for the weekend so we got to come/go to drop off goodies when our hands got full. Speaking of which, there are so many vendors in all corners of the convention center that sell anything/everything Halloween and horror related. You're going to want to bring a bag, but if you don't they also pass out plenty of free tote bags (we got 6 just walking around!). Celebrities are aplenty taking photos and autographing stuff for fans. They can get a bit pricey, but if you're a fan it's hard not to convince yourself to splurge. It's the 30th year anniversary of Scream, so they had plenty of actors (and Marco Beltrami) appear. We took a picture with Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard (both of which couldn't have been nicer). Lots of Ghostface fans in costumes and masks! There are food vendors inside as well, but they're so pricey that you might as well go outside and walk to a nearby restaurant (unless you're super hangry and need an emergency fix). For drinks we had to go with our reliable Horror Vibes Coffee and then topped it off with sweet treats from Deadly Sweet (they consistently had one of the longest lines each day but their cookies are to die for!). The Hall of Shadows is their dark hall filled with haunted attractions/mazes by home haunters and professionals alike. Some experiences are shorter than others, but it hits the spot until proper spooky season in October (though every season is spooky season if you got the horror within you). There's a lot of fog machines so watch your step! This is really one of the better Gold Bat perks - instead of waiting in the General Admission line, you get your own shorter line and basically walk right to the front. We walked right on in for the majority of the mazes! There's an after-party on Saturday night that we were interested in, so we checked it out since we didn't have to pay extra for it. It was in the main ballroom with photo ops on the sides and tables/chairs surrounding the huge dance floor. The energy was kind of buns though - it took a long while for the dancing to fully swing into motion. Lots of lurkers staring from the sides and standing on the dance floor so heavy middle school vibes. Naturally a lot of fans had been there all day so the stank was overwhelming! The after-party also comes with a separate karaoke room and a screening room for a horror movie. If you're a horror/Halloween lover and haven't been to Midsummer Scream - for shame! It's so much fun with so many photo ops around, so much memorabilia/merch, so many free/discounted tickets for other events like Haunted Hayride, and so many fans united in spookiness. If you're thinking about going, follow them on social media and scoop up the Gold Bats as soon as they're available because they'll sell out quick. We can't wait to come back and make this a yearly tradition! We're already 2 years down and we found out that this is the last year Midsummer Scream will be in Long Beach. They have officially grown so much that in 2027 they're moving to Anaheim! We were there for the end of an era, and we'll be there for the beginning of the next! read more

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I have always wanted to go to this convention/expo since I am a spooky girl. As a birthday gift, my fiancé gifted me a pass for both of us this past Saturday. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the line was so long that it took us at least an hour and a half to enter the actual event. It was well worth the wait, and surprisingly, it went by fast, although we got sunburnt. I highly recommend investing in the VIP pass to avoid the long lines because this keeps getting busier each year. The convention itself is pretty cool, especially if you are a fan of everything spooky. You can find unique merch from small businesses such as Backstitch Bruja, Spooksieboo, DIY Light Guy, Bob Gurr, and Black Mast. Plus, there are many event attendees dressed as your favorite monster or whatever your little dark heart desires. Saw many cool costumes, and I was able to capture some in my photos. Convention parking is throughout the convention area in adjacent lots, and I paid $30 to park and walked over to the convention. I suggest trying to get an Uber if you do not want to deal with the traffic getting into a lot. You will be paying around the same amount or possibly more during peak times. There are also food trucks throughout the expo and snacks to enjoy while shopping, browsing, and having fun. In the Hall of Shadows, there are many mazes and photo ops to enjoy. Not too spooky, but you can get a feel of how Universal Horror Nights or Knott's Scary Farm is. So much fun! There are lots of panels, celebrity signings, Casa de Calaveras, and a Black Cat Lounge, but some lines were long, so I didn't get to experience them except for the Casa de Calaveras, which was pretty cool. Can't wait for next year's event, and I will for sure be purchasing the VIP pass to be able to experience more and get more out of my pass. Such a fun and spooky day! read more

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A lot of great people and a lot of great artist coming together to celebrate the spookiest holiday. However, the amount of AI generated this year was almost a slap in the face to the artists who spend so much time on their craft. It's a shame that Midsummer scream allowed or supported this. read more

Midsummer Scream - Festivals Near Me - Long Beach, California

I'm a huge horror fan and I'm an artist so I was so excited to come to Midsummer Scream. Overall it was really fun, there is a wide variety of vendors, haunted houses, and panels. I think for the most part it is pretty organized. I got there about an hour after it opened and the line outside was insane but it honestly did not take that long to get through. My only gripe with the convention this year were the ai generated signage and a good amount of booths that were selling ai generated stuff. I know the event organizers can't control all of the vendors and what they sell but I do hope they took note of the booths that had ai stuff and not let them back. There are so many talented artists who deserve those spots. Also a lot of the haunted houses had ai generated art inside as well, the most disappointing one was Universal's as they are a gigantic company and can afford artists. Anyway I know they came out with a statement that they are against ai art and I hope next year I see 100% human made artwork. read more

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EVERYTHING! From only $10 all day parking. The LONG line to enter went supper fast! It was COOLER inside this year! Years pasts it was pretty muggy an warm! The lines for the haunts went by faster than posted!! THE HAUNTS & MONSTERS did a fantastic job!!! Had me SCREAMING & LAUGHING all night!! A the MERCH well EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE!!! read more

Midsummer Scream - My husband n I being watched!! - Festivals Near Me - Long Beach, California

This convention was amazing! I came Saturday and event started at 11am. I parked at the pike which was $12 for the day. Walked about a block to the convention and the line was already moving ( people that came early were lining up for hours in the sun) However if u arrive a few minutes after 11 it's a breeze to walk in. It was a bit over whelming inside. Soooooo many activities. Hint come here with a plan! lol Also bring water and a portable Fan, it gets really hot inside due to the amount of ppl inside. There's so many cool horror attractions ( get there early for the horror mazes). There's a ton of cool photo ops, celebrity signings and small shops to buy from. There's plenty of food trucks outside as well as near by restaurants read more

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I've been going to this event for years and always have a great time. I just wish they made accommodations for people who have chronic illness because my brother who loves going may not be able to comfortably or safely go anymore. There are no quickly accessible handicap only restrooms or front of line passes like other cons have for him and a caretaker. Making it impossible for him with UC and other health complications to comfortably and confidently attend even though he'd love to again. His health has declined but his love of horror has not! Maybe in future years, they can take this into consideration for people with chronic bathroom/stomach health conditions. read more

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I was so excited to come to Midsummer Scream and am an avid horror fan. That's why I was absolutely disappointed to see the amount of AI slop all over: at booths, merch and even well known vendors and haunts (I'm looking at your Universal). I really wanted to pick up cool merch from talented artist but found myself unable to for fear of accidentally picking up some Artificial junk. I know other conventions banned AI. I will not be returning next year unless Midsummer Scream does the same. It's a disservice to the incredible artists that come to this event. Do better read more

The concept could be cool for this event, but the list of negatives outweigh the positives. For one, the line is lengthy, unorganized, and chaotic, also under the sun with no available shade. This means spending 30+ minutes if not an hour standing in what may not be an actual line, just to get in. The majority of activities inside are overcrowded, unorganized, and expensive. Most of the venue is small shops, which, of course are overpriced. The event itself should be free, unless they plan on adding more included activities. If you go expect to drop at least $150 a person. read more

Well worth the hassle of going to Long Beach & convention parking. Was fun, goofy & entertainment. Lots & lots of costumed folks, (they recommend everyone do the same!), great photo opportunities. read more

We've been attending this event for several years and every year it has gotten bigger and better. So many small business vendors and talent to meet it is scary cool. Knott's Scary Farm, Queen Mary Dark Harbor and Universal are a few of the larger names that have booths and panels as well There is something for everyone from shopy, grabbing a specialty coffee or baked goods to even roaming the hall of shadows (which was my son's first taste of any haunt and he's been hooked like his sister and I ever since). There is also a crafts area for the kiddos (or adults who are young at heart). HorrorBuzz has the screaming room with tons of local talent and talent from a far screaming short films. Don't forget about the Black Cat Lounge as well where you can go play and see the kitties help support an awesome cause (LA Kitten Rescue). This year my daughter and I did one full day (exhausting but fun) but a weekend pass is best so you can spread out your days and check out different events throughout the convention. Such a great way for Halloween lovers/enthusiasts like us to break up the summer and kick off haunt season a little early. read more

I came to the first couple Midsummer Scream events and they were awesome! I don't know what happened but today (July, 2024) I was beyond disappointed. It was super crowded, super hot, and there was no where to sit (also no baby changing stations in the women's restroom). The vendors sold complete junk! After paying $50for admission, I was hoping to see more than cheesy stickers, pins, and air fresheners at 90% of the booths. I would highly recommend saving your money and going to Som of Momsterpalooza or another Halloween event. read more

I went to Midsummer Scream this past Saturday. I enjoyed my time at the convention. I got to attend the Original Monster Kids panel and A Curious Conversation with Christine McConnell. I also walked the exhibition hall where I bought some pomade from the Mystic Museum. During my visit, I got food and drink from the on-site Pacific Cafe. I really like the theme of Horror and Halloween for Midsummer Scream. It's nice being around fellow fans of the the horror genre and enthusiasts of Halloween. I would definitely consider attending another Midsummer Scream convention. The only issues I saw when I was at the convention was that some of the policies for entry were not enforced. Some people did not get their bags checked, some people wore backpacks, and some brought in outside food. read more

The hubby and I went on a Friday, which I'm now kicking myself for because I hear there were a lot more things to do on a Saturday. But it's ok, I wanted to see what it was about before completely diving myself into it. I enjoyed looking at all the vendors and what they had to offer. I enjoyed learning about other potential festivities with like minded people. Loved the sights, loved the sounds, love to be among weirdos like me. Absolutely recommend this even. read more

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Unfortunately this year I will probably not be back, which is a shame because the convention is a favorite of mine. If you are going to do a convention that will always see some of the hottest weather, there should be some shade offered for guests, since it took us almost two hours to get into the place, getting there early, tickets in hand. The line was down into the street, it was absolutely crazy. I have gone others years, and it was no where near as bad as this. It is too bad, because they have a lot of great stuff to offer, though 2022 seemed to be more about massed produced items, and not more unique handmade artist stuff. I hope they make improvements for 2023 for the sake of their fans read more

What an amazing overwhelming time at Midsummer Scream 2023. I will go every year. The vendors had more than I expected, the people who attended where friendly and frighting to those who get frightened and a true Blast was had by ALL at Midsummer SCREAM 2023 !! read more

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They had mid summer right on the dot! Man that day was hotter than the melting flesh on the walking dead. I must admit I'm not the one for goblins and ghouls jumping out and scaring you, but you withstand gore for the ones you love? My boyfriend happens to be a sucks for all things spooky and heart racing, so we ended up at mid summer scream. I couldn't keep my eyes off of the people who dressed up! The make up was amazing and of course hairline close to the amazing outfits. We had the pleasure of walking through isles and isles of awesome custom mask, custom spooky shirts, live fx make up tutorials, diy tomb stones and so much more. Mid summer scream is perfect for any gore gal or guy! read more

Midsummer Scream - Festivals Near Me - Long Beach, California

Been here since 10:45 and the line didn't start moving until 11:50. It's now 12:45 and there's probably another 30 minutes until we reach check in. Poor crowd control. People checking in are clueless and clustered all together in the shade instead of walking the line and checking in and handing bracelets. Not sure if they changed organizers because it didn't used to be this bad but 2019 and this year were by far the worst as far as line control and entry. Doubt I'll be back. read more

Disappointing this year to be very honest with you guys. Highlights 1. The line moved way faster to get in this year, i appreciate that very much! It helped everyone get in at a quick speed. Cons 1. Most of the mazes look like they were scrapped up and built in one night. Come on guys, this is supposed to be mid summer SCREAM! Not mid summer poorly done mazes. I think the only maze I give major props to is fear farm. They actually knew what they were doing, and they made it interactive the entire time. If all your mazes looked and felt like fear farm, I would say this is totally worth it. The rest lacked monsters, and some didn't even have any inside. Not to mention the poorly designed ones that had last minute stuff put up. You guys can do better than this if you are going to make more mazes. 2. Your line up of famous artists are ridiculous. Everyone wants 40-80 bucks for a picture and autograph? what happened to humble artists not looking to profit even more off fans? There is low income/ middle income families attending this event. Kids look up to some of these famous people. And to still charge them is ridiculous, get rid of these last section or at least fill it with artists not looking to rip off fans. 3. What happened to all the vendors? 2022 had WAY more vendors with a variety of different things for sale. This seemed a way smaller amount this year. 4. Please create more interactive shows and events like escape rooms, mazes, fun games for everyone to play, circus freak show dancers, haunted bar for adults, magic shows and even a room showing the goriest,scary clips from movies of all time. You guys are lacking more creative content. This felt more like a swap meet put together last minute. 5. Mazes should NOT close, if theme parks can leave them open from 6pm-2am so can you. Find monsters to cycle and change shifts to keep crowd entertained. We paid good money already to get in. 6. The focus of this event is too much on SELLING stuff, please create it into more of a interactive true Halloween experience. I can go to the swap meet for 5 bucks to get in and buy half this stuff sold here. Focus more on entertainment with better mazes, better shows, and exclusive stuff! read more

I wish some of the old vendors will come back like Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles. They should keep bringing in good panelists and vendors who offer freebies. One year I got a voucher for free admission to Winchester House. read more

Comi-con for Halloween , a great convention of you like Halloween & Halloween technologies, i do reccomend the golden bat pass you can avoid the lines -- & get in sooner-- strategy: go to the hall of shadows first to avoid the crazy long lines then hit the vendor hall, lots of fun here also , I'll keep mid summer scream on my yearly to do list read more

Midsummer Scream - Festivals Near Me - Long Beach, California

We had a great time!! We made it on Sunday but were there for nearly the entire day! This was our first time at the convention so we had a lot to explore! We had the 'front of the line' passes which were more expensive but we made them worth it! We didn't do the haunted houses but the pass would have definitely been helpful for that section. The showroom was really neat. We had some great photo ops with the Adams Family and the Suicide Squad! We also chatted with some of the very talented artists. I try not to buy too much at these events but it is so hard! The art and clothing is sometimes too good to pass up. We made it to the Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights presentation with the directors and that was really neat. It was great seeing what was in store for this upcoming Halloween! We also made it to the preview of Slash, the Musical. It was really funny and the actors were very talented. I'm glad we made it in time to see the presentation. I never thought this type of thing would be for me as I'm not a huge gore and horror fan but they really did a good job making this convention fun for everyone and for all ages! read more

Midsummer Scream - Festivals Near Me - Long Beach, California

Complete and utter awesomeness. Elvira was here! She was signing autographs for a fee. Sid Haig was here, too. I had so much fun on Saturday that I wanted to go back today. I also enjoyed shopping here. I bought a couple of prints from Owen Klaas. I purchased nail polish from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. Thank you to Yelp OC (Nate, Natasha and Ryan, as well as Midsummer Scream, for the free tickets. I had a blast! I will update my review with pictures later on today. read more

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Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival at the Long Beach Convention Center took place on July 30-31st 2016. Two day passes were available, but I was only able to attend Sunday. I was disappointed that the yelp booth was nowhere to be found. So , I never got my complimentary bottle opener with my Yelp check in . I'll live....I think... Let me get the negative out of the way first so I can then focus on the good stuff. It was super crowded and hot. The air must have been broken in the main event area. It was so packed people were bumping into each other, I felt like a herd of cattle. Mooooove. There was so much fake smoke from the haunted areas that mine and my friends eyes were burning after about two hours of exploring the event . Less smoke please. I was in the Grand Ballroom for the six flags fright fest panel seated watching the Q&A and an actor in the event came up behind me and yelled in my ear ( in an attempt to scare me I guess ) And gave me a migraine. My ear rang for a good ten minutes and then I had to call it quits because I felt sick. Now the good stuff. Hagen Dazs gave out free ice cream cups served on a corpses foot. Very amusing and great treat for it being so hot. There were tons of booths. I easily spent three hours looking at all the costumes, masks , artwork, home made crafts, makeup booths, spooky foods, and so much more. There were escape rooms , asylums, hall of shadows , Sci-Fi Maze, zombie shooting arcade, and a crafts for kids area. Black cat kitten rescue was in the entrance to the convention center. Guests could play with and adopt a kitten. Awesome! Overall this was a very enjoyable event. I would definitely go again, but I will keep my distance from the characters because that one guy ruined the rest of my day. I understand that spooking is part of the fun , but please don't yell in people's ears. read more

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I was the lucky recipient of a pair of tickets for Saturday to the Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival which was held at the Long Beach Convention Center. This is their first year doing this type of event in Long Beach. If you're familiar with Scare LA, it's very similar. Check-in was easy and we had our wristbands at open. There were panels all weekend long with interesting talks ranging from costume makeup to ghost towns. The convention floor had a ton of different vendors from all over who were selling spooky, scary, morbid items to tantalize the inner Halloween geek in everyone. They even had a full scale maze that involved a chemical outbreak and zombies. Different theme parks were represented too. If you wanted to step up your game in decorating for Halloween, this festival is for you. There were plenty of artists on hand doing makeup as well. We even received free Haagen-Dazs samples on the convention floor. We were there from 11 am to about 3:30 pm so it was a pretty eventful day. My friends were coming back the next day as well to check out the different panels. Definitely interesting stuff if you're a horror genre fan. Thanks to Yelp for the tickets. read more

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Big Halloween fan as in the holiday Halloween. I have gone every year, they have a lot of horror merch you can buy, cool little experiences, performances, interesting panels as well as my favorite... little halloween mazes!!! It happens in july, getting your halloween fix in the summer!! You also get to learn about upcomming haunts or attractions and sometimes the vendors give u discounts!! Soo much fun!!! read more

Midsummer Scream had another successful run! It was their second year and our second time attending. Midsummer Scream is the perfect way to get a head start on celebrating Halloween! Enjoy a hot weekend in July inside the air conditioned convention filled with panels (Horror Nights, Queen Mary, Knotts Scary, etc), live shows, exhibitors selling goods, Hall of Shadows containing mini mazes, and even a pet adoption! First of all, plan accordingly and allow yourself time to find parking! We took 30 mins to get a spot at the Pike Outlets because the convention lot was full. This year, there was a bag check upon entrance. We were able to bring in our water bottle and I noticed others with Starbucks drinks. There is food available for purchase inside, food trucks directly outside, or walk across the street to Pike Outlets. There is a lot to see and do throughout the whole event. You'll find plenty of creatively costumed guests (yes, you're encouraged to dress up), photo ops and autograph signings (Elvira, Sid Haig, to name a few), scare actors, Halloween attractions, escape rooms, exhibitor booths selling unique goods including soap, art, clothing, jewelry, masks, props and more! I did see a lot of babies and kids, so it's up to you if you think your kids can handle it! Scare actors roam around the entire convention with intentions to scare people. There are also guests who dress up gory or scary. I saw a dad with 3 young kids crying inside the Hall of Shadows which is dark, foggy, and infested with scare actors. We attended the Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights panel, as we did last year. John Murdy and Chris Williams let us in on some behind the scenes info and photos for this years HHN as well as when tickets will be on sale! HHN never announces when tickets will be on sale so that was a big deal for me! We watched Zombie Joe's Urban Death Show (because we saw it last year so I knew what to expect and I was too chicken to try something new). It was different than last year! It's best to go in blind and not know what to expect! Front of line passes will work for panels, shows, and inside the Hall of Shadows for the mini mazes. Just make sure you're in the right line! I've had a great impression of the MS staff since last year when I had to contact them about an issue which they resolved. This year, I asked them a question on Facebook and they replied within 5 mins! Staff at check in was friendly! I've been following them on social media and they always seem so proud and dedicated to what they do. Also, I witnessed a dad and his son thinking they were smart by opening the outside gate to attempt to enter the event, but were abruptly stopped by security! I know security isn't really MS staff, but props to him! Thank you to Yelp and Midsummer Scream for the tickets! If you enjoy attending Halloween attractions or love anything spooky and can't wait for October, come to Midsummer Scream!! read more

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It's fun with a lot of great vendors but the mismanagement is almost unforgivable. 3 hours after being open the line is still over an hour to get in. It is inexcusable. I love this convention, but get your ish together. read more

I think most people have heard the expression of "Christmas in July," now Long Beach plays host to "Halloween in August" with Midsummer Scream. What is next? Easter in December? I imagine egg hunting back east in the dead of winter would be almost as popular as a snowman building contest in the middle of the California summer. The better half and I were made of aware of this event by Erica and Jessica after they informed us they would be working at the RestxInxPeace Stall ( https://bit.ly/2OF3Np8 ) which is operated by our "adopted" daughter Lindsay: "Did you have any interest in Lindsay's Halloween Convention?" This was followed by "No pressure." Rohlinism: The phrase "No pressure" usually has the opposite effect! After a short debate, the better half was buying tickets online for Saturday which ran $38, but Lindsay was able to give us a code which reduced the price to just under $70.00 for both our tickets. Sunday tickets are $32.00, a two day pass goes for $55.00 and Gold Bats Weekend Pass for $95.00 which gets you in an hour early both days, front line privileges to panels and mazes and access to a Saturday night party. We arrived in Long Beach at 8:30am and was in line ( https://bit.ly/2Yr9rQ4 ) about 8:46am after we had paid $15 to park in one of the public structures near the convention center. Ignore anything online about needing to get there early because parking is scarce. I counted at least three public structures plus the parking under the convention center so there is no reason to show up early. The event didn't open until 11:00am, but the line started moving around 10:30am. In the meantime, we sat in line and came to the conclusion that even Freud would classify the majority of people there as "weird." If I am in a group of people and appear to be the normal one then you know you are dealing with people that are a few tiles short of a set of dominoes. One of the best costumes was one of the Hitchhiking Ghosts ( https://bit.ly/2T6VGjI ) from the Haunted Mansion. One thing the organizers did well was verifying tickets ahead of time and doing pre-bag checks which allowed to skip a bag check and walk right into the venue. Once inside ( https://bit.ly/2OOyTLc ), the event is divided between two levels with the lower level dedicated to several hundred vendors and the upper level having panels and live shows. The staff handed out maps, programs and recyclable bags and the bags came in handy since our first stop was buying a Poison Apple ( https://bit.ly/2Kh9K7x ) from Lindsay. If you are interested in her apples, here is the website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/restXinXpeace We took some time to look at the panels and live shows, but only one sounded interesting: A Chilling Legacy: 50 Years of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. The time coincided with us getting hungry and hunger won out so we missed the panel. Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) was there doing photo ops and signing autographs, but I really didn't see the point of waiting for a pic since she wasn't in make up / costume. I think there was close to 1000 vendors on the lower level and we were interesting in less than 5 percent of them. After making our purchase from Lindsay, we started wandering through the stalls and ran into the cutest bunny ( https://bit.ly/2ZvC1wn ) we had ever seen. Seeing the Mystery Machine ( https://bit.ly/2YGayur ) from Scooby-Doo brought me back to Saturday mornings as a child watching the show religiously no matter how many times the episodes repeated. For those of you who are into Yard Gnomes, one of the vendors ( https://bit.ly/33lLPvc ) had a Gnome Zombie Apocalypse on display. One of the more interesting exhibits in our opinion was the Happy Haunts Museum ( https://bit.ly/2YHOdg6 ), but this is not affiliated with Disneyland. The stall had a replica of the sign ( https://bit.ly/33fvPef ) posted while the mansion was still under construction, a board game ( https://bit.ly/2GO0uFH ) and other memorabilia from the 50 years of the Haunted Mansion. Next to the museum was a Honda Fit ( https://bit.ly/2MEAfp5 ) in a custom Haunted Mansion wrap with a small coffin in the back. Another of the more interesting exhibits was a full body make up demonstration ( https://bit.ly/2YDneyd ) and I have to give props to the three subjects being stuck standing still for hours on end. We played Spin the Wheel ( https://bit.ly/2Kq6Zj1 ) sponsored by the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and both won 50 percent off tickets for the event. I felt the Hall of Shadows was a letdown with the mazes having Disneyland type lines without the Disney magic and the Halloween displays were hit and miss. There is plenty of food to be had between the food trucks, several restaurants across the street and vendors on the lower level, but I didn't seem one food item themed to the event. I saw some interesting things here, a few things I wish I could unsee, but unlike most horror films, there will be no sequel to this event! read more

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Midsummer Scream is held at the Long Beach convention center in Long Beach California. As the name suggests, It is held over two days during summer, Saturday and Sunday. Showtime begins at 11 AM, but if you purchase a gold bat ticket you can enter earlier. Purchase as far in advance as possible to get the lowest priced ticket (we bought ours late April and they were only $20 each) The line starts at the promenade and can go all the way to Shoreline Village. It gets really warm outside so I suggest you bring an umbrella, sunglasses, and sunblock. Sometimes the wait for entrance can be about an hour long. Parking is available next to the convention center for $15. All the logistics aside, this horror convention is AMAZING !!!! It blows Monsterpalooza out of the water for sure. There are more vendors, artists, and even mazes. We even decided that next year we'd skip Monsterpalooza and do two days of Midsummer Scream instead (of course you can do both, the more the merrier!) The cosplays and amount of people dressed for the event was awesome. They also had plenty of scare talent walking around. My sole complain would be that with summer heat and the amount of guests, the AC wasn't cranked up high enough! However the Grand Ballroom was so nice and cold. We sat down and listened to a panel to cool down. Two big thumbs up for Midsummer Scream! We will return again! read more

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Another unique experience thanks to yelp. I've won yelp tickets this year that allowed me to go on either saturday or subsidy with the Front Of The Line passes!! It was a great experience. I have never been to any type of leisure/ non work related convention before, so i didn't know what to expect. The closest thing that come across my mine would be a Halloween scary version of comic con, which someone that works three actually told me the same thing! And apparently this is also the same setup as scaredLA. That makes sense. Anyways, we went on a Sunday around noon, and walked through the workshops room for for film and theatrical setup to see the acting, learning how to build tension for movies etc. Oh and there is a car rescue on site which i thought was random . But make dyer to more the time that each room is playing for you to plan better. So we note the time and move onto the convention itself. I like that they show you how the scary make up was done with the cast member. Then, as you enter and have lots of booth selling the pre make up mask for purchase. They have knotts, Sinister Pointe, escape bus, and other escape room and maze related booths there. Knotts are hiring cast, which i was tempted to go. Sinister Pointe offer wheel spins for free gifts or potential ticket winning. Oh, there is even Hugh set up of arcade shooting game. pretty interesting. There are also alot of kids around, which i was surprised because there are lots of "scary" people around . Lol. I believe kids are free for admission with adult tickets. That's pretty awesome. Going into the mazes, i think we were a bit early that few of them are not ready , i say about 25% . So if you are coming for the mazes, combs a bit later like around 2 to 3 pm. And i also don't see any seperate line fir the Front Of the line passes. It was hard to navigate in the dark. So as to speak, we didnt get into more mazes then we want because of the long lines. But for the ones that we did go in, it was pretty fun. And yes, i was scared. And being up close with these actor and actresses, it's a lot physical stamina to do what they do. Overall, it was a fun, unique experience from someone didn't know what to expect. But we do enjoy the mazes, although the theatrical performances in the rooms are the highlight of this convention. Its a immersive experience in the dark with great pacing and light effect. And of course the amazing acting too. However, it is 18 and over only because of the nudity. Thanks again to the OCyelp for the great opportinity again. read more

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Hello all, I experienced midsummer screams 2022 yesterday, July 29th(Friday).First, I suggest that you park at the events parking structure,it was only $15 for the whole day.I think it was worth parking here as when you leave the event at the end of the night,youre pretty tired and want to get to your car as soon as possible. My friends and I arrived at 5pm to this event and there was a huge line already(at least 200 people already).I was a bit disappointed with the time they started allowing people in.The event was scheduled to begin at 6pm.They did not allow us to enter until 6:40pm.Thats 40 minutes later than expected!Keep in mind that Friday was shorter hours(6pm-10pm) than Saturday and Sunday. As we entered the event,they had us go through metal detectors but they did not check our bags.As in most events,food and drinks were expensive.I suggest that you eat before coming or wait to eat afterwards.As I mentioned,they did not check bags so you may want to bring a closed water bottle. I enjoyed the different and various costumes people wore to this event. I especially enjoyed seeing kids at this event enjoying themselves.Many kids came dressed up as well.There were many vendors and merchandise,and plenty of picture opportunities.The highlight for me was seeing Greg Nicotero. I was able to take a picture of him Overall,my friends and I enjoyed ourselves at this event. read more

Not at all what I thought it would be. I was hoping the mazes would be more than just teasers. I also didn't expect for Elvira to charge for autographs when she was not in costume. The festival was more of a place for vendors but they weren't selling much other than jewelry, masks and some bathroom stuff. I was hoping to see costume sales, scary movies, housewares, towels, I don't know maybe other stuff that true Halloween people love but have a hard time finding off season. The make up display was awesome! Some of the cosplayers were awesome including the Mike Myers dude. I attended one of the presentations on Dia De Los Muertos, not bad but I wish it had been the full presentation. I am not so sure it's worth it to come but I did meet some interesting like minded individuals. Parking was terrible, there was the crawfish festival going on too so there was no parking. It took an hour to find parking at the outlets across from the Convention Center. I did have loads of fun and will probably come back next year. read more

Family I had a great time. Micah the magician's show was the highlight for us. The Halloween museum was really cool too read more

Midsummer Scream - Festivals Near Me - Long Beach, California

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My wife and I went on Saturday and got there around noon, the line wrapped around the convention center is was quite possibly the longest line I've ever waited in. That being said the line moved rapidly and honestly it was kinda fun watching all the people, the extremely nice young lady (teacher from Orange county)behind us made the entire 1+ wait enjoyable . Once inside we were immersed in a plethora of Halloween delights, vendors, displays, haunted house previews and more people dressed in high quality costumes than I've ever seen. I would have given it 5 stars if the "after dark party" from 8pm to midnight was better but unfortunately it was not worth the money or energy it took to get in costume. read more

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This was Really Cool! Thank you to Ryan C. and YELP for getting my name on the list. It was a cornucopia of things Halloween. There were lots of vendors selling everything scary. this includes but not limited to, make-up, decorations, costumes, masks, art, statues, jewelry, candles, lights and fog. There were venders there to help you plan and execute your Haunted House. There were venders there advertising THEIR Haunted Houses, and much more. They had some Haunted House type things set up but I could not participate this time. But next time i can. There was panel discussions and presentations as well. I had a good time and look foreword to going next year - if they have it. My favorite part is always seeing all the people in Costume. Some of them are so incredibly creative it's amazing. read more

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This was me and my son first time attending Midsummer Scream Convention in Long Beach. Our minds were completely blown. The costumes were outstanding. I was soo happy to see characters interacting with my son. He's 13 with Autisum Spectrum. They really love what they do and live for it. My son took countless pictures with your characters, and it was FREE!! My son said "we are attending every year, and I agree. Thank you for doing what you do and making this an awesome experience for him and for me. read more

Finally getting around to writing a review! Around this time, the Halloween fever is finally starting to leak into the general public, but at Midsummer Scream, it's already time for Halloween in summer. I was given the opportunity to come for Day 1 by Ryan C. (thanks!), and it was great because I wouldn't normally choose to go to a con like this. My favorite part of the con BY FAR was the main hall with all the vendors. So much awesome, unique merchandise to be seen, including creepy soap, coffin-shaped purses, props, masks, random horror memorabilia, and so much more. The complimentary Haagen Dazs was pretty nice too. There was a very festive atmosphere in the hall, and a lot of scare actors walking around practicing their scare tactics on unsuspecting bystanders. There are a lot of other things to see. I didn't go into the mazes, but I did watch a weird horror play with naked people in it. Yup, something for every kind of Halloween enthusiast here! I went to a couple of panels, many of which had to do with the unveiling of Halloween attractions. The one for Queen Mary Dark Harbor was very fun. I also loved the artist gallery with all the creepy sculptures and paintings. If Halloween is your favorite holiday (it's mine), Midsummer Scream is great to get you pumped, plus you might need two months to get ready for it anyway. read more

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SUPER FUN CONVENTION! I had the front of the line pass so I got to skip the line for scary mazes. The mazes were great and all unique. There was a dealers hall just like at any convention. There were masks you could purchase and get your face painted with fx makeup to look like whichever mask you purchase from the Mr. Piggy from AHS to zombies and aliens. There were stands that were selling clothing, art, masks, etc related to horror. There is also a laser shooting game set up for zombies so you can win a prize like huge dolls. There was also some bartenders with a table where you may purchase drinks. Keep in mind I paid $4 for water so come prepared. Just like all conventions, they had panels and meet and greets. It was an amazing experience and you got to see so many people dress up while staying in character. It really got my excited for Halloween. There was a performance with actors dressed up in scary costumes. It was strange and eccentric, maybe? I didn't quite get it. The actors pretended to fight and then had knee pads to slide on, then jump over each other? There were food trucks outside like miso hungry and this waffle truck--but you're also next to the Pike so you can definitely stop by and get food somewhere nearby. Parking is $15 but you could find parking near the Pike and walk. read more

The event was way oversold, couldnt move around comfortably to check out all the vendors, stood still many times waiting for traffic of people. This event needs to be moved to a larger venue if tickets are going to be oversold, serious fire Hazzard too. Money first over the safety of it's patrons, do better Midsummer Scream read more