HalloweenAlbert LamAugust 02, 2016Long Beach, Long Beach Convention Center, Midsummer Scream, Dark Harbor, panel, Queen MaryComment

Midsummer Scream 2016: Dark Harbor Panel

HalloweenAlbert LamAugust 02, 2016Long Beach, Long Beach Convention Center, Midsummer Scream, Dark Harbor, panel, Queen MaryComment

Long Beach Convention Center

Welcome, boys and girls, to Westcoaster's coverage of the inaugural Midsummer Scream Halloween convention. As Jim mentioned yesterday, this fantastic event was a rousing success despite being in its first year. Though the design and production team had been involved in Scare L.A. previously, they still had to put together an enormous undertaking in only four months to create this amazing spectacle of ghoulish glory--featuring numerous panels, exhibits, haunted attractions, and entertainment options.

We have a TON of content to cover, so lets start with the park panels. Because the of breadth of information, I've decided to make each of the panels its own post. We'll start with the first haunted attraction panel, Dark Harbor, which took place early Saturday afternoon.

Booze, booze, new maze, and more booze seemed to be the theme of this one. The most entertaining panel of the weekend, the Dark Harbor Midsummer Scream presentation gave a full run-down of everything guests can expect for this year's run, which lasts September 29 - October 31. In addition, Dark Harbor announced its new 2-16 icon, the Iron Master, to match its new maze for the season, Intrepid.

Members of Dark Harbor's design and marketing team were announced on stage, including Talent Director David Wally, Production Designer and Art Director J.J. Wickham, and Queen Mary Director of Events Steve Sheldon.

Then they were joined by The Captain, playing the role of emcee that The Ringmaster so entertainingly performed last year at Scare L.A.

The team ran down returning and enhanced features, such as the Scary Swings, more bars throughout the grounds, an improved R.I.P. Lounge with taco bar, 2 free drink tickets, front of line access, and admission into the Sideshow.

Returning mazes for 2016 include Deadrise, Soulmate, B340, Lullaby, and The Circus. The first three have been redesigned to various significant extents and will feature longer and different layouts and even access to previously private parts of the ship. Soulmate will even venture by the infamous Propeller Room. Meanwhile, The Circus will return last year's ball pit and add more than one route through the maze. Also, bars have been added to every line. Cuz booze.

Sadly, the team announced, Voodoo Village would not return, because a hex had been placed on it. Coincidentally, Hex is the name of Dark Harbor's improved paintballing experience this year (not that it would be hard to improve upon last year's iteration)...

...and this announcement brought the arrival of a mysterious character from the back--a Scot who the Captain immediately recognized with much dismay.

This was Ivan, known as the Iron Master. He built the Queen Mary so many decades ago, but one night, a mysterious train arrived and summoned him.

The supernatural train whisked the Iron Master around the world and through the fiery underworld, transforming him into an undead soul, part human, part metal.

Now, Ivan has come back to reclaim his ship, which has been under the control of the Captain for the past 80 years.

The presentation was fantastically entertaining, with the banter between the Captain (English) and the Iron Master (Scot) quick witted and sharp tongued.

Along with this debut came the announcement of Dark Harbor's newest maze, Intrepid, which will be located inside the Spruce Goose dome alongside The Circus.

This means the dome will have greater access than ever in Dark Harbor's history. And yes, there will be a bar there too--along with a small midway area.

Other announcements made... the Creepy Cabanas would be returning, now double sided with one side fronting the Sideshow and the other fronting the carnival main grounds for convenient access.

The cabanas would also offer a "Rent-A-Freak" service that would enable a V.I.P. tour of Dark Harbor from one of the icons, or apparently servant service from a monster?