A Mid-July Spooksdate, Featuring Halloween Horror Nights, Knott's Scary Farm, and Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre

All Around Southern California

Guys, nature is healing (well, assuming that the current mini-surge in cases due to the growing influence of the Delta variant of COVID doesn’t become something much more widespread). The haunt news is starting to come hot and heavy, and it’s getting us pretty excited for what’s to come during the fall! Today brings a trio of haunt news, so we’re combining the latest update into one post to cover two new maze announcements for Halloween Horror Nights, the official confirmation of Knott’s Scary Farm’s return, and the latest offering from Zombie Joe’s!

Are you ready to [responsibly] get your spook on? Well, lets check out the news today!

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Announces Two More Mazes for 2021

Just a week after their first maze announcement, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights has announced two more mazes to this year’s line-up—both coming to both coasts.

The first is a familiar franchise—the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. We’ve seen Leatherface in multiple HHN’s in years’ past, but this gruesome bloodbath of a maze is a solid dependable. Plus… chainsaws! The second is another iteration in the popular Universal Monsters-inspired mazes that the event has been exploring in the past few years. Melding the classic inspirations of those iconic Universal frightsters with a scary but fun vibe, mixed with some fun original soundtracks mixed in, these mazes have been very enjoyable successes. We’re looking forward to seeing more of this from the latest installment, devoted to the Bride of Frankenstein!

From the press release:

HORROR CLASSICS INVADE UNIVERSAL STUDIOS’ “HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS”

THIS FALL IN MAZES BASED ON INFAMOUS SLASHER THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Horror Legends Join Sinister Lineup of Iconic Names Coming to Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort as Both Parks Celebrate the Highly-Anticipated Return of Halloween Horror Nights

Orlando, Fla., Universal City, CA – This fall, Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” returns to Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, unleashing some of the most nefarious names in horror to prey upon guests. Classic films that have influenced the horror genre will come to life in two of the event’s disturbingly-real haunted mazes – prepare for the return of the legendary Leatherface in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and the resurrection of one of Universal Pictures’ most iconic monsters – the Bride of Frankenstein – in “Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives.”

Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives

At its core, Halloween Horror Nights is an extension of the horror film legacy originated by Universal Pictures, and the event continues to honor its blockbuster history with a haunted maze highlighting one of the studio’s most sinister creatures – The Bride of Frankenstein. “Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives” picks up where the 1935 classic film “The Bride of Frankenstein” left off, thrusting guests into chaos as the Bride becomes an unstoppable scientist and begins her mission to revive Frankenstein’s Monster. Her unwavering quest to find eternal life will come at a cost, and guests will soon find themselves entwined in a frenzied battle in their daring attempt to escape.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Inspired by the 1974 iconic slasher film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” the “Halloween Horror Nights” mazes will depict a harrowing and intense experience as guests try to outrun the maniacal Leatherface and his unrelenting chainsaw. Guests will embark on a killer journey through a series of familiar scenes from the film and eventually fall victim to a family of cannibals. From a dilapidated gas station to an eerie, old farmhouse, they will witness unimaginable horrors around every corner, soon discovering that nowhere is safe from the demented Leatherface.

Plus, guests at Universal Orlando’s “Halloween Horror Nights” will face another pop culture and horror legend as they brave this year’s event. The destination previously revealed the first haunted house of the season featuring the ‘ghost with the most,’ “Beetlejuice,” based on Warner Bros. Pictures and Tim Burton’s Academy Award-winning horror-fantasy film.

Stay tuned as additional details about “Halloween Horror Nights” at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood will be revealed soon.

The “Halloween Horror Nights” events begin on Friday, September 3 in Orlando and Thursday, September 9 in Hollywood – and both events run select nights through Sunday, October 31. Select tickets and vacation packages are now on sale for “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Orlando Resort; tickets for the event at Universal Studios Hollywood will be available soon. Due to popular demand, event nights are expected to sell out. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Knott’s Scary Farm Confirms 2021 Season

Last week, Knott’s social media teased an announcement coming today, which sent Haunt friends all over into a frenzied speculation that the Farm would finally spill all about this year’s Halloween Haunt. Well, as it turns out, the announcement was much more simple: a confirmation that Knott’s Scary Farm would be returning this fall after last year off, and official dates of operation: select nights starting Thursday, September 16 through Sunday, October 31st. This comes as no surprise for folks who have seen the job hiring and casting ads or observed the Haunt construction already happening around the park. And there were not indications of when tickets go on sale, if the Scary Farm Season Pass is returning, what mazes are returning or premiering, or any other details. But it was still great to see a formal signal that the veil will rise again this autumn!

Oh, and they put out a pretty nifty teaser video too!

Zombie Joe’s Announces Return of Cabaret Macabre

I say return loosely, because Cabaret Macabre was supposed to debut last year in the middle of March, but we all know what happened then. So technically, the show itself isn’t returning… because it didn’t actually get a first run. But the announcement for the upcoming show can be considered a returning treat, and we’re definitely excited to see what sorts of creepy but disturbingly arousing wiles Zombie Joe has to offer!

From the press release:

"CABARET MACABRE"

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS @ 8:30pm: JULY 30 thru AUGUST 21, 2021.

Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group proudly presents Brittany DeWeese's Fabulous Dark and Dirty Dance Production! Featuring talented, sexy dancers and overflowing with all the sex, gore and thrills you'd expect from Zombie Joe's Underground, tip-toeing along the razor's edge of disturbing and arousing. Don't get lost in the seduction or the Cabaret may consume you! Directed and Choreographed by LA Dancer-Choreographer Brittany DeWeese and Produced by Zombie Joe. For Ages 17 and up.

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DETAILS: "CABARET MACABRE" - For Ages 17 and up. Wheelchair accessible.

WHEN: FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS @ 8:30pm: JULY 30 thru AUGUST 21, 2021.

WHERE: ZJU Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

TIX only $17.50 & Now on sale at: ZombieJoes.Tix.com

(Image courtesy of Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre.)

We are sure to have more news in the upcoming weeks, and there are sure to be announcements at Midsummer Scream’s upcoming Awaken the Spirits convention on August 14-15. So stay tuned, stay safe, and stay responsible. Lets make sure this fall haunting season is a spooktacular and healthy one!