Oct 20th Recap: Halloween History, No-Scare Haunts & New England Halloween

Halloween New England has been making the most of the season, from exploring vintage Halloween history and experiencing haunts in a different way to checking out a brand-new Halloween festival! Our latest adventures took us to New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, with plenty of creativity, spooky atmosphere, and Halloween community along the way.

Find Halloween adventures for yourself at our website or even download our new app for Halloween in your pocket!

Oct 17th Recap: Spooky Shopping, Candlelight Tours, Scarecrows & Halloween Festivals

 

Halloween New England has been exploring more of New England’s spooky side and seasonal charm, from candlelit paranormal history to Halloween markets, community celebrations, and festive autumn streetscapes. 

These recent adventures brought us into historic homes, creative marketplaces, and charming New England towns, with plenty of ways to enjoy the Halloween season along the way!

Find Halloween adventures for yourself at our website or even download our new app for Halloween in your pocket!

Oct 14th Recap: Haunt Adventures Across Connecticut

 

October has kept Halloween New England busy exploring haunted attractions and immersive Halloween experiences throughout Connecticut! From winding trails in the woods and interactive farm haunts to a theatrical horror experience aboard a vintage train, our recent visits have brought us face-to-face with plenty of creative scares, detailed environments, and unique ways to celebrate the season.

Oct 11th Recap: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Haunted Gallows & Saco Halloween Events

 

 

October is finally here, and Halloween New England has been making the most of it! 

Over the past week, we traveled across New England to experience glowing jack-o’-lantern displays, haunted trails, family-friendly Halloween attractions, and plenty of scares. From Providence, Rhode Island to Saco, Maine, these early October adventures gave us a chance to experience several very different ways to celebrate the Halloween season.
Follow along with us as we take you on a tour of the adventures we've been treated to over the last week!

Late-Sept Recap: Cemetery Mysteries, Jeff Belanger & BAT BOY: The Musical

 
From historic cemeteries and centuries-old burial traditions to New England legends and a wonderfully weird night of horror theater, Halloween New England has been keeping busy exploring the region's fascinating history and spooky entertainment!

Over the past few weeks, our team attended cemetery events in Connecticut and Massachusetts, caught two fascinating presentations from storyteller Jeff Belanger, and headed to Concord, MA for a unique theatrical production. Each experience offered a different way to celebrate New England's haunted history, strange stories, and love of all things spooky.

Here's a look back at four memorable experiences that brought together history, mystery, and a little theatrical horror.

July Summerween Recap: Hammond Castle, CT ParaConn & Paranormal Activity

Summerween season continues to bring incredible opportunities to explore the strange, spooky, and supernatural across New England, and the past two weeks took the Halloween New England Team from a candlelit castle in Gloucester to a paranormal convention in Connecticut before wrapping up with an unforgettable night of live horror in Boston.

Here's a look back at three very different experiences that celebrated history, mystery, and all things paranormal.

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Hammond Castle Museum's Spiritualism Tour by Candlelight

The beginning of the month brought us to the breathtaking Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester, MA, where we attended the museum's Spiritualism Tour by Candlelight. 

With flickering candlelight casting shadows across the Gothic stone walls, the setting immediately created an unforgettable atmosphere for an evening centered around history, mystery, and the supernatural. Throughout the tour, our guide Caleb shared fascinating stories about astrology, the spiritualist movement, Faraday cage experiments, and the museum's secret astrological writings. His enthusiasm and knowledge, combined with the castle's dramatic architecture, made for a memorable experience from beginning to end. You can watch our recap reel from our visit on Instagram.

If you're interested in history, spiritualism, or simply enjoy exploring unique historic locations with an atmospheric twist, this tour offers a wonderful way to spend an evening. Spiritualism Tour by Candlelight Tour details

Find more events like this in MA on our MA Halloween Events Guide. 

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CT ParaConn

Next, we traveled to North Haven, CT for the annual CT ParaConn, where paranormal enthusiasts, horror fans, investigators, authors, and curious minds gathered for an afternoon celebrating everything mysterious and unexplained. CT ParaConn event details

We spent time attending engaging panel discussions featuring paranormal investigators, authors, and special guests covering a wide variety of paranormal topics. The convention floor stayed busy throughout the day with exhibits focused on cryptids, horror films, psychics, paranormal investigations, and special guest appearances.

One of our favorite parts of the event was meeting the diverse group of vendors and exhibitors. From tarot readers, psychics, mediums, tattoo artists, authors, and small businesses to paranormal investigators sharing their research and collections, everyone we met was welcoming and excited to talk about their passions.

The size of CT ParaConn felt just right—it was easy to experience everything without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. We had a great afternoon connecting with fellow fans who share a fascination with the strange, mysterious, and unexplained. You can watch our recap reel from our visit on Instagram.

Find more events like this in CT on our CT Halloween Events Guide. 

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Paranormal Activity at the Emerson Colonial Theatre

We wrapped up the weekend in Boston for the pre-Broadway engagement of Paranormal Activity at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. 

Inspired by the iconic horror film franchise, the production follows James and Lou as they leave Chicago for London, only to discover that some horrors can't be left behind. Watching the story unfold on stage was a unique experience, with a gorgeous set design and creative special effects that delivered thrilling moments throughout the performance. 
Paranormal Activity (Play) event details

The audience was clearly filled with horror fans, and their enthusiasm added another layer to the evening. Audible gasps and reactions filled the theater during surprising moments, creating the kind of shared experience that makes live horror so much fun. The production successfully captured the uneasiness and atmosphere that fans of the films have come to expect while bringing the story to life in an entirely new way on stage.

Find more events like this in MA on our MA Halloween Events Guide. 

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More Summerween Events Ahead

One of the things we enjoy most about covering Halloween and horror events throughout New England is experiencing the many different ways our region celebrates the spooky season. Whether it's exploring historic sites by candlelight, spending the day with paranormal enthusiasts, or enjoying live theatrical horror, there's always something new to discover.

If you're looking to keep those Halloween vibes going all summer long, be sure to explore our Summerween Events Guide. You'll find horror movie screenings, summer haunt events, horror trivia nights, dark vendor markets, oddity fairs, costumed festivities, and other Summerween entertainment happening throughout New England.

Halloween New England is your #1 destination for a fully curated guide to the region's best Halloween- and horror-inspired summertime events across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine.

Halloween New England's SUMMERWEEN Events Guide 

We have plenty more adventures ahead, so stay tuned as we continue exploring the best Halloween, horror, paranormal, and spooky seasonal experiences New England has to offer. 

June Summerween Recap: Sweeney Todd in CT & Boston Witchcraft Tour

Halloween New England's Summerween adventures continued this past weekend as we experienced two very different but equally memorable events celebrating New England's rich connection to horror and history.

We were thrilled to attend opening night of one of musical theatre's most iconic horror thrillers and to spend an afternoon exploring Boston's lesser-known witchcraft history, we had the opportunity to experience two unique events that showcase just how much spooky season can be celebrated all year long.

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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - a co-production with Hartford Stage and Theaterworks Hartford

On Friday, we traveled to Hartford Stage for opening night of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the legendary musical thriller that has captivated horror lovers and theatre fans for generations.

Set in 19th-century London, the production immediately immersed us in a world of revenge, dark humor, horror, and obsession from the very first factory whistle. This Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford co-production featured intimate staging that felt both grand and gritty, creating the perfect atmosphere for Stephen Sondheim's haunting score. Every seat in the theatre offered an excellent view, allowing audiences to fully appreciate the performances and dramatic presentation throughout the evening.

We're grateful to Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford for hosting Halloween New England for this unforgettable night of live theatre. Although this production has now concluded, we're thankful we had the opportunity to experience it during its run. Enjoy our video recap of Sweeney Todd on our Instagram.

Details on Hartford Stage's upcoming Fall '26 production of Dracula

Find more events like this in CT on our CT Halloween Events Guide. 

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Boston Witchcraft Tour - Boston, MA

Saturday brought us into downtown Boston for the Boston Witchcraft Tour, where a beautiful summer afternoon set the stage for an engaging journey through a fascinating chapter of New England history that is often overshadowed by the Salem witch trials.

Hosted by Salem Historical Tours, the 90-minute walking tour explored Boston's connections to witchcraft accusations and executions that took place decades before the events in Salem. As we made our way through historic streets and significant locations, we learned about the religious beliefs that shaped colonial Boston, the story of Goody Glover, and the social tensions that contributed to accusations of witchcraft. The tour also offered thoughtful insight into how these allegations affected the lives of ordinary people in 17th-century Massachusetts.

Enjoy our video recap of our Boston Witchcraft Tour visit on our Instagram.

We'd like to thank Salem Historical Tours for warmly hosting us on this informative and memorable new experience. If you're interested in exploring this lesser-known piece of New England history for yourself, tours continue over the coming months. Details on upcoming Boston Witchcraft Tours

Find more events like this in MA on our MA Halloween Events Guide. 

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Looking Ahead for More Summerween Activities

One of the things we enjoy most about covering Halloween and horror events throughout New England is discovering the many ways the spooky season comes to life long before October arrives. Whether it's experiencing legendary horror theatre, uncovering fascinating local history, or attending paranormal events and Summerween celebrations, there's always something new to explore.

If you're looking to keep those Halloween vibes going all summer long, be sure to check out our Summerween Events Guide. You'll find horror movie screenings, summer haunt events, horror trivia nights, dark vendor markets, oddity fairs, costumed festivities, walking tours, and other Summerween entertainment happening throughout New England.

We'll be sharing many more adventures throughout the season, so stay tuned as we continue exploring the best Halloween, horror, paranormal, and spooky experiences New England has to offer.

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May Halfway to Halloween Recap: Bizarre Bazaar & Gravestone Cleaning Workshop

As spring arrived the team at Halloween New England soaked up the mild weather with some Halfway to Halloween fun! 

We spent time in Hartford, CT experiencing two unique events that celebrated New England's appreciation for the strange, the historic, and the spooky. From a marketplace filled with creepy creativity to an opportunity to help preserve centuries of local history, both events reminded us that Halloween spirit thrives well beyond October.

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Bizarre Bazaar - Hartford, CT

One of our May adventures brought us to downtown Hartford for The Bizarre Bazaar, a free outdoor artisan market celebrating all things creepy, unusual, and delightfully peculiar.

Held at State House Square Plaza alongside Hartford's America's 250th anniversary festivities, the event marked its first celebration of the "Halfway to Spooky Season." Dozens of local artists, makers, and horror-inspired vendors filled the market with creepy collectibles, gothic upcycled fashion, dark photography, vintage treasures, handcrafted décor, original artwork, spooky gifts, and one-of-a-kind creations. Here's our video recap from our Bizarre Bazaar visit in May.

What stood out most was the atmosphere. Halloween lovers gathered to celebrate their shared appreciation for the strange, creating the perfect "Halfway to Halloween" energy throughout the afternoon. Events like this are always a reminder that Halloween isn't just a season in New England—it's a year-round passion shared by an incredible community.

The Bizarre Bazaar returns this fall on Sept 12th which makes it another eartly-fall event to keep on your radar for spooky shopping and supporting local artists.

Find more events like this in CT on our CT Halloween Events Guide. 

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Gravestone Cleaning Workshop at the Ancient Burying Ground - Hartford, CT

Earlier that morning we attended our first Gravestone Cleaning Workshop hosted by the Ancient Burying Ground Association in downtown Hartford.

For years, we'd hoped our schedule would align with one of these free seasonal workshops, and we were excited to finally experience it firsthand. On a beautiful spring morning, we learned the proper techniques for safely caring for historic gravestones using biodegradable cleaner, water, and simple toothbrushes while emphasizing preservation and respect for these centuries-old memorials.

The workshop began with a guided tour that shared fascinating stories about some of the people buried within Hartford's historic Ancient Burying Ground before transitioning into a hands-on demonstration of safe cleaning methods and tools. Here's a video recap from our experience at the Gravestone Cleaning Workshop.

What made the experience especially memorable was the sense of reflection, community, and stewardship it inspired. We met thoughtful participants, made new friends, and learned from knowledgeable volunteers who generously shared both practical preservation techniques and local history.

It's a wonderful free opportunity for anyone interested in local history, cemetery preservation, or giving back to the community. Pre-registration is required, and additional workshops will return throughout the year, including a fall session.

Stay tuned for more Gravestone Cleaning Events posted for the Ancient Burying Ground. As dates are added, you'll see them on Halloween New England!

Find more events like this in CT on our CT Halloween Events Guide. 

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Feed your Halloween Spirit throughout the Warmer Months!

One of our favorite parts of the months leading up to Halloween season is discovering how many creative ways Halloween lovers keep the spooky spirit alive throughout the warmer months. Whether it's browsing a creepy artisan market, exploring haunted history, attending horror-themed events, or learning about historic preservation, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate.

If you're looking for more spooky adventures, be sure to visit our Halfway to Halloween Events Guide and our Summerween Events Guide. You'll find horror movie screenings, summer haunt events, horror trivia nights, dark vendor markets, oddity fairs, haunted history tours, costumed festivities, and other Halloween-inspired entertainment happening throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

We'll continue sharing our adventures as we explore the best Halloween, horror, paranormal, and spooky experiences happening across New England all year long.

April Recap: Halfway to Halloween at Wicked New England in Salem

 

There's no better way to celebrate the halfway point to Halloween than by spending the day surrounded by fellow Halloween fans, talented artists, haunt enthusiasts, and spooky creators—and that's exactly what we did at Wicked New England's Halfway to Halloween festival at Salem's historic Old Town Hall.

As a proud sponsor of this year's event, Halloween New England was excited to spend the day connecting with members of the New England Halloween community while exploring everything the festival had to offer.

The event brought together dozens of carefully curated spooky vendors, artists, makers, attractions, and entertainers, creating a fantastic atmosphere for Halloween lovers of all ages. From handcrafted décor and artwork to horror-inspired collectibles and seasonal treasures, there was no shortage of incredible finds. Naturally, we couldn't resist doing a little shopping ourselves and came home with an armful of handle bags packed with spooky goodies.

One of the highlights of the day was participating in a panel discussion about all-ages Halloween events throughout New England. We were honored to join the conversation alongside other passionate members of the community.

A special thank you goes to Mike Walsh from America's Hometown Horror Podcast for moderating an engaging discussion with thoughtful questions that sparked great conversation. We'd also like to thank Heirloom Hallowe'en for creating an absolutely stunning backdrop of authentic Halloween antiques that made the panel feel even more special.

Beyond the panel, one of our favorite parts of the day was simply meeting so many talented vendors, performers, and Halloween fans. We had countless conversations with artists, haunt owners, creators, and guests who all share the same excitement for keeping Halloween alive all year long.

By the end of the afternoon, our team was happily exhausted after an unforgettable day filled with shopping, laughter, great conversations, and plenty of Halloween spirit. You can check out our video recap of the 2026 Wicked New England visit.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello, and especially to Wicked New England for inviting us to be part of such an incredible event. We can't wait to see what next year's celebration brings.

Halloween New England Heads West for a Ghost Ride Lifecasting

Last year Halloween New England headed out west to connect with Ghost Ride Productions for a long-anticipated experience of being lifecasted (head and body) to make a lifecast which may be used for molding and creating this season's realistic special FX props (coming to a haunted house near you....ha!).

Ghost Ride Productions is a leading FX prop company who specializes in props reflecting realism. You won't find out of proportion heads on bodies, exaggerated mugging features, or slapdash paint detailing here. Ghost Ride is known for the kind of props which can be easily mistaken for a live person in a haunt scene.

Haunt designers love using their props because a Ghost Ride prop's realism lends an authenticity to any scene and can even function as a decoy to draw customers' attention to set up a haunt scare. One haunt designer described Ghost Ride's catalog as filled with "the most realistic props you can buy out there. Their props are very durable and hold up over a season and will stay in good shape for years to come which makes it a valuable investment to any haunt's inventory."

When I received the offer from Ghost Ride to participate in this process first-hand, I jumped at the chance without a moment's hesitation! It was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to go behind the scenes to learn about the intensive process behind the making of a brand new horror prop. It was incredible to see how much detailed preparation and skill goes into the task of lifecasting. As a total introvert, this was a unique chance to contribute and "participate" in a haunted attraction in my own small but unusual way. 

Leading up to casting day, the Ghost Ride staff had held meetings where they'd scheduled exactly how the process would go, walked through every step in advance, and created a plan for how to execute the casting. It would be all hands on deck--probably 6 or 7 people on the Ghost Ride staff--cooperating and communicating from start (application of the bald cap) to finish (cracking of the cast--ah freedom!).

This multi-hour process is extremely time-sensitive as the crew must work quickly and with great attention to the application of the thick, goopy mold solution--the consistency of marshmallow fluff-- before the silicone sets in place.

In fact, the entire process is so time-sensitive that one crew member was solely responsible for just tracking the minutes and seconds of time--alerting the crew when a certain amount of time has lapsed as a way of knowing how firm the material was getting. At certain points, the owner of the studio Michael Chaille, would notify a different crew member - this one solely responsible for just mixing new batches of fresh silicone--to whip up a new quart of the mixture as soon as possible. Because the silicone sets very, very quickly, preparation is everything in this process since the mixture cannot be blended in advance or else it would firm up before it was applied. A full table of unmixed solutions was lined up on a dedicated mixing table hours before even the bald cap was placed on my head. 

It takes several layers of silicone applications to complete the molding before the cast material is applied in the final step. The silicone mixture itself is the same solution for each layer but each new layer gets tinted a different color. The purpose of tinting each "round" of silicone is to be able to manage the thickness of the silicone as it is built up layer by layer. Each tinted layer is applied to ensure maximum coverage of every nook, angle, and crevice. For example, a pink layer on top of a green layer will allow the crew to quickly track the thickness of the fresh, liquid pink layer as it is spread over the (dry) green layer underneath. 

Working with large popsicle sticks and brushes in hand, 3 or 4 crew members at one would drag and spread the viscous silicone across the arms or around the neck, pushing the mix into the crevices near the armpits, hands, or knees. That initial layer of silicone is applied on bare skin and it is designed to be able to release any arm or body hair when the mold is cracked open at the end.

The first area that was molded was my head. With my hair covered in a bald cap to create a smooth surface for molding, I sat on a table and rested the side of my cheek on my knees which were tucked up to my body. My entire body was draped in plastic to protect it from the drops and drips of the molding process of the head and my head position needed to match where my body would be for the second molding of the body later on. Once in position, Michael gave me specific instructions about how I could communicate with him using my hands under the clear plastic so he could keep track of how I was doing during the head molding since my mouth would be covered completely and verbal communication wouldn't be possible once we'd begun. 

He asked if I was ready, I said yes. I closed my lips and eyes and I felt the first pour of silicone drip over the top of my head in a big, sticky, gooey mess. It felt like being covered with runny peanut butter. I felt the crew working swiftly to drag the thick liquid over my cheeks, eye, around the corners of my nose, into my ears and under my chin. Just like that, I couldn't see, couldn't talk, and my hearing became muffled by the layers seeping into every tiny nook of my ears. One crew member had the single job of vigilantly watching my nostril holes for safety during the molding process. He zeroed in on this area to ensure that I always had my nostrils completely open--free and clear of silicone-- to be able to breathe without any obstruction. This is an important point: the ability to trust the crew to be 100% safety-minded and ultra-responsible is perhaps the most essential factor in ever agreeing to be lifecasted. Once that first layer of silicone is applied, you basically surrender your safety and well-being over to the crew. When your head is being molded, this is significantly the case as you cannot speak or open your eyes throughout the experience--nothing but your hands to gesture through communicating with a thumbs up or thumbs down answer to yes or no questions they might ask.

For me, the molding of my head was the part I found most enjoyable. Thankfully I am not prone to claustrophobia, and I was actually looking forward to the sensory withdrawal, curious to experience it first-hand. I found the surrender of this part of the casting fairly relaxing--there is literally nothing to do, nothing to see or say, not much to hear. I just sat there with my head resting on my knees and relaxed. I focused exclusively on staying calm, regulating my breath, and focusing on the steady flow of breathing through my free nostril. I knew that it was critical that I be able to do this with great concentration--staying calm would allow my breath to stay measured. I knew that if I allowed myself to get nervous during the process my breathing would quicken and because there was such a limited space to access air (just the nostrils), it would be a slippery slope to remain calm in the mold for the duration. It was a mental exercise as much as it was a physical endurance one. I never felt panicky or uneasy during this molding which certainly contributed to it being a very positive experience! I also fully and completely trusted the professionalism and experience of the Ghost Ride crew with regards to my safety which ultimately, was at the heart of my ability to stay calm and relax.   

The application of the mold layers is an extremely rapid process of everyone working at once, with constant staff communication about what each person was seeing on their side of my body to ensure that every section was properly, evenly covered. As the mix is applied, the weight of the heavy, goopy silicone will weep downward from gravity and the crew feverishly drags the material up the arms and legs as they spread the layers across with care.

After several layers are applied and dried, the final step is to create a cast of the now hardened silicone mold. During this step, a plaster cast is created to encase the mold--dozens of drippy, plastery strips material are draped around every part of the mold. As the heat-activated plaster strips begin to firm, the heat from the outer casts starts to penetrate through the several layers of silicone which, for obvious reasons, made me feel quite warm, almost sauna-like inside the mold.

Because staying in a single position is required for the duration of the mold-making process, there is no opportunity to shift an arm or a leg to stretch or get comfy. It was during this step that was the most challenging for me during the entire process. By this time I'd been in a single position for well over an hour without moving (seated, arms crossed around my legs) and the stagnancy of the position had begun to take its toll with stiffness, a numbness from sitting so long on a hard surface, and general achiness.

Thankfully, the crew at Ghost Ride--as well as some other folks I'd met who'd shared their own lifecasting experience--had prepared me for this moment where it becomes a mental challenge as much as a physical one. Michael and his crew set up fans to blow on my head (the only part of me that was exposed to air) and they even had an ice pack to place on my forehead to keep me staying cool as the warmth and discomfort of that final cast stage progressed. By now it was simply a waiting game... waiting for that plaster cast to fully harden to the point they could crack it open.

When the moment came to release me from the cast the entire crew gingerly rolled me onto my side--pretty much like an Easter egg--since I did not have access to my arms or legs to move or catch myself. From this side angle, I couldn't see a thing that was happening but I could feel action all around me--my feet, back, legs--as they cut through the thick, multi-layered shell that encased my whole body.

When the mold finally cracked, a crew member wrapped me in a robe to wear and like a newborn, I slowly and gently began to stretch my limbs and move a bit as I worked out the stiffness in my hips, knees, and back. After luxuriating in the freedom from the cast for a minute or two, my curiosity got the better of me. I was excited to see what the mold looked like--the areas that stood out for me was the details of the area which had molded my feet (in the body mold) and the detail of the crevices within my ears (in the head mold). It was pretty wild to see the "negative" of my own body parts which of course, I know so well from the 3-dimensional version that I inhabit.

In the months that followed I was sent progress pictures from Ghost Ride. The first foam body "pulled" from the mold, unpainted, untrimmed was the sneak preview. Then I was sent a picture of just the head, decapitated, fully painted and laying on a stainless steel medical tray for the full effect. It is odd to look at your own face but painted with lifeless, dead pallor--none of the expression or color that I'm used to seeing with my reflection in a mirror.
However, nothing prepared me for the experience of receiving photos of the completed prop - full head and body - painted in detail, dressed into character complete with a wig. I think it was seeing my own feet in the prop that was truly freakish. Those feet were just so.... familiar!

The prop, now nicknamed "Alexa", debuted in the Ghost Ride booth and 2018 catalog this year at TransWorld's annual Halloween and Attraction Show (HAA Show) in St. Louis, MO! For haunt owners and designers, HAA is the largest trade show of its kind which showcases FX props, lighting, animatronic props, masks, haunt designers, Special FX, and other vendors directly to the people who create and produce professional haunted houses, escape rooms, and Halloween attractions.
Ghost Ride created several prop variations created out of the same mold - the asylum version, the burn victim, the frozen version, the realistic "alive" version they'd made for their new catalog.

The HAA Show was the first place the haunt industry was able to see in person and place their orders for Ghost Ride's "Alexa." I don't yet know which New England haunted attractions may have purchased the Alexa prop this year for their haunts but I look forward to "scaring myself" when I stumble across it in some creepy scene--I am sure it will be an experience I'll never forget!

My deepest gratitude goes out to Michael Chaille and his incredible crew at Ghost Ride Productions. They gave me a one of a kind experience and true insight into this fascinating field within the Halloween and FX Prop industry and their professionalism at every turn made it an unforgettable day.

Check out some of the Alexa variations below (L to R: "Burn", "Cozy", and "Asylum"). 

Visit the full Ghost Ride Productions catalog at www.GhostRide.com 

The Legendary Haunt Tour Delivers Unprecedented Access to Haunted Attractions in New England this November

In just a matter of weeks New Englanders will be treated to a visit by the venerable Legendary Haunt Tour which has chosen to come to our neck of the woods on November 7th and 8th, 2014. 

Halloween New England sat down with Jennifer Braverman of TransWorld to learn more about what you can expect from this year’s special tour.

The Legendary Haunt Tour is a co-production between TransWorld and Netherworld—the former being the producer of the monstrous Halloween and Attractions trade show that takes place each March in St. Louis, and the latter being one of the largest, long-running, and most respected haunted attractions in the country. 

Featuring three New England haunted attractions, a haunt education panel, catered dinners, a day in Salem, post-show parties, and more, the Legendary Haunt Tour is unique because of its timing. The tour schedule coincides with the end of the Halloween season to enable haunt professionals, soon-to-be haunters, and enthusiasts to experience featured haunts as authentically as a customer would—the way they were designed to be.  The 2014 tour will be featuring New England’s own Haunted Overload (Lee, NH), Nightmare New England (Litchfield, NH), and Fright Kingdom (Nashua, NH).

The foreboding entrance to Haunted Overload in Lee, NH

If you’re not a member of the haunt industry it may surprise you to learn that the very folks who create haunted attractions rarely have the opportunity to enjoy the fruit of their peers’ labor, especially in a “live” atmosphere with customers, actors, and energy. As haunters all work virtually the same nights each season, they relish the chance to visit and other haunts as the tour makes possible.

Haunters may be fans of one another’s work but often it is an appreciation gained through mutual respect, an understanding of one’s design, skills, or creative approach, and photos/videos that are generated through the season—hardly ever through the live experience which can’t fully be conveyed outside of the real deal.

The Legendary Haunt Tour is many things to many haunters, but it is arguably a highlight of every fall for being a favorite way to decompress after a grueling season. Remember, most of the attendees closed their show just days earlier and they’ll admit it’s the first chance to unwind after a demanding stretch of work leading to Halloween. 

Planning a year in advance, Braverman says that she and Netherworld keep their ears open to determine which attractions people are buzzing about. The St. Louis convention every spring is a particularly rich place for gathering feedback about which haunts are high on people’s wish list and this informs them to keep certain haunts on their radar for future tours. Netherworld’s Ben Armstrong and Billy Messina are the arbiters of the short list for potential tour stops and together with Braverman they begin to factor in logistics. 

Sinister clown at NH's Fright Kingdom

Braverman says the timing of the tour is essential—it simply wouldn’t be the same to offer a tour like this over the winter or spring. It was Netherworld’s Ben Armstrong’s idea to invite featured haunts to extend their season by an extra night or weekend to accommodate the tour’s visit. For the featured attractions, it’s a no-brainer to sign on at that time of year since the actors are still in a groove from the season, the major props aren’t already in storage, and the lighting and fog machines are still in place.

TransWorld and Netherworld are in an unusually well-suited to produce a tour like this because of the strong relationships they have formed through the years with hundreds of haunters and vendors nationally through the Halloween and Attraction Show. They are providing more than transportation and a ticket to see a haunt. The tour’s itinerary facilitates opportunities for the haunt community to deepen their connection to one another through social gatherings, free time in an interesting city, visits to haunts they are curious about, and the round table discussion.

When asked why she opted to bring the tour to New England this year, Braverman shares the tour “had never really been out east. When you think of Halloween, you think of Salem and it has such history. Besides seeing the haunts, Salem is really a highlight and we thought it would make for a very exciting tour for people. There’s a mystical element to this year’s tour that we just haven’t had before.”   

It’s also the first year the tour has featured outdoor attractions. Haunted Overload is an entirely outdoor trail and three of Nightmare New England’s five attractions are set under the stars and in the woods. Fright Kingdom is the only exclusively indoor attraction this year which balances out the tour itinerary well. Each attraction is distinctly different from the next and their proximity to one another makes offering three tour stops possible when most Legendary itineraries have featured just two.  

The enormous Brigham Manor at Nightmare New England 

With professionals like Armstrong, Messina, and Braverman at the helm organizing the tour, many prop and scenic design vendors are a regular sight too.  

“Some of the [TransWorld Halloween and Attraction Show] exhibitors (vendors) come because it gives them a chance to network with their buyers (haunt owners). At TransWorld, they don’t really get a chance to socialize—they’re on the show floor selling and then at night they’re exhausted. Here, they get to find out what people like in their haunted houses and what kind of products these buyers want so that they can develop and create for next year’s show.”  

The people who join the tour really understand the unique value of what is being provided—something they could never get if they attended the two or three attractions on their own, independently. 

“Beyond seeing the haunts, you are getting to meet and talk with other haunted attraction owners. A lot of these owners and haunters who attend are kind of like celebrities in their own right,“ says Braverman. “You’ll be able to talk to them, listen and ask about how their season went. You’ll get to sit through seminars with them and round table discussions summarizing how their season was. You’ll be able to network and learn. The tour adds a dynamic that most people wouldn’t ordinarily get.”

“After all,” she adds, “where else can you go and see two hundred other haunt owners in a room right after their season ended?”

A knife-wielding maniac awaits in Haunted Overload's vortex

For superfans and would-be professional haunters, the tour is a virtual who’s-who of the haunted attraction industry. As the largest industry-focused trade show, TransWorld isn’t open to the general public or haunt enthusiasts. By default, the Legendary Haunt Tour has become the premier place to meet and learn from a wide variety of pro haunters, prop and scenic designers, entrepreneurs, and innovators--the very people who are driving the industry forward and creating new avenues for haunters of every stripe, size, and budget. 

“The tour is a great environment for people who are thinking of starting a haunted attraction. They’ll get a chance to ask questions of all of these guys—and not necessarily in a seminar setting. It’s a great benefit. I think that is why a lot of enthusiasts do go. Where else can you go where you get to see all of these people together?”

Michael Chaille, owner of Ghost Ride Productions, is a designer and developer of mechanical and special effects, and custom props. He makes a point to attend every year because "Legendary is where Ghost Ride Productions refines our next year’s goals and product development based on what we learn from this gathering.  Without a tradeshow floor, the bus rides and breakneck schedule turn the tour into something more like continued education.  It's a requirement for all serious professionals, no matter the discipline or field."

Some of the most well-known owners and designers are regulars on the tour—as attendees and also as panel guests. Braverman characterizes the discussions as a fresh wrap-up of the season followed by a Q & A.  

The facade at Nashua's Fright Kingdom

“We try to have different kinds of people up there talking about their season--someone that runs a hayride, someone that runs a traditional haunt, someone who has a paintball field and runs a zombie shoot—so there are a variety opinions” that convey a diversity in the haunt experience.

Featured panelists in recent years have included John Laflamboy, owner of Zombie Army Productions (Chicago, IL), Allen Hopps, director of Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX), Chris Stafford, owner of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group (Austin, TX), Randy Bates, Owner of Bates Motel and Pennhurst Asylum (Glen Mills, PA and Spring City, PA), Ben Armstrong of Netherworld (Atlanta, GA), and Timothy Gavinski, owner of Wisconsin Feargrounds (Milwaukee, WI).

The Legendary Haunt Tour provides an extraordinary amount of access to the most creative minds and successful haunters in this country—it’s a one-of-a-kind chance to understand what makes these men and women tick.

Knowledgeable tour-goers (and TransWorld veterans) understand that the tour hotel is a vital and important social hub, yet its nightly gatherings are not listed on the itinerary per se. The hotel becomes the place where colleagues can recount their season, network, and bounce around new ideas for next year (yes, Halloween really never has an “off-season” for these folks). 

For New Englanders who plan to attend the Legendary Haunt Tour, it’s worth forgoing your own bed for a night or two as the tour hotel is a veritable magnet for informal social meet-ups. 

Raven's Claw Cemetery at Nightmare New England 

“Haunters love to all be together,” explains Braverman.  “The advantage to staying at the host hotel is that when you get back from the tour at night, everyone can go to the bar where most people continue to socialize or network.” 

For locals, the Legendary Haunt Tour provides an insider’s behind-the-scenes experience that simply couldn’t be accessed as an independent haunt fan. It’s an incredible way to meet such a wide variety of haunted house owners from across the country.

“They get to be with the group, hear about everyone’s season, see everyone, learn about different aspects of the haunted houses that they don’t normally see," says Braverman. "They’ll enjoy the Q & A and be able to ask questions of the haunt owners whose attractions are being featured on the tour that they normally might be able to.“

Ghost Ride's Chaille describes Legendary Haunt Tour attendees as "seeming to be more relaxed and less guarded, more like a fraternity.  Like troops comparing stories after the battle has ended, we love hearing all the 'battle stories' from across North America and around the world."

For Braverman, her favorite part of Legendary is getting to see everyone and hear about how everyone’s season went. She enjoys that, for many, the haunt season culminates with this tour. 

“I get to see the full cycle,” she says. “I see people come to [TransWorld] and buy the product. I know how hard all these haunters work throughout the year. You hear the woes, and it’s nice to hear about their successes. You get to hear a lot of what they did well and what they feel didn’t go well. I get to hear what they’d like to see more of on the TransWorld show floor. I gain an insight that I wouldn’t normally get when I see them at the trade show because they’re really only at the show to buy, or to take classes, or network. To be able to socialize with them is just something I just don’t often get to do and that is part of the reason I really love Legendary so much. People will come to Legendary from around the world and it’s so great to hear all the different perspectives.”

Legendary Haunt Tour 2014 from Artifact Images on Vimeo.

For us New Englanders, having the Legendary Haunt Tour visit our region is a feather in our cap. We here at Halloween New England can attest that our New England haunt community is thriving and we’re seeing more and more yard and home haunters taking the next step to move “pro”. 

Local haunters and superfans who may have seen one or two of the tour’s featured haunts in recent years should know the experience of Legendary will be unmatched in terms of access, networking, and the free flow of ideas and feedback that comes with being surrounded by dozens of the brightest and most innovative minds in the haunt community. It’s a truly rare gift to have the wider haunt community coming out to our own backyard. 

We are counting down the days for the Legendary Haunt Tour weekend and we look forward to welcoming so many industry pros to our region. We hope to see as many northeast haunters and superfans representing our historic area and distinct Halloween culture. We’ll be there, will you? 

Looking to find out more about the tour? Find tour itineraries, online ticketing, hotel booking info, transportation, and more at the Legendary Haunt Tour's website.

The photos in this article were published with the expressed permission of Artifact Images (Haunted Overload), SpookyWorld Presents Nightmare New England, and Fright Kingdom.

Haunted Overload – An Imaginative, Captivating, Haunting World

One of Haunted Overload's
iconic giant carved pumpkins

With designer and artist Eric Lowther at the helm, a visit to Haunted Overload in Lee, NH is truly an original experience both in its artistry and its presentation. Eric’s stage manager Tom Sadowski was gracious enough to take time out to give Halloween New England a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming season. As anyone who has visited Haunted Overload can attest, words are sure to fall short in trying to accurately convey this mesmerizing haunted trail but I will try my best.

Haunted Overload is situated deep in the woods on the DeMerritt Hill Farm property in what is a busy PYO apple orchard for families during the fall replete with hayrides and a pumpkin patch. It’s almost funny to consider how the family-focused daytime farm activities and the Overload nighttime activities land on entirely different ends of the spectrum.

For one, I didn’t arrive during daylight hours so by the time I’d pulled into the pitch black parking lot the farm was closed and the minivans were long gone. I’d never been here before so although I was unsure exactly where to go but I simply followed the ominous sound of working chainsaws to know where Haunted Overload was. (Yes, I realize in horror movies, when you follow the sound of chainsaws into the woods nothing good ever happens). As it turns out, once I saw the scale and size that Eric works in, I couldn’t help imagining that the screaming wail of chainsaws must impart a kind of soundtrack to their building season. Chainsaws are what are needed to carry out the ambitious structures that Eric and his crew build here—nothing less would accomplish the task.

My visit was in September so the construction and detail for the season was in full swing. Tom’s tour took place at night which brought its own kind of spookiness—no crowds of customers, no scene lighting, no environmental music, save for the aforementioned chainsaw. Just Tom and me walking the trail and, had it not been for the flashlight, we’d be in complete darkness in the NH woods. Credit to Tom for keeping the flashlight on the whole time as I would have been an easy mark—the thought of being in the woods in the pure darkness even for 5 seconds would have terrified me!

Tom shared the history of Haunted Overload including details about the year they moved their entire attraction to the current property at DeMerritt Hill Farm—no easy feat when you see how gigantic many of these scenic pieces are. He discussed their current approach to the new season, which changes they were implementing, and showed me how they were adjusting many sections of the trail to reverse the customer flow for a new feel. Haunted Overload is primarily an outdoor haunted attraction but there are several small buildings, thematic tent structures, and huts that you either walk through or are brief scenes. However, Eric is an artist who doesn’t think small—he approaches design in terms of scale, using proportion to his advantage to create a specific atmosphere—so most of what makes Overload stand out can’t really fit inside a building at all.

Ethereal scarecrow-like ghost
creatures are tall as the treetops

Perhaps it’s Eric’s commitment to using as much organic building material as possible—reclaimed wood from fallen trees, strapping scraps from a NH lumber yard, the texture of the leaves and trees all around--that allow the various creatures to paradoxically feel both of the earth and yet not of this world.

Whether it is the enormous imposing skull staring you down as you wait in the queue or the towering ghostly scarecrow-like creations that hover twenty feet above your head as you walk through the trail, the magic of Haunted Overload is how very, very small you feel. It’s clear you have entered in another world where nothing is human-sized and these magnificent, ethereal creatures are the ones who inhabit this fantastical land. 

This pumpkin-headed sculpture
exemplifies Eric Lowther's love of
texture and use of organic materials. 

The artistry of the various props, creatures, giant carved pumpkins, ghostly skeletons are completely custom built for this event—these are not props or animatronics that can be bought which allows the customers to have a wholly unique experience—they have never seen these types of things anywhere else—and why Haunted Overload is a destination with a devoted return customer base. 

As colleague Mike “Tattoo” Krausert of 13th Floor Entertainment Group explained “there is just nobody in the haunted attraction industry doing what Eric is doing. He is a true artist with a one-of-a-kind vision.”   

It only seems fitting to be greeted
by a chainsaw-wielding maniac!

When I returned to Haunted Overload for the live experience, everything was ratcheted up to a whole new level. This time, there were actors and customers who brought an energy and life to the night and yes, there was still the sound of chainsaws (judiciously used I might add). Right from the start, the customers are immersed in this phenomenal world of rich colors, stylized sinister pumpkins, and scarecrow-like ghosts glaring down at you from the tree-tops. My fellow patrons stood agape looking up and craning their heads, taking it all in. The secondary queue line serves a useful purpose to allow the customers to acclimate to the new, almost magical environment before heading out on the trail. This also is the only area where photos are permitted and Eric has smartly created an impressive wooden skull centerpiece flanked by a pair of giant wooden cow skulls for the photo ops.  On the misty night I attended there was a haunting layer of natural fog suspended in all corners of the woods which certainly added to the special atmosphere.

This photo doesn't convey the enormity
of the 3-story tall skull at the trail head.

The groups enter the trail and the experience is self-guided--there are bridges and graveyards and plenty of small shacks where actors could be hiding (or are they?) which certainly add to the thrills and tension. There seem to be plenty of ways for actors to cover some ground—being able to surprise or stalk multiple groups in a short period of time.
I felt lucky that the group I tagged along with didn’t race through the event too quickly since I was eager to progress slowly so I could thoroughly observe the careful detail of the creatures and the enchanting scenic design. Eric’s trail design takes everything into consideration—I particularly appreciated how the back-side of a scene or a giant creature was seamlessly contributed to a scene in a different part of the trail--something difficult to accomplish in a conventional, indoor, walled attraction.

This is a well-organized event with a dedicated group of volunteers supporting the event by taking tickets taking to conveying emergency exit procedures. Eric’s association with The Cocheco Valley Humane Society is an important one as the CVHS as Haunted Overload contributes a portion of their proceeds each year to support the great work these folks are doing. In 2013 alone, Haunted Overload raised $16,000 for the CVHS which is a very impressive and impactful kind support.

Haunted Overload opens for the haunting season mid-October and you can buy tickets for night-time events (full show), daytime events (no scares/actors, photos permitted), and two Fright Lite Night events (no scares/actors, photos permitted on this night too).

Find details about Haunted Overload, links to online ticketing, a slideshow of their trail, watch their video, find contact info, map with directions, and more here.

Ten Tips for Visiting Haunted Overload this October

• Buy your tickets in advance. Their night shows regularly sell out and there are a very limited number of tickets sold at the door.

• The event has timed ticketing which means you purchase your ticket for a particular entrance time. This doesn’t mean you won’t have a brief wait in the queue but it does mean you need to arrive in advance of your scheduled time. Your timed arrival has as much to do with managing the parking lot flow as it does the crowds so be considerate and arrive early!

• The trail itself takes about 45 minutes depending on the pace of your group and those in front of you. Factor in a little extra time for waiting in the queue and for parking.

• A nice perk of this event is the ability to plan your night—the timed ticketing allows you to have an idea about how much time you will spend there which very helpful if you are making plans before or after.

• This show has a recommendation of 12y + but as always, parents should exercise their own best judgment as to what their child finds scary or frightening. There are definitely surprises, as well as creepy and scary moments. I don’t recall seeing any gore.

• Haunted Overload offers a Fright Night Lite which is the full night show minus the actors and scares. This is also the only night show where photos are permitted throughout the event. Check their schedule for details. 

• Those looking to really soak up the artistry and scenic detail of Haunted Overload are encouraged to return for one of the daytime shows where photos are allowed and the walk-through pace is more relaxed to allow you to really appreciate the trail in full daylight. The daytime events are actor- and scare-free.

• This is an outdoor event that takes place rain or shine (except in the case of extreme weather) so dress appropriately for the nighttime weather in NH, including rain and cold temps. Be sure to wear shoes that are safe and suitable for walking on an outdoor trail.

• There are light refreshments at the farm stand near the parking lot—hot cider, etc.

• Haunted Overload has made the effort to be wheelchair accessible but there are some uneven trails. They can accommodate you with some trail adjustments if needed but it is appreciated if you call ahead to let them know you’re coming.