Halloween & Horror Reign Supreme at Midsummer Scream

I experienced the most delightful madness at Midsummer Scream. Besides October 31^st, this Halloween and horror convention is one of the biggest spooky events of the year and is the highlight of my summerween. It’s been my annual tradition to attend since 2018, and this year was my first time going two days, so I saw and did a lot! Here’s my recap of 2023’s festivities.

Midsummer Scream spans across three days at the Long Beach Convention Center in California, and I attended Saturday and Sunday. While I find the entire horror con exciting, I was especially looking forward to going this year because The Boulet Brothers and a few of the Dragula contestants were going to be present! But more on them later when I cover Sunday’s happenings. First, let’s talk about what transpired on Saturday.

Day 1: Saturday

Unlike last year where I waited nearly two hours to get in, I picked up my group’s wristbands a couple days prior for faster entry. The option for early pickup was introduced this year and I feel it made a significant difference. Midsummer Scream has a nifty app that allows you to customize your schedule and plan what you want to check out. It’s a smart thing to do so you’re not wondering around aimlessly because, trust me, it can be very overwhelming with so much going on.

Since there was time to kill before the panel I wanted to see started, I hit the grand show floor where hundred of exhibitors were set up. There were rows upon rows of macabre vendors selling fashion pieces, dark art, home décor, cosmetics, taxidermy, books, novelty items and so much more. Some businesses had photo ops, and the celebrity signings also took place in this space. I scoped out what was there and made a mental note of shops I wanted to return to.

I also got to meet up once again with The Boulet Brothers Dragula: Titans winner Victoria Black, this time out of drag. Dahli, champion of Dragula season four, was also doing a meet and greet, so I was able to snag a photo with them.

Then it was time to head to the first panel of the day, which was the 13^th Floor presentation in the Grand Ballroom. It was hosted by actor David Dastmalchian who has starred in films such as The Dark Knight and Ant-Man. He was interviewing creators involved in the production of LA Haunted Hayride, Delusion and Shaqtoberfest. LA Haunted Hayride announced they have revamped the iconic hayride and that visitors can look forward to more creepy elements during their journey. The man behind Delusion, Jon Braver, shared that this will be the haunt’s final year at Phillips Mansion in Pomona, CA.

Breaking news for me came from the people behind Shaqtoberfest at the Queen Mary. They revealed that this year’s event will not only be darker but will also allow access onto the ship! Last year, the Halloween soiree took place on the grounds surrounding the vessel. However, for 2023, they’re unveiling a new maze, The Gray Ghost, which will take guests into the haunted liner. I was thrilled to hear that, and my plan is to experience this for myself. Stay tuned.

Next was The Return of the Living Drag starring drag icon Peaches Christ and her brood of horror drag queens and kings. Last year, this show took place on the Promenade Stage, which filled up quickly, so I wasn’t able to get in. Thankfully, this year’s edition was set in the more spacious Grand Ballroom and I got to witness the spectacle. All I have say is, “Wow!” I could write a blog post dedicated to this show alone. Peaches Christ did her own rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” She was fierce and so entertaining to watch. She was joined by the likes of Cream, Mr. He, Oceana and many others. There were performances inspired by Elvira, The Bride of Frankenstein and slasher horror killers. The finale was a Beetlejuice number featuring Miss Clair Voyance. It was spectacular.

I closed out the day by attending The Lost Boys panel hosted by LeeAnna Vamp. I love vampires and really enjoy this film, so it was exciting to see some of the cast in person. The presentation included Jason Patric (Michael), Billy Wirth (Dwayne), Jamison Newlander (Alan Frog) and Gerard McMahon who created the movie’s notorious anthem, “Cry Little Sister.” Vamp kicked off the discussion with a few fun questions about Halloween and had the crew play a game called “What’s in the Coffin?” The interviewees were blindfolded and had to stick their hands into a mini coffin and guess what the object was inside. Spoiler: It was a pair of fangs. Then, the audience got ample time to ask questions. This group had an awesome sense of humor about their time filming. It was entertaining to hear them reminisce and share behind-the-scenes memories that fans don’t really know about.  

After The Lost Boys panel wrapped up, I was drained and ready to head home and rest before the following day’s activities.

Day 2: Sunday

I was back at the Long Beach Convention center bright and early to make the meet and greet with Landon Cider, winner of the third season of Dragula. It was wonderful to meet the drag king in person. He looked immaculate from head to toe.

After, I made my way to Scoring the Horror: An Interview with Midnight Syndicate. Some of you may recall that I’ve interviewed this pair a couple of times on my blog. Only one half of the duo was in attendance, Edward Douglas, and it was such a treat to meet him in person after corresponding through email. I’ve been a fan of the group since I was a teenager and I never thought I’d get to speak with either of them. Edward talked about the birth of Midnight Syndicate, the triumphs and challenges they’ve encountered, and their current projects. Later that day, I went by his booth and snagged a couple of merch items to show my support and chat a bit more. Ed is such a wonderful guy to converse with and it was really neat to make this connection.

Then it was off to the meet and greet with the drag queens of horror themselves, The Boulet Brothers! I cannot express enough how much I admire these two and that’s exactly what I told them when it was my turn for the photo op. They looked fierce and I will forever cherish my photo with them.

On a side note, while my husband and I were waiting in line for this meet and greet, I happened to run into Spooky Little Halloween (aka Miranda) and Midge Munster. For anyone not familiar with them, they are fellow spooky content creators. Midge Munster joined us in line and it was absolutely wonderful getting to talk with her. It made the wait time fly by! One of the awesome things about Midsummer Scream is how it connects you with people from all parts of the country that share your passion for the macabre.

The climax of the day for me was The Boulet Brothers & The Supermonsters of Dragula presentation. The Grand Ballroom was packed with admirers of the show. Dracmorda and Swanthula were joined by former contestants Victoria Black, Dahli, Saint and Landon Cider. To see so much horror, filth and glamour on one stage was to die for. Plus, it was the first time The Boulets had ever done an interview like this live, so it was exhilarating. Drac and Swan opened up the hour talking about what inspired them to launch Dragula. Then, they had the cast spill the tea about their experience being on the series, memorable moments, and any scandalous confessions. I was on cloud nine the entire time, and those 60 minutes flew by too fast, but I was glad to see the action in person.

So, my plan was to attend the Halloween Horror Nights panel happening in the same room right after, but the line to reenter started on the upper level and continued down to the ground floor. I knew the space would be packed and it was highly unlikely I’d get in. This is usually one of the most highly anticipated presentations at Midsummer Scream. This gives you an idea of how strategic you have to be when attending this horror con.

I didn’t let that get me down though. Instead, I went down to explore the Hall of Shadows, which I hadn’t had a chance to do all weekend. This area houses mini versions of some of the haunts people can look forward to checking out in Southern California during spooky season. It’s completely dark with wisps of smoke and screams wafting in the air. A few attractions included Hauntbuster, Wicker Manor and The Dreich Society: The Twilight Zone Experience. There were also sinister animated displays set up here as well.

I decided to conclude the day with some shopping on the show floor. My appreciation for vampires runs deep, so I bought the Dracula candle from Purgatory Candle Co. I also purchased a couple of beautiful Victorian-inspired brooches from Octopunx.

Alas, the end of the event was nearing, and it was time to depart. My senses were equally overjoyed and overwhelmed in the best ways possible. I experienced so much, and the sense of community Midsummer Scream creates is quite special. This horror convention truly is the pinnacle of summerween in my neck of the woods and sets the tone for the spooky season. I hope you enjoyed this recap. I know I’ll be dreaming of my time there for many moon-filled nights to come.

Where to Stalk

Midsummer Scream