One of my favorite Halloween events to attend in SoCal is Dark Harbor at The Queen Mary. After a three-year hiatus due to Covid, the event returned for the first time in 2024 much to my delight. It came back more thrilling and terrifying this year, so I wanted to share some highlights.
Vamp Jenn at Terrifying True Stories by Candlelight
Earlier this year, Terrifying True Stories hosted an event called Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark. They’ve returned with another immersive experience for spooky season titled Terrifying True Stories by Candlelight and I was grateful to be invited to attend. It was thrilling to be back at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles to take part in the activities and witness macabre storytelling unfold right before my eyes.
While one year has gone, another has begun. That means it’s time to look ahead to see what spooky surprises 2025 has in store. Every year on Vamp Jenn’s Corner, I like to compile a list of events that are taking place worldwide throughout the course of the next 12 months. My Odd & Macabre Events Calendar highlights all sorts of gatherings that fall under the strange and unusual umbrella. My hope is that it makes it easier to discover spooky events happening near you.
I include horror cons, immersive experiences, macabre holidays, dark art exhibits, Halloween haunts, and so much more. Some events are returning, so you may have seen them on my past calendars. I try to feature as many things as possible that take place across the globe, so a variety of locations are covered. I also do my best to keep this post updated and add more functions as I learn about them. Here’s a taste of what morbid and bizarre happenings you can expect in 2025. Bookmark and share this page and enjoy!
I have to start off by saying that I hadn’t been to Knott’s Scray Farm in more than 20 years. The last time I went to the event was around 2000/2001 when I was a teen. I don’t remember much of my experience, and for quite some time, I kept hearing people rave about how good Halloween time at the theme park had gotten. So, 2024 was the year I planned my grand return, and I’m here to divulge all the details.
The last time I attended The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor was in 2019 before it went dark for the proceeding four years. Experiencing its return this spooky season was exciting and overwhelming to the senses. Where do I begin? Since I’m an October baby, I celebrate my birthday by hitting up whatever Halloween events I can. Of course, Dark Harbor was at the top of that list. It was a night filled with frights and delights, and I’m eager to tell you all about it and share a ton of photos.
Photo credit: The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor/Thirteenth Floor
Spooky season 2024 witnesses the return of Dark Harbor aboard the Queen Mary. After a three-year hiatus, the Halloween festival is rising from the grave and is aptly themed, “The Spirits Rise.” Many were excited when the news was announced on April 30th, which is Walpurgis Night and the halfway to Halloween mark. It’s no doubt one of the most highly anticipated events happening this fall.
Photo credit: Suspiria Vilchez for Midsummer Scream
Hot of the press! The masterminds behind the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, Midsummer Scream, have just dropped some major announcements. At Vamp Jenn’s Corner, we’re already planning for the biggest event of summerween and of the year, for that matter. I had to share some exciting news I recently received regarding what frights guests can look forward to for 2024.
Vamp Jenn at The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Titans show
Another year has commenced, and you know what that means. It’s time to release my annual Odd & Macabre Events Calendar for 2024! This is always exciting for me to work on as it gives me a teaser of what devilish happenings I can look forward to in the coming months. And I hope it does the same for you, so you can fill your calendar with all sorts of spooky outings.
If you’re new here, allow me to explain the purpose of this page. It’s to be used as a helpful resource for anyone interested in attending events that are related to the worlds of horror, Halloween, alternative subcultures and the macabre in general. Many of these activities occur in Los Angeles because that’s where I’m based, but I don’t want anyone feeling left out, so I do my best to list affairs happening across the U.S. and worldwide. I do as much research as I can and am always open to suggestions. If you know about an event that would fit perfectly on this calendar, just drop your recommendations in the comments. This is a work in progress as new events pop up continuously throughout the year, so bookmark this page so you can easily refer back to it for updates. Here’s to another odd and macabre-filled year!
Vamp Jenn and the Bride of Frankenstein at Halloween Horror Nights
Another year at Halloween Horror Nights is in the books! The event officially kicked off haunt season for me and what a way to start it. There were new mazes and monsters, as well as returning terrifying attractions. Here’s a closer look inside.
Midsummer Scream at the Long Beach Convention Center
I experienced the most delightful madness at Midsummer Scream. Besides October 31st, 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.