On Saturday, the premier haunted attraction company, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, took to the stage at Midsummer Scream to share updates around this year’s lineup of Halloween events and attractions coming to California. The panel was moderated by actress Fiona Rene (“Tracker”) and featured Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group CEO Chris Stafford, Director of Special Projects Brett Bertolino, Senior Regional Manager Amy Hollaman, Creator of Delusion and Director Immersive Entertainment at Thirteenth Floor Jon Braver, and Creator of the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and Producer at Thirteenth Floor Melissa Carbone.
The hour-long panel talked a bit about what Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group has been up to in the off-season, but more importantly, it shared the latest information about popular Halloween events like the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, Delusion, and Magic of the Jack-o’-Lanterns, as well as their newest event, Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House. Here’s everything that was announced.
Magic of the Jack-o’-Lanterns is Moving
The first announcement of the day was that the family-friendly Halloween event, Magic of the Jack-o’Lanterns, is moving from Whittier Narrows to the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, CA.
With over 200,000 plants on the property, Thirteenth Floor feels the new location will make Magic of the Jack-o’-Lanterns even more immersive. The space also allows them to double the size of the event, with a trail that is a mile long.
“If you came to Whittier Narrows last year and saw the show, you probably know we have a lot of hand-carved pumpkins. All different themes,” said Holloman. “But now you’re going to take that and walk past these beautiful plants, and there’s this display hidden amongst the trees. So we really think this will feel immersive.”
Adding to the immersion is the fact that the property features banyans that cover many of the paths, which will be illuminated using new technology, creating a new element of the event called The Enchanted Hollow.
Delusion Gets a New Home, New Story, and Merch Store
Premiere immersive Halloween experience, Delusion, is relocating again. For 2025, Delusion is moving to the Variety Arts Theater in Downtown L.A. The larger space will allow for more room for an all-new story and also provide adequate space for an improved lounge experience, which, for the first time at Delusion, will have a dance club vibe and high energy.
This year’s event will be called Delusion: Harrowing of Hell, and takes inspiration from “Dantes Inferno.” The synopsis of the experience’s story, which Holloman read during the panel, is as follows:
“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. The famed inscription adorns the arched entryway leading into the belly of Pagan’s Path, a supernatural cult that has taken the metaphors of “Dante’s Inferno” far too literally. Seducing followers through circles of hell as a necessary preparation for the afterlife. Devotees of the path claim to be conduits between worlds, venerable watchers over the gates of hell. To take the path is to endure a reflection of mortal weakness and sin. If one can survive, then paradise awaits.”
To round things off, it was announced that Delusion will now have an online merch store at DelusionMerch.com, where you can buy merch from past year’s events.
Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House
Thoughย first announced back in June, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, with the help of Winchester Mystery House Executive Director Walter Magnuson, shared more about what guests can expect from the all-new event.
The star of the event, of course, is the Winchester House itself, and Thirteenth Floor is drawing from the mansion’s history to build the story for the experience, with scenes and sets that will appear as though they were always part of the mansion.
The experience will feature three main attractions, the first of which is The Masquerade of Shadows, housed in the front part of the mansion. You’ll then make your way outside to the mansion greenhouses, where you’ll find The Root of All Evil, before making your way to the final attraction, which is called The Final Descent, which will take you into one of the house’s basements. Each experience will reveal more about the overall story, which is set in 1924, after the house has changed hands following Sarah Winchester’s death.
For those seeking a deeper layer of the story and a chance to be part of the experience, a minimal number of invitations to the Maestros Masquerade Ball will be available, allowing you to join in the masquerade.
Adding to the experience is the fact that the team at Thirteenth Floor has uncovered nooks and crannies in the Winchester House that have never been explored and have never been part of a Halloween activation, meaning guests will be treated to something entirely new for 2025.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
What’s Old Is New
Recognizing its 17-year legacy and being the only hayride available in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Haunted Hayride is leaning into its past to bring back some fan-favorite elements that made the event what it is today. While no specifics were announced, Carbone shared that they are bringing iconic scenes back from the first 10 years of the event, as well as characters and some of the original attraction scores.
“The Hayride is going to be louder, it’s going to be darker,” said Carbone. Adding, “We’re going to haunt the shit out of you this year.”
Midnight Falls Gets More Immersive
There will still be plenty of food and beverages at the event, but instead of food trucks, actual stands will be set up, as if they’re part of Midnight Falls. This year’s event will also introduce the Midnight Falls Cider Company, an immersive experience where you can enjoy apple cider, cider donuts, and stroll through the mill, featuring various photo opportunities.
Theatrical experience Madame Aurora’s Seance Theatre, introduced in 2024, will also return, along with mini escape games, a jelly ball, and axe throwing, encouraging guests to spend a whole evening in Midnight Falls.
Returning Mazes
Monรกe Manor, which debuted in 2024, is returning in 2025 in partnership with multi-hyphenate Janelle Monรกe. Monรกe participated as a scare actor in the haunt last Halloween season and is expected to do so again at various points in 2025.
Hellbilly Halloween, which debuted in 2023, will also return for the 2025 Halloween season. Hellbilly Halloween, which is set deep in the backwoods of Midnight Falls and centers around a long-rumored cannibalistic family. This year, some of the chainsaw-wielding members of the family will also come out to the town square to cause some ruckus.
Elvira Moves In to Midnight Falls
During the panel, Cassandra Peterson, AKA Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, joined the team on stage to announce her new involvement in Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. The ’80s horror icon will have a fairly large presence in Midnight Falls, taking over as D.J. at the local radio station, so you’ll hear her voiceover work throughout the night.
She will also move into the Trick or Treat maze for Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem, where her brand of energy will be felt and seen throughout. A new house facade will also be added to represent her spooky abode. Additionally, the Scary Go Round will become Gonk’s Scary Go Round, themed after Gonk the punk rock poodle from the “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark” film.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride returns select nights from September 19 through November 2, 2025. Pre-sale tickets will go on sale soon, and you can sign up to be notified when they go on sale at https://losangeleshauntedhayride.com/
