Dark Harbor returns to the historic Queen Mary this fall
The premier haunt will descend on the historic liner with its famed monsters, mazes and themed bars this Halloween season after a four-year hiatus.
Dark Harbor’s band of monsters and freaks will once again cast a shadow over the historic Queen Mary this fall.
After a four-year hiatus, the cult-favorite event will run on Long Beach’s haunted ocean liner from Sept. 20 through Nov. 2, ship and city leaders announced Tuesday night.
“It is truly a milestone moment for the ship and for the city,” said Brett Bertolino of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the company organizing Dark Harbor. “For hundreds of thousands of people, celebrating Halloween at the Queen Mary became an annual fall tradition.”
During its April 16 meeting, the City Council approved a non-exclusive agreement with Thirteenth Floor to produce events at the Queen Mary through 2028. The company puts on numerous Halloween events across the country, including Phoenix, Austin, Chicago and more=
The city’s largest haunt ran for nearly a decade but was canceled in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic and financial troubles with the ship’s previous operator. For the past two years, a more family-friendly event inspired by basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, dubbed Shaqtoberfest, took its place.
The finer details were not disclosed Tuesday night, but the festival will once again feature mazes, live entertainment, themed bars and lounges, onboard experiences, food, and the return of fan-favorite characters. More information will be released in the coming months, according to the city.
“We will honor the legacy of Dark Harbor while simultaneously guiding the evolution of the event with new and exciting attractions, experiences and characters,” Bertolino said.
Tickets will go on sale in late summer, according to the announcement, but hiring is already underway for scare actors, tech and event staff, and other positions. For more information on the event or to apply, visit darkharborhalloween.com.
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