On Sunday afternoon, as part of the third and final day of Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group took the stage in the Grand Ballroom to share details about its plans for 2024 at its various Southern California-based events, including Delusion and Los Angeles Haunted Hayride.
The panel was moderated by “Ash vs Evil Dead” actress Dana DeLorenzo. It featured the creator of Delusion and Director of Immersive Entertainment at Thirteenth Floor Jon Braver, the creator of Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and Producer at Thirteenth Floor Melissa Carbone, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group Regional Manager Amy Holloman, Vice President of Operations for Thirteenth Floor Greg Salyers, Technical director at Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group Kip Polley, and CEO and Founding Partner of Thirteenth Floor Chris Stafford.
Delusion
While details on the 2024 season of Delusion were slim, creator Jon Braver did share this year’s theme and the event’s new location. For the upcoming Halloween season, Delusion is tapping back into its 2012 show, “The Blood Rite,” with Delusion: The Red Castle. “The Red Castle” will be set in the same era as “The Blood Rite” and will feature crossover characters and story elements from the 2012 experience.
“It’s a lot about love and sorrow,” said Braver during the panel. The latest iteration of Delusion will bring back the character Dr. Lowell. With the death of his wife, the banished psychologist spirals down the dark path of resurrection, swallowing his former patients into his tragic pursuit. “The audience will be key players and key patients of Dr. Lowell in this story,” says Braver. “And how they’re going to help him either bring his wife back or not.”
To accommodate the new story and the castle element, Delusion is moving from The Phillips Mansion in Pomona, CA, which has been its home for the last few years, to the Stimson House, a 3-story, 30-room Richardsonian Romanesque mansion in the University Park area of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride will return for its sixteenth season in 2024. During the panel, the group shared details about some returning mazes, a surprising and unique all-new maze, and a first-ever theatrical experience.
Returning Mazes
Hellbilly Halloween, which debuted last year at Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and long-time favorite Trick or Treat will both be returning for the Hayride’s 2024 season. Hellbilly Halloween, which is set deep in the backwoods of Midnight Falls and centers around a long-rumored cannibalistic family, will get some minor updates for 2024, while Trick or Treat will be getting some much-needed TLC.
“Trick or Treat, which has been a perennial maze, desperately needed some updating,” shared Salyers during the panel. And I’m glad to say that about 80% of that has been completely transformed and redone this year.” Slayers added, “With the doorbells back where they belong,” which was met by ear-piercing cheers from the audience.
New Maze: Monáe Manor
Midnight Mortuary is being transformed for 2024 with the help of a rather unique partner: Janelle Monáe. The musician, author, actor, and fashion icon is partnering with L.A. Haunted Hayride to create Monáe Manor, which Monáe described in a pre-recorded message shared during the panel as blending “eerie elegance with futuristic frights and more.”
Little more was revealed about Monáe Manor beyond its logo; however, Carbone shared during the panel that Monáe is heavily involved creatively and wouldn’t be surprised if the multi-talented star showed up to the event on multiple occasions.
First-Ever Theatrical Experience: Madame Aurora’s Seance Theatre
The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride panel closed by sharing news about its first-ever theatrical experience at the event, Madame Aurora’s Seance Theatre. The new experience was described as “a seance that went wrong” and will feature theatrical elements along with cutting-edge audio, lighting, and tactile effects to create an immersive experience with psychic medium Madame Aurora. Salyers later referred to the experience during the panel as “4D scary.”
Dates for Los Angeles Haunted Hayride 2024 have not yet been announced, and while Season Passes have been made available for purchase, regular tickets to the event are not yet on sale. For more information or to sign up to be notified when tickets become available, visit https://losangeleshauntedhayride.com/
