Sixth annual haunt fest set for Milwaukee
The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention –or HauNTcon – takes place in just over two months in the USA. Here we take the first of two peaks and what visitors can expect at this event by haunters for haunters.
If you own a haunted attraction or would like to find out how to get started, then this is the place for you! This, the sixth HauNTcon, takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, brining together haunted houses operators and enthusiasts for almost a week’s worth of haunted education, trade show, tours to local haunted houses and various spine-tingling social events.
“HAuNTcon is an opportunity for haunters to network, share tips and stories, get fresh ideas and check out the latest in haunting props,” explains Leonard Pickel, event co-ordinator and editor of Haunted Attraction Magazine.
A key component of HAuNTcon is education, with over 40 hours of seminars and workshops included in the price of admission, helping attendees learn how-to build props, sets and make their attractions better.
The trade show floor will be open from May 1 to 3, filled with the latest in fright services and equipment for the professional haunted house owner and Halloween enthusiast alike. From horror makeup and highly detailed masks to static props and large animatronic creatures, it will all be there at wholesale prices.
Saturday night, May 2, is the costume ball, where haunters from across the United States show-off their most creative costumes. It will be like Halloween come early! Meanwhile a hearse rally is planned for Sunday, as the hotel parking lot fills up with a collection of creepy cars packed with gags and effects.
Before the event, a tour will be arranged to local haunted attractions including the all new Terror on the Fox in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 30, and Morgan Manor Haunted House in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on May 1. Both of these attractions will be opened off-season specially for HAuNTcon attendees. A pre-show bus tour of local attractions is also planned from April 28 to 30, full details next issue.
HauNTcon 2009 takes place at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Convention Center from April 30 to May 4, with the pre-show tour of local haunted houses scheduled for April 28 to 30. Registration details and the full programme of events for the week can be found at www.hauntcon.com
