Summer Spooky: LA's First Halloween Con Debuts

ScareLA, a gathering devoted to eeks of all sorts, creeps our way.

If you call Southern California home, and you're reading this post in the general time frame in which we're typing it -- the middle of May -- know that what we're about to say is fact: One of your neighbors is already done with his or her Halloween costume for this year.

Done. As in, it is made, sewn, and put in a closet. Same for that elaborate yard haunt; that thing is already mapped out for its fall debut. Because the funny thing about the most frightening of holidays is this: Truly creative planning starts far in advance of the first bag of candy corns appearing on the grocery store shelves.

Enter ScareLA. The spooky spectacular, which will make its big first bow on Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11 at LA Mart downtown, is billed as the "first-ever Los Angeles Halloween Convention." That's no small potatoes -- er, pumpkins -- given the fact that much of the horror and genre movie-making industry resides here.

That does mean, though, that a lot of that talent will stop by the two-day con to talk shop. John Murdy, who oversees Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and film producer Jason Blum (you went to the fantastic Blumhouse of Horrors last year, yes?) are two of the speakers set to haunt things up. And by "haunt things up" we mean give some early looks at our region's booming seasonal attractions, which will be in full early gear by August.

ScareLA will also boast yard haunt tips, costume help, make-up, and help on how to transmogrify into a full-fledged Halloween professional. Macabre merch and pumpkin carvery will have their spots at the dreary, dreadful table, too.

Who is behind this? Lora Ivanova and David Markland, who runs the year-round, always excellent Creepy LA site, are the mad, Halloween-loving geniuses at the control board.

Tickets are set to go on sale in May.

The Scene

Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.

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Halloween belongs to anyone who wants it, but it is hard to deny that the holiday keeps up a permanent address here in sunny, spooky SoCal. This convention is a devilishly ideal fit.

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