As a four-year Midsummer Scream veteran, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks to make this Halloween convention a fantastic experience year after year.
There’s a reason I call this one Halloween summer camp—I LOVE getting to see all my Instagram friends around the Long Beach Convention Center every year. It truly feels like Halloween comes early when I’m there. There’s just nothing better.
I’m sitting 2024 out in favor of attending some other Halloween events this year, but I’ve heard from so many of you that you’re going for the first time because of me which is SO cool!
To help you make the most of your experience, I wanted to share a few of my best tips with you ahead of the event.
Things to Know Before You go to Midsummer Scream
Plan out your Weekend
I’m going to be real with you: once you descend down the escalators and go out onto the vendor floor or into the Hall of Shadows, Midsummer Scream turns into a Halloween fever dream. It’s SO easy to lose track of time and miss things.
If you’re intending to check out any of the panels, take the time to plan our your weekend before you go. The event app (available for Android and iOS) is the best spot for this, and the final schedule is usually posted a week or two before the con. I also love that you can build a custom schedule in the app for only the things you want to see and do.
Bonus tip: there is also SO much happening at all times at Midsummer Scream that you’ll likely find two things you want to see or do that overlap. Be sure to browse the entire weekend’s schedule—there are select sessions (usually the performance-based ones) that happen multiple times throughout the event.
Shop on Friday night
When Midsummer Scream returned in 2022, they introduced opening Friday night to allow attendees time to shop the vendor floor or start checking out the Hall of Shadows. Get there at doors and take advantage of this!
This has been my Friday night priority the last two years for a few reasons:
It gives me a chance to scope out all the vendors and see what my options are
I can grab limited items from shops I already know and love
I can focus on panels and the Hall of Shadows the rest of the weekend
And, most importantly, I don’t have to carry everything around all day, just Friday night
Looking for small businesses to check out? Say hello to these friends of mine who are vending this year:
Abbybelle, a Halloween hunting alum
Backstitch Bruja, another Halloween hunting alum
Bat In Your Belfry, who was a delight on By Pumpkin’s Light earlier this year
Carrie Anne Hudson Art, one of my 2024 magazine advertisers!
Drew Rausch, who was also a delight on By Pumpkin’s Light last year
My beloved Foxblood ghouls (in the past they’ve had early release of their Halloween collection here, JUST SAYING…)
Mumsterville, my third Halloween hunting alum on the list (and literally THE sweetest human)
The Punkin Shop, another amazing By Pumpkin’s Light guest
Spooky Cat Press, another one of my magazine advertisers (their first Midsummer too!)
The Gold Bat pass is worth it
Full transparency: I’ve had a media or speaker pass every year I’ve gone, but those function exactly like the Gold Bat passes. This VIP pass allows you to enter an hour earlier on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Gold Bats also receive priority entry to panels. (There will be two lines—look for the volunteers holding signs to mark the end of the line.)
And honestly, the extra hour you get in the mornings alone makes these worth the price. Grab tickets.
And so is the After Party
If purchased with your ticket online, the after party is only $20 which is one of the better deals on con costume parties! I skipped this the first year I went, but I’ve gone for at least an hour or two every year since.
Even if you don’t stay the whole time, it is worth the costume-watching. The music and atmosphere is pretty killer too!
Do at least one haunt
Even if you aren’t a haunt person! Midsummer Scream haunts were the beginning of turning me into a haunt convert. They’re super short—5 minutes or less—which means you don’t have a lot of time to get in your head about the scares. None of them have been super scary, either, since kiddos go through these too.
They’re also really awesome! Local haunters from SoCal come in and build these on the spot in the days leading up to the convention.
Last year, I checked off being able to say I did every single haunt. They’re fun when you need a break from shopping or panels.
Make the Hall of Shadows your morning priority
Now I’m giving away straight up secrets. Once you’re in and you know you want to do haunts, beeline for the Hall of Shadows in the mornings. The lines won’t be quite a long, and you can check more off your list.
This is one of the reasons the Gold Bat pass becomes worth it: that extra hour when it’s less busy really helps with getting to see and do more.
Dress cool
Yes, wear your cool Halloween clothes because we all want to see it. But also, consider your temperature comfort when you’re getting dressed for the con.
The vendor floor can get warm and stuffy at times, esp. Friday night following load-in when doors have been open all day. This isn’t the moment for your Halloween sweater. Wear clothes that’ll keep you cool as you wander. I also keep a hand fan in my purse because sometimes a good (former) southern girl needs a little airflow.
Eat when you find time
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day, so be sure to grab food when you see it! The convention center does have many spots to grab a little something when you need it, but sometimes they’re hard to get back to, esp. when it gets busy mid-day.
On the main floor, you’ll find a coffee bar with pizzas and sandwiches. On the edges of the vendor floor and at the back of the Hall of Shadows (the least busy spot!), you’ll find concession stands. My go-to is a soft pretzel whenever I see it to keep myself going.
You should also find several food truck options outside, and there are a handful of sit-down restaurants across Pine Street at the Pike Outlets. (Kalaveras is a perfect pick for a spooky weekend, and sue me but I think Islands is fun too.)
Take a break when you need it
Despite how your friends might react (😂 thanks Penny!), take a breather when you need it. The convention will be there. If you wear yourself out, you’ll just be taking out of commission for the rest of the weekend.
There are some limited seating areas around the main floor, but it’s always great to go up to the ballroom and sit at the back of the panel audience if you need it. Or just plop down against a wall somewhere out of the way.
If you can only go one day, pick Sunday
And finally, if you just want to go for the experience, I recommend Sunday.
Saturday afternoon gets to be B-A-N-A-N-A-S with the number of people, so if you’re looking to go at a slower pace or can only attend one day, Sunday is your best bet. Plenty of time to wander the vendor floor and Hall of Shadows, check out a panel or two, and head on home.
What’s your best tip for Midsummer Scream?
Drop it in the comments to share with everyone! Or if you’re going for the first time this year and have a question I didn’t answer, drop it below too. I’m happy to help and share my knowledge.
For those going, have a freaking blast! I hope to see you there next year.
Looking for more Midsummer Scream content? Check out my recaps + hauls from past years:
