The Windy City Gets a Haunt Convention... It's About Time!
Dateline Chicago: July 16-19, Leonard Pickel, Haunted attraction industry icon and owner of HAuNTcon (Haunted Attraction Tradeshow and Conference), launched a new three day "haunts and Halloween" conference in the Windy City, called Chicago Frights. This annual spooktacular event included a dealer room, educational seminars, hands-on workshops, actor training sessions, FX make-up instruction and product demos, all aimed at giving Halloween fans and haunted attraction owner/operators ideas, skills and tools to raise the level of creativity and quality of their attractions. Be they simple yard display cemeteries, not for profit haunted houses or full blown multi-element October events, there was education and vendors for every level of haunter. Nighttime activities included off season full actor tours of local Halloween events including Evil Intentions, Basement of the Dead and the Massacre Haunted House. This was a rare opportunity to see these fantastic high detail haunted attractions outside October when most haunters are too busy to get away from their own events. The event spotlighted makeup professionals Anthony Kosar of Kosart Effects, winner of the SyFy Channel’s FaceOff competition, Kyle Vest, a current contestant on the Game Show Network's reality TV show SkinWars, and RJ Haddy a fan favorite from season two and five of FaceOff . Haunt industry icons in attendance included Joe Jensen of Chicago Hades and John LaFlamboy of Zombie Army Productions, who during the conference announced plans to open a new haunted attraction this October in Lockport, IL called Hell's Gate. Networking and fun events over the weekend included a Zombie Walk, Hearse Rally, a Costume Party and the ever popular HAuNTcon hospitality room sponsored by Findahaunt.com! The dealer's room was sold out and sales were brisk. 40% of exhibitors had signed up for HAuNTcon 2016 before this year's show closed. The education offered at Chicago Frights was outstanding, with several attendees remarking on the quality of what was offered. The Costume Party was a rocking good time, with great food and great music. All in all Chicago Frights 2015 was a huge success and will only grow larger over the years. For more details about HAuNTcon 2016, go to www.chicagofrights.com or contact Chicago Frights at chicagofrights@gmail.com or 972-951-5100.