Hosted By NBA Legend, Shaquille O'Neal, the Long Beach Halloween Festival is Back for Its Second Year With New Scares and On-Board Access to the RMS Queen Mary LOS ANGELES, CA | SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 – 15-time All-Star and basketball Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal, Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the world’s largest Halloween-themed entertainment company, announced today that Shaqtoberfest will return for its second Halloween season at the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Opening on September 28 through October 31, tickets are on-sale now at shaqtoberfest.com with prices starting at $29.99 on select nights. You can view the 2023 trailer below. “We are excited to come back bigger and scarier this year,” said O’Neal. “I can’t wait to welcome fans on board The Queen Mary to experience what we cooked up this Halloween!” “We are thrilled to be partnering with Authentic and Shaq to once again bring Shaqtoberfest back to Long Beach,” said Chris Stafford, CEO & Founding Partner of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. “Now that the Queen Mary is open to the public again, we are so excited to bring all-new haunted and VIP experiences on board the ship. We can’t wait to show everyone what we have been working on behind the scenes, and look forward to another exciting year of Shaqtoberfest!” Shaqtoberfest is a large-scale Halloween festival featuring a wide variety of horror-themed attractions and interactive experiences that capture O’Neal’s beloved personality. The staple of Shaqtoberfest resides in its arrangement of distinct zones for guests to explore. Within each zone, an assortment of bone-chilling activities awaits. Complete with haunted trails, live entertainment, carnival rides, themed bars and cocktail lounges, VIP experiences, a VIP lounge sponsored by ThomasvilleTM, festive treats, and immersive horror-themed entertainment, Shaqtoberfest is southern California’s ultimate Halloween Festival. Family-friendly hours with trick-or-treating will take place during the last three Sundays in October during which guests of all ages are encouraged to come dressed in Halloween costumes. New experiences and highlights at this year’s Shaqtoberfest include:
This year at Shaqtoberfest you will find an array of ways to spend the night, including: Haunted Trails The Grey Ghost - New for 2023! The RMS Queen Mary was originally designed as a luxury cruiseliner, but during WWII she was tasked with carrying troops to battle. For this, her exterior was repainted battleship gray, making her impossible to spot in the mist, and earning her the nickname the “Gray Ghost.” After being permanently docked in Long Beach in 1967, she became a hotel and tourist attraction until 2020 where she sat vacant for three years, allowing the spirits of those who have perished onboard to become louder and stronger than ever. As part of the 2023 reopening of the Queen Mary, we’d like to invite you back into the belly of the ship to see what spirits lurk in the dark damp corridors. Step inside, “The Grey Ghost”… Deadman’s Wharf: The Storm Loud claps of thunder and bolts of lightning roll onto the shore hitting what was once a peaceful Fishing town. The storm seems mysteriously strong. Is there something besides a warm front behind this? Escape the reaching tentacles of large sea creatures who have made their way onto the wharf shore as you navigate the storm through a maze of rusted vessels and withering cargo shrouded in fog. Even if you manage to escape the fog’s grip, you might find yourself surrounded by dangerous, undead seafaring creatures surfacing from their watery graves. Pirates Cove On the hunt for buried treasure, pirates have invaded the local shores and caves searching for riches. Step aboard Deepsea Davey’s pirate ship and make your way through the dark, narrow passageways as you search for your own piece of the treasure. Along the way, you may stumble upon “Captain Shaq’s Hideaway” where you can grab a shot of rum punch and toast to the pirate’s life! Midway Madness Loopey Looney and her loyal Clown Crew have taken over the carnival and turned the fun house into the fear house. Between the giant ferris wheel, bumper cars, and concessions, make sure you look up, look down, you never know where you might spy a creepy clown! Be Careful or you might end up as the next sideshow act. Diesel’s Pumpkin Patch Here lies a small town of folk who are eerily anxious for autumn each year. They come together to grow, sell and celebrate all things pumpkin. While they seem to be very welcoming, sometimes their smiles turn to devilish grins as they display their gory gourds. Visitors come from afar to this Halloween party. Will you leave with a souvenir or will you join the Cult of the Calabaza? This one of a kind walk-through experience features a traditional hay bale maze mixed with larger than life inflatables and animations, sinister scares and an over-the-top light show mixing Halloween with a special set by DJ Diesel himself. Live Entertainment LVCRFT Block Party - Come shake your bones and exercise the demons at the LVCRFT Block Party Stage with DJ Reaper and Skeleton Sam slaying Halloween hits all night long. Get the party started before you even step foot at Shaqtoberfest with the official Shaqtoberfest Slaylist. Party don’t stop till we’re six feet deep! Shipwreck Graveyard As you explore this whimsical fishing village you’ll come across the site of a notorious shipwreck filled with larger than life animations, character interactions and tons of photo ops. If you’re feeling brave you can investigate the mysterious storm that caused the ship to run aground. Pop-Up Performances You never know who, or what, you might see at Shaqtoberfest. Keep an eye out for pop-up performances throughout the festival including fire spinners on the Block Party Stage, sliders in front of Tiki Terror, clowns on the Midway Madness carnival rides, The Voodoo Sound Company drummers at Diesel’s Boathouse and more! Themed Bars and Lounges Take a break from the scares while you enjoy festive food, drinks, and live entertainment. Diesel’s Boathouse Leave your boat at the dock and head up to Diesel’s Boathouse for craft beers and a game of cornhole. Home Court Bar Located in the center of the action in the Block Party, Home Court bar is your go-to spot for all your favorite drinks. At this bar, everyone's a winner! Tiki Terror Nestled alongside the historic Queen Mary is a bamboo paradise where you’ll find your favorite island cocktails like the Zombie, Mai Tai, Rum Runner and Blue Hawaiian to name a few. Looney’s Libations - Carnival Themed Bar Terrorizing a carnival is hard work, so when Loopey Looney’s clown cronies need a break they head to the local watering hole to kick back, have a few themed cocktails, mocktails, and morsels. However, fear is a full time job, so be ready for more scares and sliders at any given moment! Open to all ages. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol. Carnival Rides A la carte upgrade available; included with VIP Slam Dunk Admission Upgrade your experience with an unlimited access wristband for all carnival rides at Shaqtoberfest, promising an unforgettable Halloween experience with thrilling attractions that are sure to send shivers down your spine. Don’t let your guard down though, you might just bump into one of our killer clowns in the seat next to you! This year’s ride line up includes Bumper Cars, Zero Gravity, Giant Gondola Wheel, Carousel, and Wacky Shack Funhouse. VIP Experiences The ultimate way to experience Shaqtoberfest is through one of our VIP experiences. The Engine Room Experience - New for 2023! A la carte upgrade available; included with VIP Slam Dunk Admission The Queen Mary's history is full of action, adventure, romance and paranormal activity, earning her the nickname the "haunted ship." Step aboard and descend below the water line for a special self-guided (AKA "spirit-led") tour of the ship's Engine Room. While on board, there are opportunities to unwind and socialize in the Engine Room lounge and learn about the ship's fascinating past. This experience is not accessible due to the historic nature of the Engine Room. Captain Shaq’s Secret Hideaway A la carte upgrade available; included with VIP Slam Dunk Admission Hidden inside Pirate's Cove is a secret lair, "Captain Shaq’s Hideaway", where you'll toast to the pirate's life with a complimentary shot of rum punch. Admission includes priority access to the Pirates Cove haunted trail. Save $5 and gain access to both The Engine Room Experience and Captain Shaq's Secret Hideaway when you purchase the Captain's Combo. VIP Slam Dunk Lounge Available exclusively to Slam Dunk VIP ticket holders VIP ticket holders enjoy exclusive, unlimited access to the VIP Slam Dunk Lounge, featuring stunning views of Shaqtoberfest from the T-bridge alongside the Queen Mary, exclusive photo opportunities, relaxed seating and an elevated full-service bar with beer, wine, and exclusive cocktails for purchase. Festive Eats and Treats Enjoy delicious food offerings throughout the festival from California classics like Pink’s and Hot Dog on a Stick to seasonal offerings like warm apple cider and s’mores, plus all of your favorite carnival treats like hot dogs, popcorn, soft pretzels, cotton candy, french fries, funnel cakes, batter-dipped Oreos, and more. You’re sure to find the perfect treat to kill your craving. Be the first to know about new events, news, and information this Halloween season by joining Fright Club which includes members-only perks such as exclusive presale access, discounts, rewards, and more! To join for free, visit https://shaqtoberfest.com/frightclub. For more information on ticket information, activations and announcements, visit shaqtoberfest.com and follow Shaqtoberfest on Facebook and Instagram. Shaqtoberfest is located at 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90802. ### About Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group (“13FEG”) is the world's largest producer and operator of theme park-quality live events, location-based entertainment, and immersive installations. 13FEG currently operates 36 attractions, including haunted houses, Halloween festivals, location-based entertainment venues, and an immersive art exhibit. 13FEG continues to set the bar for live-themed entertainment, operating in 18 cities across the United States. Thirteenth Floor is headquartered in Denver, CO with offices in Austin, TX, and Los Angeles, CA. Learn more at ThirteenthFloor.com. About Shaquille O’Neal Shaquille O’Neal is one of the world’s most successful athlete-turned-businessmen, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after consumer brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restaurateur, and brand ambassador, Shaquille O’Neal’s signature “Business of Fun” mantra resonates throughout each of his countless endeavors. Comments are closed.
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