On April 30th, we were invited aboard the infamous Queen Mary in Long Beach for a secret event. This event was to announce what they have in store for this years Halloween season. Many of us, fans of Dark Harbor, hoped and prayed that it would see a return. But others thought it would be MORE SHAQ! Nevertheless, the crowd was simply electric and couldn’t wait to hear the news.

Nobody was disappointed when Queen Mary officially announced the RETURN of Dark Harbor…THE SPIRITS RISE! The level of excitement in that room nearly blew the roof off the place. Obviously much of this years event is kept a secret. But leading up to Fall, Queen Mary will give us more information regarding: returning favorites, returning characters, NEW characters and other new offerings. They also mentioned that their Midsummer Scream panel is going to be special and a CANNOT MISS panel.

Below is the official press release regarding the exciting return of Dark Harbor to Southern California. Are you excited to step aboard the ship once again and face the evil spirits that lurk within?

After a Multi-Year Hiatus, The Notoriously Haunted Queen Mary Brings Back Fan-Favorite Halloween Event

Named one of the Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America by Time Magazine, The Queen Mary has become synonymous with ghost sightings, scares, and paranormal activity in Southern California. From 2010-2019, the legendary Dark Harbor Halloween event captivated the residents of Long Beach and beyond until the COVID-19 pandemic and ship renovations caused the event to come to a pause. Now, for the first time in nearly four years, The Spirits Rise once again at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor!

“Dark Harbor has become an iconic part of our city’s Halloween celebrations, and we are excited to once again transform the Queen Mary into a haunted spectacle for scare-goers,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Having brought in hundreds of thousands of visitors to Long Beach in years past, its return is another major step in the Queen Mary’s recovery and return to a premier tourist attraction. I extend my appreciation to Evolution Hospitality and to our City Council for their support.”

Dark Harbor is a massive Halloween festival that takes place on The Queen Mary and surrounding harbor. This year’s event will feature haunted mazes, live entertainment, themed bars and lounges, experiences on-board the ship, festive eats and treats and, of course, the return of well known icon characters. 2024 attraction details will be released in the coming months and will include both fan favorites from the past as well as many new surprises.

Southern California’s most haunted Halloween event will open on Friday, September 20th and run select nights through Saturday, November 2nd. Tickets will be available for purchase late summer 2024. For early access to presale, event updates and announcements, sign up at www.darkharborhalloween.com. The event is now hiring scare actors, event staff, tech staff and more. Job postings and applications can be found on the event website.

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is located at 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90802. For more information, visit http://www.darkharborhalloween.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.