Daily Events
Friday, June 6, 2025
Registration Opens
12:00 PM | Convention Center Main Lobby
Special Screening of “Haunt Season” | FREE TO ATTENDEES
3:00 PM | Convention Center Room 44 | Seating is first-come, first-served. Capacity is limited.
The Midwest Haunters Convention is pleased to present HAUNT SEASON at 3:00 pm on Friday, which was filmed at Chicago’s own Realm of Terror and features several Chicago haunters! In attendance will be several members of the cast & crew (who will be on-hand after the screening for a Q&A). DETAILS & TRAILER
Buses leave for Abandoned Haunted House | GET TICKETS
6:00 pm | Depart The Donald Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL | Tour details HERE
Sponsored by TicketSpice
Saturday, June 7, 2025
MHC will have dedicated changing rooms in the Convention Center for attendees who need to change into/out of costumes, apply makeup, etc. Whether you need to prepare for the Costume Party or put on your costume for the Sinister Visions Costume Contest, you won’t have to go back to a hotel to do it! PLEASE NOTE: These rooms are being provided as a convenience to our attendees and will not be monitored; do not leave belongings in them and use at your own risk.
Take a break from the thrills and chills of the Midwest Haunters Convention and step into the Halloween Learning Lounge—a vibrant gathering space at the heart of the show floor where inspiration and collaboration come alive. Designed for creators, builders, scare actors, and haunt enthusiasts, this is the perfect place to relax, recharge, and connect with your Halloween community. Whether you’re swapping stories, brainstorming new ideas, or simply kicking back with fellow haunters, the lounge offers a welcoming atmosphere for informal networking and creative exchange. Meet industry experts, chat with vendors, and dive into spontaneous mini-education sessions and impromptu demos happening throughout the day. And don’t miss your chance to get an exclusive sneak peek at what haunted house owners have in store for the 2025 Halloween season! With casual conversations, hands-on opportunities, and unexpected moments of inspiration, the Halloween Learning Lounge is more than just a break—it’s your hub for connection, creativity, and community. Click below to see the schedule of Speakers and Topics!
Sponsored by FrightProps
Registration Opens
8:30 AM | Convention Center Main Lobby
Show Floor & Kids Zone
Chicago Haunt Builders’ Walk-Through Haunted House
Haunted House Chicago Row
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor
PIT sponsored by TicketSpice
Saturday Seminars
10:00 AM – 5:15 PM | Convention Center
Show Floor Stage
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor
Featuring a variety of entertainments as well as hourly Chicago haunted house ticket giveaways!
Sponsored by TicketSpice
Haunted House Chicago Ticket Giveaways | Ongoing throughout the show
Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Join us for FREE ticket giveaways to all of your favorite haunted attractions in the Chicagoland area! Throughout the weekend, each haunted house/Pit sponsor will pick a ticket for a prize winner for (2) tickets to their respective attraction during the upcoming Halloween season! The tickets to enter this contest are FREE and one will be offered per attendee at the side of the stage.
Sponsored by the Participating Attractions of Haunted House Chicago Row
Main Stage Premiere: T3 Entertainment and Productions
10:15 AM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Incredible Bats Animal Demonstration
11:00 AM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Meet & greet with live animals! Most animals can be held, for the exception of the bats. Come meet our tarantula, armadillo, ball python, milk snake, bats, sand boa, goliath bird eater spider, skunk, corn snake and bearded dragon! Please note all animals may be subject to change.
Ghoul School
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM | Convention Center Show Floor KIDS ZONE | FREE to Attendees!
Teacher: Japes Palles
LIMITED TO 30 STUDENTS | AGES 6-12 | PLEASE ARRIVE AT 11:15 TO CHECK IN.
This workshop is limited to just 30 students, so sign your kids up HERE for either Saturday or Sunday (if there are spots left at time of show, you can sign up on-site). In this workshop, veteran actor trainer and former elementary school teacher, Japes Palles, will host fun games and activities that will introduce elementary aged kids to the fundamentals of haunt acting. This engaging class will have your kids moving and developing scare tactics that really work. Provide an additional level of interaction and scares at your home haunt by giving your kids the skills to make your neighbors pee their pants. Or, start prepping your kids for a future in pro haunts.
Graveyard Dash Part 1 (Olympics)
12:15 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
This is the first part of the Olympic events, exclusive to those haunted houses/sponsors in the Pit. There will be (4) events in this round and Pit haunts assemble a team of (4) players. Other than a slider component, the events will not be skill-based, but fun and whimsical. Points will be awarded to the top three teams based on course finish time. Want to participate? Sign up HERE!
Frightening Facts (Open to All)
1:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Think you know trivia? This is your chance to win fun stuff and eternal glory… right from your seat! Compete right from your phone and see how many questions you can answer as attendees stretch their minds to try and take home the prize!
Chicagoland Haunted House Panel and Ticket Giveaway
What’s New for 2025: Sneak Peek from Top Haunted Attractions
1:15 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Get an exclusive first look at what’s in store for the 2025 haunt season! Join us as representatives from 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago, Massacre Haunted House, Midnight Terror Haunted House, and The Old Joliet Haunted Prison reveal exciting updates, new themes, and major plans for the upcoming year. Don’t miss this insider preview straight from some of the Midwest’s premier haunted attractions. Sponsored by the Participating Attractions of Haunted House Chicago Row
Graveyard Dash Part 2 (Olympics)
2:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
This is the second part of the Olympic events exclusive to those haunted houses/sponsors in the Pit. Similar to part 1, there will be (4) events in this round and Pit haunts will be offered the opportunity to assemble a team of (4) players. No sliding this time, but the events will continue not to be skill-based except for a final/ending puzzle. Points will be awarded to the top three teams based on course finish time. Want to participate? Sign up HERE!
Screamin’ Hot Sauce Challenge (Olympics)
2:45 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Ever see the show “Hot Ones” on YouTube? This is our version. This event takes lucky contestants on a voyage through progressively increasing Scoville units of hot sauce. Come watch a representative from each of the Pit haunted attractions and see them cry, beg for mercy, and pray for the burning to end! Points will be awarded to all that finish all (10) levels of hell. Want to participate? Participants must be at least 18 years old or older to participate; proof of age required. Sign up HERE!
Chicagoland Haunted House Panel and Ticket Giveaway
What’s New for 2025: Sneak Peek from Top Haunted Attractions
3:30 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Get an exclusive first look at what’s in store for the 2025 haunt season! Join us as representatives from Basement of the Dead Haunted House, Disturbia Haunted House, HellsGate Haunted House, and Realm of Terror Haunted House reveal exciting updates, new themes, and major plans for the upcoming year. Don’t miss this insider preview straight from some of the Midwest’s most iconic haunted attractions. Sponsored by the Participating Attractions of Haunted House Chicago Row
Bloody Mary Monster Makeup Wars
4:15 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
One of the Midwest Haunters Convention’s signature events is Monster Makeup Wars. Five teams of three (two makeup artists and a model) have 30 minutes to create a monster from the neck up. The catch? They must do it only with the items we supply them at the start of the competition! Participants must be at least 18 years old or older to participate; proof of age required.
Details HERE! Sponsored by Bloody Mary Makeup
MHC Zombie Walk | FREE TO ATTENDEES
5:30 PM | Meet in the Convention Center Lobby
Want to participate? Sign up HERE!
The Chicago Zombie March presents the MHC Zombie Walk. This FREE event is a great way to gather with friends new, old and undead. Dress up in your zombie best (or worst) and meander from The Donald E. Stephens Center, shuffle your way into and around Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District, then shamble back down Balmoral Avenue and return to the Center. After the Zombie Walk, you can attend the annual Costume Party* later in the evening.
- 5:15 PM | Meet in the Convention Center Lobby
- 5:30 PM | Start shuffling!
Please note: All participants in the Zombie Walk will be required to sign this Release and Waiver in conjunction with registering for the event. Release & Waiver Forms will be available at the registration table on site.
*Separate tickets must be purchased to the MHC trade show floor and Costume Party, and you must be a registered MHC attendee to purchase those tickets. You do NOT have to be an MHC attendee to participate in the Zombie Walk.
**Pre-registration required for all participants. Register to participate HERE!
Sponsored by Chicago Zombie March
MHC Costume Party
8:30 PM – 12:00 PM | Convention Center | $35 Early Bird | $45 Onsite | BUY NOW
The MHC Costume Party is THE Social Event of the year for the haunt industry! Hosted by John LaFlamboy from HellsGate Haunted House. Join hundreds of haunters and Halloween lovers for an evening of music, competitions, dancing, and socializing – this is your chance to have your yearly Halloween party with all your favorite industry friends! Get ready to strut your stuff: The costume contest is back and better than ever before! Party details HERE! Sponsored by Froggy’s Fog, TicketSpice & CU Scared
TransWorld LIVE After Party | FREE TO ATTENDEES
12:00 AM – 2:00 AM | Embassy Suites Hotel, 5500 North River Rd, Rosemont IL, 60018
You don’t have to go home…you just have to make it over to the Embassy for MORE fun! The TW Live crew and the Haunted Houses in the PIT have teamed up to create some mischief and mayhem. Games, Drink Specials, Slice Pizza will be available for purchase and of course great company as we party into the wee hours of the night!
Sunday, June 8, 2025
MHC will have dedicated changing rooms in the Convention Center for attendees who need to change into/out of costumes, apply makeup, etc. Whether you need to prepare for the Costume Party or put on your costume for the Sinister Visions Costume Contest, you won’t have to go back to a hotel to do it! PLEASE NOTE: These rooms are being provided as a convenience to our attendees and will not be monitored; do not leave belongings in them and use at your own risk.
Take a break from the thrills and chills of the Midwest Haunters Convention and step into the Halloween Learning Lounge—a vibrant gathering space at the heart of the show floor where inspiration and collaboration come alive. Designed for creators, builders, scare actors, and haunt enthusiasts, this is the perfect place to relax, recharge, and connect with your Halloween community. Whether you’re swapping stories, brainstorming new ideas, or simply kicking back with fellow haunters, the lounge offers a welcoming atmosphere for informal networking and creative exchange. Meet industry experts, chat with vendors, and dive into spontaneous mini-education sessions and impromptu demos happening throughout the day. And don’t miss your chance to get an exclusive sneak peek at what haunted house owners have in store for the 2025 Halloween season! With casual conversations, hands-on opportunities, and unexpected moments of inspiration, the Halloween Learning Lounge is more than just a break—it’s your hub for connection, creativity, and community. Click below to see the schedule of Speakers and Topics!
Sponsored by FrightProps
SEE THE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND SPEAKERS
Registration Opens
9:00 AM | Convention Center Lobby
Sunday Seminars
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Convention Center
Show Floor & Kids Zone
Chicago Haunt Builders’ Walk-Through Haunted House
Haunted House Chicago Row
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor
PIT sponsored by TicketSpice
Show Floor Stage
10:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor
Featuring a variety of entertainments as well as hourly Chicago haunted house ticket giveaways!
Sponsored by TicketSpice
9th Annual Sinister Visions Costume Contest
10:45 AM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Not an Olympic event, this is open to the public. Join us in your favorite ghoulish costume or as your haunted house character for our Ninth Annual Sinister Visions Costume Contest and compete for fun and prizes! All ages welcome! A metal sign certificate will be awarded to the winner (courtesy of CU Scared) in the Adult Category (18 & up), Teen Category (12-17) and Kids Category (11 & under). Hosted by Kris Zahrobsky (HauntedHouseChicago.com) and Dan Mackey (Six Flags) and judged by Shannon Hopps (Dark Hour Haunted House/Stiltbeast Studios), Katie “Bansheette” Lane and Scott “Tater” Lynd.
THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION: Contestants should start assembling beside the trade show floor demo stage starting 15 minutes prior to the event. Chad Savage will be there to direct you as necessary.
Sponsored by Sinister Visions
AWARD PLAQUE/SIGNS PROVIDED BY
Ghoul School
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM | Convention Center Show Floor KIDS ZONE | FREE to Attendees!
Teacher: Japes Palles
LIMITED TO 30 STUDENTS | AGES 6-12 | PLEASE ARRIVE AT 11:15 TO CHECK IN.
This workshop is limited to just 30 students, so sign your kids up HERE for either Saturday or Sunday (if there are spots left at time of show, you can sign up on-site). In this workshop, veteran actor trainer and former elementary school teacher, Japes Palles, will host fun games and activities that will introduce elementary aged kids to the fundamentals of haunt acting. This engaging class will have your kids moving and developing scare tactics that really work. Provide an additional level of interaction and scares at your home haunt by giving your kids the skills to make your neighbors pee their pants. Or, start prepping your kids for a future in pro haunts.
The Great Build-Off (Olympics)
11:45 AM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
An Olympic event exclusive to the haunted attractions of the Pit. Haunts will choose their best builder who will have only (20) minutes using their own tools and tricks to build and decorate a birdhouse as only a haunter can! Wood pieces of the birdhouse will be provided pre-cut. Points will be awarded to the top three competitors based on a panel of judges. BUT, crowd applause will be taken into consideration. Want to participate? Sign up HERE!
Chicagoland Haunted House Panel and Ticket Giveaway
What’s New for 2025: Sneak Peek from Top Haunted Attractions
12:30 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Get an exclusive first look at what’s in store for the 2025 haunt season! Join us as representatives from 5 Points Haunted House, Catacombs Haunted House, Nightmare Haunted House, and Twisted Crypt Haunted House reveal exciting updates, new themes, and major plans for the upcoming year. Don’t miss this insider preview straight from some of the Midwest’s standout haunted attractions.
Sponsored by the Participating Attractions of Haunted House Chicago Row
Creepy Creative Costume, Makeup & Dance Challenge (Olympics)
1:15 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
This is an Olympic event and exclusive to those in the Pit. Each haunt will assemble a team of (3) people to compete in this event. The first team member will receive the same “canvas” and have (15) minutes using their own tool kit and tricks to distress, alter, decorate, and harness their skills to make a costume for their model. Then, the second team member will have (15) minutes to assemble the costume on the model/third team member) and complete the look with make-up and paint. Finally, the models will line up backstage and then have to strut their stuff for the crowd during a dance/runway showdown! Points will be awarded to the top three teams based on a panel of judges. BUT, crowd applause will be taken into consideration. Want to participate? Sign up HERE!
HauntedHouseChicago.com Actor Showcase
2:00 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
An annual tradition unique to the Midwest Haunters Convention, join us for an exclusive meet-and-greet with award-winning actors and actresses from across the Chicagoland area! The event culminates in the presentation of the prestigious 2025 Haunted House Chicago Jim Warfield Acting Award.
Sponsored by HauntedHouseChicago.com
Haunt Olympic Awards
2:45 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
Of course, we wouldn’t put these haunters through all this fun if we didn’t have some hardware to take home. When the dust settles, there will officially be bragging rights and tangible trophies (courtesy of Ghost Ride Productions) to take home for the haunted attractions that end up in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
HauntedHouseChicago.com Grand Prize Ticket Giveaway
2:50 PM | Convention Center Show Floor Stage
As our final stage event, attendees that received their free ticket giveaway entry will get one more chance to win – and this time for (2) tickets to each of the attractions in the Pit! This is truly the grandest prize of them all!
Sponsored by HauntedHouseChicago.com
