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Maddie has always loved Halloween, she gets that from Pete and I. We love it too. But she has taken it up a notch. She doesn’t just love Halloween, she also loves all things scary. That is why the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is one of her favorite events of the year. I think it’s also one of the scariest events!
Pete and I knew it was going to be interesting having our oldest and youngest 10 years apart, but we had no idea it was going to be this fun. While Emmy likes to do more of the mellow Halloween fun things, think on the level of pumpkin patches, Pete gets to take Maddie to much more scary events. I can’t tell you how awesome it is to be able to still have fun at such a range of experiences. I’m so glad there is so much to do in So Cal during Halloween time.
Although this isn’t something for Emmy, at five years old it’s just too scary, it’s perfect for teens and us adults. Pete and I have even gone here for a fun date night. The past couple of years we have stayed over night after the event on the Queen Mary in the hotel. I highly recommend doing that because it just ads to the experience. Especially if you have gone through one of the mazes that goes into the belly of the ship. It will also freak you out like nothing has before. Trust me on that.
Here are some of the sights from this year:
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor rises once again from the deep history of the infamously haunted ship October 1 – November 1, 2015. Dark Harbor is thrilled to unveil the horrific new maze, Lullaby, that tells the tale of the ship’s youngest soul, Scary Mary. The chilling new Side Show of Freaks and Oddities, new attractions and new monsters will be orchestrated by The Ringmaster and all of the ghoulish spirits of the Queen for its most frightful season of thrills yet.
Lullaby will take fear-seekers on a terrifying voyage with Dark Harbor’s youngest soul, Scary Mary, who has haunted the Queen Mary ever since her horrific drowning in the poolroom in 1952. Mary was a bad seed from birth. Before her death, mysterious tragedies and unexplained occurrences seemed to follow in Mary’s wake. She isn’t looking for just one playmate; she wants a whole playground of souls to play with in the afterlife. She can be spotted throughout Dark Harbor, but the poolroom of the ship is her playroom. One must proceed through Lullaby with caution, as it may be the last journey through Dark Harbor as a mortal soul.
Dark Harbor will introduce the new Side Show of Freaks and Oddities that will take guests through an immersive experience into the grotesque world of freaks like never before imagined. Enjoy a specialty cocktail at the Side Show Bar for an up-close and personal look behind the Side Show curtain and catch an exclusively freaky live Side Show performance.
Dark Harbor guests will get lost in the depths of the Queen Mary’s haunted history through the Deadrise, Soulmate and B340 mazes as well as visit the feared Voodoo Priestess in her Voodoo Village with dark magic gypsies in a setting wrought with shrunken heads and voodoo dolls.
The Ringmaster will orchestrate the freaks and monsters of the Circus maze and its terrifying mad house that will disorient illusions through horrific magic, paranormal wonders and spirited thrills (Hint: it’s very hands on!). The Ringmaster, The Captain and their band of spirits including Samuel the Savage, Graceful Gale, Half-Hatch Henry and of course, Scary Mary will haunt the grounds of Dark Harbor nightly.
2015 Queen Mary Dark Harbor Guide
- Get there early. Parking is right next to the where all the fun is, but it does get busier into the night.
- There are food stands so come hungry and buy some of the spooky treats. The stands all have creepy names.
- The mazes are amazing and there is a historic folklore weaved into each one of them.
- Spend some time walking through the whole event because there are creepy crawlies hidden throughout.
- While eating be sure to sit in front of the live entertainment. I use the term “live” loosely.
- The RIP lounge is part of the VIP experience and a really awesome place to take in the views of everything happening. If you are over 21 I highly recommend buying this upgrade.
- The sinister swings from Micheal Jackson’s Neverland Ranch are also here!
- Be prepared to be scared. The roaming undead are there to cause you nightmares and are known to jump out at you when you least expect it. (PS. They won’t touch you, but if you act scared they will haunt you throughout the night and follow you around).
Dark Harbor brings the true haunted tales of the Queen Mary to life, offering the most authentically frightening experience available. The annual event begins October 1 and continues to scare those who dare through November 1. Ticket prices start at just $20 online, with Fast Fright, VIP Passes, and lodging packages available. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.queenmary.com/dark-harbor.
Omg this looks like SO much fun!! I love all things scary. I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to do things like this with me!
That sounds like so much fun! We love anything Halloween-y!
That is delightfully spooky! I’d love to be able to experience Dark Harbor. Fun!
That looks like so much fun! I love how spooky they made it. The fog is a nice touch.
Oh wow this sounds amazing – what a great way to celebrate Halloween. x
Sounds like a lot of fun. I love scary things like this! I also want to try some of the spooky foods!
Wow, this looks terrific. There’s not a lot to do down here for Halloween, unless you head to Orlando.
I would totally be freaking out! LOL I am a big chicken, but this looks fun and creative for those who can handle it!
We love the Queen Mary! We were there around Halloween time last year and it was a blast!
This is so cool. I wish we could check this out this year. They have some awesome set pieces.
I do not liked being scared. I jump at everything.
Me too lol! I think I’d have a ton of fun with this though!
Oh my goodness. This would be SO fun even though I’m a huge chicken. What a great way to celebrate Halloween!
That looks like such a cool fun experience, perfect for Halloween 😀
What a cool experience! Great pictures too – you made me feel like I was there!
Oh this looks like fun, although I might chicken out haha!!
This would be right up my husband’s alley! He loves scary and creepy stuff like this.
Excellent pictures! That looks like a really fun place and I would love to go through a maze again.
This looks like so much fun!! I would love to go to something like this with my husband. I don’t think any of my girls are old enough to enjoy it.
I love the Queen Mary. I was one of the first guests when she became a hotel.
Oh my goodness how fun! Sometimes I wish I lived in So Cal, there’s just so much to do there! I would enjoy the haunted houses. But I agree a five year old just isn’t ready for a lot of the scarier things.
A fun event for this Halloween I wish we live close by I love going to creepy fun places like this.
What a terrifying story! I don’t think I can continue after reading what happened to scarg Mary in the poolroom. Lol. Really makes the experience a lot scarier.
Looks like fun. I love all the spooky costumes and creepy lighting.
What a fun way to spend Halloween. I should plan our next Halloween there.
I am not into scary festivals and movies though appreciate your review very well written and descriptive.
Looks like a lot of fun, but I’d probably be terrified!
Wow. This looks really scary and really fun!
Oh that looks like fun! My husband LOVES Halloween and we used to go to all the scary stuff. Now we have kids and one doesn’t love that stuff… so for now we just decorate and enjoy the holiday at home.
I think my oldest and I would have fun at an event like this. My hubby isn’t much for scary, he can’t even watch the movies.
What a fun event! Definitely a way to get you in the mood for the holiday! FUN!
Now this looks like a fun event!! I love Halloween and everything scary and I would love to go to something like this.
I am not a fan of being scared but after going to HHN25 at Universal Studios, I am obsessed with the theatrics of it all! This looks likes soooo much fun!
This looks amazing! I am such a wimp with scary things but still love to go and get creeped out.
My kids would love Dark Harbor. I am not sure if i could do it i am such a chicken. I will have to see if there is something like this near us for the kids.
The Queen Mary is scary every other day of the year, but seeing it as Dark Harbor sounds terrifying. I think I”ll need someone to go with me and hold my hand.
That sounds like such a fun way to celebrate Halloween. I hope my family and I can make it out there to see it in person.
My daughter likes scary stuff but not to the extent that she will get scared and cry.
This looks so fun! I wanna go!
There’s so many fun, unique events around when it’s Halloween season! My family really enjoys the season!
Wow sounds amazing. This is the great way to celebrate Halloween I feel excited for Halloween. I will tell my hubby about this.
I’m so excited this coming halloween, this is really fun experience! I wanna go.
Wow that looks so much scary and fun!!!
Terrific and entertaining blog post fun and scary is a great way to spent quality time with family on Halloween.
This would be a great Halloween activity, however, I do not think my heart is strong enough to handle the frights. My boys would love this though. Thanks for sharing.
This would be so much fun! I wish we lived closer!
Halloween is knocking the door. Some of the wonderful guides.
Oh gosh this looks like so so so much fun!
This looks like such a fun and spooky event! My youngest loves Halloween and it’s her favorite holiday, even pushing out Christmas! I think she gets it from my Mom who always loved it too. It’s the dressing up part that is the key for us!
Oh so scary! I’m such a big baby, I just cant get into things like this. I’ll have nightmares! LOL
the experience of the queen mary dark harbor sounds fun, don’t know if I could make it through