August 23, 2015Halloween Horror Nights is entering its 25th year, and has already made waves. This year the event has announced the return of Freddy Kreuger and Jason Vorhees to face off in Freddy vs Jason. Jack The Clown, the events first, and most recognizable icon will be returning to host the event. Houses for the hit films “Insidious”, and “The Purge” will be thrilling guest this fall, and crowd favorite “The Walking Dead” will be returning for its 4th year at the event.
Overall, though, things have been quieter than fans would expect. Updates are fewer and further between than historically. But, things are slowly emerging as days grow slightly shorter, and the air gets a little cooler, props are slowly creeping out of the fog and onto the streets of Universal Studios.
Within the past week (8/23) props have gone up on Hollywood Boulevard, Central Park, and the streets of New York. While nothing has been confirmed as of yet, there are interesting rumors floating around about what these streets could contain.
While Hollywood Boulevard has the fewest props, so far, it is home to what is all but confirmed to be an icon Scarezone. There are 4 banners up along the street, each containing faces of icons. The icons shown are The Caretaker, The Storyteller, The Usher, and The Director. Surely to go up next is the host of this year’s event, Jack The Clown. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities to see others icons like the Terra Queen, Fear, Eddie or Lady Luck have their banners go up next. This Scarezone seems like it might have a similar lay out to the street from 2011, “7”, based on the seven deadly sins. Check out the gallery below.
Taking a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard you come across a rather large stage. While this stage might be used for Rock The Universe (an annual Christian Rock event), stages of the sort do not typically have as much lighting as this stage does. There is also a lighting tower adjacent to the stage. While there is no guarantee this will be used for Halloween Horror Nights our host, Jack the Clown, has been known to have a show, and at this exact location.
Heading into the park just a little further Jack-O-Lanterns have gone up all throughout Central Park, as well as a covered wagon prop. There are spooky lanterns hanging above the street as well. Little is known about what this street might contain, historically, the Jack-O-Lanterns and creepy “Trick R Treaters” run hand in hand. More information will be known about this zone with more props and the major announcement at the end of the month of August.
Most notably, and decorated, is the streets of New York. Classic Halloween decorations adorn buildings, skeletons climb up fire escapes, spiders crawl up building walls, but all in the nature of your typical Halloween decorations. The streets look like ones neighborhood might look on October 31st, sans a few key details. A burned down gazeebo’s remains litter the street, by Finnegan’s and a picket fenced stage falls parallel to it (in front of The Mummy). Rumors float around that the inmates from Shady Brook (PsychoScarepy), have broken free and invaded city streets on Halloween night.
Information about Halloween Horror Nights will continue to trickle in the more September is approached. A grand announcement is slated for the end of the month which will include all 5 scarezones, 5 more houses, and 1 more show. Streets will continue to grow on a weekly basis and more props will be erected. The event starts September 18th, and runs November 1st. More information about tickets can be found at www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/.
