Haunt Industry News for May 25th, 2021

The CDC has released new guidelines for fully-vaccinated individuals. Fully-vaccinated people can "resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance".

The 2021 SCAR Awards have been announced. Winners include Creepy Caves Resurgence at Chessington for Best Halloween Scare Experience, The Walk at Over Farm for Best Adjustment to COVID, and Survival Zone for Best New Event/Attraction. Visit their website or view the announcement video to see the full list of winners.

The Haunted Attraction Association has named its new board of directors. Cody Bailey is the Vice President, Terri Bernstein is the Treasurer, and Jim Bugos is the Secretary. Spencer Terry (General Manager of The Fear Factory) has been unanimously elected president of the Haunted Attraction Association. Spencer is excited for this new role, saying “I’m following in some very large footsteps and am honored to lead a very talented and dedicated team of industry experts as we shift, refocus, rebrand and increase the membership of the Haunted Attraction Association".

The Haunted Attraction Association presented their 2020 OSCARES Awards at Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show. The full list of winners are:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARDS
Bennett’s Curse - MD
Fear Fair - IN
ScreamWorld - TX
Terror Behind the Walls - PA
VENDER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
FrightNight Studios - Michael Burnett
Bloody Mary Makeup - Bobbie Weiner
Little Spider Creations – Marc Brawner
Boneyard Productions - John Denley
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Dan Hower
HOME HAUNT AWARD
Rick Romano - Failed Experiments
PRESIDENTS AWARD
Randy Young
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Bob "Crazy Bob" Turner
BEST NEW PRODUCT AT TRANSWORLD
Go Ghost Hunting App by Zombie Army Productions

A UK woman was left mortified after 10 policemen paid her a visit over a Halloween prop. After Cara Louise left a homemade corpse prop out in her garden, a neighbor called the police to investigate the suspicious body-shaped bag. After questioning the mother-of-two, police confirmed that the item was in fact a prop for her children's "It"-themed circus party. Cara has been a good sport about the incident, giving this advice for all home haunters: “I have a tip for all parents who go all out at Halloween like myself — dispose of props or put them away safely".

Disney has some exciting news for fans of the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, a sequel is coming to Disney+ in the Fall of 2022. Original cast members - Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy - will reprise their roles as the Sanderson Sisters for the upcoming film. The sequel centers on three young women who accidentally bring the Sanderson sisters back to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on the world.