Pageant of the Monsters Brings a Monster of a Good Time to Laguna Beach
Pageant of the Monsters is a rare occurrence, emerging from the shadows once every every five years. This year, Director Diane Challis Davy revived the Laguna Beach based event transforming the backstage into a Haunted House with a truly creative twist. Combining classic scares with arts and crafts, this experience is a wonderful event for families, especially ones with young kids–but also offers plenty to do for adults or teens looking to celebrate the Halloween season.
This year’s theme, Raiders of The Lost Ark, has guests follow the footsteps of legendary archaeologist and world adventurer “Cincinnati Smith” on his quests across the globe. Guests are invited to trek through the spooky Amazonian jungle empire to the desert tombs of pharaohs in this whimsical and haunted spoof on the Indiana Jones classic. Guests are directed through the amphitheater, Pageant workshops and stage, which are transformed into a series of eerie artistically presented vignettes. A staggering 100+ costumed volunteers from around Orange County appeared, showcasing the enthusiasm and passion this team brings forth every single night.
Special thanks to Haunting’s Kevin Hsu for the beautifully shot look at the festivities, Jon Kobryn for his editing skills, and of course The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, a profit with a mission to promote, produce, and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts.
For more information of this year’s Pageant of The Monsters, that ran October 26,27,28 and 31st, see their website here. Be sure to stay tuned for the possibility of catching it next Halloween haunt season.
Follow Pageant of The Masters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on their upcoming events.
Looking for more haunts and immersive events in your area? Be sure the check out Haunting’s Calendar, Catalog, and Map to plan your next event!
Absolutely one of the worst experiences I’ve had for a Halloween themed event, EVER. Paid 25 per adult and 10 per child plus a 20 dollar service charge weeks in advance for the “Pageant of the Monsters” at this venue. Here is it:
1. They over sold the event. This resulted in huge crowds, lines, and long waits. I’m talking Disneyland-like lines. It opened at 6 pm and admission to the “maze” inside was to begin at 6:45. You are instructed to “visit the side-shows” while you wait for your tour time for the maze (more on that later). Anyway, we arrived at 6 pm and the line to get in snaked along the street. When we finally got to the gate, are very rude staff member scanned our 4 tickets and we received our “fast pass” which was not a fast pass at all. It had a time of 8:25 to enter the maze!
2. Rude and totally inept ushers and staff. Many of the staff are older and not patient at all. When you have a venue with crowds and paying customers to direct, it helps if the staff do not add to the exasperation. There didn’t seem to be anybody who was responding to the chaos of the crowds with patience and organization. Instead, the staff attitude just added fuel to the fire.
3. Rude adults. This is supposed to be a family friendly event. I brought my two sons, 8 and 13. After waiting 45 minutes in the “Alien Autopsy” side show, we made it to the tent with the autopsy. We were ushered in at the back end of the group. Probably about 30 adults in front of us at the autopsy table where everyone was directed to learn forward and get a good look. The staff member who ushered us in stated several times to let the children to the front of the group as they are “vertically challenged”. OK so at least he gave it a try. Well, after 3 attempts the staff member left us and none, not a single freaking one of the adults in front, would move to allow the kids to view the table.
4. Imaginary “lines” on the ground? After the issue with the adults at the Alien Autopsy, we left the area and asked the staff member if we could go with the next group so we could get a better position to view the display. He rolled his eyes and asked me to step past the line. I looked down and saw no line…no line, no sign, no roped area…nothing indicating a division between us and anything. At this point staff are letting the next group rush in and it’s a total mess. We just left.
5. What was left to do? The other side shows and services were hard to locate due to the crowds. There were lines all over, but for what? The signage indicating the entrance to each show was done by hand in ink on white paper. People kept asking what each line was for. A total mess, organizationally.
6. Maze be damned. At this point we still had an hour and a half to wait and enter the maze, which was the whole point of coming. The lines for popcorn, refreshments, and other “side shows” were ridiculous. It’s very sad that the venue placed revenue over a quality family experience. I will never attend Pageant of the Masters/Monsters ever again. Total ripoff and cash grab. I was so pissed I threw the tickets for the 8:25 entry to the maze on the ground and left to go home and carve pumpkins. It was only 7 PM. Pageants, go eff yourselves.