15-time All-Star and basketball Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal, Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, the world’s largest Halloween-themed entertainment company, announced that Shaqtoberfest will return for its second Halloween season at the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
Opening on September 28 through October 31, tickets are on-sale now at shaqtoberfest.com with prices starting at $29.99 on select nights.
“We are excited to come back bigger and scarier this year,” said O’Neal. “I can’t wait to welcome fans on board The Queen Mary to experience what we cooked up this Halloween!”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Authentic and Shaq to once again bring Shaqtoberfest back to Long Beach,” said Chris Stafford, CEO & Founding Partner of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. “Now that the Queen Mary is open to the public again, we are so excited to bring all-new haunted and VIP experiences on board the ship. We can’t wait to show everyone what we have been working on behind the scenes, and look forward to another exciting year of Shaqtoberfest!”
Shaqtoberfest is a large-scale Halloween festival featuring a wide variety of horror-themed attractions and interactive experiences that capture O’Neal’s beloved personality. The staple of Shaqtoberfest resides in its arrangement of distinct zones for guests to explore. Within each zone, an assortment of bone-chilling activities awaits.
Complete with haunted trails, live entertainment, carnival rides, themed bars and cocktail lounges, VIP experiences, a VIP lounge sponsored by Thomasville, festive treats, and immersive horror-themed entertainment, Shaqtoberfest is southern California’s ultimate Halloween Festival. Family-friendly hours with trick-or-treating will take place during the last three Sundays in October during which guests of all ages are encouraged to come dressed in Halloween costumes.
New experiences and highlights at this year’s Shaqtoberfest include:
● The Grey Ghost Haunted Trail- New for 2023! – The RMS Queen Mary was originally designed as a luxury cruiseliner, but during WWII she was tasked with carrying troops to battle. For this, her exterior was repainted battleship gray, making her impossible to spot in the mist, and earning her the nickname the “Gray Ghost.” After being permanently docked in Long Beach in 1967, she became a hotel and tourist attraction until 2020 where she sat vacant for three years, allowing the spirits of those who have perished onboard to become louder and stronger than ever. As part of the 2023 reopening of the Queen Mary, we’d like to invite you back into the belly of the ship to see what spirits lurk in the dark damp corridors. Step inside, “The Grey Ghost”…
● LVCRFT Block Party – Come shake your bones and exercise the demons at the LVCRFT Block Party Stage with DJ Reaper and Skeleton Sam slaying Halloween hits all night long. Get the party started before you even step foot at Shaqtoberfest with the official Shaqtoberfest Slaylist. Party don’t stop till we’re six feet deep!
● The VIP Engine Room Experience – New for 2023! – The Queen Mary’s history is full of action, adventure, romance and paranormal activity, earning her the nickname the “haunted ship.” Step aboard and descend below the water line for a special self-guided (AKA “spirit-led”) tour of the ship’s Engine Room. While on board, there are opportunities to unwind and socialize in the Engine Room lounge and learn about the ship’s fascinating past. This experience is not accessible due to the historic nature of the Engine Room. A la carte upgrade available; included with VIP Slam Dunk Admission
Be the first to know about new events, news, and information this Halloween season by joining Fright Club which includes members-only perks such as exclusive presale access, discounts, rewards, and more! To join for free, visit https://shaqtoberfest.com/frightclub.
For more information on ticket information, activations and announcements, visit shaqtoberfest.com and follow Shaqtoberfest on Facebook and Instagram.
Shaqtoberfest is located at 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90802.