(Long Beach, CA) One of Southern California’s most iconic haunted attractions, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor features six immersive mazes, live entertainment, exclusive add-on experiences, hidden speakeasies, a lively dance party, and endless spooky fun. Blending festival energy with chilling theatrics, Dark Harbor delivers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere unlike any other Halloween event.
We were thrilled to be invited to media night at this year’s Dark Harbor. Many thanks to 13th Floor Entertainment Group for hosting us and putting on such an unforgettable event.
More About Dark Harbor
With so many things to see and do, Dark Harbor truly feels like a choose-your-own-adventure experience. If you’re anything like me, you’ll spend most of the night exploring the immersive mazes and soaking in the eerie characters and haunting atmosphere. Others might prefer to hunt down the event’s hidden speakeasies and enjoy a few themed libations with friends, while thrill-seekers can take on carnival rides, savor delicious refreshments, or try add-on activities like axe throwing and VR experiences.
There’s far too much at Dark Harbor to cover in just one article, so I’m zeroing in on what I love most about this event: the mazes and the main stage entertainment.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor And Its Immersive Mazes
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor features six mazes, three of which take place aboard the historic ship itself. Each maze tells its own story, centered around one of the event’s signature “icon” characters.
*All italicized descriptions are taken directly from The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor website.*
Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse
@freaks_of_hhn There’s a BRAND NEW MAZE at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse follows the priestess’s journey to storm Long Beach and overtake The Queen Mary. One of my favorite SoCal events, this year’s Dark Harbor includes six haunted mazes, live shows, and captivating characters – all set within the historic site of the famous Queen Mary. Running select evenings now through November 2, don’t miss this remarkable and unforgettable event! #qmdarkharbor #darkharbor #voodoopriestess #voodoothequeenscurse #queenmary ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
A ruthless Priestess rises from a decayed bayou to seize the Queen Mary’s power—commanding Loa, raising the dead, and marking anyone who strays too close. She’s spent years stalking the ship, binding pirates to her will and building an army to storm Long Beach. Wind your way through potion shops, coffin factories, and poppet-stuffed shacks before a barnstorming finale where lightning crackles overhead and zombie sailors surge below. Will you escape her curse—or join her collection?
@freaks_of_hhn There’s a BRAND NEW MAZE at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse follows the priestess’s journey to storm Long Beach and overtake The Queen Mary. One of my favorite SoCal events, this year’s Dark Harbor includes six haunted mazes, live shows, and captivating characters – all set within the historic site of the famous Queen Mary. Running select evenings now through November 2, don’t miss this remarkable and unforgettable event! #qmdarkharbor #darkharbor #voodoothequeenscurse #queenmary @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
New for 2025, Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse plunges guests into a world of creepy voodoo imagery, from enchanting potion shops to misty, swamp-like marshes. One especially gruesome animatronic stood out to me – perhaps because, as a Florida native, I’m no stranger to oversized creepy crawlies! I found it both horrifying and oddly fascinating.
Feast: The Final Cut *Onboard Maze*
@freaks_of_hhn But WHERE DID HE GO???? Loving the gore and scares inside Feast: The Final Cut at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! #darkharbor #socalhaunts #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #queenmary #feastthefinalcut @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
Step inside the backend of the ship’s kitchen to witness the origin story of The Chef, who began his career as a young, ambitious and handsome Butcher with his eye on the head chef role aboard the luxury cruise liner. After chopping up flesh for years on the ship, The Butcher grew resentful towards the ungrateful First Class Passengers who consumed his meticulously prepared meats. Frustrated, The Butcher takes recipe creation efforts into his own bloody hands by adding a special ingredient that no one can quite put their finger on. This is the final year of Feast—reimagined with a more cannibalistic climax.
@freaks_of_hhn A scene from “Feast: The Final Cut” at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. #darkharbor #socalhaunts #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #queenmary #feastthefinalcut @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
A returning but reimagined maze, Feast makes its final appearance at Dark Harbor this year. While its layout remains largely similar to last season’s, guests will notice refreshed digital effects and updated character designs. I’ve always loved the optional alternate pathways hidden throughout this attraction – but if you want to know more about those, you’ll just have to experience the maze for yourself.
@freaks_of_hhn The Butcher cooked up quite the spread (or you might say “Feast” 😉) for this year’s Dark Harbor! One of my favorite SoCal haunted attractions, Dark Harbor includes six immersive mazes, a variety of live shows, and captivating characters – all set within the historic site of the famous Queen Mary. Dark Harbor runs select evenings now through November 2! #queenmary #darkharbor #thequeenmary #longbeach #longbeachcalifornia ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
Breakout: Maximum Security
@freaks_of_hhn The opening scenes of Breakout: Maximum Security at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! #socalhaunts #darkharbor #queenmary #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #breakout ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
The mystery behind what happened in the infamous stateroom, B340 continues… Samuel the Savage has been arrested, dragged off the ship and thrown into a prison cell. The heavy iron door slammed shut behind him, but are the rusted shackles inside this seaside village jail strong enough to contain the notorious criminal? Find out for yourself as you’re processed as the jail’s newest inmate while alarms scream, guards fall, and Samuel hunts. Can the walls hold him… or you?
@freaks_of_hhn Saved by the guard at Breakout: Maximum Security at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #queenmary #breakoutmaximumsecurity @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
The most dramatically changed maze from last year, Breakout is now much smaller than its 2024 double-maze iteration. Even so, it’s packed with detailed jail-themed set pieces and plenty of jump scare-worthy scenes. What truly stood out to me, though, was the cast: the energetic performers brought so much life to the experience, creating countless memorable moments during my multiple walkthroughs.
Lullaby *Onboard Maze*
@freaks_of_hhn Searching for Scary Mary in the Lullaby maze at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor #lullaby #scarymary @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
In the depths of the Queen Mary’s first-class swimming pool, the sinisterly playful ghost of Scary Mary rises to accost passengers and guide them toward a watery abyss – a vortex that leads to the chilling underworld. Listen carefully and you may hear your final Lullaby.
@freaks_of_hhn More from Lullaby at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor #lullaby #scarymary @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
The second onboard maze, Lullaby, draws inspiration from a real ghost story tied to the Queen Mary’s haunted history. Though this year’s version includes a few changes, it still delivers plenty of disturbing visuals and effective scares. The tone, however, leans more into the festive Halloween spirit rather than the darker tragedy of a child’s drowning, making it noticeably lighter than last year’s iteration.
Infirmary *Onboard Maze*
@freaks_of_hhn 😍😍😍 Graceful Gale enchanting audiences at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! One of my favorite SoCal events, this year’s Dark Harbor includes six haunted mazes, live shows, and captivating characters – all set within the historic site of the famous Queen Mary. Running select evenings now through November 2, don’t miss this remarkable and unforgettable event! #qmdarkharbor #darkharbor #gracefulgale #queenmary #thequeenmarysdarkharbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
The wicked spirits of a sadistic surgeon and his accomplice in life, Graceful Gale, torment the living with ghastly echoes of their gruesome procedures. Their path of destruction stretches from the First-Class decks to the eerie depths deep inside the bowels of the Queen Mary as they accost the living with their unrelenting rage. While the spectacle of Dr. Edwin Master’s specialized surgeries in the operating theater dazzles spectators, but they have no idea what’s happening below in the third class corridors. Injustice will not stand for long. Will the third class patients overthrow this maniacal medic or will he and Gale continue their gory game in this violent, disturbing and macabre masquerade?
@freaks_of_hhn I absolutely adore the opening of Infirmary at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #infirmary #qmdarkharbor @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
The final onboard maze, Infirmary, showcases a blend of gruesome visuals and richly detailed environments. Its constructed sets seamlessly merge with the ship’s existing infrastructure, creating an immersive, continuous narrative that feels right at home aboard the Queen Mary. While largely unchanged from last year’s version, this iteration features a slightly reworked finale and enhanced special effects that elevate the experience.
Big Top Terror
@freaks_of_hhn Welcome to Big Top Terror at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! The only haunted maze (that I know of anyway) where this 90’s kid can find a BALL PIT! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor #bigtopterror @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
Step right up and uncover the terrors that lurk within the shadows of the Big Top! This Halloween carnival is no ordinary circus—it’s a trap, a deadly labyrinth of jack o’lanterns designed to ensnare the souls of the innocent. The Ringmaster, with their hypnotic charisma and enchanting performances, lures the unsuspecting into this dark maze, where doom awaits. Proudly displayed within the Circus is the Ringmaster’s sinister collection of cursed objects, amassed over the ages. Learn the tale of the Pumpkin Carver, see the death defying stunts and avoid the Ringmaster’s Henchies at all costs!
@freaks_of_hhn Getting to know the Ringmaster at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! One of my favorite SoCal events, this year’s Dark Harbor includes six haunted mazes, live shows, and captivating characters – all set within the historic port of the famous Queen Mary. Running select evenings now through November 2, don’t miss this remarkable and unforgettable event! #qmdarkharbor #darkharbor #gracefulgale #queenmary #thequeenmarysdarkharbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
If you can’t get enough of the dynamic Ringmaster, don’t miss Big Top Terror! Located in the Halloween Carnival section of the park, this maze bursts with vibrant colors, unsettling clowns, and classic funhouse chaos. From ball pits to shifting floors, every turn adds to the excitement. I loved the whimsical energy and lighthearted atmosphere that make this attraction such a standout.
Haunted Theatrical Experience
@freaks_of_hhn Lady Mabel Presents The Summoning of Samuel is an immersive theatrical experience at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. Requiring an extra ticket, guests will gather around a dimly lit table as Lady Mabel attempts to communicate with the ghost of Samuel the Savage! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor #ladymabel #ladymabelpresentsthesummoningofsamuel @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – ⚜️Foorout⚜️
During our visit to The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, we checked out one of the event’s add-on experiences: Lady Mabel Presents: The Summoning of Samuel. Running about 10–15 minutes, this captivating show follows a séance gone terribly wrong when the vengeful spirit of Samuel the Savage invades the Queen Mary in search of his next victim. It was an absolute blast!
Shipyard Entertainment
While Dark Harbor offers a variety of entertainment, my favorite spot is the central main stage, The Shipyard. Each night, it hosts the Maiden Voyage launch party, followed by the Final Voyage dance and foam party to close out the evening. The energetic celebrations add a lively, festive vibe that perfectly complements the rest of the spooky fun.
Maiden Voyage
@freaks_of_hhn Kicking off the evening’s screams, Dark Harbor’s Maiden Voyage is a stunning tribute to its iconic characters. #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor @QMDarkHarbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
Every night at 8:08 PM, Dark Harbor kicks off with a spine-tingling introduction to its cast of eerie, unforgettable characters.
Final Voyage
@freaks_of_hhn At The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, every night is a party! Don’t leave the event without joining the final voyage- a huge dance celebration in the Shipyard! @QMDarkHarbor #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor ♬ original sound – Freaks_of_HHN
To wrap up the night, the monsters throw a lively dance party! Join the characters on the dance floor and move to an eclectic mix of beats for a thrilling finale.
Foam Party
@freaks_of_hhn The end of the night festivities continue with Dark Harbor’s foam party!! #Darkharbor #thequeenmarysdarkharbor #qmdarkharbor @QMDarkHarbor ♬ Foam Party – smaille
Continuing the closing festivities, Dark Harbor throws a nightly Foam Party – and it’s pretty intense!
Getting Tickets to The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will run on select evenings from now until November 2. Admission prices will vary based on your preferred date and ticket type. Learn more about available ticket options and start planning your evening of fear at darkharborhalloween.com.
I was so thrilled to experience another fun evening at this remarkable event. For more details, visit darkharborhalloween.com, or follow them on Instagram for all their latest updates!
