With Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then the ship itself closed for repairs and renovations, Long Beach has had a major Halloween void. Fortunately, for 2022, fifteen-time All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal stepped up to fill that void with the help of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group to host the first ever Shaqtoberfest. Over the weekend, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group was kind enough to invite us to experience Shaqtoberfest firsthand, and I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised.
When Shaqtoberfest was first announced, I was skeptical. After all, Shaquille O’Neal isn’t exactly synonymous with Halloween. But as more details emerged from the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group ahead of the event, I became intrigued. The goal was to create a Halloween event where Shaq’s footprint was noticeable, but not so in-your-face that it took away from the Halloween element. And I think they succeeded. Aside from Shaq’s giant inflatable entrance to the event, Shaq’s overall footprint was noticeable but subtle, mostly left to insignificant location names and occasional audio and video elements played during the event.
Shaqtoberfest is also unique in that it is one of the few Halloween events in Southern California that tries to have something for everyone. Daytime fun is family-friendly, with trick-or-treat trails filled with bounce houses, bouncy slides and more age-appropriate fun, but at 8pm the witching hour begins and the monsters come out For Dark Harbor fans, there was a familiarity to the way the monsters descended on the crowd. Marching into the event led by a group of percussionists, you hear them before you see them as they make their way into the crowd, ready to tear up the night.
This is where I heard the most brilliant event. Street talent was strong, and each character had a unique personality and well-done character makeup. The characters are themed around the event’s various “scare zones” and range from clowns to barnacle-laden sailors. These include sliders and chainsaw-wielding monsters, offering a variety of ways to get a good scare.
Labyrinths
Each maze in the event does double duty, serving as a gift trail during the day and a “twisted route” at night with five mazes in total to experience; six if you count the giant inflatable lizard thing, which we’ll get to in a minute. Overall, the fabricated mazes look amazing, and my only complaint is that some of them feel incredibly short for an event of this size. I will also say that while the street talent mentioned above was strong, I felt the mazes were a little lacking in scares. This could be down to the length of the mazes or the family nature of the event, but it’s an area that, as the season progresses or if it returns in 2023, I hope they try to improve.
Cemetery of shipwrecks
This maritime-themed maze full of rusted ships and withered cargo shrouded in fog is one of the first mazes you encounter in the event, and it’s also the shortest. The strong points here are some of the set pieces and the animatronics used. Unfortunately, when you get out, its length makes you wonder, “Wait, that was it?”
Giant inflatable lizard thing
I mentioned the bouncy lizard before. This “maze” doesn’t have a name, but it’s a maze nonetheless, one in which you navigate, in the dark, the inside of a giant lizard monster. There are no monsters jumping out at you here, but I will say that if you are claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, this maze might be a little too much for you. With several dark passages to duck through and bouncy walls of constriction, and the occasional low door, this one will scare you in a very different way.
Cala dels Pirates
One of the most notable mazes due to its huge pirate ship facade, Pirate’s Cove is a pirate-themed maze full of pirates, skeletons, treasure and typical pirate food. Here you’ll also find “Captain Shaq’s Hideout”, a hidden bar where you can toast the life of a pirate. In terms of scenery and layout, this was probably the strongest maze, as you feel like you’re inside the lower decks of a pirate ship, and when you come out the other side, you’re in the grotto of a mermaid.
Diesel’s Pumpkin Patch
Easily the longest maze of the event, the first half of Diesel’s Pumpkin Patch is a hay bale maze where you can navigate the maze or take a shortcut down some of the various inflatable slides and tunnels. The pumpkin themed maze is filled with scarecrows, pumpkins and your typical pumpkin fare. It’s also home to a few larger animatronics that come to life and tower over you as you venture through the maze. The maze ends in a barn, which is the most “scary” part of the maze. Complete with ominous music, chicken carcasses hanging on the wall and a few scary characters.
Midway Madness
This carnival-themed maze takes you into a carnival tent where you’ll come face-to-face with some of the carnival’s main attractions, such as a giant tarantula, along with the resident clowns. One of the most interesting aspects of this maze is the shooting range scene, which can be seen from outside the maze, where guests navigate a shooting range carnival game. The gusts of air as you navigate this section make it feel like you’re actually being shot.
Promenade of the lost city
One of the longest mazes, Lost City Boardwalk, is located under the footbridges next to the Queen Mary. Here, you travel back to the 1920s, where bank-robbing gangsters roam the boardwalk. You will follow his story from the initial heist to his capture and imprisonment. What I liked about this maze was that it seemed like the scare actors had a few alternate paths they could take to get a good scare. While navigating the prison scene, one of the fear actors could use this to his advantage and sneak up behind my wife and freak out on her, which is rare.
entertainment
At the heart of Shaqtoberfest is the Block Party stage, where members of LVCRFT will perform Halloween hits each night of the event. A mix of LVCRFT favorites and Halloween staples will have you feeling your way as you grab a bite or check out the event merchandise at “The Merchandise Shaq.”
As part of Midway Madness, you can also enjoy several midway favorites like the Ferris Wheel and Carousel, or make your way through the Wacky Shack fun house.
But perhaps my favorite entertainment was Dead Head Hoops, a carnival-style game in which you toss foam heads like basketballs through oil barrel drum hoops. It’s definitely harder than it looks, and heads bounce a lot differently than a basketball.
Food and drink
For those coming to the event hungry, there are plenty of food and drink selections to enjoy. You’ll find a variety of food options, including a taco stand, a pizza truck, a dessert stand, and even a hot dog stand. Get stuck into the event. Hollywood’s famous Pink’s Hot Dogs are also present at the event with a menu that includes several Halloween-themed hot dogs, including the Halloweenie, Diesel Dog, Krampus Dog, Goblin Dog and The Boogeyman Dog.
For those looking for a strong drink, Shaqtoberfest is home to three bars, including two themed bars ‘Diesel’s Boat House’ and ‘Tiki Terror’.
For a first-year event and an event themed around an NBA star, I was pleasantly surprised by Shaqtoberfest. The overall atmosphere is pleasant, and you can tell that the talent and staff are excited about the event. While the scare factor of the event might put off die-hard attendees, I think it’s a perfect mid-range venue that the whole family could come out and enjoy together. Plus, there’s more to see and do beyond the mazes if you’re looking for a night of Halloween fun.
Shaqtoberfest takes place on select nights until Halloween. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit
