Wikinews attends 2021 Texas Haunters Convention

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Wikinews attends 2021 Texas Haunters Convention}}

Wikinews attended this year's Texas Haunters Convention held in the city of Mesquite on Saturday and Sunday.

The three day event began on Friday and featured an array of vendors, actors, and makeup artists, among many other types of haunted attraction specialists. Held at the Mesquite Convention Center, the event drew at least 2500 ticket holders. Focused largely on Halloween-oriented events, speakers and classes covered a broad array of topics.

One class focused on the topic of Sliding, which is an acrobatic-type performance displayed at many haunted attractions. The teacher showed his modified boots, knee pads and heavily modified gloves worn during such performances. The gloves have various pieces of metal and often ferrocerium rods attached, which serve to create a sparking effect.

Speakers and teachers covered many topics, also including the technical aspects of haunted attractions, like lighting. Another speaker discussed the financial aspects of starting and operating a haunted attraction. He noted haunted attractions in the U.S. generate US$300-500 million in ticket sales each year.