Scary, Spooky, Silly: Halloween Events In 2024!

Technology: RunSignup for race registration

How it’s Spooky:

The 1st ever Skeleton Run provides every runner with a skeleton suit to create a “Skeleton Army”. The run on the grounds of Fort Monmouth also welcomed other costumes.

Their Spooky Success:

The Skeleton implemented a referral rewards program to encourage participants to share the event and get their friends and family to join them. To make sharing seem worthwhile, they offered a range of potential rewards. Rewards included a simple Skeleton Run sticker, refunds up to $20 and even a gift card for super-referrers. The result? 11% of all registrations came from referrals, while just 2 refunds were credited.

Technology: GiveSignup for race registration with Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

How it’s Silly:

This family-friendly event included a timed 5K race, an untimed kids “Scary Scurry” race, an a virtual scavenger hunt for the whole family. The event leans into the fun parts of the holiday, with Halloween costumes encouraged for the Scary Scurry and a costume contest for adults.

Their Silly Success:

The HoBOOken race raised money for the Hoboken Shelter. Each year, they raise nearly $100,000 for the most vulnerable members of the community. To maximize donations, the event encouraged individuals and teams to fundraise for the charity. A few tools helped the race help their fundraisers:

• A robust website included a detailed “How to Fundraise” page. This had tips for customizing their fundraising page and sample text for emails to friends and family.
• A personalized email sent via Email V2 to encourage participants to take the extra step and also become a fundraiser. They included a “Champion’s Handbook” with key information about why and how to fundraise.

Technology: RunSignup for race registration

How it’s Scary:

The Runtastic Haunted Provo offered some to some sweet swag (a spooky medal and a long sleeve shirt), and costumes made an appearance. However, the race is also for the scary-fast: prize money was available for anyone who could break the course records.

Their Scary Success:

With a half marathon course, the Runtastic Haunted Provo also required a lot of volunteer support. They utilized the integrated volunteer platform to sign up volunteers for everything from pre-race equipment loading to packet pickup and race day aid stations.

• They used categories for setup, expo, and race day to group together tasks, making it easy for volunteers to find the type of volunteer opportunity they were seeking.
• Using integrated Email V2, they were able to send clear, pre-event instructions to the each.
• The volunteer sign-up was clearly visible on their RunSignup race website, making it simple for anyone who wanted to join the fun without the run.

Technology: RunSignup for race registration

How it’s Silly:

A fall tradition since 2012, Gordy’s Pumpkin Run brings people together in celebration of the lighter sides of Halloween. With fun, pumpkin themed swag (including a small pumpkin!) and a “Tough Pumpkin” add-on that has runners competing with a pumpkin, this race is themed to the max.

Their Silly Success:

Gordy’s Pumpkin Run focuses on the fun, and everyone knows that things are more fun with friends. The run offered a $5 discount to every runner that signed up as a part of a group. This had two benefits for the event: getting people to participate as groups encourages participants to share the event with their friends and family and ensures a fantastically fun race day. In the end, one-third of all participants joined a team.

The fun didn’t end on race day, though. To extend the experience and encourage people to return again next year (along with more friends!), Gordy’s Pumpkin Run shares high quality photos from the run on their RunSignup race website. Take a quick flip through, and you’ll want to grab a pumpkin and run, too!

Technology: TicketSignup for tickets

How it’s Scary:

We highlighted the Haunted Stage Stop in a case study in 2023, but their 2024 edition (the final tour!) stands out for it’s attention to detail. Like in previous years, the organizers put a premium on creating the best possible on-site experience, using timeslots and careful queueing to eliminate crowded conga lines and amp up the spookiness.

Their Scary Success:

The Haunted Stage Stop stands out for it’s exceptionally professional website, with consistent branding top-to-bottom. From consistent coloring to a custom favicon, the free event website is a winner. Beyond just a nice look, the website includes a number of pages and components to boost attendance and increase per-ticket revenue.

• Event details: A detailed FAQ and information about ticket options are also featured on the website to pre-answer questions and reduce customer service interactions.
• Increasing revenue: Food and drink options are highlighted on the website, with options to purchase add-on items both during ticket purchase and anytime via the store. Food, drink, and merchandise can then be redeemed on-site using the Tickets App for check-in.
• Supporting a charity: The event supports the Timberline Volunteer Firefighter Foundation, with donations suggested during ticket purchase.

Technology: TicketSignup for tickets

How it’s Spooky:

The PDX Scaregrounds is the Northwest’s largest haunted house and Halloween event held annually at the historic Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, OR. They welcome tens of thousands of visitors each year!

Their Spooky Success:

PDX Scaregrounds provides visitors with a range of options, including timed tickets for General Admission or VIP. While some attractions are bundled with the initial ticket, visitors also have the option to add side shows to their ticket via the TicketSignup store. This allows them to manage traffic on-site, while increasing the per-ticket revenue.

They use the TicketSignup Tickets App for check-in to manage the complex set of options on-site, checking in each attraction in the app as it is used. The Tickets app makes it simple to setup multiple configurations, allowing for workers at each attraction to view only the fulfillment options for their location.

For attendees, attraction check-in is also a breeze – the same QR code they use to enter the haunt also works for each attraction check-in.

Technology: TicketSignup for tickets

How it’s Silly:

Tickets to the new Corn Craze out on Dogwood Acres Family Farm included all sorts of attractions and competitions (from corn shucking to corndog eating!). With family-friendly pricing that included free tickets for kids under 2 and seniors 80+, the whole crew was welcome. Online ticketing through TicketSignup helped them keep the event cashless.

Their Silly Success:

Every host of a recurring outdoor event knows the challenges that come with inclement weather. Dogwood Acres enabled self-serve ticket management to simplify the process of transferring a ticket to a new day when plans changed or weather was poor.

While the area had a mostly cooperative weather, one day of Corn Craze did have to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Dogwood Acres was able to use the integrated email platform to email ticket purchasers to notify them of the cancellation, including a link to transfer their tickets to another day right from the email. Easy ticket management means happier attendees and less customer support.