Universal Built a Mall Santa Set at Halloween Horror Nights, and Art the Clown From Terrifier Looks Like the Occupant

There is a Santa set on a New York street at Universal Studios Florida. Gray castle turrets with white conical roofs. A white arch with SANTA spelled out in red, snowflakes at either end. Stacks of striped and polka dot presents, a flocked white Christmas tree, and a small sign with an arrow reading "Santa This Way."

It is the middle of August, and it is not for Christmas. The staging points at Art the Clown.

WDW News Today published a walkthrough of the park's Halloween Horror Nights 35 build on Sunday, and the Santa stage is one of the pieces the walkthrough documents. In its words, "There's an Iron Side Demolition van parked next to a 'Santa' stage," and "The stage indicates Art will be in his Santa Claus outfit. It resembles a classic mall meet and greet with presents and a castle-like archway."

Art the Clown, the silent killer from the Terrifier films, was announced in July as part of Downtown Clowntown, the scare zone taking over the New York area alongside the Killer Klowns from Outer Space. What was not announced is that his corner of it would be dressed as a shopping mall Santa set.

Whatever the punchline is, it is still under wraps

The set is not finished. Three large elements are still bagged in red, black and green covers, and the centerpiece is a dark throne framed inside an oversized wrapped gift box, with paper snowflakes fanning out of the top. WDWNT flagged the same thing, noting "there are mysterious large elements hidden from view and a demonic-looking chair."

The building behind it, number 1202, has been dressed straight: red and gold tinsel spiraling up both columns, garland strung with gold, red and copper baubles on the balconies, candy striped awnings. It reads as a department store window until you remember which clown the stage is pointing at.

The demolition van parked next door

Alongside the stage sits a scuffed white cargo van with a scraped gray front bumper. The lettering on its flank reads IRON SIDE, then DEMOLITION SPECIALISTS, with INTERIOR and EXTERIOR either side, a phone number of 555-818-1984, and the slogan "WE KNOCK 'EM DOWN!" curling across the top with "Since 1967" tucked underneath.

Universal has not explained the van, and WDWNT only records that it is parked there. Whether it is a set dressing gag, a prop with a payoff attached, or a piece of a walkthrough moment, nothing official has been said.

Jack the Clown now has a statue

Across from the Tribute Store, the faux marble stage that has been building for weeks got its centerpiece. Per WDWNT, "In addition to tents installed a few weeks ago, the stage now has a Jack the Clown statue on a pedestal in the center. A yellow armchair sits beside the pedestal."

The statue is painted and weathered, arms raised in a long ragged rust red coat under a matching pointed jester hat, with strings of carnival bulbs running from its hands to a blue and white striped tent on one side and a red and gold striped tent on the other. The armchair beside it stands out against the faux marble, yellow buttoned upholstery on an ornate blue frame. WDWNT records only that it sits there.

What else has gone up

Minion Land is carrying house icons now. We reported five black boxes at the curb line in Minion Land earlier this month, bare and unexplained. That stretch now carries, in WDWNT's description, "signs and icons representing each of this year's haunted houses, sitting atop bases that match the carnival theming." The outlet lists a large Hellraiser puzzle box, a symbol it reads as belonging to the Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness house, and props across the street for Stranger Things 5, Sinners and Evil Dead Burn. Universal has not confirmed whether these are the same fixtures.

Finnegan's construction walls got drafted into the theme. Rather than hide them, the design team papered them with vintage style circus advertising: "Various vintage-style Ringling and Barnum & Bailey posters adorn the walls."

Club Horror is coming back. WDWNT reports it returns to San Francisco, with a booth set up around a tent serving themed drinks. Down Sting Alley there is a Crosshairs Coop Game of Skill booth, which looks like a blood spattered shooting gallery but appears to be a food location. A booth by Gramercy Park has an ordering kiosk reading "Welcome to the Show," and the one next door has picked up a "Death Tank" sign.

Nobody knows what any of it costs. As of the walkthrough, "Menus have yet to be posted at any food or drink locations." Menus and prices for the event typically surface closer to opening night.

When it all opens

Halloween Horror Nights 35 runs select nights from August 28 through November 1 at Universal Studios Florida, per Universal's own event rundown, with Premium Scream Night on August 27 and October 19. That puts opening night 11 days out from today, which is all the time Universal has left to get the covers off.

Sources

• WDW News Today, "Jack the Clown Statue, Art the Clown Stage, and More Halloween Horror Nights 35 Props Arrive at Universal Studios Florida"
• Universal Orlando Resort, "Universal Halloween Horror Nights 35: Everything Coming to HHN at Universal Orlando Resort"

Image credits: All four photographs by WDW News Today.