"You can’t ask for a better media partner than Parks and Cons. Shawn and Carmelle are two of the nicest and hardest working influencers in the business and the quality and quantity of their coverage always exceeds expectations."
---Jason Soyster, Director of Marketing and Sales, California's Great America 
"When I need to know what's happening on the ground at conventions, I know the best place to turn to is Parks and Cons for complete and enthusiastic coverage."
--- Amy Ratcliffe, Managing Editor, Nerdist 
"Parks and Cons is the place get the scoop on everything cool happening in the Southwest. [They] are top notch journalists who provide honest and valuable information about everything pop culture event related."
--- Mike Scigliano, Partner & Co-Founder, Atomic Crush Events |
Bringing you 10+ years of original coverage from the front lines of conventions, themed entertainment, Halloween events, and more--across Southern California and beyond!
Event Coverage (2024 Highlights)
Conventions
We covered 41 conventions, providing everything from real-time social posts to on-site visual floor guides, and on-site podcast recordings. Halloween Events We experienced and covered 148 unique Halloween-related experiences, ranging from full-scale haunts to family-friendly yard displays. Theme Parks We spent over 100 days at theme parks in 2024, covering everything from soft openings to seasonal celebrations. Parks included: Disneyland Resort, Knott’s Berry Farm, LEGOLAND California Resort, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Walt Disney World Resort, and more Contact Us
We may be reached at comments@parksandcons.com, via social media, or
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“Parks & Cons is one of my favorite media outlets to work with. I have worked with hundreds of different outlets over the years and they stand out as one of the few that consistently produces high-quality short-form and in-depth content. From how-to guides and behind-the-scenes commentary to live streams and event recaps, they always produce unique content when covering our events. Most importantly, they have an active audience who deeply engages with them and the events they cover. As a bonus, they are nice people and true fans."
--- Brad Jashinsky, Manager, Digital Marketing, Knott's Berry Farm 
"Parks and Cons is absolutely one of the premier online resources for themed entertainment, seasonal events and conventions. The passion they have for these attractions and special events shine in their in-depth coverage while presented in formats great for fans and professionals alike."
--- Ted Dougherty, Author; Themed Entertainment Producer/Director 
"Parks and Cons is the go-to source for all things in the worlds of both theme parks and conventions. They offer up-to-the-minute updates, insightful tips, and cover all the news on the convention show floor and in the parks as it happens. Their site and social media is always my first stop when I want to know what's going on at an event."
--- Kerry Dixon, Editor in Chief, SDCC Unofficial Blog |
Social Media
Approach
We provide immersive, real-time coverage across all major platforms, bringing followers into each experience as it happens. Style From major theme park events to small one-room shows, our goal is the same: to share as much of the experience as possible, in the moment. Icons link to respective pages. |
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YouTube Channel
What We Share
Our YouTube channel features on-site coverage of conventions, theme parks, Halloween events, and unique themed experiences. Content Highlights We post walk-throughs, media previews, event tips, and real-time updates to help viewers feel like they’re right there with us. Reach In 2024, we averaged 67,100 views per month. Where to Watch Visit our channel: YouTube.com/ParksAndCons Icons link to respective pages.
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Parks and Cons Podcast
What It Covers
The Parks and Cons Podcast is a companion to our website and YouTube channel. We spotlight conventions, theme parks, collecting, Halloween events, and other themed entertainment. How It's Recorded Episodes are typically recorded on-site, offering a real-time, immersive experience from the ground. By the Numbers Since launching in July 2014, we've released nearly 1,000 episodes—averaging 7.4 per month. In 2024, we averaged 7.8 podcast episodes per month. Where to Listen You can find the podcast at parksandcons.libsyn.com and on all major podcast platforms. Icons link to respective pages. |
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Contributions to Other Outlets
The Best Fall Fun And Halloween Haunts In Southern California
AirTalk with Larry Mantle October 18, 2023 |
LA Comic Con Expects 140,000 Fans This Weekend — And Plans To Keep Growing
By Mike Roe, LAist Published Dec 2, 2022 |
Theme Park Costs Are Rising. How Will That Impact Annual Pass Holders And Attendance?
AirTalk with Larry Mantle August 18, 2022 |
Pandemic Halloween 2021: We Talk The Best Halloween Attractions SoCal Has To Offer
AirTalk with Larry Mantle October 25, 2021 |
The experience economy of TV promotion at San Diego Comic-Con
By Melanie E.S. Kohnen, International Journal of Cultural Studies First published online July 14, 2020 |
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Phoenix Comicon: Watch two Stormtroopers get engaged
By Louie Villalobos, The Republic | azcentral.com Published 9:40 a.m. MT May 28, 2017 | Updated 11:51 a.m. MT May 28, 2017 |
‘Star Wars’ fans raise their lightsabers in tribute to Carrie Fisher
By Michelle Jaworski, The Daily Dot Dec 29, 2016 at 5:07AM | Last updated Feb 24, 2017 at 3:33AM |
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Baby Dinosaur Display Hatched at LA Zoo
By Melissa Wen, NBC Los Angeles Published at 8:57 PM PDT on Jul 8, 2016 |
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D23 Expo: Star Wars Land To 'Captain America: Civil War' — 9 Things Disney Wants You Hyped About
By Mike Roe, KPCC.org August 17, 2015 |
Building Buzz: How Comic-Con Turns Froth into Frenzy
By Kendall Whitehouse, technology and media editor, Knowledge at Wharton July 28, 2015 |
FULLY OPERATIONAL FANDOM: THE STAR WARS COLLECTOR WITHIN US ALL
BY AMY RATCLIFFE, StarWars.com SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 |
Shawn Marshall shares favorite Comic-Con moments
By Lynn Lieu, The Desert Sun Published 11:24 p.m. PT July 18, 2014 | Updated 9:55 p.m. PT July 23, 2014 |