Once Upon a Magic Market From the Fog Review: HHN Fans Get Their Shopping Fix
Written by Jaimz Dillman
If you’re the kind of person who thinks Halloween Horror Nights season should extend well beyond the theme park gates, Once Upon a Magic Market’s “From the Fog” offered a pretty great way to start your spooky spending.
Held September 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Theme Park Resort, “From the Fog” was billed as a tribute to Halloween Horror Nights past and present. While this was very much a market to shop, the HHN inspired touches made browsing the vendor tables considerably more fun.
Once Upon a Magic Market describes itself as a Central Florida themed market featuring unique vendors and more, and “From the Fog” brought together a particularly fun assortment of creators and sellers.
The real stars of the event were, appropriately, the vendors.
There was a great mix of merchandise and handmade goods to browse, including original art, custom made jewelry, home goods, and my favorite find, vintage event shirts from past years of HHN. This is the kind of market where you can wander from table to table and never quite know what you’re going to find next. For horror fans, it was especially nice seeing Halloween and horror represented this early in the year.
Unlike walking through a Halloween event where you’re constantly thinking about the next scare, here you can actually take your time and shop. Stop at a booth. Talk to a vendor. Find something you didn’t know you needed. Walk back around because you suddenly remembered that thing you saw five minutes ago.
You know the drill.
The market also gets major points for something increasingly valuable in Central Florida: free parking and free admission. There’s no cover charge standing between you and the vendor floor, which makes dropping by to browse a much easier proposition.
The food and drink offerings were another pleasant surprise. There were both savory and sweet treats available, with options like themed coffee drinks, stuffed cookies, pickled veggies, and fresh baked bread. It’s a small thing, but having food vendors offering something a little different adds to the appeal of spending more time at the market rather than simply making a quick shopping stop.
And yes, sometimes the best purchase at a themed market is the thing you can eat.
While “From the Fog” isn’t an attraction, the organizers clearly understood that a Halloween Horror Nights tribute should have some visual fun.
Character stilt walkers inspired nostalgia, with Bill and Ted wandering around the market while shoppers browsed the booths. Frequent HHN fans definitely enjoyed seeing the Wyld Stallyns again. It’s the kind of detail that makes you stop, take a picture, and think, Yep, these event organizers get it.
Also seen roaming through the aisles was a very tall RIP Tour Guide. This stilted character gave a nod to the VIP groups seen being guided through the parks, dressed in scrubs and carrying a flashing baton.
That was another fun bit of theming that helped sell the HHN spirit without turning the market itself into something it wasn’t. You’re still there to shop, but there are some wonderfully ridiculous fandom surprises waiting between purchases.
That’s really where “From the Fog” worked best. It didn’t need to be over the top. It just needed to make shopping at a market feel a little more like something a Halloween Horror Nights fan would want to do.
Mission accomplished.
And if you missed “From the Fog,” Once Upon a Magic Market isn’t slowing down.
According to its social channels, the next event is “October Forever” on October 10, followed by “Holidays at the Castles” on November 14.
So while this tribute may have disappeared back into the fog, there’s already another reason to keep an eye on Once Upon a Magic Market.
For Central Florida shoppers who enjoy fandom merchandise, handmade goods, interesting food, and themed events with a little extra personality, it’s something worth adding to the spooky season calendar.
And honestly, that’s a pretty good Saturday.
