Second time's the attraction? Bear in mind the Willy Wonka expertise in Glasgow, Scotland that went viral earlier this yr, with its unhappy Oompa Loompa changing into a meme? He's making a comeback.
Regardless of the backlash and mockery, the now notorious occasion is again, and this time in Los Angeles, California, in line with an occasion web page that appeared on Eventbrite.
“Sure, it is a actual occasion,” reads the very first thing on the occasion web page, arrange by the Home of Illuminati LA.
“Put together to step right into a realm of pure creativeness because the acclaimed 'Willy's Chocolate Expertise LA' makes its US debut, courtesy of Home of Illuminati LA,” the occasion description reads. “After its groundbreaking success in Glasgow, this implausible occasion guarantees an immersive journey into the whimsical world of 'Willy' Wonka.”
'Fiasco':The Willy Wonka expertise in Scotland leaves a bitter style for ticket consumers
Options of the earlier occasion in Glasgow to be recreated
The “unhappy” Oompa Loompa, Kirsty Paterson, who turned an instantaneous meme, may even take part within the occasion on April 28 with an “unique absurd Q & A and fan photograph alternative”, in line with the organizers.
Different options of the Glasgow occasion, such because the setting, may even be replicated with the occasion deliberate to be held in “a nondescript warehouse nestled within the coronary heart of downtown Los Angeles.” The precise location has not been specified.
Tickets are priced at $44 and are non-refundable. Nonetheless, proceeds from the occasion will probably be donated to an unnamed psychological well being charity, organizers say.
In one other nod to the earlier occasion, attendees will obtain 2 complimentary jellies “to kick off the sweetness.”
In the meantime, different “enchanting sights” embody native music and comedy reveals, an “immersive” silent movie screening complemented by stay music and native distributors promoting candy treats. Organizers additionally teased the potential of “famend comedians” to attend the occasion, “promising a night filled with laughter and sudden twists.”
The occasion will begin at 5:30 pm on April 28 for photobooth and mingling, adopted by the Q&A session with Paterson at 6:30 pm Round 9 pm, the occasion will transfer into “Willy's Rave” with a DJ, which will probably be “sustaining power till 4 o'clock”, the following morning.
“Put together to be transported right into a realm the place creativeness is aware of no bounds and each second is infused with surprise,” provides the occasion web page.
The Willy Wonka expertise in Glasgow has been referred to as a 'fiasco'
In February earlier this yr, a Willy Wonka themed occasion in Scotland went viral after ticket consumers flocked to an occasion marketed as a spot “the place desires come to life”, solely to discover a sparsely adorned warehouse with a few ladies in inexperienced wigs – apparently the Oompa Loompas – and an actor enjoying Willy Wonka, who seemed extra like an Oompa Loompa than a Wonka.
The contributors, lots of whom have been youngsters, have been livid and offended with the organizers, a British occasion firm referred to as Home of Illuminati, demanding a refund. The police additionally turned up on the occasion to calm the offended crowd and shut down the occasion, which had promised chocolate fountains, performances by Oompa Loompas and “a feast of chocolate in all its scrumptious varieties”.
One of many contributors of the occasion, Stuart Sinclair, who attended the occasion along with his youngsters, mentioned that the occasion mentioned “absolutely the reverse”, saying that his youngsters solely obtained “two infants of jelly and 1 / 4 of a can of limeade bars,” and that the entire expertise solely took 2 minutes. One of many actors, who participated within the occasion, referred to as it a “fiasco” and mentioned that he and the opposite actors “have been livid.”
“We have been tricked as effectively, and it obtained fairly scary at one level as a result of individuals have been offended,” he mentioned.
The corporate that organizes the occasion later apologized for the occasion, releasing an announcement that mentioned: “Sadly, on the final minute we have been let down in a number of areas of our occasion and we did our greatest to proceed and transfer ahead and now notice we must always most likely cancel. very first thing this morning as an alternative.”
Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a traits reporter for USA TODAY. Attain her at sshafiq@gannett.com and observe her on X, the platform previously generally known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
