This post was originally published in April 2017 and last updated in March 2025.
Wouldn't it be great if you could go somewhere and hang with a bunch of Halloween fans? Kinda like a Comic-Con, but for those of us who like to keep it spooky all year long...
There is, my friend! And I had NO idea so many events like these existed until I started writing Spooky Little Halloween. Each time I find a new one, I add it to this list, so be sure to bookmark this post check back frequently for new additions!
Thanks to this list, now I have a bucket list of all the Halloween conventions I want to attend someday. So far I've checked off Midsummer Scream, Texas Haunter's Convention, Preserve Halloween Festival Creep It Real, and Midwest Haunter’s Convention. One of these days, I’ll make it to TransWorld!
This blog post includes a rundown of some of the awesome Halloween conventions I've discovered, plus links to their websites so you can check 'em out.
Before we jump in though, I want to call your attention to a few things: Halloween & Party Expo, HauntCon, and the International Halloween Show are a few conventions you'll likely find first via a Google search, but they are not included in this list for one very simple reason: they are only open to people in the Halloween industry, not the public.
Everything you'll find in this blog post is open to the public meaning you, my little Halloween lover, can attend any of these conventions!
Conventions are listed alphabetically—you'll need to click on the website link for this year's convention dates.
Run a convention you’d like featured in this post? Email a link to your website to hello@spookylittlehalloween.com for consideration.
Conventions for Halloween Lovers:
Unless watermarked, all images are property of the respective convention.
🎃 denotes an event I've attended
All Hallow's Art Fest—Petaluma, CA
Enjoy the bewitching artistry of Halloween artists from around the country. The Halloween Folk Art Society juries for the very best in Halloween artists to create this awe-inspiring show. New talent is extensively sought extensively each year to add to the formidable group of established artists. This show is for collectors and fans to see and purchase one-of-a-kind works of art, hand-made from a number of mediums.
Bewitching Peddlers of Halloween—Marshall, MI
This pick is admittedly more event than convention, but if you are a fan of folk art, Bewitching Peddlers is a MUST. Held in a single day, artists and buyers from around the country gather just before the Halloween season to sell handcrafted items, fine art, and more. If you're searching for unique one-of-a-kind Halloween decor and artwork, this is the event for you.
Creep It Real OC—Santa Ana, CA 🎃
Proof that southern California gets all the best Halloween events: Creep It Real is a three-day expo for Halloween lovers to get in the spirit for their favorite holiday. The event includes vendors, themed photo ops, ghost tours, live music, and more. They also host a spooky holiday event in mid-November.
I finally attended this one in 2024! See my coverage.
Creep I.E. Con—Ontario, CA
Creep I.E. is a premiere fan convention where you can meet your favorite stars of the horror and pop culture world. Shop with hundreds of vendors, enjoyed themed, curated experiences, and eat at delicious foot trucks. While February’s Creep I.E. Con is highlighted here, you can also attend Creep I.E. Aftermath in September for even more spooky fun.
CreepyCon Halloween and Horror Convention—Knoxville, TN
CreepyCon is a three-day Halloween and horror convention packed with more than 200 vendors, live performances, celebrity guests, and spine-chilling contests. The event also includes classes and hands-on workshops and an immersive floor where you can check out entertainment all weekend.
Days of the Dead—Various
This traveling convention features a mix of horror, music, and pop culture. Days of the Dead's goal is to bring back the concept of the genre convention being a welcoming social gathering of like-minded friends and fans. The convention got its start in Indianapolis and currently also hosts events in Las Vegas, Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Houston, and Atlanta.
East Coast Haunter’s Convention—Philadelphia, PA
This convention geared towards the haunted attraction industry that is open to the public. It's two days of spooky goodness featuring more than 100 haunted attraction vendors. East Coast Haunter’s Convention is owned by TransWorld and is a sister event of Midwest Haunter’s Convention.
Ghosts of Summer PDX—Portland, OR
Ghosts of Summer PDX arrived in 2022 to get the Pacific Northwest ready for spooky season. This event includes a vendor floor, mini haunts and escape rooms, make-and-take style classes, a game room for horror tabletop games, panels, and even an immersive horror theater. No wonder it's two full days!
The Great Canadian Halloween Market—Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Enjoy this annual spooky shopping event celebrating everything your favorite season has to offer! The event includes 50 curated vendors, special guests, art, food, and more.
Halfway to Halloween Expo—Ann Arbor, MI
Ready to celebrate Halloween at the halfway mark? Head to Ann Arbor in early May for this event! Halfway to Halloween Expo is an immersive experience for home haunters and Halloween lovers alike. Enjoy vendor booths, a hearse show, food trucks, live performances and more.
Haunted America Conference—Alton, IL 🎃
Join American Hauntings in one of the most haunted small towns in America for their annual conference. It's the biggest supernatural event of the year and includes speakers on ghosts, hauntings, and the unexplained, as well as workshops, ghost hunts, special events, tours, and more.
Midsummer Scream—Long Beach, CA 🎃
The epitome of Halloween conventions! This weekend-long celebration of Halloween, haunts, and horror features vendors, make-up demos, live entertainment, haunted attraction experiences and so much more.
I've attended this event several times. See my coverage.
Midwest Haunter's Convention—Rosemont, IL 🎃
This is another stellar convention geared towards the haunted attraction industry that is open to the public. It's two days of spooky goodness featuring more than 100 haunted attraction vendors...and the whole thing ends in an annual masquerade party. What could be better? Midwest Haunter’s Convention is owned by TransWorld and is a sister event of East Coast Haunter’s Convention.
I got to attend this for the first time in 2024. See my coverage.
Monsterpalooza—Pasadena, CA
Monsterpalooza is the world's longest-running celebration of the art of monsters and movie magic. Each year, it's a chance for fans and professionals of film, makeup, special effects, collectible toys, art, and monsters to gather together.
Oddities & Curiosities Expo—Various 🎃
Check out the largest internationally traveling oddities event around, showcasing hand-selected vendors, artists, and small businesses selling all things weird. (Yes, this includes plenty of Halloween treats!) This expo travels around the entire United States throughout the year, so there’s a good chance it’ll be near you very soon.
Oddities Flea Market—Various
Love oddity and curiosity shops? Then this event is for you! Each spring, feast your eyes on medical history ephemera, anatomical curiosities, natural history items, osteological specimens, taxidermy, home décor, jewelry, one-of-a-kind art, bizarre flair, and more. Each market offers new and unique items from our veteran vendors and new vendors alike.
This market also travels the country, so be sure to drop by their site to stay up-to-date on their current stops!
Preserve Halloween Festival—Savannah, GA 🎃
The Halloween Preservation Society is dedicated to the education, appreciation, observance, and recognition of the diverse history and practices associated with the holiday of Halloween. And the Preserve Halloween Festival is their post-Halloween celebration of that.
Launched in 2021 in Irving, Texas, this event was scheduled to move to spooky Savannah, GA in 2024 but was canceled. Keeping it on the list for now in hopes it returns in 2025.
ScareCON—Birmingham, EnGland
Go international at Europe’s only trade show for scare attractions! ScareCON features exhibitors, comprehensive workshops and seminars, and the iconic ScareBall and SCARE awards ceremony.
Screamfest—Hollywood, CA
Screamfest Horror Film Festival is the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the United States. The event premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers.
Sinister Creature Con—Sacramento, CA
If exploring creepy creatures in books, movies or comics is more your speed, check out Sinister Creature Con! This gathering celebrates the horror genre through the creators behind the creatures.
Southeast Hollows Haunt Convention—Savannah, GA
Explore one of America's most haunted cities when you attend Southeast Hollows Haunt Convention. This event is a perfect pick for haunters of all kinds, with vendors, classes, and more full of ideas for home or professional haunts.
Spookala—Ocala, FL
Halloween and horror lovers rejoice—Spookala is a newer event launched in 2022 where spooky people can meet their favorite horror movie actors, enjoy Q&As and panels with them, and shop for all things Halloween. It occurs twice a year!
Spooky Empire—Orlando, FL
Spooky Empire bills itself as the ultimate weekend experience for horror fans. Think of it as the dark side of Comic-Con. From horror and Halloween to a bit of rock-n-roll and even love for tattoos...Spooky Empire has it all.
Spooky Swap Meet—Los Angeles, CA
Held at the halfway to Halloween mark each year, Spooky Swap Meet is the perfect spot for all things eerie. Shop, snack, have your future fold, hunt ghosts, or even go trick-or-treating on the grounds of Heritage Square, an open-air architecture museum in Los Angeles.
Texas Frightmare Weekend—Dallas, TX
Horror gatherings more your style? While I’m no horror junkie, I’ve heard Texas Frightmare Weekend described as one of the BEST from horror bloggers and YouTubers who have been to them all. Meet horror film legends and actors from your favorite creepy TV series, watch horror movies or learn tips and tricks for horror writing. It sounds like a horror lover’s dream!
Texas Haunters Convention—Mesquite, TX 🎃
Introduced in 2019, Texas Haunters Convention is a Halloween and costume expo. You can find more than 35,000 square feet of family-friendly vendors, events, demonstrations, and classes targeting Halloween and cosplay enthusiasts.
TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show—St. Louis, MO
Once an industry-only show, TransWorld has opened to the public over the last few years. At this annual event each February, you’ll find exhibitors and products geared toward the haunted house industry, including seminars, educational opportunities, and immersive experiences.
TransWorld also hosts two regional conventions: East Coast Haunter’s Convention in Philadelphia, PA and Midwest Haunter’s Convention in Rosemont (Chicagoland area), IL.
Wicked New England—Salem, MA
New for 2025: Celebrate the halfway to Halloween mark in Salem, MA. This event takes place at Old Town Hall (as seen in “Hocus Pocus”) and includes a curated vendor market, stage presentations by local haunted houses, spooky photo ops, monsters, and more.
Which one do you want to attend?
Let me know in the comments!
