Nightmare Weekend

Nightmare Weekend takes over the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center on October 10 and 11, GalaxyCon's horror-themed convention. It's a two-day gathering of horror culture, with panels, cosplay, and a lineup of guests that pulls from a few different eras of the genre. Cassandra Peterson, the original Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is the headliner, and she's doing a tea-and-cookies conversation. The Chiodo Bros are there too, and they're hosting a live-commentary screening of the horror-comedy Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The rest of the guest list includes Eli Roth, Danielle Harris, David Howard Thornton, the Soska Sisters, the Jasons, and the Terrifier cast.

Beyond the guests, there's a full convention floor: a vendor hall, gaming, and cosplay contests judged by the guests, with more than $4,000 in cash prizes. Saturday night brings the After Dark Lounge, which runs burlesque, singing, dancing, comedy, contortion and amazement. Alongside it is the Deep Space Boutique, an 18+ marketplace of provocative vendors and after-hours workshops.

Logistically, the convention runs Saturday from 10 AM to 1 AM and Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM, though the exhibit hall closes earlier—8 PM Saturday and 5 PM Sunday. A two-day pass is $110, a deluxe pass is $140, and the VIP full weekend pass is $215. If you only want one day, Saturday is $60 and Sunday is $50. Kids 9 and under get in free with a paid adult, up to three children per adult. The venue is at 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601.