Halloweenapalooza, Iowa’s original horror convention and international film festival, returns to the Bridge View Center this weekend, Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10. Horror fans and pop-culture enthusiasts from across the Midwest are invited to meet iconic genre celebrities, take photos, get autographs, and dive into a full weekend of spooky entertainment.
This year’s festival highlights an extraordinary gathering of zombie genre stars taking the stage for exclusive Q&A panels, autograph sessions, and photo ops:
- Ken Foree – Horror royalty and star of George A. Romero’s legendary Dawn of the Dead, Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects, and Halloween. Foree will host a live Q&A on Saturday at 6:00 PM spanning his multi-decade career.
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr. – Fan-favorite actor known for his unforgettable roles in iconic franchise staples, including The Return of the Living Dead and Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning. Join his live Q&A panel on Saturday at 5:00 PM.
- Jeremy Palko – Step directly into the apocalypse with The Walking Dead star Jeremy Palko during a live behind-the-scenes Q&A on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
A major highlight of this year’s convention is the Deadly Deer Camp Escape Room, a special interactive experience running on Saturday from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM that challenges attendees to test their survival skills and escape before time runs out!
Throughout the weekend, attendees will also enjoy two full days of independent horror film festival screenings, an extensive vendor hall, live podcasts, trivia, and a classic magic show. The excitement continues Saturday evening with the annual Halloweenapalooza Zombie Walk, an FX makeup demonstration, an old-time radio horror drama, the independent film awards ceremony, sideshow performance by Sam Rezz, and the tradition concluding late Saturday night with an interactive screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Event Information & Tickets
- Location: Bridge View Center, 102 Church St., Ottumwa, IA 52501
- Hours: Friday, Oct. 9: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Saturday, Oct. 10: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Tickets & Passes: Tickets ($10 Friday / $15 Saturday / $20 Weekend / $50 VIP) are available at the door or online at www.halloweenapalooza.com.
For more information on event schedule vendor listings, film festival screenings, or celebrity guest details, visit www.halloweenapalooza.com.
