The leaves are starting to change color, pumpkins are appearing on porches, and a scare is in the air in southeast Iowa as what’s billed as the state’s premiere horror convention will be held this weekend.
The 16th annual Halloweenapalooza is scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Ottumwa, and organizer Jason Bolinger says they’re bringing in a list of celebrity guests.
“We have several people from ‘The Walking Dead,’ ‘The Dawn of the Dead,’ ‘Return of the Living Dead,’ it’s a zombie theme going on this year and you can get autographs and photos,” Bolinger says. “And then we have an international horror short film festival that runs the whole two days as well. We’re screening 44 films from all over the world.” Some of those shorts run just five minutes, while most are between ten and 20 minutes.
Bolinger says there will be an extensive vendor area where you’ll be able to buy all sorts of scary costumes, props and paraphernalia.
“There’s panel discussions with some authors, there’s a live podcast, there’s trivia, there’s magic shows, there’s an escape room — that’s a big thing we’re doing this year for the first time,” he says. “We definitely keep everything family friendly and just try to make two days of spooky fun.”
This year’s list of horror movie actors includes Jeremy Palko, Miguel Núñez Junior, and likely the best known celebrity, Ken Foree.
“He’s definitely the anchor of the show, the big cheese, I mean, he was in the original ‘Dawn of the Dead.’ He was in ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3: Leatherface.’ He was in Rob Zombie’s ‘Halloween’ remake and ‘The Devil’s Rejects,’ Bolinger says. “He’s just an icon, really, and a sweet, nice guy. I’ve got to meet him before at other events and we’re so excited to have someone of that caliber coming to our little town.”
The two-day event has become an extended family reunion every October, he says, as horror fans from across the region gather to indulge in the genre. So, why do some people seek out scares?
“It’s like the same kind of reason we’ll go ride a rollercoaster — to get that feeling while knowing you’re safe. It’s just that adrenaline rush, those endorphins are cooking,” Bolinger says. “I’ve always loved it since I was a little kid. I always loved horror movies.”
Halloweenapalooza will be held at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, where other events will include a Zombie Walk, an old-time radio horror drama, and an interactive screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
