Halloween Forever: The Cosplay of Horror Cons

You don’t want Halloween to end? Well, it doesn’t have to. I can attest to this because Halloween is really just the day on the calendar where “normal” people get on the same page as me. I am not the only one; a sub-group of “geek culture” cosplay has sprung up amid the Jedi, Klingons and Hogwarts Alumni celebrating all things gruesome, and it’s not just your Bat Cave “Goths” keeping the creepy alive.  Given I currently reside in Atlanta, this is my only encouragement, given that the city is becoming the horror capital of the east coast – the home of the Walking Dead and movies such as Zombieland, The Signal, Dear God No! and Halloween 2. It also boasts a half dozen nationally recognized haunted attractions and at least three horror-themed conventions. Also home to the biggest fan-run convention, Dragon-Con, which celebrates all genres of fandom, and horror has an increasing presence there. With this comes a more horror Cosplay than even Comic-con in San Diego sees.

Here is a look at some of the best horror cosplays from this year’s Dragon-Con, that saw over 70,000 in attendance. While the likes of Lon Chaney Sr and Rick Baker lent incredible artistry with horror make-up, the increasing rise of so called “geek culture” has given cosplay more of a spotlight, and raised the stakes from just gluing on a pair of Vulcan ears or throwing in plastic vampire fangs to something much more entailed, as evident on mainstream shows like Face Off.

So remember, there is no need to pack up the fake blood until next October, as the Horror–Con season starts back in February 2016, when Days of the Dead returns to Atlanta on the 6^th. Then comes Horror Realm in Pittsburgh on March 6^th weekend and the following week in Cincinatti, Ohio. Monsterpalooza is the last weekend in March in Burbank, California. The first weekend in May is Texas Frightmare Weekend. May 7^th is the World Horror Convention in Atlanta. Then the summer gets creepy with Monster Bash in Mars, PA on June 19^th, and the Monster Mania Con in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on July 31^st. Bruce Campbell’s Horror Fest is in Rosemont, Illinois on August 22^nd, before Dragon-Con returns to Atlanta on September 4^th. Until then, here are some last minute costume ideas that can be used not only on October 31st, but can shake things up anywhere from Spring parent/teacher conferences to late night winter trips to the liquor store. Keep it creepy all 365 days of the year.