Event Report: CRYPTICON 2024 Sees Fans of the Spooky Descend Onto The Emerald City

Crypticon Seattle 2024 was a three-day event held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport from May 3 - May 5th. This largest gathering of fans of the macabre in the Pacific Northwest featured hundreds of exhibitors, more than 90 panels and workshops, and tons of celebrity guests!

This year the excitement amongst horror fans was palpable, as a plethora of workshops, vendors, panels, and celebrity interviews featured a little something for everyone. 

The panels and workshops covered just about every facet of horror one could fathom, full of lively discussions and activities, and I have to give a special shout out to the attendees and my fellow panelists, who joined me for the CULINARY CREEPINESS, GIALLO 101, EXPLORING GRIEF AND TRAUMA IN HORROR, WOMEN BEHAVING BADLY, and PODCASTING 101 panels. 

The ballrooms featured an impressive array of vendors and artists from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond, selling everything from collector Blu-Rays, vintage posters, prints, custom jewelry, and even crochet erotic art. 

But of course, the biggest draw was the celebrity interviews and autograph booths, and this year’s line-up was one of the most impressive to date. Among the special guests were Bonnie Aarons (THE NUN, THE CONJURING 2), Heather Matarazzo (SCREAM 2, WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, HOSTEL: PART 2), Milly Shapiro (HEREDITARY), and Zach Galligan (GREMLINS, GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH). I was fortunate to attend the FROM BEYOND reunion with stars Barbara Crampton, Jeffrey Combs, and Ken Foree, as well as an interview with director Joe Dante (THE HOWLING, GREMLINS, INNERSPACE, THE ‘BURBS).

For me, some of the best moments were just roaming the halls of the event, spotting some incredible cosplay, chatting with my fellow panelists, artists, and vendors, and even having the occasional celebrity sighting, such as spotting Billy Zane (TITANIC, THE PHANTOM, DEMON KNIGHT) sitting a few tables away from me at breakfast. 

Crypticon 2024 brought together horror fans of all ages through a love of all things spooky and macabre, to share in what it means to be a part of the horror community. It’s an unconventional family, but it is a family nonetheless, and one who’s bond is rock solid. I certainly had a fantastic time, and hope to see you all again at Crypticon 2025!

(All photos by Dana Vargas.)

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