Richmond, get ready—this weekend, GalaxyCon’s Nightmare Weekend is bringing a mashup of pop culture chaos, horror flick royalty, and hometown heroes to the Greater Richmond Convention Center from October 11th to 13th. It’s more than just another con; this one’s crawling with the legends who’ve made you scream and the stars you’ve stayed up late watching on VHS.
Horror Hall of Fame: Meet the Masters of Mayhem
Nightmare Weekend is doing what it does best—unleashing a tidal wave of horror icons on Richmond. Leading the charge is none other than John Carpenter, the director behind Halloween, the movie that pretty much invented the modern slasher. For horror junkies, this is a bucket list moment. And Carpenter’s not rolling solo—Nick Castle, who brought Michael Myers to life (well, sort of), will also be in the house, ready to spook a whole new generation. Halloween III director Tommy Lee Wallace is set to make an appearance, too, because apparently one Halloween just wasn’t enough to cover all the chills.
If your taste for horror veers a little bloodier, you’ll want to check out CJ Graham, the man who donned the hockey mask as Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. He’ll be stalking the convention floor alongside Denise Crosby from Pet Sematary—because what’s a Nightmare Weekend without a little King-style terror thrown in?
And if that wasn’t enough horror cred for you, David Howard Thornton, the maniac behind the makeup of The Terrifier, will also be on deck.
Richmond’s Metal Monsters: GWAR Takes the Stage
But for true Richmond culture, the real heavy hitters at Nightmare Weekend are GWAR. These local shock-rock legends need no introduction, but we’ll give them one anyway—because where else can you see intergalactic warlords wielding axes and spraying blood while screaming about the apocalypse? GWAR has been a Richmond institution for decades, and if you haven’t witnessed the mayhem up close yet, now’s your chance. Their Ultimate Package experience promises fans a full-throttle meet-and-greet with the band, proving once again that no one mixes metal, mayhem, and monster madness like GWAR.
Cult Classics, Cosplay, and Everything In Between
If your taste in pop culture stretches beyond slasher films and blood-soaked rock shows, Nightmare Weekend has you covered. Buffy the Vampire Slayer herself, Kristy Swanson, will be on hand to chat about her role in the 1992 cult classic—and maybe even drop a few stories about high school vampires before it was cool. The Walking Dead star Ross Marquand will also be there, because let’s be honest, zombies and apocalypse scenarios have never gone out of style.
And for the true nostalgia heads, get this: several cast members from the 1979 cult flick The Warriors will be at Nightmare Weekend. Yes, that’s right, Terry Michos (a.k.a. Vermin) and others will be on-site, ready to bring you right back to the gritty streets of Coney Island. If you’re the kind of person who can’t resist quoting, “Warriors, come out to play-ay,” this is your moment.
As if meeting these cult legends wasn’t enough, Nightmare Weekend is also going full throttle on the cosplay and gaming scene. There’s a Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft live play event that’s set to turn the convention center into a haunted castle of sorts—perfect for the tabletop fanatics who want to get their dice-rolling fix in a serious way.
Vendors, Parties, and Non-Stop Fun
Of course, no convention would be complete without a sprawling vendor hall full of everything from custom art and collectibles to rare memorabilia. And with hours like these—Friday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.—you’ve got plenty of time to roam, party, and soak it all in. Plus, there’s a cosplay contest and late-night parties to keep things bumping long after the sun sets.
Tickets are still available on the GalaxyCon website, and if you’re quick, you can score 10% off with the promo code NIGHTMARE10. Whether you’re coming to get your autograph collection up to speed, show off your latest cosplay creation, or just revel in the weird and wonderful world of nerd culture, GalaxyCon’s Nightmare Weekend is about to make Richmond the freaky, fun capital of the East Coast for three solid days. Just remember, once GWAR’s involved, no one leaves clean.
