I went to the Monster Mania convention this weekend (usually held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, this was their first show in Connecticut). If you’re a horror fan and have never been to one of these events, let me recommend that you do so whenever you have the chance.

It may be the only time I’ve heard a security guard ask, “Okay listen up… does anyone have any blades, hatchets or chainsaws on them?” It’s the only place I’ve run into someone wiping down a machete in the bathroom and I didn’t even think twice.

Plenty of creepy cool stuff to buy like shirts, posters, movies, books, figures, comics, and severed body parts. You’ll see lots of low budget DVDs, knock-off posters, and price-jacked autographs. But also a lot of unique and crafty goods from some really talented artists.

I bought my fair share of goods, and got to chat with some cool folks there that I’ve only known of previously from the web (like Ben from Fright Rags and Mike from The Ghouligans).

The horror celebrities were extremely accessible, most very accommodating and willing to chat. I had my Nightmare on Elm Street poster signed by Heather Langenkamp (pretty as ever, very friendly) and John Saxon (classy guy, politely concerned about me not smudging his autograph).

Since I have pumpkin patterns of many of these people, I was showing my work to them. Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses) says he already owns a foam pumpkin with his Captain Spaulding likeness carved into it (which he mistakenly thought he bought from me). The ladies of The Evil Dead thanked me for immortalizing one of their faces.

Ricou Browning (Creature from the Black Lagoon) gave me ideas for how to display a pumpkin underwater and have air bubbles pumped from the inside. And Chris Sarandon (voice of Jack Skellington) signed my pumpkin picture from one “pumpkin king” to another.

They had Q&A panels with many of the celebs, including the casts of A Nightmare on Elm Street and the Friday the 13th series. And as for meeting stars, the most in demand actors on the guest list were Robert “Freddy” Englund and Bruce “Ash” Campbell. An honor to meet them, and both seemed to like their pumpkin likeness.

The weekend ended with G Tom Mac performing live, including the song of his which is most famous to horror fans, “Cry Little Sister” from the Lost Boys soundtrack. I bought his CD and had him sign it. “Rock that little sister, dude!” he wrote.

Here’s a video recap (watch for sneak peeks of a couple new patterns and a special message from Freddy himself)…