Texas Frightmare Weekend is a horror-oriented for-profit media event held annually in the Dallas, Texas, area. The weekend is a way for fans of the horror genre to connect with fellow horror lovers, meet guests that work in the genre, discover new films, and buy merchandise.
Event information
Texas Frightmare Weekend began in 2006. The event was held at the Hyatt Regency DFW airport from 2012 to 2022. As of 2023, the event is held at the Irving Convention Center. The main convention space took place in two large ballrooms where guests and vendors had tables set up, much like a marketplace. The main convention area consisted of the guests, vendors selling horror themed merchandise, fans sporting horror cosplay costumes, and other attractions that the convention may have that given year, such as props from movies.
Guests have included actors, directors, and producers from classic and upcoming horror films. These guests are available for attendees to meet, purchase photo ops with and autographs from, as well as appear at panel discussions related to their work in the genre. Topics of panel discussions range from the horror genre in general, working in the genre, and question and answers sessions with the cast and creators of specific movies. The convention also hosts a film festival with screenings of popular horror movies and new ones. On Friday night after hours, there is a themed party that is free for VIP and premium pass holders, while anyone else has to pay for admission.
Texas Frightmare Weekend is very active on social media. They post guest announcements on Twitter, and Facebook. They have a Facebook group for fans to connect with each other year round and a youtube channel where they post interviews, panels, and general videos of the convention.
Past events
The first Texas Frightmare Weekend was held February 4–5, 2006, at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Guests included Joe Bob Briggs, Linnea Quigley, Ashlie Rhey, Brinke Stevens, Jon Keeyes, Scott von Doviak, Tom Savini, and Ses Carny. A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the "founding father of bad cinematic blood," Herschell Gordon Lewis.
The second Texas Frightmare Weekend was held June 22–24, 2007, at the Omni Dallas Park West hotel in Dallas, Texas. The Guest of Honor at this event was director George A. Romero. Programming included a special presentation of "Inside the B-Actor's Studio with Clint Howard". A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to effects maestro Tom Savini. Other guests included John Russo, Jeffrey Combs, Linnea Quigley, Doug Bradley, Ashley Laurence, Kristina Klebe, Danielle Harris, Nancy Loomis, Adrienne Barbeau, Lew Temple, Angela Bettis, Ken Evert, Eileen Dietz, Cerina Vincent, George Kosana, Russell Streiner, Charles Cyphers, Barbara Nedeljáková, Gaylen Ross, Jonathan Breck, Camden Toy, Tom Atkins, C. A. Broadstone, Anthony Simmons, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Lloyd Kaufman, Caroline Williams, and James Hampton.
A third Texas Frightmare Weekend was held at the D/FW Lakes Hilton in Grapevine, Texas, on February 22–24, 2008. The event was kicked off with a red carpet event sponsored by AFI Dallas honoring the 40th anniversary of Night of the Living Dead. A vintage 35mm print of the classic horror film was screened followed by a panel discussion with the original cast moderated by Malcolm McDowell. Guests for the 2008 event included George A. Romero, Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), the cast of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, and Diary of the Dead. Also in attendance were McDowell, Dee Wallace, Danielle Harris, Kristina Klebe, and Scout Taylor-Compton from Rob Zombie's Halloween. Oscar-winning special effects master Greg Nicotero was also a guest as well as Tom Savini, Tom Atkins, Jason Lively, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Kelli Maroney, Jim Wynorski, Lynn Lowry, Edwin Neal, Courtney Gains, Kathleen Kinmont, and Harvey Stephens in his first US appearance.
The fourth Texas Frightmare Weekend took place May 1–3, 2009, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Irving, Texas. Guests included director Tobe Hooper, shock rocker Alice Cooper, Karen Black, William Forsythe, Dick Miller, Derek Mears, Linda Blair, Terri McMinn, Fairuza Balk, C. J. Graham, Corbin Bernsen, Robert Green Hall, Bobbie Sue Luther, Jonathan Schaech, and Caroline Williams.