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.[1] 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.
The 10th Texas Frightmare Weekend was held May 1–3, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport. Guests included Scream stars Neve Campbell and Skeet Ulrich for their first ever convention appearance, Tara Reid, Malcom McDowell, Rachel True, and Cassandra Peterson.
The 13th Texas Frightmare Weekend was held May 4–6, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport. Guests included the young cast of the 2017 It remake, Billy Zane, six actors who played Jason in the Friday the 13th franchise in costume, the Cenobite actors from Hellraiser, and the stars of Child's Play.
The 17th Texas Frightmare Weekend was held May 26-28, 2023 at the new location Irving Convention Center. Guests included John Carpenter, director of films such as Halloween, The Thing, and Escape From New York, Quinn Lord from Trick 'r Treat, Amber Midthunder from the Predator prequel Prey (2022 film), and many others. The Friday Night party was titled 'Halloween in Haddonfield' and was Halloween (1978 film) themed.
The 18th Texas Frightmare Weekend was held May 17-19, 2024 at the Irving Convention Center. Guests included Jane Levy from The Evil Dead sequel, Eli Roth director of films such as Cabin Fever, Hostel, and Thanksgiving (2023 film), along with Lin Shaye from the Insidious (film series), and featured a reunion of the writer, actors, and behind the scenes heroes from the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The Friday Night party was titled 'Full Moon Festival' and was Werewolf themed as an ode to An American Werewolf in London.
^Robinson, Gaile (2006-02-10). "EYE SPY goes to a Frightmare Fest". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. E1. Early on a Sunday morning, strolling around the Grapevine Convention Center, one doesn't expect to see legions of goth-dressed horror film aficionados. Yet that was exactly who was there when the city of the grape hosted Texas Frightmare Weekend, two entire days devoted to celebrating slasher flicks and the lads and lassies who make them.
^Gross, G. Noel (2006-02-03). "Over the Top: Texas Frightmare Weekend". The Dallas Morning News. Headlining Texas Frightmare in Grapevine this weekend is a 20th-anniversary reunion of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2. Meet, in relative safety, Bill "Chop Top" Moseley, Bill "Leatherface" Johnson, grue-slinger Tom Savini, screamin' Caroline Williams and others, including a certain drive-in denizen.
^Daniel, Mike (2007-06-22). "Scare tactics". The Dallas Morning News. More than 40 celebrities of the genre, including actors Adrienne Barbeau (Creepshow) and Doug Bradley (Pinhead in Hellraiser) and Creepshow director George A. Romero, will attend. Anniversary homages to those two films will be part of the proceedings, too.