From meeting scream queens and horror legends to getting inked on-site, here’s everything that went down at my first (but definitely not last) Carolina Fear Fest.
By Dathan Kazsuk
If horror is your go-to movie genre (same here), then it should come as no surprise that I fully devoured everything Carolina Fear Fest had to offer this past weekend. This was the 6th annual celebration of all things spooky and scream-worthy, held at the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds—and trust me, it was a weekend. I even left with something a little more permanent than I bargained for … but more on that later.
Jen Primrose—who’s as talented as she is stunning—and I rolled in Friday afternoon, scooped up our press badges and jumped right into the madness. First stop: checking out the vendors and snapping some quick pics, naturally. Then it was off to our first panel of the day—Mothman: The Man. The Moth. The Legend.
If you’ve been tagging along on our daily adventures, you’ll remember a recent stop in Point Pleasant, West Virginia—aka ground zero for all things Mothman. The town fully embraced its cryptic claim to fame with a dedicated museum, an annual festival, and yes, an epic 8-foot statue right in the middle of it all.
The panel was led by Mark Muncy, author of several books on paranormal history and co-creator of the Eerie Travels podcast—basically, if it goes bump in the night, he’s written or talked about it.
Later that first day, we caught an SFX makeup demo by the crew from The Original Hollywood Horror Show—it’s always fantastic to see movie magic happen right before your eyes, and from a place close to home (Snow Camp).
We also sat in on a Q&A with the legendary Malcolm McDowell himself. Yep, that Malcolm McDowell—A Clockwork Orange, Halloween, Star Trek: Generations … the man’s résumé is stacked. He fielded questions from fans that touched on just about every era of his career. Personally, I’ve always been a fan of his portrayal of Alex in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange—unhinged, iconic and unforgettable.
Day Two Leaves an Endless Impression
Remember that “something a little permanent” I teased earlier? Well, here’s the story: On day one, I spotted 910 Tattoo Company out of Jacksonville, offering flash tattoos right there at the festival—$50 to $100 for some spooky ink—and I was in. Because what better place to commit to permanent body art than a horror convention at the state fairgrounds, right?
Turns out, I wasn’t the only one with that idea. I ended up waiting over two hours before hearing those magical words: “You’re up.” Worth it? Absolutely. It’s a small piece now, but it’s one more step toward the full sleeve I’ve been slowly building—and now I’ve got a great story to go with it.
That afternoon, while making the rounds and grabbing some photos, I had the chance to meet William Katt, known for his role as Ralph Hinkley in the 1981 series The Greatest American Hero. If you know, you know—he played a mild-mannered teacher handed a mysterious red suit that turned him into a totally lovable, totally awkward superhero. It was a real throwback moment getting to chat with him in person.
And then, in true Fear Fest fashion, I had a run-in with not one, but two legendary scream queens. While waiting to snap a pic of a fan, Tiffany Shepis (Victor Crowley, She Wolf Rising) and Traci Lords (Underworld, Blade, Shock ‘Em Dead) were kind enough to pause and pose for a few photos themselves. Two horror icons in one frame—it doesn’t get much better than that.
Some of the biggest crowd-pleasers that afternoon were, unsurprisingly, the heavy hitters. Malcolm McDowell continued to draw a solid crowd, but another standout was Bill Moseley, known for his roles in Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, House of 1,000 Corpses and Repo! The Genetic Opera. Moseley’s Q&A was packed—fans filled the space, eager to hear his stories and behind-the-scenes insights. He delivered with charm and plenty of wild anecdotes.
The Carolina Fear Fest has been haunting Raleigh since 2019, transforming the Jim Graham Building into a haven for horror enthusiasts each Memorial Day weekend. This year was my first time to Carolina Fear Fest, and it won’t be my last. From engaging panels to memorable encounters, if you’re a fan of the macabre and the mysterious—and getting an autograph or two—Carolina Fear Fest is an event not to miss.
