My first event of 2026 has finally arrived, and it felt like a long time coming. Oddly, this For The Love of Horror didn’t quite have the same energy as previous years. I can’t put my finger on one single reason, but the spring setting definitely played a part. Horror thrives in the cold, the dark, the autumnal atmosphere — stepping into a horror con while the sun was shining and the weather was warm created a strange tonal clash. It wasn’t bad, just… different.

What was familiar, though, was the guest list: a strong blend of classic slashers, modern paranormal favourites, and the headline attraction — a Scream reunion featuring Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, and Rose McGowan. The trio were the clear centrepiece of the weekend, selling huge numbers and spending most of their time in photo ops. It was the first time I’ve seen guests skip solo shoots entirely and only offer duos and groups, which was frustrating since I only needed Skeet. Thankfully, a friend let me share their duo, so I still got the meet.

 

Guest Experiences

Skeet Ulrich & Matthew Lillard

Both were in great spirits despite the relentless schedule. Friendly, warm, and clearly enjoying the chaos.

Michael Gross

I’m not a huge Tremors fan, but I’ve always liked Michael in his father‑figure roles. Meeting him made it obvious why he’s cast that way — he radiates warmth. He gives you his full attention, asks questions, and genuinely wants to know why you’re there.

Bex Taylor-Klaus

I met them for their Arrow role, and we had a lovely chat about their hopes for returning in Legends of Tomorrow. They were energetic, engaged, and loved the behind‑the‑scenes image my friend brought.

Bonnie Aarons

Easily the busiest guest outside the Scream trio. She was meticulous with autographs — checking pen colours, placement, adding flourishes. Her photo op pose, creeping up behind attendees, was a brilliant touch.

Alicia Witt

Down‑to‑earth and genuinely sweet. I had her sign a Two Weeks Notice image for a friend, which she loved. Despite her horror credits, she’ll always be Cybill’s daughter to me.

Chris Fehn

Slipknot isn’t my thing, so I had no idea who he was, but he was pleasant and up for a quick chat and selfie.

Freddy Rodriguez

A brief meet, but he was appreciative and kind. I’ve liked him since Six Feet Under, so it was nice to finally tick him off.

Dermot Mulroney

One of the highlights. He was thoughtful about signature placement, happy to quote lines, and talked fondly about Friends and The Wedding Date. He even mentioned hoping Debra Messing might attend an event someday.

Jensen Daggett

We had a fun chat about her less‑than‑ideal experience filming the ALF movie. She accidentally started signing the wrong character name on my friend’s Major League print, caught herself, and immediately tried to fix it. She even gave him a second signed print for free. Very sweet.

Clint Howard

A legend. After missing Saturday due to travel issues, he was slammed on Sunday but still took time with everyone. He loved discussing the images people brought and added quotes with that classic Howard charm.

Kraig Dane

The first to sign my Scream 7 poster design. He loved the artwork and chatted about the fake‑out scenes he filmed.

Celeste O’Connor

Another fan of the poster. We talked about the incredible franchises they’ve worked on and how Vince Vaughn is apparently a big talker on set.

Jenna Kanell

Pure energy. We talked Terrifier (she agrees the first is the best), and we had a funny moment when I realised I was getting a photo signed for a friend named Art — only then did it click that he shares a name with the clown.

Catherine Corcoran

Lovely as always. She really focuses on the person in front of her, which makes every meet feel meaningful.

Stephen Dorff

I went in expecting him to be a bit standoffish — no idea why — but he was the complete opposite. Humble, friendly, quoting Blade, and happy to chat.

David Patrick Kelly

Cool, charismatic, and genuinely interested in the people he was meeting. He asked questions, added quotes, and made the interaction feel personal.

Finn Carter- a really sweet meet

 

Panels

I’ve always liked that the panels are open and visible from the whole hall, but this year the sound quality wasn’t great. It made them harder to follow, though the hosts did a solid job with their questions.

Props & Sets

There were some new additions — Chucky, Terrifier’s Clown Café, Scream setups, and a Killer Klowns display. They looked good, but lacked the usual interactive flair. They felt more like static displays than immersive experiences, which is unusual for this event.

Trader’s Hall

A real highlight. Very few generic stalls or endless Funko walls. Instead, lots of handmade items, unique art, and creative designs. I picked up a Gremlins‑inspired rubber duck, which might be my favourite random purchase in a while.

Blood Rave Party

My last party experience at this venue wasn’t great — too hot, too cramped. This time was a huge improvement. Using the main stage area meant space to breathe, dance, and actually enjoy the night.

The evening was split into sections:

  • Blood rain
  • Fire dancers
  • Vampire costume contest

The fire dancers were fantastic, and the costume quality was genuinely impressive.

The blood rain… well, it was hilarious. The host hyped it up, throwing ponchos into the crowd like we were about to face a tidal wave. Then the crew came out with pumped squirt guns. From the sidelines it looked a bit silly, but everyone was having fun, and honestly, what was I expecting? It was messy, ridiculous, and very on‑brand for a horror party.

Final Verdict

A solid 8/10.
Great guests, a good venue, and plenty of fun moments. I’m already looking forward to the winter edition — the darker, spookier atmosphere always elevates the event, and hopefully we’ll see some fresh props with that signature FTLOH creativity.