Celebrating the spooky in pop culture that you grew up with, Creep It Real OC returns this September under the monicker “Creep It Real Nostalgic,” a Halloween-focused event that pays tribute to the 80s and 90s.
Now in its 5th year, Creep It Real OC began in 2019, celebrating Halloween in Orange County with shopping, live entertainment, food, drinks, and fun. With emphasis placed on an annual theme, guests are invited to take a trip back in time through vendor participation, interactive characters, games, and a walk-through museum, “Halloweens of Yesteryear.” This admission-included experience will take you through your childhood with displays of props, costumes, and items of significant creep value from movies, television, and more.
This year, Event Producers are thrilled to announce the chance for guests to meet with stars of one of the defining films of a generation. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Voice Actors Chris Sarandon (Jack Skellington) and Ken Page (Oogie Boogie) will welcome guests on both days for photos and autographs.
On Sunday, hear about the film’s early days and reflect on its lasting impact over 30 years at “THIS Is Halloween: A Nostalgic Look at ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,'” a moderated discussion with the talent from the 1993 phenomenon.
On Saturday only, a celebration will occur around the Nickelodeon series “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and the iconic episode “The Tale of the Midnight Madness.” Meet Series Co-Creator and episode Director D.J. MacHale, episode star Eddie Robinson, original Midnight Society Member Frank, and Storyteller of the landmark episode Jason Alisharan. The special guest trio will participate in a meet & greet, photo op, autograph opportunities, and a special panel, “WERE You Afraid of the Dark? – Series Talent Looks Back at Nickelodeon’s Iconic Gateway Horror Show.”
Throughout the two-day festival, guests will find licensed merchandise as well as original designs and spooky creations from local artisans and craftspeople representing over 120 shops. The air will be filled with live music from bands Kitty Antix and The Radioactive Chicken Heads, as well as vintage vibes from DJ The Vinyl Ghoul. Some offerings include delectable food truck options, spirited drinks, photo opportunities, Halloween-themed vehicles, creepy character interactions, and collectable rewards. A naturally spooky atmosphere is courtesy of the event’s host venue, the historic (and haunted) Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana.
“Those coming in costume for photo ops will fit right in at this spooky place,” says Event Producer Megan Valantine. “We’ve also found that we are very popular with our furry, scaly, and feathered friends. People love to bring their pets, and we love having them!”
“Our goal is to create and share an environment where everyone comes together to celebrate creep culture at the spookiest time of the year,” Co-Producer Kevin Valantine says. “We would, however, caution that, although Creep It Real OC events can portray a family-friendly atmosphere, some costumes, sets, and props, as well as interactive characters, may frighten some visitors.”
Guests are free to come in tasteful costumes, free of excessive gore or suggestive themes, and no realistic weapons. Bags are subject to inspection at the entrance.
Creep It Real Nostalgic will take place at the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana, CA, on Saturday, September 14, from 1 PM to 7 PM and Sunday, September 15, from 11 AM to 5 PM.
The creepy won’t end here either. Late November will see “Creep It Real FESTIVE.” Cure your post-Halloween blues at this spooky Christmas crossover festival. Those planning ahead can take advantage of a first-of-its-kind pass allowing all-weekend access to both events by “Creep It Real OC.”
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.creepitrealoc.com, and they start at just $17 for single-day tickets.
