CT’s Original Paranormal Convention Returns July 16-17

Ansonia - The first-ever Connecticut Paranormal Convention creeped (in more ways than one) into the state last Summer. Expecting to draw a few hundred attendees, the historic inaugural event sold out with more than fifteen hundred attendees over the two-day period. The follow-up, “ParaConn ll” returns to the Ansonia Armory, 10 N. State Street, Ansonia, CT for 2 days only, on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17, 2022 (doors open 11:00am daily). Advance tickets now on sale from paraconn.ticketleap.com/paraconn2

The haunted weekend event will feature special guests, seminars, panels, vendors, exhibits and much more. Presented by paranormal enthusiasts Nick Grossmann and Charles F. Rosenay!!!, who bill themselves as “The Shaman and The Showman,” the supernatural extravaganza will feature a plethora of fun and ghost-filled activities for all ages, of interest to the most experienced of paranormal investigators as well as the most casual fan or student of the occult and all things spooky.

ParaConn is the brainstorm of Grossmann, who has been clairvoyant his entire life, and is dedicated to the paranormal field. He has traveled extensively, performed exorcisms, conducted interactive happenings, and has collected some of the rarest haunted artifacts in North America and overseas. His rare collection will be on display at the convention. Nick’s organization, Ghost Storm, contends that the area in CT known as “The Valley” is one of the most haunted regions in the country. He refers to it as “The Connecticut Triangle,” and picked the Armory in Ansonia, which he believes to be haunted, as the ideal location for this conference. The event has the backing of the city and the Mayor’s Office.

Charles Rosenay!!! is no stranger to things that go bump in the night. The founder and original owner of Connecticut’s largest indoor haunted attraction, Fright Haven, in Stratford, he has been scaring visitors for over fifteen years. Rosenay!!! is also the host and organizer of the Dracula Tours to Transylvania (yes, in Romania) as well as the annual GHOSTours to Europe, presented by his travel company Tours of Terror. Charles has co-hosted tours and investigations with renowned ghost hunter Richard Felix, best known for his work in the U.K. on the BBC’s “Most Haunted.” Rosenay!!! has recently authored “The Book of Top 10 Horror Lists,” which will be on sale at ParaConn with a book signing and meet & greet.

Rosenay!!! and Grossmann have conducted paranormal investigations together, and they will be joined over the weekend by other paranormal teams and individuals, who will be on hand to meet guests, sign autographs and speak on stage. The initial Special Guests have been announced with two additional surprise world-class Guests of Honor to be announced soon. The guest list includes:
Jason McLeod is an intuitive empath, spiritualist and paranormal investigator who has spent most his life delving into the hidden and mysterious secrets of the world under the careful guidance of none other than the legendary Ed and Lorraine Warren, the late pioneers of the modern ghost hunting craze that thrives to this day.
Leanna Renee Hieber is an actress, playwright, ghost tour guide and award-winning author of Gothic, historic and paranormal novels. She appears as special guest at conventions across the country.
Jimmy “Mr. Haunted” Petonito began taking photos in haunted cemeteries in the late eighties. In 1991 he shared his findings with Ed and Lorraine Warren. He was invited to be a member of the New England Society for Psychic Research and was trained by - and worked alongside – The Warrens. He has appeared on the TV shows “Sightings,” “Unsolved Mysteries” and ABCs “Primetime Live.” Jimmy is also featured in the documentary "Hostage to the Devil" and the shock doc "Devils Road." He has assisted in 50 exorcisms and for ten years taught a ghost hunting class at a local high school where he earned the nickname "Mr. Haunted." He has also co-authored the book “Phantom Messages” with Bill Hall and hosts the radio show “The Haunted Chronicles.”
Bill Hall, author of “The World’s Most Haunted House” which happens to be in, Connecticut. He also published a book with paranormal investigator Jimmy Petonito called “Phantom Messages.” Hall has investigated many reputedly haunted locales such as Dudleytown, and he was part of The Warrens’ team, documenting their residential cases.
Larry and Debbie Elward have been in the paranormal field for many years, working respectively as priest and psychic. Both started with Ed and Lorraine Warren and have continued more recently with “The Haunted Collector,” John Zaffis, while frequently assist other groups as well. Larry and Debbie have both been on several TV shows, such as: “A Haunting,” “The Haunted,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” the UK’s “Jane Goldman Presents” and Connecticut’s “Greg Dwyer’s After Dark.” Along with John Zaffis, they’ve released their first book, “What Lurks Within” which won “Paranormal Rewind’s Best Paranormal Book of 2020.” Their second book is nearing completion.
Christine and Daniel Peer are a respected Connecticut Paranormal Research Team who have been studying paranormal science for many years and have made numerous appearances on TV shows. They are a science-team based specializing in electromagnetic fields and understanding how they work. They produce a ParaExpo aboard the U.S.S. Salem in Quincy, MA, and are well known for their investigation at The Shanley Hotel in New York. The couple travel the country conducting investigations.
Kathy Churuszcz has been a psychic medium her whole life. She has traveled the world, exploring and studying many historical haunted locations. She was also close friends with Ed and Loraine Warren. Today she does psychic readings and paranormal investigations with established investigators like John Zaffis.
Colin Haskins is Connecticut’s foremost cryptid researcher and hunter. He is a principal of CCIS, The Connecticut Cryptid Investigative Society.
Mark Vecchitto is a chef by trade, but with clairvoyant abilities. He has cooked for some of the most haunted restaurants.
Black Crow Paranormal is Connecticut’s youngest paranormal team, one of which is psychic. They lead investigations and also host a number of ghost tours.
Paul Ferrante returns to ParaConn as one of our special guest authors. He is the author of books such as “Curse of the Fairfield Witch and “Last Ghost of Gettysburg.” His T.J. Jackson series specializes in horror mystery novels for young adults.
Tim McLaughlin is another special guest author returning to ParaConn. He is best known for his supernatural fiction series “Tall Tales.” He is a ministry student living in New England while preparing for ministry work in Ireland.
The Connecticut Paranormal and Supernatural Tracking Society, known in the field as “CT PASTS,” has been conducting paranormal investigations for over 20 years. They are based in Seymour, CT and headed by Jeffrey Gerry and Diane Berti. They specialize in the occult and offer alternative remedies to paranormal investigations.
East Coast Paranormal Photography, headed by Anthony Mullin, are a group of area individuals who appreciate and preserve abandoned and haunted sites through their lenses. Since 2021, they have been heavily involved in the restoration of the Ansonia Opera House.
Another major highlight of the weekend is the huge marketplace with vendors and exhibitors from all over the East Coast. Last year, the convention boasted sixty vendors, and this year there will be eighty! Vendors will include paranormal groups, haunt artists and businesses, horror and sci-fi genre booths, authors, publishers, clothing costumes & make-up specialists, cryptozoology, wizardry, astrologists, psychics/mediums, tarot and palm readers, occult artifacts, artisans, crafters, jewelers, monster memorabilia, sci-fi collectibles, hand-made items and related merchandise, etc. Featured vendors include Milford’s Weirdo Wonderland, the Frankenstein Twins and Paul Longo, publisher and editor of the GhostWatch Magazine.

All ages are welcome, under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The hours are 11am-6pm on Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday. Advance General Admission is only $14.99 in advance, $20 day of show. There are also a limited number of advance VIP admissions for $19.99, which entitle guests to early admission (10am), a souvenir gift, and other benefits. Tickets on sale now from: paraconn.ticketleap.com/paraconn2. Parking is free. Food trucks/refreshments will be available. Presented in association with the City of Ansonia under the auspices of the Mayor’s Office.

The website for Connecticut’s first-ever Paranormal Convention is www.ParaConn.org. For further information call (203) 795-4737 or email CTParaConn@gmail.com.
May the spirits be with you.