Days of the Dead Comes to Atlanta

In about five weeks, Days of the Dead is coming to Atlanta. The pop culture-horror convention, which debuted in Indianapolis several years ago, will take over the Atlanta Sheraton from February 5-7.

This year’s Atlanta Days celebrity lineup is star-studded and growing. The headliner is Cassandra Peterson, otherwise known as Elvira, Mistress of the Darkness. Peterson is appearing all three days, but she will only be in Elvira gear on Saturday. At the recent Days in Chicago, the fan line for an Elvira photo-op was one of the longest I have ever seen. Despite the length, every fan went away happy, getting that rare picture with the iconic Elvira.

With the newest Star Wars movie in theaters soon, the franchise is hot again. Fans of Star Wars will be happy to hear that Billy Dee Williams and Jeremy Bulloch will be appearing at Days. Williams will only be there for Saturday and Sunday, while Bulloch will be there all three days. Still, there will be plenty of time to get to meet both.

Only with a star-packed lineup like this would a wrestling legend like Chyna not get top billing, but she will have one of the longer lines there. At the recent Days in Chicago, the length of Chyna’s photo op line showed her popularity. The reactions of those fans after meeting her showed how sweet she was. She eagerly talked to everyone and posed in a friendly, inviting manner. This was one of the best photo op experiences ever.

The rest of the announced lineup is top notch, too. Ted Raimi (Evil Dead 2), Heather Langenkamp (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tony Moran (Halloween), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), PJ Soles (Stripes), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Alex Vincent (Child’s Play) and John Dugan (Texas Chainsaw Massacre ’74) will also be appearing.

There is also a Cabin Fever reunion, featuring Jordan Ladd, Cerina Vincent, Joey Kern and James DeBello. This is a rare chance to meet all four stars.

Making her first comic con appearance will be Antonieta Pari. She starred as “Elder” in The Green Inferno. The announcement of Pari has created a buzz already.

Also appearing are Camille Keaton (I Spit On Your Grave) and Martin Casella (Poltergeist), Oliver Robins (Poltergeist). There will probably be a few more celebrities added to the lineup, too.

The fun doesn’t end with just celebrity appearances (although that would be enough of a draw for me). There are many discussion panels, including Devil’s Rejects, Sleepaway Camp, Masters of Gore and other interesting ones. There is also celebrity karaoke, parties on Friday and Saturday night, a screening of The Walking Deceased and so much more.

I always attend the Days of the Dead shows in Chicago and Indianapolis. Unfortunately, I cannot make it to Atlanta and it just kills me that I can’t. There is so much to do and see at the Days events.

In addition to the scheduled activities, I love going to the Days events because I see so many friends (a lot of whom I have met at other Days events). It’s sort of like a big family reunion. Even when you don’t know someone there, you quickly make friends because everyone is in such great moods and this includes the Days staff.

The staffers go above and beyond every time to make the cons special and fun for everyone. I feel bad that they probably don’t get to enjoy the events like the fans, because they are so busy caring for everyone else.

I can honestly say I have not had one bad experience on any level at any Days event. In fact, I have thoroughly enjoyed each event I have attended so much so that I actually get sad on the last day, knowing the fun is ending.

I don’t work for the Days organization. I am merely a huge fan who wants to spread the word because they deserve it and horror fans deserve to know about it. I cannot be in Atlanta in two months, but fans in the Atlanta area should chek