Days of The Dead #21 Is Coming!

Days of the Dead turns 21 in my hometown. From November 18-20, Days of the Dead will take over the Marriott in Schaumburg for a weekend of horror-related entertainment. This is going to be epic!

Days of the Dead is a great horror con which debuted in Indianapolis several years ago. Since then, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and (this year) Louisville were added. The return to Chicago will be the 21st event and the Days crew has gotten a Hall of Fame celebrity list.

A solid argument can be made over who is the headliner of Days Chicago. Take your pick of Alice Cooper, Ric Flair, Ray Park and Anthony Michael Hall. Each is a legend in his own field. Each is reason enough to attend Days of the Dead. Having all four is just awesome.

The rest of the lineup packs a lot of star power, too. Tony Todd (as CandyMan), Chris Sarandon, Kristy Swanson, Shannon Elizabeth, Dave Ellefson (Metallica) and Charlie Benante (Anthrax)) could also be headliners if Days wasn’t top heavy with legends. Days will also have Sid Haig, Kane Hodder, Jon Heder, Felissa Rose and more. The list seemingly keeps growing and there is not a weak hitter in this lineup.

The fun doesn’t end with the celebrity list though. The attendees get into the fun with some awesome costumes. You’ll see Freddy, Harley, Jason and the usual crew, but you’ll also see lots of other interesting characters. (Nobody has dressed as Johngy yet, but I keep hoping.).

There are plenty of interactive events, too. There are movie previews, panel discussions, Q&A’s, a karaoke contest, costume contests and more. Seriously, there is always something going on at Days. You really need to plan out your day to make certain that you hit all you want.

While at Days, it is also wise to keep an eye on the other attendees. You might just see some interesting people. In Louisville earlier this year, professional wrestlers Mike Bucci (aka Nova) and Aaron Haddad (Damien Sandow) were among the in attendance. In Chicago, you are likely to see several independent wrestlers roaming the convention.

Having been associated with Days from the beginning has been a pleasure. It has been cool watching it grow and develop. I used to say that it was a fun, small convention. Things are changing, for the good though. It still has that good “small” feeling, but it is growing in stature with every show.

You can still see all of the familiar Days crew. This crew works hard and plays hard (after their work is done). They make sure that things run smoothly. They are a likeable bunch, who are very visible and always helpful. What other con gives continual updates on social media of various ticket availability. If any fan misses any specific photo-op or other event, it is not the fault of the Days staff. They spread the info regularly.

Over the years, I have had many different people tag along with me. These people were not previously comic con fans, but they have jumped on the Days bandwagon since. I always think it is cool to see them returning on their own and bringing new fans.

In a couple weeks, I will be absorbed all of the fun of Days and I can’t wait. The 21st birthday bash is going to rock Schaumburg!