Audrie Bretl Martin
Midwest Monster Fest makes its return to The Rust Belt in East Moline, Illinois, on September 23 and 24. The all-ages event boasts something for every horror fan with a film fest featuring new movies from up-and-coming filmmakers, vendors, cosplay, FX, and pinup contests.
But the main attraction is the guest list which continues to outdo itself every year.
The eclectic list of those celebrities scheduled to attend the 2023 festival includes:
- Cherie Currie (The Runaways, Twilight Zone the Movie, Parasite)
- Hannah Fierman (Creepshow, V/H/S, The Unwanted, The Vampire Diaries, Siren)
- Drew Fortier (Filmmaker, actor, lecturer)
- Miko Hughes (Pet Sematary, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, Spawn)
- Melanie Kinnaman (Friday the 13th Part V, Thunder Alley, The Once and Future Smash)
- Rob Mello (Happy Death Day, Fear the Walking Dead, Magnificent 7 2016, Crazy Lake)
- Tom Morga (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Halloween 4, Chucky 3, Ghostbusters, Army of Darkness)
- Patty Mullen (Frankenhooker, The Equalizer, Strange Toys)
- Dylan Postl a.k.a. Hornswoggle (WWE, Leprechaun: Origins, Muppets Most Wanted)
- Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Terrifier, Victor Crowley)
- Michael St. Michaels (The Greasy Strangler, Strange Toys, Cult of Blood)
- Brett Wagner (The Crazies 2010, Angel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003)
Midwest Monster Fest began in 2019 with a brief pause due to COVID in 2020. Jeff O’Neil, founder of the festival, also was forced to reschedule last year’s event to focus on personal health issues. However, he expects this year to be the best yet. “I’m expecting close to 100 vendors this year,” Jeff said. “There’s going to be a wide variety just like always…authors, artists, t-shirts, oddities…I’m looking forward to getting back to it and making it another fun year.”
Jeff also announced, exclusively to Horror Obsessive, that this year’s event will highlight the 35th anniversary of Killer Klowns from Outer Space with a reunion of clowns, Harrod Blank and Mike Martinez, and Suzanne Snyder (also of Weird Science, Return of the Living Dead 2).
Midwest Monster Fest
September 23 – 24, 2023
The Rust Belt, East Moline, IL
Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The event was cancelled and we were informed refunds were to be completed by end of Sept. I still haven’t received my refund and no one is responding to emails or messages. Help!