Lexington Scarefest: Celebrities (Richard Dreyfuss?!?), horror reunions, gore and more

As it enters its 15th year, Scarefest continues to do what it does frighteningly well.

The initial one-night event that used to get frequently confused with a haunted house attraction based on its name has become an almost weekend-long, destination horror convention, bringing in fans from Mexico, Canada and as far away as Europe and Australia.

The reasons for its success are numerous, organic and somewhat hard to define, but Adrienne Elder, event director of Scarefest, said the familial feel is something you can feel everywhere you go.

“There is something that is very welcoming, a word you might not expect,” Elder said. “It’s very easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger.”

Using this guide for this year’s Scarefest Weekend, returning and first-time fans will get to experience what has become a trademark combination of prized celebrity bookings, rare horror flick reunions, fan interaction and the macabre festival-like atmosphere with offerings that entice and entertain adults and kids alike while always focusing on giving patrons an even better overall experience.

“Constant improvement,” Elder said. “It’s always a work in progress.”

‘Terrifier’ films reunion

For fans of the horror genre, one of the biggest breakout hits in recent memory are the films of the “Terrifier” franchise. The independent film released in 2016 centering around the slaughtering villain Art the Clown was later followed by “Terrifier 2” in 2022, a film so gruesome it got widespread media coverage for people throwing up and passing out in screenings.

For this year’s Scarefest, several of the film’s notable cast and writer-director Damien Leone will be in attendance for a highly anticipated reunion.

“The folks that made ‘Terrifier’ have been doing so many shows this year…we had to wait our turn,” Elder said. “Everybody in this fanbase wants to be involved. They want to be extras, they want to be killed by Art The Clown.”

Actor Richard Dreyfuss at Scarefest

While Academy Award-nominated actor Richard Dreyfuss has entertained and captivated audiences for decades in comedies and dramas alike, one of his most iconic roles came from director Steven Spielberg’s most gruesome and fear-inducing films as Hooper in the 1975 classic “Jaws.” It is that role, among others, that led to Scarefest booking Dreyfuss for a rare appearance to mingle with fans of multiple generations.

“When I say ‘Richard Dreyfuss to be at Scarefest,’ it causes people to take pause,” Elder said. “My grandmother is excited to see Richard Dreyfuss.”

Gory get-togethers for photo ops

One of the big draws for horror conventions like Scarefest is when they can book reunions with the cast and crew from beloved cult classics and iconic horror franchises. This year, Scarefest managed to get a bit of both.

This year, fans can get photo ops with the cast from films like George A. Romero’s “Day of the Dead” and “Creepshow,” six of the notable “final girls” from the “Friday the 13th” franchise, a reunion that includes two of the four actors who portrayed Michael Myers (Nick Castle and James Jude Courtney) from the “Halloween” movies and a 40-year reunion of some of the cast members of “Sleepaway Camp.”

Big names celebrities for meet-and-greets

While reunions are a huge draw for horror fans, other stand-alone guests will certainly have long lines for a chance meet-and-greet or selfie. These include actors like David Arquette (“Scream” franchise), Dylan McDermott (“American Horror Story”) and Clint Howard, brother of the legendary director Ron Howard who has his own IMDb sheet that’s a mile long with entries in the horror genre. Other guests include Ozzy Osborne’s son Jack Osborne and Pinhead from the “Hellraiser” films Doug Bradley.

Three days of ‘Five Nights’

The upcoming horror film “Five Nights at Freddy’s” will never make you think of those fun animatronic robots at your local family-friendly pizza franchise the same way again. At Scarefest, two of the voice actors from the video game adaptation Kevin Foster (voice of Freddy Fazbear) and Jess Weiss (voice of Chica) will be there to take flesh-and-blood photos.

Paranormal pals

While Scarefest has leaned further and further into being a horror film convention, it still hasn’t completely shied away from its roots as a place for paranormal investigators to bond over their experiences. Among the paranormal specialists who will be appearing for chats and photo ops are the cast of the Netflix series “28 Days Haunted,” including Ray Causey, Shane Pittman and Amy Parks.

Other attractions: Sostume contest, Q&A panels, film festival and more

As Scarefest has grown and expanded, it added both days and a variety of activities to fill them for children and adults alike. This year is no different.

There will be popular events like a costume contest for kids and adults, the scream queen contest, Q&A panels with celebrity guests and larger events like the Scarefest Film Festival and Scarefest Ink Tattoo Expo. This year, Scarefest has also added workshops on special effects and other parts of the horror filmmaking process for budding filmmakers and enthusiasts.

There will also be the return of the nighttime Horror Drag Show and a special Scary Story Soiree, a pajama party where horror film actresses will read experts from spooky stories. That doesn’t even account for extras like guest illusionists, morning chair yoga and more than 300 hand-picked vendors.

“All these different things, it makes it so much more fun for the fans,” Elder said. “Even with a full weekend, there’s no way to see and do everything.”

Why celebrity guests love Scarefest

While Scarefest prides itself on turning first-time guests into returning guests, it also has become a place that celebrity guests love to travel to for both the hospitality and the fan interaction.

Kane Hodder (Jason from “Friday the 13th”) and Felissa Rose (“Sleepaway Camp,” “Terrifier”) are long-time Scarefest attendees, and there is good reason for it. The access Scarefest has given celebrity guests to fans over the years from events ranging from bowling to axe throwing to a special cocktail hour like this year’s Killers on the Rocks at nearby Town Branch Distillery make the event worth the trip and then-some for meaningful conversation and connection.

“Scarefest has always been good before. Now, it’s even better,” Hodder said. “There’s not very many conventions I do where I have that same feeling. Somehow, this one always just feels different.”

“When your head people are full of love, compassion and care, you see a room full of love because of how much they put into this,” Rose said. “How do you not feel like this is a family?”

ScareFest Weekend

When: 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 (Kids Day)

Where: Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St.

Tickets: $30-$130. For more information or to order tickets, visit scarefestweekend.com.