dec. 6 & 7, 2025
saturday: 11am-7pm
sunday: 11am-5pm
palmer events center • austin, tx
WELCOME
HORROR FOR THE HOLIDAYS Holiday Horror Expo is especially made for horror fans and features hordes of vendors selling horror, gothic and dark merchandise. Art, home decor, clothing, jewelry, accessories, collectibles, gifts and more. You're bound to find the perfect gift for that horror junkie, goth, weirdo fiend of yours this holiday season — including yourself. Horror For The Holidays is the biggest and longest running horror-themed holiday market in Austin and celebrates it's 10th year in 2024. It has been a grass-roots event from the beginning that has grown to epic proportions and we thank our vendors and guests for making this event such a success.
And if the killer shopping wasn't enough, we've added tons of creeptastic, and family friendly, attractions to make it the best holiday horror weekend in town. Get your pic with Evil Santa, Watch the epic Krampus Parade, Meet your favorite horror celebrities and MORE!
2019 Winner of the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin award:
Shopping — "Best Nightmare in time for Christmas!"
THE MARKET
The market has been curated for the ultimate creepy holiday bazaar around. Our horde of vendors sell horror, gothic and dark-related merchandise. Most of our vendors are Texas-based — with many from right here in Austin. Thank you in advance for supporting your local artists and small businesses!
VENDOR SPOTS OPEN JUNE 1ST, 2025. FOR MORE INFO CLICK BELOW.
ATTRACTIONS
SPECIAL GUESTS
YOU'VE SEEN 'EM ON THE BIG SCREEN AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THEM TO THE EVENT! GET A CHANCE TO MEET THEM, GRAB A AUTOGRAPH AND TAKE A PICTURE AT THEIR TABLE.*
KEN FOREE
DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978), FROM BEYOND, LEATHERFACE: TCM 3 AND MORE
From the man who spoke the iconic words, "When there's no more room in hell ... the dead will walk the earth," in Dawn of the Dead, Ken has become a horror icon. His extensive work in horror includes, From Beyond, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3, Rob Zombie's Halloween, The Devils Rejects, Lords Of Salem and so many more. Don't miss your chance to meet him.
MIKO HUGHES
"GAGE" FROM PET SEMATARY (1989)
Miko's major film debut as "Gage" in Pet Sematary (1989) was a scene stealer as the newly un-graved toddler who just wanted to play. Miko continued his career in many roles; including, Kindergarten Cop, Mercury Rising, Wes Craven's New Nightmare and the short, Dylan's New Nightmare. We're excited to welcome him to the expo.
GUEST?
HORROR GUEST TBA
Stay tuned for more of this year's guest announcements.
*Admisson DOES NOT guarantee that you will meet the guests. The guests determine how much time they spend meeting their fans which can impact the amount of fans they can see. We will have VIP and Fast Pass tickets available that will offer you a better chance to meet them (ticket sale date TBA). Also keep in mind that the guests determine their own pricing and will display them at their tables. If we get the info before the event we'll post on our socials.
EVIL SANTA
You better watch out! You better not cry! Evil Santa is coming to town! This is Evil Santa. Straight from the bowels of Christmas Hell to walk among the living during this creepy holiday weekend. Get the ultimate holiday card pictures taken with the Evil one. Take the perfect picture with your fiends and family to display on your mantle. A great addition to your family Neckronomicon.
PRICING
DIGITAL: $10
PRINT: $20 (8X10)
Digital pics will be posted in the days after the event on an online gallery. You'll be able to scroll through the gallery to find your pic and download a hi-res image. Prints will be made on-site.
2025 prices are subject to change
EVIL SANTA Ready to slay in his finest — provided by the award-winning, HAWGFLY PRODUCTIONS.
PHOTOS By professional photographer, Andrew Gamble
KRAMPUS PARADE
KRAMPUS PARADE TAKES PLACE SUNDAY AT 2PM
THE KRAMPUS PARADE
The epic Krampus Parade takes place within the aisles of the market and is led by a demon drum procession. The Krampi in the parade are a mix of Krampi created by our contributors/sponsors and those from the public that join in hopes of winning Krampus King. This is one of our biggest attractions at the market. Get your cameras ready and enjoy this most ancient of Christmas traditions.
There is no fee to enter and there is no need to pre-register. You must arrive in costume and check in by 1:30. Click HERE to get important details on times and rules for being in the parade.
THE CROWNING
Only the Public Krampi are eligible to win. At the end of the parade our esteemed judging panel will choose the winner to be crowned Krampus King 2025. The King will be crowned with the special Texas Mum Of Death by Evil Santa. The winner will keep the Mum of Death, get bragging rights as the official Krampus King of 2025 and a Blood Over Texas swag bag.
Last year's winner. Krampus King of 2024. Our first kid Krampus!
ELF RACES
THE ELF RACES TAKE PLACE SATURDAY AT 3PM
Forget reindeer games, let’s watch the elves fight to be Evil Santa’s favorite acolytes as they compete in a fury of relay races. Santa bag races, tricyle races and more. It takes a lot to serve Evil Santa, so he’s chosen to put up two teams of elves, straight from the South Pole (you, know the angry ones), to compete in this festive elfin throwdown!
Sponsored by HOUSE OF TORMENT
PERFORMERS
Enjoy exciting, magical and entertaining performances on each day of the event.
MAGIC
“The World’s Second Best Magician,” MadMan of House Maverick, First of His Mane, the Setter of Fires, King of the Conmen and the First Magicians, Khal of the Great Ghost Tour, Wielder of Whips, Thrower of Axes, and Maker of Monsters.
SATURDAY
12pm
CARA
VAN CLAWS
MUSIC
In the dark twilight between Samhain and Yule, caught in transformation between the two, Cara Van Claws is the ghost of both Christmas future and Halloween past. This ghoulish trio delights with a haunting take on the holidays.
SATURDAY
2pm
JANIE
SLASH
SIDESHOW
Janie Slash is a sideshow entertainer, fitness instructor and horror movie enthusiast based out of Houston, TX. She will be paying homage to her favorite scream queen and workout, Linnea Quigley’s Horror Workout. Come exercise your demons and run like you’re being chased by a chainsaw wielding maniac and have a terrorific time!
SATURDAY
5pm
BRAD
FRENCH
JUGGLING
Brad French has been comedy juggler since 1983. He was a longtime regular performer at Sea World (CA), LEGOland (CA), San Diego Pantomime Theater, and National Circus Project (NY). He's also performed with several comedy, burlesque and theater groups in Chicago and Austin. See his set as Santa’s oldest elf, “Puckernut Silverhair”
SUNDAY
12pm
JUAN
MARTINEZ
SIDESHOW
Collector of oddities, creator of monstrosities, and professional human curiosity, Juan Martinez has been performing acts in the art of the sideshow for over a decade. His death-defying acts of steel amazes the masses and you have to see it to believe it.
SUNDAY
3:30pm
2024 PERFORMERS
2025 PERFORMERS TBA
FUN FOR KIDDOS
kIDS 12 & UNDER GET IN FOR FREE!
NECRO "NOMMIE" CANE'S STORYTIME
"Nommie" the Elf reads creepy holiday books to the kids. These are actual children's books that are about Zombie Santa, Little Krampus, etc. The Storytime takes place, next to Concessions and the coloring tables.
SATURDAY
1:30 & 4:30
SUNDAY
12:30 & 3:30
Sponsored by HOUSE OF TORMENT
LIL' EVIL ELVES
COSPLAY
Calling all creepy kids! Come dressed as an Evil Elf and get a free digital photo with Evil Santa (a $10 value)!
Kids 12 and under. Free coupon given at entry.
KIDS COLORING TABLE
We'll have a few tables set up for the kids to color lots of spooky cool pictures. Of course, parents are also welcome to color too! Located next to Concessions.
SANTA, KRAMPUS & CREATURES
Kids always like to get their pics taken with Evil Santa, see the Krampus Parade and meet our fun creatures roaming the event. In fact, if your kids want to walk in the Krampus Parade on Sunday, we'll have some chain in the back that they can follow along with the parade — accompanied by our creatures.
CREATURES & PHOTO OPS
Walk among the many monsters and creatures roaming the market provided by the awesome local haunted attractions, HOUSE OF TORMENT and BAT CITY SCAREGROUNDS. Feel free to stop them to take a pic. Both haunts also have special Photo Ops in their booths and we have several photo boards and monster displays around the market to take fun pictures with your fiends and family.
SILENT AUCTION
Help Support SAFE Alliance of Austin by winning an awesome item from the Silent Auction. SAFE's mission is to Stop Abuse For Everyone and we are honored to be able to support all of their hard work they do in our community. Please visit their site for more info.
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SATURDAY
LAST CALL 6:00
SUNDAY
LAST CALL 4:00
Thank you in advance for supporting SAFE and to all our vendors and local businesses who donate to the auction!
TICKETS
ONLINE SALES END AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, DEC. 6TH. AFTER THAT TIME YOU CAN GET TICKETS AT THE DOOR
ONE DAY AND WEEKEND PASS
SATURDAY
11am-7pm
$15
SUNDAY
11am-5pm
With this ticket you can come for just one day (either day) OR come for both days to enjoy all of the attractions the weekend has to offer!
2025 TICKETS TO BE ANNOUNCED
GENERAL ADMISSION
PLEASE READ
TICKETS 2025 prices to be announced.
WEEKEND OR DAILY Your ticket is good for the entire weekend or for one day. Single day tickets are not for sale. You will be given a plastic wristband that you will use for the weekend and can pick it up when you arrive. Wristbands must be intact and not tampered with (cut off) if you plan on attending both days.
KIDS Kids 12 and under free!
PARKING Parking at the venue is $10 daily. In the event that the parking garage is full, overflow parking is available one block away from the venue. We encourage using ride services and carpooling.
REFUNDS No refunds unless the event is cancelled.
BEWARE The only way you can purchase presale tickets is through this website. We don't use any other ticketing platform, nor do we sell paper tickets. Beware of ticket resales on social media! We don't allow any resale of tickets on social media sites.
LOCATION
SATURDAY: 11am -7pm / SUNDAY: 11am-5pm
PALMER EVENTS CENTER
900 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD
AUSTIN, TX 78704
Located within downtown Austin, yet cradled by Butler Park, Auditorium Shores, and Lady Bird Lake near downtown Austin, the Palmer Events Center is easily accessible from Barton Springs Rd. or Riverside Dr. by car or public transportation. Paid parking is available at the onsite garage ($10). Visit their site for more info. In the event that the parking garage is full, overflow parking is available one block from venue. We encourage using ride services or carpooling.
PAST HORROR FOR THE HOLIDAYS
FAQ
ARE ANIMALS ALLOWED?
Only service animals are allowed.
IS THE EVENT APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS?
YES! But it also depends on your spawn. The market does feature creatures walking around acting spooky (no jump scares) and all of our vendors sell horror-related merchandise that may be upsetting for some kids (and some adults). Parental discretion is advised. If you and your kids like Halloween, visiting the market should be okay. Parents must keep kids in their presence at all times.
KID FUN! There are also several kid attractions at the market (see under Attractions) so the whole family can join in the fun.
HOW DO I BUY TICKETS? DO YOU EXCEPT CASH AND CARD?
DOOR: Tickets can be purchased with cash or card at the door.
ONLINE: Tickets can be purchased on this website and are recommended for faster entry.
Tickets are $15 for the entire weekend. Kids 12 and under are free.
Details: Your ticket is good for the entire weekend. We don't sell daily passes. You can enjoy two days of shopping and a chance to experience all of the weekend's attractions for only $15. You will be given a durable, plastic wristband that you will use for the weekend. Wristband must be attached and not tampered with to get in for the second day (Sunday). Online tickets are encouraged for faster entry. No refunds on tickets unless the event is cancelled.
Warning: We ONLY sell tickets on our website and no other ticketing platform. Beware of anyone trying to sell directly on social media. We do not allow resell of tickets on any of our social media.
CAN I GET A REFUND?
No refunds are given for tickets or vendor spaces unless the event itself is cancelled. We do not allow resell of tickets on any of our social media.
DOES IT COST TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH EVIL SANTA?
Our professional photographer offers photos with Evil Santa: Digital hi-res photos for $10 and 8x10 prints for $20. Digital photos will be uploaded to an online gallery for download. Prints made onsite.
DOES IT COST TO MEET THE SPECIAL GUESTS?
Our special guests have varying prices for autographs and pictures and will be posted at their table. The prices are determined, soley, by the guests and vary. At this time, we do not offer specialty photo sessions.
DO YOU WELCOME COSPLAYERS?
We do love a costume! We encourage cosplay and costumes at the event. No actual weapons or firearms are allowed as part of a costume or cosplay. No free entry is given for cosplayers or costume-wearers except for those participating in the Krampus Parade.
IS THERE PARKING?
Paid parking is available at the onsite garage for $10 Please visit their site for more info. PARKING AT PALMER. In the event that the parking garage is full, there is additional parking, just east of the venue. Signs/directions to the secondary lot are posted at garage. We recommend car-pooling and ride service when able.
HOW DO I APPLY TO BE A VENDOR?
All vendors must sell horror/dark-themed merchandise and must go through an approval process to be accepted. Vendor Sales for 2024 are closed. 2025 go on sale on June 1, 2025. We do not keep a list of vendors that we contact when booking for our events. All vendors must apply when the Vendor Call is announced.
ARE STROLLERS AND WHEELCHAIRS ALLOWED?
Yes. The venue is ADA compliant and the walkways are large enough for strollers and wheelchairs.
ARE LARGE BAGS ALLOWED?
Yes. However, large bags/purses/backpacks are subject to search before entering.
WILL THERE BE FOOD AND DRINK AVAILABLE?
No outside food or drink is allowed. The onsite caterer has food, drink and alcohol available for purchase.
Still have questions? Contact us at info@bloodovertexas.com
PRESS
CONTACT US FOR PRESS INFO ON HFTH
Email: info@bloodovertexas.com
