Fans of the horror genre are welcomed to the Slasher Hotel for the third Colorado Festival of Horror for a thrilling three-day interactive experience. 

From Sept. 15-17, at the Marriott Denver South at Park Meadows, located at 10345 Park Meadows Drive in Lone Tree, the Slasher Hotel aims to create a safe place for the horror community to come together. 

“Despite the subject matter, it is a big family and communal environment,” said Daniel Crosier, co-founder of the Colorado Festival of Horror. 

With a focus on programming, creative activation and group participation, Crosier said the event is not just for fans to meet actors and writers, but there is an educational aspect where guests can engage in conversations. 

The horror genre goes beyond film making, it allows others to express their artistic side. 

“I’ve always been an advocate of this genre because it’s incredibly accessible to everyone,” said Crosier. “Not only the films but the novels, comic books, video games and pinball machines.”

From movies like “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “Nightmare Sister,” there will be a number of celebrity actors such as 80s scream queen Michelle Bauer, Allen Danziger and John Dugan. 

A more family friendly guest, actor, director and puppeteer, Kirk R. Thatcher, who worked on “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” “Star Trek IV” and “Gremlins” will be at the event.

Additionally, there will be a handful of writers, editors, comic book artists as well as a podcaster, a cosplay model and a paranormal investigator. 

The weekend includes a number of activities for guests as they can participate in makeup demos, a drawing demo with Xander Smith - a concept artist from Hollywood who has worked on Marvel projects - and an improv actors class. 

Artistic expression doesn’t end there, the 3rd annual Gore Galore Costume Extravaganza cosplay contest will take place and the Inked in Blood Horror Tattoo Competition from Phantom 8 Tattoo and Mutiny Information Cafe will be on the main stage.

Guests can meet the next generation of horror creators through various panels and workshops. 

Nick Goins, who will be part of the “Killing Floor,” “Representation in Horror” and “Socioeconomics of The Hills Have Eyes” panels, is excited to introduce his productions to the audience and discuss representation in the horror genre.

Panels will also include Physiology of Monsters with Marvelous Critter Veterinary Medicine Hospital and Tales of the Macabre: A Journey to the Dark Side with Forensic Pathologists, where pathologists will walk through case files and look at famous death scenes and talk about how true to nature they are.

As part of the educational aspect, the event will include a therapist who will talk about mental health challenges such as trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Vendor room hours vary each day. Friday’s hours are from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.. VIP ticket holders are allowed for early entrance one hour before. Sunday’s hours are from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.. 

Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Also, tickets purchased online will require a paper copy or digital copy to be scanned at the door. 

After-hours activities include Jigsaw’s Horror Trivia, Dripping Horror Cosplay Karaoke, a Murder by Markers art competition where guests can take part in a draw off and The Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast will make an appearance. 

Tickets can be purchased on eventbrite at https://rb.gy/38psp. 

“There’s so many talents, so many amazing businesses in our own backyard,” said Crosier. “That’s the beautiful thing about Colorado, is the horror and Halloween community is massive.”