In a space where there are so many paranormal conferences popping up, fighting for guests, providing the same offering. Junior Paranormal Events opt to support something different.
We have become disenchanted with paranormal conventions, conferences and festivals of late. As a team we have actively made the decision to step back from them, opting to instead focus our time and energy on our events.
But there is one exception to this, whenever we are invited to participate in an event organised by Distant Screams Events, we absolutely don’t hesitate to sign up. And so, we find ourselves pulling up to a carpark in Heywood, Greater Manchester, at 8am on a cloudy Saturday morning and we couldn’t have been more excited.
Halloween Horrorfest took place on Saturday 10th October, in the midst of many Halloween events appearing at this time of year, this one stood out from the crowd. It was family focused and its purpose was to raise money for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. It provided a special place for the alternative community and people showed up, it was completely packed out.
Murderhouse Productions were in attendance, they are a scare team who raised money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. They are known for reducing the toughest of people to a crumpled mess, but a true testament to them, and Distant Screams Events, is that they offered special adaptations to the scare maze so that even the youngest of children could join in with the fun.
The queue for the scare maze wrapped around the hall and was a true representation of the ethos of the whole event. There were children dressed up in halloween costumes, babies being held in arms, teenagers nervously giggling through to expressionless adults who were clearly wondering what they had let themselves in for.
We have attended various paranormal conferences and festivals over the past few years and there can often be an undercurrent of tension. One team not wanting to talk to another one because of paranormal drama and egos judging others in the room, they can be incredibly cliquey.
Halloween Horrorfest could not be further from this, each and every vendor was incredibly friendly, we were there in solidarity to support something much bigger. Throughout the day everyone took the time to go to each other’s stalls for a chat, to find out more about them and to swap business cards.
Yes, paranormal conferences and festivals do have their place and sometimes it can be good to go to them but we also encourage people to look at alternative events in their local community because these are the spaces where the best experiences can be had.
The events where people are wanting to give back to the community, to rally round each other and create spaces where people feel welcomed and supported.
We have found our space within the Distant Screams family and we absolutely can not wait until the next one which will be Horrorwood 4 on Saturday, 6 March 2027.
