Horror Realm is an offshoot of Pittsburgh’s popular Zombie Fest, which was held in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, the name and format were revamped to distinguish the event as a convention encompassing all aspects of horror as well as zombie culture.

Entering its third year in 2009, Horror Realm has positioned itself as Pittsburgh’s modern horror convention as a complement to the region’s long running Monster Bash, the international classic monster movie conference and film festival, which celebrates classic horror and science fiction films (from the silent era through the 1950’s).

Horror Realm Features

  • A dealer room with local, regional and national vendors offering various horror-themed items for sale including movies/DVD’s, apparel, jewelry, collectible figures, comics, Halloween costumes, make up and decorations, artwork, etc.
  • Well-known celebrity guests from horror and zombie films including Bill Moseley, Tony Todd, Ken Foree, Leslie Easterbrook, David Naughton, Tiffany Shepis and Robert Zdar, among others.
  • Author panels featuring award winning, best selling and emerging horror writers including SG Browne, Jonathan Maberry, Kim Paffenroth and many more appearing courtesy of Library of
  • The Living Dead Press, Permuted Press and Joseph Beth Booksellers.
  • A film festival celebrating the spirit of independent films and featuring a film competition
  • Demonstrations of special effects make up by students of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh
  • Fan contests and entertainment

The Pittsburgh area has a rich horror history. Numerous horror movies have been filmed in the region including Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Martin, The Silence of the Lambs, The Mothman Prophecies and My Bloody Valentine 3D, to name but a few. The region has also spawned a number of popular television horror hosts from “Chilly Billy” Cardille to the fictional Count Floyd (from SCTV) to modern day host Professor Emcee Square of The It’s Alive Show.

Pittsburgh is also known as the Zombie Capital of the World because of its prominent place in the George Romero zombie films. And the city is three-time holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of zombies at Monroeville Mall, site of the original Dawn of the Dead film. World Zombie Day, an international charity event featuring zombie walks and food drives worldwide, got its in Pittsburgh.

Horror Realm is proudly produced by native Pittsburghers as a hometown convention celebrating the local horror influences as well as to serve as an attraction for horror aficionados everywhere. The convention hopes to spur tourism interest in the area as well as economic development for the venue and surrounding areas.

Horror Realm 2009 Event Schedule

Friday, September 18
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Dealer room & guest hours
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Movie – The Trek
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Author Panel 1 – Jonathan Maberry James Melzer, Rob Fox
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Author Panel 2 – Dave Dunwoody, Steven North, Kim Paffenroth, Paul McConnel
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Film Panel – Joe Knetter
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Movie – Die-Ner (get it?)
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM The It’s Alive Show
9:00 PM – ?? DJ & Cash Bar
10:00 PM – ?? Bastards of Horror Short Film Festival

Saturday, September 19
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Dealer room & guest hours
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Author Panel 3 – S.G. Browne
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Author Panel 4 – J.L. Bourne, Travis Adkins, DL Snell
10:00 AM – Noon Movie – Film Contest Runner Up
Noon – 2:00 PM Movie – The Beast Within
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Film Panel – Ken Foree
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Movie – Film Contest Winner
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Horror Trivia Contest
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Tattoo Contest
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Costume Contest
5:15 PM – 5:45 PM Film Panel – Jeff Lieberman
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Movie – Just Before Dawn
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM Movie – The Dead Outside
8:00 PM – ?? Cash bar & band (moved to foyer in event of rain)
10:00 PM – Midnight Movie – Prometheus Triumphant
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Art Institute of Pittsburgh Demonstration

Sunday, September 20
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Dealer room & guest hours
11:00 AM – Noon Author Panel 5 – Robert Best, Rhiannon Frater, Kody Boye
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Author Panel 6 – Eric S. Brown, Scott Johnson, ZA Recht
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Permuted Press Flash Fiction ContestWinner Announced
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Movie – Demons Among Us
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Film Panel – Bill Moseley, Ken Foree, Leslie Easterbrook
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM Movie – TBA
12:15 PM – 12:45 PM Brain Eating Contest
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Art Institute Demonstration
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Art Contest Winner announced
All scheduled events and times are tentative and subject to change.

Horror Realm will take place at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South. For more information: Horror Realm

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