Added on 11/05/2025
Rich Howells
convention , Emigsville , Hilton Scranton , horror , Scranton , Wilkes-Barre
Halloween may be over, but the monsters it beckons from the shadows are still lurking about.
Some of them are staying at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center.
Creature Feature Weekend, a horror film convention that has haunted Gettysburg for the past seven years, will dim the lights of the Electric City for the first time ever on Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9. Celebrity guests include Clint Howard (“Ice Cream Man”), Bill Moseley (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” “The Devil’s Rejects”), Quinn Lord (“Trick ‘r Treat”), Lee Waddell (“Scream”), Edwin Neal and John Dugan (“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”), Peter Cowper (“My Bloody Valentine”), Anthony Cecere (“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Ghostbusters”), Michelle Santiago (“Terrifier 2”), Brian Van Holt (“House of Wax”), Dan Yeager (“Texas Chainsaw 3D”), and more, with several even appearing in costume for photo opportunities. Jerry Wallace, who was one the actors to play Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th Part 2,” will be making his convention debut at this event, which is run by Craig and Sandy Yastrzemski.
“We aim for a healthy mix of rare and popular guests with a sprinkle of pop culture, especially if their appearance brings a fan that much closer to completing their prized autographed collectible,” Sandy told NEPA Scene.
“We had been playing with the idea of expanding to a second convention location for a little while, and Scranton stuck out for its proximity to major cities such as Philadelphia and New York City, as well as the number of incredible venues we could progressively incorporate into the show to create a larger celebration of horror movies. The people we’ve encountered as we’ve gone door-to-door with flyers and posters for the show have been so welcoming and excited to see an event like ours coming into the area. Their continued support has been as refreshing as it is encouraging as we work daily to make a show that will hopefully become a new Scranton tradition.”
The husband and wife duo from Emigsville have been “creating memories with horror fans” since 2019 when they founded Creature Feature Weekend at Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel & Conference Center, where they host the three-day horror con annually, but that was just the beginning.
“Coming off our first year into the restrictions of COVID led to the expansion of us hosting drive-in events complete with vendors, activities, and celebrity guests. The experience of that outdoor show opened our horizons and relationships with drive-in owners such as the Mahoning Drive-In Theater [in Lehighton], with whom we collaborate annually for events such as Critter Con, Chiodo Con, as well as themed pop-up vendor market events where we had a Halloween egg hunt and a pumpkin carving contest,” Sandy recalled.
“We have also hosted concerts at JB Lovedraft’s in Mechanicsburg with artists such as Voltaire – his event lovingly named the Gothic Circus – and Gerard McMahon, famed for ‘The Lost Boys’ hit ‘Cry Little Sister.’ Our philosophy with any of our shows is that they are family friendly shows with a stay-and-play atmosphere.”
Craig grew up with horror movies and became a collector, whereas Sandy “married into it,” she admitted with a laugh.
“Our first ‘event’ was planning our wedding, which we enjoyed working together and making our daydreams into reality. His love of horror and experiences with the convention scene led to a conversation where we asked ourselves, ‘If we had a horror convention, what would that look like?’ That brainstorming session led to many others that culminated into what we see today – horror events with a focus on creating a space where friends can gather and families can share their passions with the next generation. Craig’s knowledge, enthusiasm for celebrating the genre, and a “yes, and” attitude leads him in completely new directions every year for what shape our shows will take, and we get just as excited and nervous for each show as we did for our wedding day.”
These experiences, of course, led her to become a fan as well.
“[I enjoy] the thrill of a spooky horror soundtrack, the creativity and skill of practical effects, and the immersive atmosphere and connection that horror movies give to every viewer, especially when you’re introducing a friend to a horror favorite. Meeting so many of Craig’s heroes and seeing people truly happy and enjoying themselves is an incredible experience for both of us, regardless of genre. The ‘vibe’ of the show is our most commented-on feature – we decorate the common areas, explore ideas such as in-costume photo-ops to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and continually push ourselves to make every element of our shows unique and memorable for fans.”
The premiere of Creature Feature Weekend at the Hilton Scranton (100 Adams Ave., Scranton) will include meet and greets with guests, Q&A sessions, panel discussions, horror trivia, karaoke, trick or treating for kids, pumpkin carving and costume contests, around 60 vendors, and film screenings with live commentary at the nearby Scranton Art Haus (301 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton). Actors such as Clint Howard, Bill Moseley, and Dan Yeager have appeared at similar events in the Scranton area before, but most of the guest list is new to the area.
“Craig jokes that every year he creates the type of show that, as a fan, he would be excited to see but is usually too busy to enjoy it, but there are a lot of memories to be made in between those busier moments,” Sandy shared.
“I’m hoping to catch the presentations that Haunt Coffee [from Wilkes-Barre Township] is bringing to the show where [owner] Jamie will be exploring Lackawanna’s ghost stories and local legends. I just ordered lanterns to create a spooky atmosphere for her presentation, and I’m excited to see it all come together. Craig is looking forward to seeing the movies with live celebrity commentary at the Scranton Art Haus – a feature he typically misses at our Gettysburg show. Settling into the evening with horror trivia, karaoke, and a themed cocktail at PJ’s 1910 Pub [inside the hotel] sounds like the perfect end to the evenings on Friday and Saturday.”
Tickets, which range from $20-$35 per day or $50-$60 for the weekend, are on sale now at creaturefeatureweekend.com. Children ages 10 and under are free with a paying adult.
“We look forward to seeing everyone and making this weekend a memorable one!”
Watch NEPA Scene’s 2023 interview with Bill Moseley below:
Photo of Clint Howard by Jason Riedmiller Photography, photo of Bill Moseley by Rich Howells/NEPA Scene
by Rich Howells
Rich is an award-winning journalist, longtime blogger, photographer, and podcast host. He is the founder and editor of NEPA Scene.