Las Vegas's only outdoor horror convention and classic car show is coming back to the Silverton Casino Lodge this October, and organizers say this year's lineup is bigger than ever. Nightmare in Vegas returns October 10-11, 2026, bringing an Academy Award-winning makeup artist, a slasher-movie icon, live horror-punk bands and an immersive horror maze to the off-Strip resort for a second annual run.
The event debuted in October 2025 at Silverton Casino Lodge, founded by Las Vegas locals Amy Acevedo and Darlene Seguin as what organizers describe as Sin City's first outdoor horror convention paired with a custom car show, according to KLAS 8 News Now. Seguin said the festival was created independently to bring the horror community together for a weekend of fun, a sentiment Acevedo echoed as well. The two-day Halloween weekend event runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on October 10 and from noon to 5 p.m. on October 11, both at the Silverton.
The venue itself has a long history in the valley. Silverton Casino Lodge, located at 3333 Blue Diamond Road, originally opened in 1994 as Boomtown Las Vegas before rebranding in 1997 and completing a $45 million hotel renovation in 2023, according to VegasChanges. Its rustic lodge theme and outdoor event space make it a fitting off-Strip backdrop for a horror-and-hot-rods gathering aimed squarely at local residents rather than tourists.
An Expanded Celebrity Lineup Anchored by an Oscar Winner
This year's expanded celebrity lineup is headlined by Ve Neill, an Academy Award-winning makeup artist scheduled to appear at the convention, per the station's report. Neill earned three Academy Awards for Best Makeup for her work on Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire and Ed Wood, and has racked up eight total Oscar nominations across a career spanning more than four decades, according to her Wikipedia entry, which also notes her foundational work on franchises including Star Trek, Batman and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Also on the guest roster is Tony Moran, who played the unmasked Michael Myers in the climax of John Carpenter's original 1978 Halloween. Moran was paid just $250 for the brief scene, while actor Nick Castle performed the character under the mask for most of the film, according to an interview posted by Mangled Matters. Those few unmasked seconds became one of the most famous face reveals in slasher-film history.
The lineup also includes Lew Temple, who appeared in Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects and gained wider horror-fan recognition playing Axel in AMC's The Walking Dead beginning in 2012, per Ubiquitous Horror. Scream actresses Nancy Anne Ridder and Leonora Scelfo are set to appear as well, both remembered for the high school bathroom scene gossiping about Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven's 1996 original, according to the Scream Wiki. Rounding out the confirmed guests are Emma-Leigh Cullum, who appeared in It: Welcome to Derry, and creature actor Kevin Keppy, known for playing the demonic Nightmare Mom in Paramount's 2022 hit Smile. Organizers say more guests will be announced ahead of the event.
A Poltergeist Panel and Paranormal Discussions
Beyond the meet-and-greets, the convention will feature a Poltergeist panel where Nick Bailey, director of She Was Here, and Kathleen O'Rourke will discuss the film and the legacy of Heather O'Rourke. The child actress starred as Carol Anne Freeling in Steven Spielberg's 1982 horror classic and its two sequels before dying at age 12 in February 1988 due to intestinal stenosis and septic shock, according to the Los Angeles Times. Her sudden death, four months before Poltergeist III's release, made her an enduring and tragic figure in horror cinema. The weekend will also include paranormal discussions alongside the film panels.
Cosplay is expected to be a major draw, with groups Dead City Sliders and Monsters Slaughter cosplayers confirmed to attend. Attendees can also shop from independent artists, makers and horror-themed businesses, and the Miss Nightmare in Vegas pinup pageant is returning for 2026.
Custom Cars and a Horror-Punk Soundtrack
The classic car show component features dozens of custom vehicles, including standouts like the Mutt N' Jeff build and the Skull Manor LV hearse. Organizers describe the show as horror-themed, blending automotive culture with the convention's genre focus.
Live music will run throughout the weekend from acts including Dr. Chud's X-Ward, Koffin Kats, Los Carajos, Plan 9, Rest of Afterlife, Hellbellys, Tyrantula, Ghostwood Murder and Damned by the Night. Dr. Chud's X-Ward and Koffin Kats represent the horror punk and psychobilly subgenres, which merge aggressive punk rock with macabre themes and monster imagery, a style rooted in the late 1970s that remains a staple soundtrack for horror conventions and Halloween events, according to discussion on Reddit.
The gathering arrives as Halloween spending nationwide continues to climb. Total U.S. Halloween spending hit a record $13.1 billion in 2025, up nearly 13% from $11.6 billion in 2024, according to survey data from the National Retail Federation, with projections pointing to sustained spending at or above that level in 2026. That surging national appetite for all things Halloween provides a strong economic backdrop for independent, locally built events like this one to keep growing.
Nightmare in Vegas supports independent filmmakers, artists, musicians, vendors and creators in the horror community, giving smaller acts and builders a stage alongside the celebrity guests. Presale tickets are available through the Nightmare in Vegas website ahead of the October weekend.
