Countdown to Mask-Fest 2019 – One Month till Showtime!

Welcome to my 4th Annual “Countdown to MASK-FEST!” It’s hard to believe that in less than a month, some of the most creative and ghoulish talents will descend upon Indianapolis and join Horrorhound Weekend for three days of thrills! MASK-FEST is one event that promises something new each year and I’m always astonished at how these artists manage to top themselves every time. There’s so much to see and do you could blow up your Instagram account during the first hour alone. Hats off to the show’s creator himself, Eric Austin from the former Halloween Mask Association (HMA) and his tireless dedication.  Austin has taken mask collecting to new heights and nothing is better evidence of that than this phenomenal event. But don’t just take my word for it. In keeping with tradition, I’m going to use every Friday leading up to the big weekend on September 6th to showcase as many of last year’s masks/props as I can. Every year is different so if you want to see the new stuff, get your tickets TODAY!

So let’s get the Countdown started…

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Chicago’s Oddities & Curiosities Expo Celebrates the Bizarre!

This past weekend I finally got to see the annual Chicago Oddities and Curiosities Expo at the Odeum in Villa Park. The event proudly proclaims itself geared for “lovers of the strange and unusual” and features taxidermy, specimens, artwork, and just about anything bizarre. My teen daughters, Leia and Jade, joined me and although the event took place both on Saturday and Sunday, our schedules only permitted Saturday a.k.a. one of the hottest days on record. The unholy mix of southwestern temps and midwestern humidity made for an uncomfortable journey but,  in the end, we all agreed it was worth it. 

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Countdown to Mask-Fest – Next Month it’s Showtime!

Mask-Fest-Horrorhound-Banner

Did you hear the big news? Halloween is coming early this year! Although summer’s usually winding its way down when I start my annual Countdown to Mask-Fest, 2018 is a whole nother story. The premiere Halloween mask-making event is taking place alongside Horrorhound Weekend in August this year rather than September.  It’s 10th Anniversary Show promises to be bigger than ever and is taking place at a new venue. In an effort to fire up the regulars while whetting the appetite of possible newbies, I’ll be counting down the four Fridays leading to the event with photos from last year’s show. Please note, there will be all new masks at the upcoming show! In the meantime, please enjoy some of the gruesome creations from the 2017 show…

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Become Something SCARY with Zagone Studios!

As most monster kids my age did, I spent little to no time playing sports growing up. Instead, I spent my weekends watching any and all monster movies that I could find on TV. Each Tuesday, when the new TV Guide came in for the following week, I would go through page by page making myself a list of what movies were playing, on what station and at what time. Then I would try to watch as many of them as I could, of course assuming that our TV’s UHF antenna would actually be able to draw the station in at the time the movie was airing.

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