 |
| Photo courtesy of Underworld Culture Convention |
by Tara Adams
Writer, Haunt Hunters App
SCRANTON, Pa. – When local military veterans Laurissa and Allen Rex set out to build a convention in Scranton, they wanted to move past traditional vendor markets and tap directly into the uncanny.
This weekend, Sept. 19–20, that vision takes shape as the inaugural Underworld Culture Convention fills the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, blending cinematic terror with the paranormal under one roof.
The event arrives at a notable inflection point for genre gatherings.
According to Marketing Director Michael Castro, pairing paranormal enthusiasts with hardcore horror fans is a deliberate strategy to keep both subcultures robust, noting that standalone paranormal events have experienced a cooling trend in recent attendance numbers.
"The paranormal community needs to hang on to the horror fan to keep it alive," Castro said. "They complement each other very well."
And the Radisson was an excellent fit for the convention, given its historic charm and longtime stories of it being haunted, Castro said.
According to numerous published reports, the hotel's basement served as a temporary morgue for local fallen World War I soldiers until their families could claim them.
Festivities begin before the main exhibition doors open, starting with a midnight seance on Friday night at the nearby Electric City Trolley Museum.
From cursed dolls to cinematic royalty
Inside the hotel, attendees will navigate a floorplan that features nearly 100 vendors specializing in metaphysical oddities, spiritual supplies, cryptids, and horror.
Beyond the vendor tables, the convention will feature interactive workshops and appearances by veteran horror figures.
The celebrity roster includes pro photo opportunities, autograph, and Q&A sessions with CJ Graham (best known as Jason Voorhees), Tony Moran (Michael Myers), Junko Bailey (Kayako from The Grudge), and Jeff and Willy from Mountain Monsters, among other celebrities.
For attendees looking for hands-on experiences, the schedule features several ticketed masterclasses:
The Grudge Doll Workshop (Saturday): Participants sculpt, shade, and texture their own cursed art dolls featuring dark eyes and aging details, with Junko Bailey present to sign finished pieces. The workshop is led by Mary Jo Chudley, owner of Twisted Dolls and Penn Paranormal.
Magic Workshops with Patti Negri: The psychic-medium hosts two distinct sessions. The first is a Saturday deep dive into poppet magic and haunted objects drawing from her book “Dollcraft: A Witch’s Guide to Poppet Magick & Haunted Dolls,” followed by a Sunday afternoon workshop on practical modern magic.
Horror Legends Screenings: Screenings accompanied by actor Q&As feature titles such as Halloween, Friday the 13th Part VI, and Scream.
A Community Approach
Organizers emphasize that despite the focus on cinematic killers and spirit-summoning workshops, the atmosphere is designed to be inclusive and family-friendly. Organizers are also directing a portion of all ticket proceeds to Fisher House, an organization supporting military families.
"We're really all about good vibes, man," Castro said. "It's all ages. Families are welcome. It's going to be super cool."
Tickets and workshop passes are currently available for the weekend event. More information about the event may be found at https://gounderworld.com/.
