My Weekend at NightCrawlers 2025 🎃
This past weekend (October 18th), I set up shop at NightCrawlers, a spooky-themed convention hosted by Buffalo Events Marketplace, and my first event with them! The show took place at the Buffalo Convention Center, the same venue that houses Nickel City Comic Con, though this one only used about half of the space. Despite the smaller scale, it still had all the Halloween energy I could’ve hoped for, costumes, eerie décor, and lots of unique artists and makers who specialize in all things dark, creepy, and creative.
As someone who’s always loved spooky season, this was definitely my kind of crowd. From horror art and gothic jewelry to haunted home décor and pumpkin-scented everything, there was something for every kind of Halloween lover. My booth featured my drippy skull art, original paintings, prints, stickers, and coloring books, and it was fun seeing people stop by and take in the details of each piece. Even though the show was smaller than some of the other conventions I’ve done, it had a cozy and community-focused feel that made it really enjoyable to be part of.
Foot traffic throughout the day was lighter than I expected, definitely not as busy as the larger cons, but that didn’t stop me from having a great experience. I was able to make back the cost of my table and still come out ahead, which is always a win for a first-time event. The slower pace also meant I had more time to actually talk with people who stopped by, answer questions about my process, and share a little bit about my inspiration behind the drippy, spooky art I love creating.
One of the best parts of any convention is connecting with other artists and small business owners, and NightCrawlers was no exception. I met some amazing fellow vendors, from candle makers and apothecaries to other horror-inspired artists, and a few of those conversations may even turn into future collaborations or partnerships. That’s one of my favorite things about doing these events: you never know who you’re going to meet or what opportunities might come from it.
Even though the foot traffic wasn’t huge, NightCrawlers gave me exactly what I was hoping for, a chance to get more involved in the spooky art and horror convention scene here in Western New York. It reminded me that these kinds of niche, theme-based events attract the people who really appreciate dark, weird, and creative work like mine. I’m already looking forward to adding more of these to my event lineup next year!
And up next, I’ll be at the Buffalo Horror Garage Sale on November 7th and 8th at Sikora Post in North Tonawanda, NY, another spooky-themed event that I’m really excited about. If you missed NightCrawlers, come check this one out! It’ll be filled with horror-inspired art, collectibles, and handmade goods just in time to keep that Halloween spirit alive a little longer.
NightCrawlers might have been a smaller con, but it was packed with heart, creativity, and good vibes. Every event teaches me something new, about what people connect with, how to refine my booth setup, and how to keep pushing my art in new directions. I left feeling inspired, grateful, and excited to see where some of these new connections might lead.
Until next time, stay spooky 👻