Your guide to Artists Assemble Horror Fest: Phoenix's female-run fright event

The scary season is in full swing. With Halloween just weeks away, horror flicks are in theaters and all over TV and local haunted houses are delivering nightly frights.

Sounds like the perfect time for an event like this weekend’s Artists Assemble Horror Fest in Mesa.

The three-day celebration of horror, taking place Friday to Sunday at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West, will offer local ghouls a weekend of themed experiences, appearances by actors like Mark Pellegrino from “Supernatural” and other spooky fun.

Artists Assemble Horror Fest is one of several local conventions that have spawned in recent years due to Arizona’s booming interest in horror. Co-founder and local artist Bianca Thompson says the event tries to stand apart from other local scare fests, though.
“We cater more to families,” Thompson says. “We're also primarily a woman-run event, something that’s rare since a lot of horror cons are male-owned or male-run.”

Artist Assemble Horror Fest was launched in October 2022 by Thompson and fellow geeks Mandy Martz and Brenda Flavin. Each has significant experience with local conventions: Thompson has created and sold trading cards and comic books through her company, Artists Assemble, while Martz and Flavin previously worked behind the scenes at events like Phoenix Fan Fusion and Mad Monster Party Arizona.

“We’ve all come from different conventions and have grown from them,” Thompson says. “So we put our resources together and decided to give it a try.”

So far, the event has been a success. Close to 1,000 people attended the inaugural event in 2022 at the Sheraton Phoenix Crescent Hotel. Last year, the event moved to Mesa and turnout doubled.
Despite the positive response, Thompson says they’ve faced obstacles as a female-owned convention, especially when it comes to booking celebrity guests.

“I've had to jump through many, many hoops that others haven't because I'm female,” she says. “It feels like some actors’ agents don’t take you seriously.”

Thompson says they've tried turning these obstacles into opportunities.

"Because we've been alienated by certain agents, we've branched out and gotten other celebrities that other people wouldn't be able to get,” she says. “We work with a lot of woman agents who have been fantastic. They go above and beyond.”

For example, "Hackers" actor Renoly Santiago will make his convention debut at Artist Assemble Horror Fest this weekend. Meanwhile, Aaron Stanford from “Deadpool & Wolverine” and Lynn McRee from "Scream 2" and "Scream 3" are appearing at their first Arizona geek event.

Thompson says Artists Assemble Horror Fest differs from local horror conventions with its activities, including having trick or treating for kids in the vendor hall on Sunday.

“Each table and booth, including the celebrities, will have candy throughout the day until we run out,” she says. “It’s a safe trick-or-treating experience and its a great time.”

What else is planned for Artists Assemble Horror Fest 2024 this weekend? Eyeball our comprehensive guide to the event for everything you need to know.

When and where is Artists Assemble Horror Fest?

Artists Assemble Horror Fest 2024 is from Friday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West, 860 N. Riverview in Mesa.

What time is Artists Assemble Horror Fest?

Here are the official hours of Artists Assemble Horror Fest:

• Friday, 4 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Artists Assemble Horror Fest tickets

Tickets are available via ticketleap.events. Daily admission is $20 on Friday, $30 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday. Weekend passes are $65.

Age limits

Artists Assemble Horror Fest is an all-ages event and family-friendly event.

2024 Artists Assemble Horror Fest guests

Close to a dozen actors and actresses (and one horse) are scheduled to appear at this year’s Horror Fest. Here’s the complete lineup of guests:

• Aaron Stanford ("Deadpool & Wolverine," "X2: X-Men United")
• Mark Pellegrino (“Supernatural,” "Dexter")
• Jodelle Ferland ("Silent Hill," "Carrie")
• Joanna Cassidy ("Blade Runner," "Six Feet Under")
• Renoly Santiago ("Hackers," "Con Air")
• Laurence Mason ("The Crow," "Hackers")
• Rochelle Davis ("The Crow")
• Gabrielle Echols ("Evil Dead Rise")
• Lynn Mcree ("Scream 2," Scream 3")
• Houston Towe ("American Horror Story: Asylum")
• Noah Hathaway ("The NeverEnding Story")
• Artax ("The NeverEnding Story")

Getting there

Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West is located just west of Riverview Park in Mesa. Take the Loop 202/Red Mountain Freeway to Dobson Road (Exit 10) and then go south to Cubs Way. Head west for approximately one block to the hotel’s parking lot.

Where can I park?

It’s free to park at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and hundreds of spaces are available.

How much are celebrity autographs or photo ops?

Prices vary per celebrity with some charging as little as $20 or as much as $80 for a snapshot, posed photo op or autograph.

Artists Assemble Horror Fest schedule Friday

• 4:45 p.m., Lynn McRee photo op
• 5 p.m., SFX makeup demo by ZOMBI; Laurence Mason photo op
• 5:15 p.m., Rochelle Davis photo op
• 5:30 p.m., Renoly Santiago photo op
• 5:45 p.m., Gabrielle Echols photo op
• 6 p.m., "Scream" Q&A panel with Lynn McRee; Joanna Cassidy photo op
• 6:15 p.m., Noah Hathaway photo op
• 6:45 p.m., Mark Pellegrino photo op
• 7 p.m., "Hackers" Q&A panel with Laurence Mason and Renoly Santiago
• 7:30 p.m., Jodelle Ferland photo op
• 7:45 p.m., Aaron Stanford photo op
• 8 p.m., Joanna Cassidy Q&A panel
• 9 p.m., "Drink up Witches" Horror Pictionary in the hotel lounge

Artists Assemble Horror Fest schedule Saturday

• 11 a.m., Gabrielle Echols Q&A panel
• Noon, Noah Hathaway and Artax photo op
• 1:15 p.m., Noah Hathaway photo op
• 1:30 p.m., Jodelle Ferland Q&A panel; Mark Pellegrino photo op
• 2:30 p.m., Aaron Stanford photo op
• 3 p.m., Horror trivia; Gabrielle Echols
• 3:15 p.m., Jodelle Ferland photo op
• 3:30 p.m., Joanna Cassidy photo op
• 3:45 p.m., Lynn McRee photo op
• 4 p.m., Renoly Santiago photo op
• 4:15 p.m., "Supernatural" Q&A panel with Mark Pellegrino
• 4:30 p.m., Laurence Mason photo op
• 4:45 p.m., Laurence Mason and Rochelle Davis photo op
• 5 p.m., Rochelle Davis photo
• 5:30 p.m., "Deadpool & Wolverine" Q&A panel with Aaron Stanford
• 5:45 p.m., “Supernatural” Lucifer's Cage photo op
• 7:30 p.m., Costume contests
• 8:30 p.m., “Hackers” rave

Artists Assemble Horror Fest schedule Sunday

• 11 a.m., SFX makeup demo by ZOMBI; “Supernatural” Lucifer's Cage photo op
• 11:30 a.m., Lynn McRee photo op
• 11:45 a.m., Rochelle Davis photo op
• Noon, Rochelle Davis and Laurence Mason photo op
• 12:15 p.m., Noah Hathaway Q&A panel; Laurence Mason photo op
• 12:30 p.m., Renoly Santiago and Laurence Mason photo op
• 1 p.m., Renoly Santiago photo op
• 1:15 p.m., Mark Pellingrino photo op
• 1:30 p.m., "The Crow" Q&A panel; Joanna Cassidy photo op
• 1:45 p.m., Jodelle Ferland photo op
• 2 p.m., Aaron Stanford photo op
• 2:30 p.m., Gabrielle Echols photo op
• 3 p.m., Noah Hathaway photo op

Cosplay

You’re guaranteed to encounter horror-inspired costumes throughout the weekend at the Horror Fest. A cosplay contest will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Celebrity guests Jodelle Ferland and Gabrielle Echols will judge with prizes being awarded to the best get-ups.

What else can you do at Artists Assemble Horror Fest?

There will be activities and after-parties throughout the weekend, including the following:

• The "Drink up Witches" party at 9 p.m. on Friday in the lounge promises horror-themed Pictionary and "Devil's Night" cocktails
• The “Hackers” rave at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday will feature appearances by actors Laurence Mason (a.k.a. Lord Nikon) and Renoly Santiago ("The Phantom Phreak")
• A horror trivia game at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the panel room will offer prizes
• Locally produced horror podcast Scaredycast will record interviews throughout the weekend in the vendor hall