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I’d love to go to every para con and horror fest I could. Money and time, of course, does not permit that.
One I’d always been curious about was Walker Stalker. I used to be a huge The Walking Dead fan. (I’m still a fan, but the series has gotten a little stale the past two or three seasons. I still watch, though not with as much anticipation as I used to.)
Anyway, a couple years back a Walker Stalker con came to town (Nashville) and I was all excited to go. It had been coming for a couple of years, but it seemed I always missed it for some reason. But that year I was going to be in town so I got tickets.
Now, when you buy tickets to an event, you expect to go, right? Pending any unforeseen issues like health problems, deaths in the family, inclement weather, etc.
Luckily Walker Stalker Nashville went off without a hitch when we went, but as I watched the news last night they had a story about how the Walker Stalker Nashville that was supposed to happen in late August of this year got rescheduled to January. (And it’s now a FanFest: Walker Stalker/Heroes & Villains event.)
FanFest
Well, that helped to explain something I’d noticed as I updated the Paracons & Horror Fest page. As I’d added some of the Walker Stalkers events, I noticed many had a “FanFest” banner I hadn’t seen before.
It looked to be some kind of rebranding. I wasn’t sure if they were trying to transition away from Walker Stalker since eventually the show will end and fan interest will wane –if it hasn’t already. That way they’d still have a pop culture con that they could shape to whatever other hot hit show comes along.
However, it seems FanFest is getting a bad rep –perhaps for good reason. They seem to be cancelling a lot of events.
Cancellations
During the newscast about the cancelled Walker Stalker cancellation in Nashville –which has been rescheduled to January 2020– the reporter interviewed frustrated con goers who don’t know if they’ll get a refund. Plus, some were coming from out of town, took time off work, had to reschedule travel plans, etc.
The reporter also brought up how cancelling events seems to be a trend for the event company. As does not refunding money in a timely fashion.
As of this post, the Better Business Bureau has 75 complaints against Walkers Stalkers LLC. The news reported how the BBB cautions “buyer beware” when buying tickets to a FanFest event due to the number of complaints because of cancellations.
I’m feeling very grateful (and relieved) that I got to go to Walker Stalker. Not because it was awesome. Actually, it was a bit of a let down and a complete money game with paying to stand in line to get autographs and photos with the TWC stars. I wasn’t very impressed with the event. The best part was the fans and their costumes and their passion. But overall the event itself didn’t live up to my expectations.
I’m just glad it wasn’t cancelled. That would’ve been very frustrating. I sympathize with those who were looking forward to Walker Stalkers only to have them not happen. They’re not cheap, so I hope all those awaiting refunds get them.
Check-In
Have you ever bought tickets to an event that got cancelled? Did you get your money back, or was it rescheduled and you had to go another time?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.