One of the dates I love on the Weird Holiday & Observances page is December 5, Krampusnacht. I guess because it’s a good dose of Halloween-ish spookiness with a Christmas twist? I don’t know, but it’s creepy so I love it.
It’s also why any kind of Krampus-related activities pique my interest. Here’s the places I found to hang with Krampus in 2018:
1. The United States
The best way to hang with Krampus in the U.S. is by visiting haunted houses. Nope. They’re not just for Halloween anymore.
Some of the bigger ones open for special days, or even weekends, in December. Many incorporate the horned, hairy beast into their productions.
The 13th Floor is a well known chain of haunted houses across the country. Last year they produced “Krampus, A Haunted Christmas.” This year they’re back with “Krampus, A Haunted Christmas Chapter Two: Jack Frost.”
Source: krampushauntedchristmas.comThe Story
Krampus has recruited Jack Frost to “join him in spreading Christmas fear” along with evil elves, killer snowman, haunted Christmas trees, and more. Basically, anything Christmas has been given a creepy twist.
Even though Krampusnacht is on December 5, you’ll be able to hang with the hairy beast during several days in December, thanks to the “Krampus, A Haunted Christmas” experience. Here’s where they’ll be happening:
- December 7 & 8: Austin, TX – House of Torment Austin
- December 7 & 8: Chicago, IL – 13th Floor Chicago
- December 7 & 8: Jacksonville, FL – 13th Floor Jacksonville
- December 7 & 8: New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Nightmare
- December 7 & 8: Phoenix, AZ – Fear Farm
- December 8 & 15: Denver, CO – 13th Floor Denver
- December 8 & 15: Nashville, TN – Nashville Nightmare
- December 14 & 15: Portland, OR – Fear PDX
To by tickets or for more info, visit their website: https://krampushauntedchristmas.com/.
Other 2018 Christmas Haunted Houses
- December 7 & 8: Baltimore, MD – Bennett’s Curse Haunted House presents Krampus in the City
- December 7 & 8: Nashua, NH – Fright kingdom presents The Fright Before Christmas
- December 7, 8, 14 & 15: Mountlake Terrace, WA – Krampus Nacht at Nile Nightmares
- December 14, 15, 28, & 29: Plano, TX – Dark Hour Haunted House presents Wreck the Halls
- December 15: St. Louis, MO – The Darkness Krampus Christmas Haunted House
- December 15: Bedford, TX – Moxley Manor’s Nightscare Before Christmas
2. Krampus Runs (a.k.a. Krampuslauf)
In Central Europe, Krampuslauf, or Krampus Runs, are popular Christmastime traditions. But don’t let the translation fool you. They’re not “runs” like we might think of here in the States with a bunch of Krampuses running 5ks for charity or something like that.
It’s more like a parade. Some are held during the day, some at night. Many also have women dressed up as Perchta, a goddess from the Alpine regions of Germany and Austria. She’s her own myth but is also considered Krampus’s “gal pal.” She has an army of lost souls known as Perchten, who bear a striking resemblance to Krampus.
There are tons of YouTube videos showing Krampuslaufs, but here’s one to give you an idea.
If you’d like to attend one, here’s where you can find some:
- December 5 & 6: Salzburg Krampus Run
- December 7: Marktplatz Bad Goisern
- December 8: Salzburg Maxglaner Krampus Run
- December 8: Obertauern Krampusparty
- December 9 & 23: Munich Christmas Market Krampus Run
- December 14: Los Angeles Krampuslauf
- December 21: Salzburg Traditional Perchen Run
3. Canada
Source: www.canscare.comHow do you feel about escape games? If you’d like to do a Krampus-themed one, CanScare in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has “Krampus, a Christmas Escape Adventure.”
Tickets are CA$24.99 and must be purchased in advance.
For more info visit: https://www.canscare.com/.
4. Your Screen
Whether it’s a TV, tablet, phone, or laptop, if you’d prefer experiencing Krampus on your own time, what about watching him in a movie?
I thought the movie Krampus started out pretty strong, but I wasn’t nuts about where it went or how it ended. However, it has its moments. It’s not one I’d nestle in to rewatch year after year, but I’d have it playing while I wrapped presents and such.
Last holiday season I discovered A Christmas Horror Story from an Instagram post. How I hadn’t heard about it before then, I don’t know, but what a pleasant surprise. It’s a kitschy and silly comedy like the Krampus movie, but the Krampus beast in this one? Let’s just say I’d be naughty on purpose to get spanked and whipped by him –and I’ve never been into either bestiality or S&M previously. But this Krampus brings both the sexy and the scary, so…yeah.
Whether you celebrate or steer clear of Krampus, the Skeleton Crew and I wish you a very Merry Krampusnacht!
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.
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