PHOTOS: Columbia welcomes 1st Horror Convention to the Palmetto State

The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center held the South Carolina Horror Convention from Sept. 16-17, 2023. This event marks the first Horror Convention in South Carolina. The two-day event featured local and regional vendors, special guests and a short haunted house from the Dark Castle Haunted Attractions company. According to pre-sale ticket sales, more than 2,500 horror fans attended the event. Many attendees cosplayed as their favorite horror villains, with some competing in the cosplay contest on the last day of the convention. The South Carolina Horror Convention is set to return in 2024.

Cassie Wing (left), the owner of Wretched Collections, sticks her finger inside a monster mask worn by Stone McLinde (right) during the South Carolina Horror Convention at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Sept. 16, 2023. Wretched Collections, based out of Lexington, South Carolina, has a collection of more than 8,500 costumes, alternative fashion and other types of clothing and apparel.

Halloween and horror masks line the wall of the South Carolina Horror Convention at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Sept. 16, 2023. This two-day event from Sept. 16-17, 2023, marks the first time a horror convention has taken place in the Palmetto State.

Cole Bapties (right), from Beaufort, South Carolina, and dressed as Michael Myers from the "Halloween" horror franchise, takes a selfie with a cosplayer wearing a "Resident Evil" Mr. X costume (left) at the South Carolina Horror Convention on Sept. 16, 2023. The convention featured a cosplay competition on Sept. 17, 2023, where attendees dressed up as their favorite horror characters.

Paintings of famous horror scenes and villains including Michael Myers, Hellraiser and Patrick Bateman sit to the side of a vendor at the South Carolina Horror Convention on Sept. 16, 2023. The convention featured craft vendors, booksellers and food vendors from around South Carolina and the southeastern U.S.

Ron Stokes (left), Andrew Davis (center) and Chris Young (right) pose in front of a painting of "Vigo the Carpathian" from "Ghostbusters 2." The three are members of the Columbia branch of a non-profit group, South Carolina Ghostbusters, who attend and run charity events and help acquire medical treatments for people in need around the Midlands.

A model of "Slimer," a ghost from the "Ghostbusters" series, sits on the South Carolina Ghostbusters' booth at the South Carolina Horror Convention at the Columbia Metropolitan Center on Sept. 16, 2023. The South Carolina Ghostbusters are a non-profit group that attends charity events, conventions and raises funds for charities across South Carolina.

Red Fraggle from "Fraggle Rock" (left) and Kermit the Frog (right) sit in the background of the Bill Diamond Productions booth at the South Carolina Horror Convention on September 16, 2023. Bill Diamond, seen in the foreground, is an award artist, puppeteer and producer who has worked on a plethora of films and television shows including "The Muppets," "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Dark Crystal."

Bill Diamond, the producer of Bill Diamond Productions, poses inside the mouth of "Audrey II," from his production, "Little Shop of Horrors," at the South Carolina Horror Convention on Sept. 16, 2023. Diamond is a television producer, puppeteer/puppet creator and animator who has worked on productions ranging from "Little Shop of Horrors," "The Muppets" and to his current production, "Monster TV."

Marcus Cunningham, dressed up as Freddy Krueger, poses with a Jason Voorhees Mask in reference to the "Freddy vs. Jason" franchise during the first day of the South Carolina Horror Convention on Sept. 16, 2023. Cunningham said he plans on returning on Sept. 17, 2023, dressed up as Jason Voorhees, taking three hours prior to prepare the costume.

A photo backdrop with bats, bloodied baby dolls and a neon-sign reading "Stay Spooky" sits to the side of The Piercing Parlor booth at the South Carolina Horror Convention on Sept. 16, 2023. The piercing studio is based out of Irmo, South Carolina, and is ran and employed by women.