The third annual Crawfordsville Paranormal Convention, organized by Legends, Lore and Hauntings, is getting ready for an even larger event at a new location this year and seeking sponsors.
This year’s convention will be at the Montgomery County 4-H Fairgrounds on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25.
Local authors and husband and wife Christopher and Christina Hunt are behind Legends, Lore and Hauntings and say since the first convention, it has only grown, calling for a larger space with more vendors and attractions. There are already 63 vendors signed up for this year’s event, compared to last year’s nearly 50.
“During each of our first two years, we welcomed close to 500 visitors, around 50 vendors, and four to five speakers,” Christopher Hunt said. “This year, we decided to go much, much bigger.”
The Hunts are seeking $2,000 in sponsorships to help cover advertising, giveaways, prizes and other expenses associated with the convention. Admission to the convention will remain free.
“We want this to remain an event that everyone in the community can come out and enjoy regardless of their budget,” Hunt said.
Sanders Funeral Home has joined the convention as a Giant Graveyard Giver Sponsor this year.
“There really is no sponsorship too small, because every dollar helps us continue to grow the convention while keeping admission free,” Hunt said.
The convention’s first two years were held at the Crawfordsville Armory. As attendance and interest grew, however, the Hunts began looking for a larger space.
“Moving to the 4-H grounds was the natural next step,” Hunt said.
The expanded event will feature between 70 and 80 vendors if the Hunts reach their goal, along with 11 speakers, four live discussion panels and three workshops. The two featured speakers have appeared on the History Channel, while other speakers will cover topics including ghosts, cryptids, UFOs and UAPs, paranormal investigation and history.
The convention will also include a costume contest, paranormal tattoo contest and a large kids area with activities including a face painter, pop-up haunted house, caricature artist, balloon artist and slime bar.
There are also three VIP events separate from the main convention, including gallery readings with evidential medium Brooke Ashley of the Spirit Realm Network, a VIP ghost hunt at the Rotary Jail and a nighttime Bigfoot hunt.
Hunt said while there is an advisory board that helps with ideas, organization and planning, a lot of that work still falls on him and Christina.
“We put our hearts and pretty much every free moment we have into it,” Hunt said. “Our goal has always been to create something that is fun, educational, a little spooky, and welcoming to everyone, from serious paranormal enthusiasts to families who simply want something different and fun to do together,” Hunt said.
More information about the convention, including its speakers, panels, workshops and activities, is available at LegendsLoreandHauntings.com under the Annual Cville Paracon section.
Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring the convention can also contact the Hunts by email at cville_paranormal_society@yahoo.com. Hunt said contributions of any size can help the event continue to grow while keeping admission free for the community.
