Con season has returned! Sure, San Diego Comic Con is happening “at home” this summer, but other cons are welcoming fans and stars alike for an in-person experience.

We at Pop Culture Junkie are based in Phoenix, so the convention fans among us got to attend the Mad Monster Party, which opened Friday, July 2nd at the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, about 25 minutes west of Arizona’s capital city.

The event features celebrities who are available all day at a table for autographs and chat sessions, as well as at select times for photo opportunities – a chance for you to have your picture taken with the celeb of your choice by a professional photographer.

Attendees this year include Skeet Ulrich (Riverdale, Scream), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Terry Kiser (Weekend at Bernie’s), PJ Soles (Halloween, Stripes, Rock and Roll High School), Mark Sheppard (Supernatural and more shows than you can imagine), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Matthew Lillard (the Scooby Doo movies), Jamie Kennedy (Scream), Ron Sloan, Carol Nocatell and Tom Morga from Friday the 13th Part V, James Remar (Dexter), Andrew Divoff (Lost) and even Susan Backlinie, famous for being the first swimmer eaten by a shark in the original Jaws movie.

The convention features a panel with Ulrich, Lillard and Kennedy who all starred in Scream as well as individual question and answer sessions with the Sheppard, Remar, Bradley and more. There are also artist and author tables where you can buy original works, and after party activities like karaoke and a burlesque show planned. The official schedule is on Mad Monster’s website.

Previous Mad Monster Parties had been held in a much smaller space; this year honoring Covid regulations, the convention occupies a much more spacious area, with wide walkways in between the various merchant and autograph signing tables. Be warned: the convention floor can be quite warm.

As before though, this convention offers plenty to see and do, and if you are a cosplayer or just someone who enjoys everyone else’s efforts, Mad Monster is the party you were waiting for. Just try not to get too creeped out by the clown with the balloons that seems to be following you.

The convention runs through Sunday evening.