In September, I attended Creep It Real OC for the first time as a member of the media. You can read my original review of Creep It Real Nostalgic here. It is safe to say that I had a wonderful time. I explored the Heritage Museum of Orange County, California, reconnected with old friends, and had the pleasure of meeting incredibly kind American actor Ken Page, who later passed away in late September. Nearly two months later, I attended, with friends, its Holiday-Halloween crossover event, Creep It Real Festive.
When I arrived at the entrance, I was spooked to see that the line for entry wrapped around the corner and further down the street. Luckily, Creep It Real OC staff ensured the line progressed smoothly once the event doors opened to the public. Upon entry, I was greeted by a ghoul covered head to toe in Christmas lights and an axe-wielding Pumpkinhead. I was also delighted to see a small vigil dedicated to Ken Page by the entrance. Behind a photo of Page was a large display piece of his iconic character, “Oogie Boogie.” It was nice seeing the Creep It Real OC staff honoring his memory.
While walking around, I listened to creepy Christmas carols and I spotted numerous costumed fiends and photo opportunities with characters such as “Kreep Kringle,” “Krueger Kringle,” “Krampus,” “Jack Skellington,” and “The Grinch.” Most costumes had a theme of Christmas horrors, such as evil elves, Scrooge, and Santa Claus. It was awesome to see how creatively detailed the costumes of attendees were. Many attendees got well into character too. The Grinch even sassed me in Jim Carrey fashion.
With friends, I enjoyed a cup of Pumpkin Chai from Catfight Coffee. The first cup was so delicious that I went back for seconds. We explored the grounds, chatted with vendors, bought merchandise, and took photos with cosplayers and costume enthusiasts. To be expected, there was a long line to take photos with Halloween celebrity Mr. Floats but it was worth the wait because we had a small dog in tow dressed as Georgie Denbrough from Stephen King’s It.
Since food trunks are often notoriously expensive, I brought my own snacks. However, I could not resist the numerous amounts of spooky, sweet treats available. I splurged on Halloween-themed cookies and cakes from various vendors. I especially love supporting local bakers. Meanwhile, one of my friends bought an Oogie Boogie plush keychain. After a few more hours of exploring and buying stuff for ourselves, my friends and I said thank you to the staff, returned to our car, and disappeared into the night.
Creep It Real OC is officially a two-day event, but, with enough efficiency and speed, you can explore every nook and cranny within a few hours. I attended Saturday only, loved it immensely, and at the end of the day, I highly recommend attending Creep It Real OC and its festive sister event. Both events are wonderful excuses to hang out with family and friends, celebrate the holidays, and shop for Christmas presents! If you are an Orange County or Southern California local and interested in attending future Halloween and holiday-Halloween crossover events, Creep It Real OC could be perfect for you, especially if you are looking for a unique holiday experience! It is too soon to buy tickets in advance, but if you follow @creepitrealoc, you can stay tuned to their plans for 2025!
