The ParaPod Festival will haunt audiences in Santa Clarita Valley with a celebration of all things paranormal March 31 and April 1.
The inaugural two-day long event includes a podcast awards show, ghost town investigations, expert lectures, workshops and more at MentryVille Park on the 31st and the Hyatt Regency Valencia on the 1st.
The festival is organized by paranormal video podcaster Tony Sweet, whose show, Truth Be Told, has been a popular Apple podcast for a decade. Sweet recognized the growing popularity and interest in the paranormal genre, as dedicated audiences have formed on online platforms like YouTube, Tik Tok and Instagram.
“Although paranormal content is abundant with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of views, we never really see these creators – podcasters, investigators, filmmakers – being honored,” said Sweet. “That is why I wanted to develop a platform where all forms of paranormal content could be celebrated.”
The first day of the festival features events like a daytime paranormal investigation of MentryVille, an oil-boom ghost town, and an evening of stargazing with TV show Fact or Faked host, Ben Hansen, as well as a nighttime tour of the allegedly haunted Mentry Mansion with psychic medium, Patti Negri of Ghost Adventures.
The second day of the fest features guest lectures, panels, workshops and a conference with a roster of world-renowned speakers. A swath of paranormal experts, such as ancient Egypt theorist and geologist Robert M. Schoch, celebrity psychic Char Margolis from RuPaul’s Drag Race and much more.
Attendees can also visit a vendor marketplace and the celebration of paranormal content creators during the ParaPod awards ceremony.
The festival’s grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be officiated by former Santa Clarita mayor and current council member, Marsha McLean. Speakers at the event will be awarded certificates from the city. The master of ceremonies for the festival will be Fade to Black podcast host, Jimmy Church.
The Gory Details:
Parapod Festival,
Santa Clarita, Calif.
Noon-11 p.m. Fri., March 31 at MentryVille Park
9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sat., April 1 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia
Free parking
Tickets $25-$175
For more info: Parapodfestival.com
