🎃 Creep It Real Festive OC: A Spooky Holiday Night With the SoCal Community

If there’s one thing I love about the Southern California spooky community, it’s that we refuse to let Halloween fade quietly into the background. We just shift the vibe. And this past weekend at Creep It Real Festive OC was the perfect example of that spooky-holiday magic in action.

Held at the Heritage Museum of Orange County, the festival transformed the grounds into a cozy little haunt. Cool air, soft mist, twinkle lights, fog drifting through the gardens... and everywhere you turned, people in spooky holiday costumes. Full makeup looks, layered outfits, Krampus-inspired fits, creepy-cute takes on Christmas. It felt like stepping into a winter version of Halloween Town, created by people who genuinely love this world.

More than anything, the night felt like the community coming together again. Familiar faces, new creators, families with kids in costumes, artists chatting with guests, strangers hyping each other up. It had that warm, connected energy that makes events like this feel special.

🎁 The Marketplace: Creative, Cozy, and Full of Heart

The marketplace is always the heart of Creep It Real Festive, and this year was no different. Over 100 vendors filled the museum paths with spooky holiday magic. Think gothic ornaments, creepy wreaths, horror art, candles, plushies, witchy goodies, apparel, snacks, and so many handmade pieces that it was impossible not to fall in love with something.

But what really stood out was the vibe between vendors and guests. People taking the time to chat, compliment each other’s finds, reconnect with artists they love, and discover new favorites. It felt less like shopping and more like supporting a giant creative family.

This community really shows up for each other.

🎶 Kitty Antix Brought the Energy

Entertainment played such a big role in shaping the mood of the night. The Scareolers floated harmonies through the gardens, the holiday-horror shows added playful chaos, and then there was Kitty Antix.

She absolutely killed it on stage. High-energy, charismatic, fun, and so loved by the crowd. People stopped mid-shopping to watch her set, and it felt like the whole festival synced into one shared moment. She added a burst of life into the night that fit perfectly with the cozy-spooky atmosphere.

🎄 The Ghoul Yule Parade

One of the cutest and most festive traditions at this event is the Ghoul Yule Parade. Guests gathered near the gazebo in their best spooky-holiday outfits while Kreep Kringle led the way. It was a full runway moment. Families, goth kids, cosplayers, horror lovers, holiday monsters, all walking together and cheering each other on. It felt like one big celebration of creativity.

🧛 Twilight Fans Were Thriving

Another fun surprise was the Cullen family reunion panel featuring Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, and Peter Facinelli. Twilight fans showed up fully ready and excited, and the panel added a nostalgic sweetness to the night. Even if Twilight wasn’t your thing, the energy was infectious and really added to the overall sense of community.

👻 The Kellogg House Ghost Tour Was the Highlight

My favorite part of the night was definitely the ghost tour inside the Kellogg House. That house, more than 100 years old, already has a presence just standing outside it, but stepping inside after dark made everything feel amplified.

Our tour guide, Darcy, was genuinely one of the best parts of the experience. She had this perfect mix of knowledge, wit, and subtle humor that kept the entire group engaged. She’d drop a spooky fact and then add a quick, funny comment that broke the tension just enough. It made the whole tour feel conversational and fun without ever losing the eerie atmosphere.

She walked us room to room, sharing stories about past paranormal experiences, strange moments people have witnessed, and bits of the home’s history that gave everything more depth. The dim lighting, the creaking floors, the quiet corners, all of it worked together to create these little moments where the whole group stopped at the same time. Not scared, but tuned in. Curious. Connected.

It reminded me why I love ghost stories to begin with... the quiet, the mystery, the way they make you lean in a little closer.

🍬 Snacks, Food Trucks, and Little Shared Moments

Warm food on a cool night always hits different. Tamales, sweets, comfort snacks, hot drinks... they had it all. I ended up getting a drink from Barmaid Beauties, and it was definitely one of the cutest (and most fun) drinks I’ve ever carried around at a festival. It came in a glowing jack-o’-lantern cup with colorful lights bobbing around, and it made wandering through the event feel even more magical. A spooky little cocktail lantern? Yes, please.

All around me, people were gathered at tables or tucked under string lights, comparing finds from vendors and warming up with snacks. Little pockets of conversation, laughter, and shared excitement made the whole night feel cozy and connected. Those small moments are what make events like this stick with you.

🕯️ Why Creep It Real Festive Matters

Creep It Real Festive OC isn’t just another holiday market. It’s a gathering place. A celebration of the spooky community. A moment where artists, families, witches, weirdos, horror lovers, kids, elders, nostalgic Halloween fans, and everyone in between get to share space and enjoy the season their own way.

It’s proof that spooky culture isn’t confined to October. It’s year-round. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a community built on creativity, connection, and a shared love for the eerie and the enchanting.

If you missed it this year, definitely mark it for next time. It’s one of the most heartfelt, atmospheric, and uniquely spooky events in Orange County.

Happy Hauntidays,

Hannah Altman 🖤🎄

Paranormal Lounge