Vampire-Con: A Weekend Fest You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into

Polish your fangs and hide your garlic--today is the start of Vampire-Con, which is "the world’s first convention, devoted to everything vampire." With events scheduled throughout the weekend to thrill, entertain, and enlighten, enthusiasts can satisfy their blood-lust by attending films, discussions, and a ball.

The New Beverly Cinema is home to the two-day Vampire Film Festival, which gets things going with two nights of screenings. The revival house has a "fangtastic" line-up of of vampire films old and new:

• Friday @ 7:30: Count Yorga, Vampire (1970); @ 9:40 The Lost Boys (1987); @11:59 a video projection sneak preview of Midnight Son (2009).
• Saturday @ 7:30 The Velvet Vampire (1971); @ 9:30 The Hunger (1983).

On Sunday at The Music Box Theatre starting at 10:30 a.m. it's a day of panel discussions, vendors, contests and charity events. Doors open at 10:30 AM. A blood drive will be held for the American Red Cross, APLA will offer free HIV testing and the Santa Monica-based non-profit Virginia Avenue Project will hold an auction for items (including stuff from True Blood). At 8:30 p.m. it's time for the big closing event: Vampirella's Ball. This is an 18 and over "danse macabre" that includes "vamperotic go-go girls and boys," special DJs, and the burlesque stylings of Angela Eve. DJ Gary Calamar, Grammy-nominated Producer, Music Supervisor of HBO’s True Blood and KCRW (89.9) DJ will close with a special late night set.

Tickets are $15 for the Sunday day-walkers and $30 for Vampirella’s Ball. A day & night package deal can be purchased for $40 ($45 at The Music Box Theatre door). Film festival admission is $7 per night.