We’re so glad to have talented artist Estephanie Mendoza on this year’s vendor floor. Este created our awesome Milwaukee Paranormal Conference art for 2021 and she’s got a beautiful selection of illustrations and crafts for Milwaukee Krampusnacht. The Krampus stuff is great, of course, but we love the fact that she created some Mari Lwyd art as well (the Mari Lwyd comes from a Welsh tradition and we’ve featured one in our Krampus Parade since 2018).
For a variety of reasons, our Milwaukee Krampusnacht merch is on a tight deadline and we are limited in our offerings this year. Shirts and sweatshirts are only available through pre-order this year (there will be a few extra unisex Ts at the event, but those will go quick). Stickers, pins, and posters will be available at the event and do not need to be pre-ordered.
Below is the merch design, by Stinky Goblin Emporium (please ignore the design as it appears on Square as they cropped off part of the lettering because it’s not square shaped)
Unisex black T-shirt, S-3XL, $15-$17
Women’s cut black T-shirt, S-3XL, $15-17
Unisex longsleeve black T-shirt, S-3XL, $22-25
Unisex black zip-up hoodie, S-3XL, $35-37
THESE ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ONLY. Pre-order is open until 11/19 at 5pm CST.
The items will be available for pick up at Milwaukee Krampusnacht, Dec. 5, from our merch table. You still need a ticket to get in: https://milwaukeeparacon.com/krampus/ If you want to get an order shipped, please email with a list of what you’d like to order and we can arrange a shipment: milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com
Discounted Milwaukee Paranormal Conference merch is also available for pickup at the event.
Stinky Goblin Emporium has been part of Milwaukee Krampusnacht since year one and they have created our incredibly awesome event/t-shirt art every year. They say they love Krampusnacht, and we certainely love them. From the Goblins’ mouth:
“Stinky Goblin Emporium loves Krampusnacht! This year we will be selling original paintings on homemade wood plaques, hand painted wooden ornaments, and some small water color paintings, most of which center around our favorite christmas demon!”
Milwaukee Krampusnacht is happening on Dec. 5 at the Bavarian Bierhaus. A highlight of the event is our annual Krampus Parade, which is sponsored this year by American Ghost Walks. The parade is at 7PM outside in the Bavarian Bierhaus’s beer garden grounds.
We encourage anyone that has a costume inspired by Krampus or other holiday monsters to participate in the parade. The parade also features angels handing out candy. Milwaukee Krampus Eigenheit is a Milwaukee-based group of performers who participate in Krampusnacht and other events. You can find more info on them here: www.facebook.com/Milwaukee.Krampus.Eigenheit
The Krampusnacht Witches are also part of the parade and do a witch’s dance after the parade. If you want to join in, talk to Women in Motion- Kenosha: www.facebook.com/groups/WIMKenosha
You do not need to have a group affiliation to participate, though, just a costume and a willingness to have fun. Just fill out the form below, with your name, email, and info on the character you are portraying. Parade performers get one free admission for themselves to the event.
Parade assembles in the parade green room (in the basement Winestubbe) at 6:30pm. Any questions, feel free to email: milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com
Milwaukee Krampusnacht 2021 is dedicated to the memory of Scott Wolter, pictured here at the first Milwaukee Krampusnacht in 2017. Photo by C.M. DeSpears
We’re glad to welcome a new vendor to Milwaukee Krampusnacht– The Hodag Store, all the way from Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The Hodag is another horned monster that calls Wisconsin home– the legend dates back to the late 1800s when a prankster named Eugene Shepard claimed he had photographed the monster in the woods outside Rhinelander. The Hodag has since becaome a Wisconsin Legend.
The Hodag Store (538 Lincoln St., Rhinelander) is your one stop Hodag souvenir shop with over 250 items– t-shirts, stickers, games, soda, hats, pins, earrings, and much more. They’ll have a selection of merch on the Krampus Holiday Market floor and you might even see a Hodag or two in the Krampus Parade!
Milwaukee Krampusnacht planning is moving along. This has been a challenging year to plan an event, but as always, we are working hard to bring great entertainment, vendors, and performers to our event. The event is 4-10pm Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Bavarian Bierhaus (700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale).
Tickets are on sale now (noon CST, Halloween). The first 100 tickets are free (these will be gone within minutes) and general admission tickets are just $5. Children 12 and under are free (if they’ve been good, otherwise we’re charging them double!) We have always strived to make this an affordable event for anyone who wants to go. We do not have our Kid’s Krampus Hour tickets available yet, still trying to figure out some logistics. We’re hoping to have the Kid’s Krampus Hour tickets available Nov. 5– these will be limited to 50 and includes a special craft-making session, candy bag, and special visit by Saint Nick and Krampus.
The Krampus Parade is currently scheduled for 7pm. If you’re interested in being in the parade as a performer, we will have a registration form online next week. This year Milwaukee Krampusnacht is dedicated to Scott Wolter. Scott was an important part of this event– he participated every year and taught children about the Krampus tradition at our Kid’s Krampus Hour in 2018 and 19. He passed away last year and will be missed.
Scott Wolter in the Krampus Parade, 2019.
We’ve booked most of our entertainment, but expect a couple more acts to be announced in the next couple weeks.
Music line-up:
The Quilz
We’re thrilled to welcome The Quilz, a dreamy and cinematic synthwave duo to Krampusnacht! thequilz.com
The Quilz
Sweet Sheiks
Bringing back jazz and pop from the teens, 20s, and 30s, Sweet sheiks returns for their third Krampusnacht! www.reverbnation.com/sweetsheiks
Sweet Sheiks
Sunspot
Weird Wisconsin rock anthems, Madison’s Sunspot returns for their second Krampusnacht! www.sunspotmusic.com
Sunspot
Leaky Bellows
A Scottish Folk band focused on creating energetic arrangements of historical (and modern) bagpipe, fiddle, and harp repertoire alongside traditional songs and ballads.
DJ 10-foot Tall Krampus (this Krampus will be DJ-ing at the outdoor bar)
Roaming Zombie Choir (they’re baaaack!)
The Krampus Holiday Market is the perfect place to get gifts for all the lovable weirdos in your life, whether they’re naughty or nice. We strived for a nice mix of vendors who have been on the floor before as well as some new faces. Confirmed vendors:
MILWAUKEE KRAMPUSNACHT is happening December 5 at the Bavarian Bierhaus. Tickets will be live on Halloween! As always, one of our attractions is the Krampus Holiday Market where you can find gifts for all the spooky ooky people in your life. We’ll have a range of visual art, clothing, jewelry, candles, ornaments, books, Milwaukee Krampusnacht merch and much more. Note to vendors– we’ve had many inquiries about the vendor floor, and it’s great to see so much talent out there. We are already full up this year, but hoping to expand the vendor floor next year. Drop us a line at: milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com and we can put you on the contact list.
Memento Moira is returning as a vendor for Milwaukee Krampusnacht 2021, with dresses, bowling shirts, and messenger bags (in fabrics designed from her antique ephemera collection), jewelry, accessories, and holiday ornaments. Expect festive monsters, poisons, science, and vintage-inspired frippery. She can also be found at http://www.mememtomoirastudio.com or on FB at http://www.facebook.com/mementomoira
Presentation: “Macabre Milwaukee Panel” Saturday at 3 PM, Speaker Room A
Author and MPC director Tea Krulos moderates this panel that features local authors Anna Lardinois, Matthew Prigge, and Gavin Schmitt who will discuss historical stories of macabre Milwaukee, including disasters, crime, and gangsters.
What the heck is the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference?
MPC was started in 2015 by journalist, author, event organizer, podcast host, and all around weird guy Tea Krulos. The event features investigators and researchers giving talks on paranormal subjects. It’s also a celebration of arts and crafts, music, film, culture, and local businesses.
The conference is sponsored by American Ghost Walks, which offers ghost tours in the Midwest and beyond.
Where is this event?
Sept. 24, 6pm- Paranormal Party @ Faklandia Brewing. This is a free event and you do not need a ticket. It features a Ghost Story Open Mic where you can sign up to tell your story, trivia, and a performance by Sunspot. Here’s the event FB page: https://www.facebook.com/events/292416242659939
Sept. 26, Activities Day @ various locations throughout the day. See listing later in this post on which activities are free and which require tickets.
What COVID protocols are in place?
Alverno College’s official policy is that all visitors must wear masks, vaccinated or not. Attendees who do not wear masks will not be allowed into the event. Please work with us and not against us on this.
Where exactly is the conference on the Alverno campus?
Alverno’s Bucyrus Conference facility is located inside the Sister Joel Read Center. The key to getting there is to enter the campus by their entrance on 43rd St next to the big ALVERNO COLLEGE sign. On the map below you can see a red X by the 43rd St entrance, and another red X by a building labelled A. That’s the parking garage. The red dots show the path from the parking garage to the Sister Joel Read Center, where the conference is.
This is what the Sister Joel Read Center looks like. The entrances are in the dome-shaped part of the building.
The rotunda has the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference/ American Ghost Walks tables, a selfie station, and a Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library- Bookseller reading corner. Right next to the rotunda are the vendor floor and speaker room, and directly behind that is the Alumnae Hall, where additional presentations are being conducted.
What food/ drink will be available?
The campus cafeteria is just down the hallway from the conference and is open all day serving food and beverages (including coffee!) and from 2-6pm there will be a bar set up in the rotunda that serves adult beverages and snacks.
Will there be Milwaukee Paranormal Conference merch?
My toaster is haunted. Will someone at the conference be able to help me?
Maybe.
Do you need volunteers?
Yes! Please email: milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com
What’s the Speaker Schedule?
Bucyrus Room
10AM: Shetan Noir, “The Lake Michigan Triangle” 11AM: Amelia Cotter, “Where the Party Never Ended: Ghosts of the Old Baraboo Inn” Noon: Barnaby from Cryptids, Anomalies, and the Paranormal Society, “A Comparative Study of Bigfoot” 1PM: Tea’s Weird Week Birthday Panel w/ Tea Krulos, Heidi Erickson, Goddess Aida, Hillarie Higgins, J. Nathan Couch, and Donna Lea Wells Fink 2PM: Allison Jornlin, “Milwaukee Poltergeists” 3PM: American Ghost Walks Panel 4PM: Stacy Schuerman, Spiritualist minister and teacher, Morris Pratt Institute
Alumnae Hall
11AM: Milwaukee Krampus Eigenheit Noon: Mike Huberty, “Voyage to Haunchyville,” includes a Haunchyville coloring page sponsored by Studio Moonfall 1PM: Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee 2PM: Jeff from Badgerland Legends, “Finding the Weird in Your World” 3PM: Sam Maranto of Illinois MUFON, “Chi-town Flap”
If I call/message/email the day of the conference because I can’t find parking or want to know what the weather forecast is will you answer?
No.
Can I wear a paranormal themed costume to this event?
Yes, please do if you feel inclined.
What is going on Sunday September 26?
Activities Day was visualized as a fun way for people to explore the city and participate in activities. You won’t be able to make all of them, but you are def able to check out several. The list below has information on each activity and ticket info.
Noon: Pop-up Death Cafe @ Grant Park, free event (space is limited). You must email milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com to be put on the list and receive exact meet-up spot. More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/167090408864099/
Noon: Ghost Poems poetry event @ Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, hosted by Kavon Cortez Jones, free event (no ticket needed). Sign up to read a poem inspired by the paranormal, ghosts, autumn, Halloween, etc at Noon.
7pm: Lake Michigan Monster screening, Shaker’s Cigar Bar, $10 (pay at door)
Screening of locally made film Lake Michigan Monster, and the short Alien Abduction. Some cast and crew will be there for a Q and A. Screening is at Shaker’s, cigar bar and restaurant and famously haunted. FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1293854227715621/
Is this going to be an event where I can meet people with similar interests, learn some fascinating things about the paranormal, check out some great vendors, participate in activities, and have fun?
The Milwaukee Paranormal Conference is a small staff of people who are passionate about making the event happen. We very much rely on volunteer help. Here’s a list of some specific things we need, but we will add more as we realize we missed stuff. Volunteers get a discount on shirts and we are going to organize a volunteer party in October. We appreciate you and if you’re interested, email milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com and we will add you to the list. Let us know if one of the positions is right for you or if you’re open to anything.
Friday, September 24, Paranormal Party @ Faklandia
-Ghost story tellers! Participate in the Ghost Story Open Mic. Sign up for 5 minutes of stage time to share your experience or a story you’ve heard that you love. Sign up at 7pm, Faklandia Brewing.
Saturday, September 25, Milwaukee Paranormal Conference @ Alverno College
-Kite flyer(s)- we need a person or two to fly a kite 9:30-10:30 or 11am outside the conference front doors. This is not a joke.
-Sign dancers- want to dress as a cryptid and do a spinny sign dance? We’d love it. Or someone to help put directional signs up around campus– last year we did it at Alverno people requested this as they got lost.
-Front desk- 2 people for each 2 hour shifts. 10-Noon, Noon to 2, 2 to 4. 6-8 volunteers total. Help sell merch and answer questions.
-Vendors load in– 9-10am. We like to offer people a helping hand if we can. Having a few people to help vendors carry stuff to load in at 9am is something we’d like to offer.
-Hall Monitors– ha, ha for lack of a better term. We just want some people to take a shift walking around making sure everything is alright.
-Yoga point person, need someone to enjoy yoga at Forest Home Cemetery, check in people as they arrive, maybe take a couple pictures. 10AM Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/3011372975808429
Milwaukee Paranormal Conference 