Welcome to the Walker Stalker Convention in Atlanta, GA. If you love The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead or anything zombified then this convention is for you.
Of course, I love both shows so almost every year I try to make it. This year my son and my daughter-in-law went with me and we had a great time! Regular tickets for the event is pretty cheap and if you catch it in time online, you can get a deal like buy 1, get 3 free which is exactly what I did.
Once we got there, the lines moved pretty quick to get the wristbands which was a lot better than the year before. Once we got through all the security, everything was all laid out with a map to show how the floor was laid out and where everything was.
Even though most people come to see all the actors and actresses from the shows, there are plenty of other things like booths selling art, a costume contest, props for pictures, and cool cars. They even had stations set up to play a new game that was coming out, for free.
There were panels going on at the main stage but you had to purchase special passes to actually get in them which was a major disappointing change from the year before. There was still a small stage that didn’t cost anything that was used for different things like small panels and artists.
Later in the day, the major actors and actresses came out from photo-opts to see the fans. Now to make even more money, there are plenty of options you can purchase to get professional photos, selfies and autographs from them and they are plenty expensive too. Already disappointed because some of the major characters from The Walking Dead didn’t even show up this day, there were a couple that were kept behind a black curtained wall so that if you didn’t pay the extra, you had no chance of even getting a glimpse of them (I was super disappointed). On top of that, most booths had staff there trying to block any free photos being taken but never the less I was able to snatch a few of my own.
The Walking Dead:
In tribute to Scott (Hershel), everyone was signing and leaving messages on his back drop which was touching because he was such a great actor and super nice in person.
Fear the Walking Dead:
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed seeing all the neat stuff that people have created and getting a glimpse of most of the actors and actresses but it has really become more about the money than connecting with the fans who made them popular in the first place. When you start charging for every little thing like $40 dollars for a selfie with them on your own phone, you start loosing the connection. I understand getting money for a professional photo or an autograph but a selfie? Please, I am a huge fan but I can’t see me paying that much for a picture with my own phone lol but some people do and that’s fine too.
If you decide to go to a Walker Stalker event, just make sure you check it out on their website and buy a package that suits your needs beforehand because it gets pricy really quick once you are there. There were several people who bought special passes that had to get vouchers for the next day because the lines were so long for the major characters that they couldn’t accommodate everyone. There were quite a few people disappointed that day.
Will I go back again? Probably just because I love the atmosphere and the experience. It’s a pretty cool event to attend but know what to expect before you go.
Have you ever been to a Walker Stalker event? If so, leave a comment below and let me know how your experience was. Make sure you sign up to receive emails and as always have a blessed day!
