The Devil is in the Author Panel during Public Days
A pair of devilish authors, a classic sci-fi horror film, a comic book writing powerhouse and a series of monster games will make the 2026 Festival of Monsters’ Public Days extra scary October 14 and 17 in Downtown Santa Cruz. These public offerings complement the Festival of Monsters Academic Conference, Oct. 14-18.
The Public Days start with a screening 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, of the 1955 classic sci-fi horror film The Quatermass Experiment at The 418 Project’s Small Theater, 155 River St S, Santa Cruz. A trio of British astronauts are launched into space by obsessed rocket scientist Professor Quatermass (Brian Donley) – but only one returns to Earth and he’s not the same, to put it mildly. The show includes a live introduction by monster maven Dr. H. Marshall Leicester (UC Santa Cruz Professor Emeritus of Literature). The cost is $12.51 in advance, $15 at the door. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-quatermass-xperiment-tickets-1994892241395?aff=odcleoeventsincollection.
The Festival continues with a full afternoon of events Saturday, Oct. 17, starting with a hell of an author’s panel at 2 p.m. — “A Devilish Discussion!” The panel is a conversation between authors Kiersten White (The Fox and the Devil) and Clay McLeod Chapman (Devil Inside) about their latest books, why they write devilish fiction and the horror of it all. The panel, held at the Museum of Art and History (705 Front Street, Santa Cruz), is free.
Throughout the day, join players at Game Santa Cruz (1101 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz) for three sessions of free, but ticketed for space, monster-related board and card games. The sessions — at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. — will include games like Gloom, Mysterium, This Game is Killer, The Bloody Inn and Moon Colony Bloodbath. Visit https://www.gamesantacruz.com/events for specifics on each session and to reserve space.
Writer Iván Brandon (Wolverine, Deadpool, Secret Invasion) and other special guests appear at Atlantis Fantasyworld at 4 p.m. for a free program on monster comics. Atlantis Fantasyworld is located at 1020 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz.
The Festival’s Public Days close out at 6 p.m. with a special edition of the bone-chilling bluffing game Blood on the Clocktower at Game Santa Cruz. Players join opposing teams of Good and Evil in this game overseen by a Storyteller who conducts the action and makes crucial decisions. The goal is to successfully deduce and execute the demons before they outnumber the townfolk. Tickets are $24.99 and may be reserved at https://www.gamesantacruz.com/events.
Sponsors for the 2026 Festival of Monsters include The Arts Research Institute; The Humanities Institute; the UC Santa Cruz Department of Literature; the Sigfried and Elizabeth Mignon Puknat Endowment; the UC Santa Cruz Department of Performance, Play and Design; Bookshop Santa Cruz; Atlantis Fantasyworld; Game Santa Cruz; The 418 Project; Deathray; and James Gunderson.
For registration and details about the 2026 Festival of Monsters academic conference, click here.