West Coast Halloween Convention
West Coast Halloween Convention is a convention established and designed for all Halloween enthusiasts, home haunters, and pro haunters.
The Man behind West Coast Halloween Convention and its History
The foundation of the organization is made possible with Ed Roberts. Roberts started the first ever convention in 2010, held at the Oregon School for the Deaf, where he is employed as a counselor.
Roberts has also worked hard running the Nightmare Factory for thirty years, a non-profit haunted attraction and the most significant fundraiser the school has. All of the proceeds collected from the haunted house are utilized for the benefit of his Oregon School for the Deaf students.
Roberts founded the WCHC for a specific reason. He always wanted to take his students to other trade shows so they could learn the industry, but unfortunately, the cost was still a factor. He decided that it was better to start his convention, where all his students could participate. The WCHC became so successful that it developed into an event that moved to the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland, Oregon, in 2012.
By 2013, WCHC officially became a non-profit, offering mini-grants to all professionals who are working with autistic and deaf children. Roberts has always helped charities seeking programs and funds that benefit autistic and deaf children.
We are proud to say that WCHC is the only convention that is 100% founded for charity, which sets it apart from the rest. It is also the only convention of its kind located west of Rockies.
As a Halloween Convention
Keeping with the roots of the convention, sign language interpreters are on hand to help the students with the classes. Since this hotel has a 13th floor, attendees occupy the entire floor. Convention guests can pay to stay on the 13th floor in a specially decorated room and enjoy an exclusive 13th-floor bar.
As a convention, organizers are proud that they have among the best classes and speakers. Their convention is filled with industry experts, makeup and prop experts, and haunted attraction owners.
Among the events they organize are networking events, a horror movie night, a costume ball, and haunt tours. The WCHC tradeshows always feature top industry vendors that selling costumes, props, makeup and more.