5 Spine-Chilling Reasons Creep It Real OC 2025 Will Be Orange County's Biggest Spooky Takeover

The Orange County spooky community is buzzing with anticipation as of December 2025, following the announcement that Creep It Real OC is gearing up for its largest year yet, solidifying its status as the premier year-round celebration of all things macabre in Southern California. The event, which began as a small expo in Laguna Niguel in 2019, has exploded into Orange County’s biggest Halloween and horror marketplace, and the 2025 schedule promises an unprecedented expansion for both the main festival and its popular holiday crossover event, Creep It Real Festive.

This vibrant gathering serves as a vital hub for hundreds of small businesses, artists, and haunt industry leaders, offering a unique shopping experience that caters to Halloween superfans and families alike. The latest updates confirm the main event, Creep It Real OC 2025, will run for three days in September, while the holiday-themed Festive event will also expand, ensuring the spirit of spooky season lasts well beyond October.

The Visionaries Behind OC's Spookiest Marketplace: Kevin & Megan Valantine

Creep It Real OC is the brainchild of a dedicated husband-and-wife duo, Kevin Valantine and Megan Valantine, who hail from Rancho Santa Margarita.

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• Names: Kevin Valantine and Megan Valantine.
• Role: Co-Founders and Organizers of Creep It Real OC.
• Origin: The concept began as a small Halloween expo in 2019 at the Sea Country Senior and Community Center in Laguna Niguel.
• Mission: To shine a light on the darker side of pop culture and celebrate the spirit of Halloween year-round, while providing a platform for small businesses and artists.
• Impact: They transformed the event from a gathering of a few dozen vendors to Orange County's largest spooky marketplace, hosting thousands of guests annually.
• Other Ventures: The Valantines are also known for their holiday-themed event, "Season's Screamings," which blends Halloween and Christmas aesthetics.

Kevin Valantine has noted that the event's popularity stems from its unique "meandering park atmosphere" at the Heritage Museum of Orange County, which is a welcome change from typical indoor venues with "concrete walls and fluorescent lighting."

5 Spine-Chilling Reasons Creep It Real OC 2025 is Your Must-Attend Spooky Destination

The 2025 calendar year is set to be the biggest in Creep It Real OC’s history, with major announcements promising more vendors, more interactive experiences, and an expanded schedule. Here are the top five reasons why this event is an essential pilgrimage for any horror or Halloween fan in Southern California.

1. The All-New "Afterlife's a beach" Theme

For the main 2025 event, Creep It Real OC is embracing a completely new and intriguing theme: "Afterlife's a beach." This theme promises a unique, dark-humor twist on traditional summer and coastal aesthetics, blending the sunny vibes of Southern California with classic horror tropes. Attendees can expect vendors, photo opportunities, and interactive characters to fully immerse themselves in this spooky, sandy concept, making it distinct from past themes like "Nostalgic."

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2. The Expanded 2025 Dates and Schedule

In a major expansion, the main Creep It Real OC 2025 event will now run for three days, from September 12 to September 14, 2025. This extended schedule allows for more attendees to experience the festival without overcrowding and gives vendors more time to showcase their wares. Furthermore, the holiday crossover event, Creep It Real Festive 2025, is also expanding, with dates set for November 21 to November 23, 2025, ensuring the Halloween spirit continues well into the holiday season.

3. A Massive Marketplace for Unique Spooky Vendors

Creep It Real OC is renowned for its sheer volume of vendors, featuring over 100 small businesses at the Festive event alone. This is not your typical craft fair; the marketplace is a curated collection of artists and creators offering:

• Original horror-themed artwork and prints.
• Licensed merchandise from classic and modern horror franchises.
• Handmade jewelry, clothing, and accessories with a spooky influence.
• Unique holiday/Halloween crossover items, especially at the Creep It Real Festive event.

The event acts as a vital platform for the local haunt industry leaders and small businesses shopping community, often featuring creators who also work on larger attractions like Knott's Scary Farm or local Haunted Orange County tours.

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4. The Unforgettable Venue: Heritage Museum of Orange County

The event’s location at the Heritage Museum of Orange County (HMOC) in Santa Ana is central to its unique appeal. The museum grounds provide a sprawling, historic backdrop that perfectly complements the spooky atmosphere. The outdoor, park-like setting creates a relaxed, meandering experience, which founders believe is a key part of the event’s success.

5. A True Year-Round Spooky Community Hub

Unlike seasonal attractions that only appear in October, Creep It Real OC has fostered a true spooky community that celebrates the darker side of pop culture year-round. The event is a place where Halloween superfans can gather, share their passion, and connect with the creators who make the season special. It is a family-friendly environment that celebrates Victorian Era Halloween traditions of community gatherings, alongside modern horror fandom.

The Haunted History of the Heritage Museum OC Venue

Adding a layer of authentic chill to the event is the venue itself. The Heritage Museum of Orange County is not just a historic site; it is widely reputed to be haunted, giving Creep It Real OC an extra dose of topical authority.

The museum is home to the historic Kellogg House, a uniquely designed mansion that is the centerpiece of the grounds. The museum actively embraces its spooky reputation, partnering with groups like Haunted Orange County to offer Ghost Tours and Paranormal Investigations of the property.

Local legends suggest that the ghosts of the Kellogg family may still be actively haunting the mansion. Visitors and staff have reported various unexplained phenomena over the years, making the experience of shopping for horror merchandise on the grounds feel truly immersive. This rich, haunted legacy connects the event to the broader history of Orange County's Spooky Side, which also includes major attractions like Disney's Halloween Magic and the intense experience of The Dark Entities maze.

By choosing a venue with such a deep connection to the supernatural, Creep It Real OC ensures that the chills and thrills are not just provided by the vendors, but by the very ground you walk on, solidifying its position as an essential part of the Southern California Halloween landscape.