Regional Events

This topic is intended to be the umbrella under which all smaller, regional conventions and events are to be. My wife and I went to Rock & Shock in Worcester, MA last night. For those unfamiliar, it is a combination horror convention and concert, spread between two venues a block apart. The convention had such guests as Robert Englund, Robert Patrick, Scott Wilson, Michael Rooker, Kane Hodder, Gunnar Hanson, and others. I ended up getting photos and autographs from none of them, as they were charging an average of $30 each. While I completely get these folks are here to get paid, that is way too much for my budget. I preferred to spend my cash on the vendor booths. I picked up a few shirts, a couple pretty decent shape Frazetta cover Eerie issues, several books, some Halloween-themed cat toys with the proceeds going to a shelter, a really cool signed print of a Pinhead painting by a local artist, and a CD copy of Goblin's soundtrack to Suspiria. The one guest I did meet and have a picture with was Jack Ketchum, one of the very best horror writers in the world. His stuff is great, but extremely harsh.
At the concert venue, we skipped most of the bands, as they were not to our taste. The headliner, Danzig, was awesome. The set was almost entirely old stuff and Misfits songs. When he did "Twist of Cain" only three songs in, I knew it was going to be killer.
So, what sorts of local genre events do any of you attend? Recommendations or admonitions for others in the area who may be thinking of checking them out would be great.
At the concert venue, we skipped most of the bands, as they were not to our taste. The headliner, Danzig, was awesome. The set was almost entirely old stuff and Misfits songs. When he did "Twist of Cain" only three songs in, I knew it was going to be killer.
So, what sorts of local genre events do any of you attend? Recommendations or admonitions for others in the area who may be thinking of checking them out would be great.