2025 Festival of Monsters features horror panel, roleplaying game


People gathered for the Monsters Ball Costume Party, wearing costumes and body-paint

As always, October is a time to think about monsters. Werewolves, witches, zombies, ghosts and vampires tend to pop up often around this time of year — both in media and people’s front yards — but UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Monster Studies sees them as more than just Halloween decorations.

Last modified: Oct 14, 2025