Worcester Horror Festival Postponed Over Security Concerns

WORCESTER (WBSM) — A horror festival planned for the DCU Center in Worcester this weekend has been postponed due to a “security issue.”

Why the Dead of Winter Horror Festival Was Postponed

The Dead of Winter Horror Festival was scheduled to take place February 21 and 22. The organizers cited the February 16 shooting in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, as well as the potential Nor’easter coming in this weekend, as factors in the decision.

“After receiving specific information related to a security issue, and out of an abundance of caution following the events in (Pawtucket) on February 16th and inclement weather, the team worked with the DCI Center team to establish a path forward to a new date,” the organizers posted on social media.

They said the security issue “is being resolved independently of the festival and will not affect the new date.” No further details were given about the security issue.

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What Happens to Dead of Winter Tickets and Vendors Now

The new date will be announced in the next couple of days, and all tickets purchased for this weekend will be honored then.

“We will contact sponsors and vendors individually, and we expect most to stick with us for the new date,” the organizers wrote. “We recognize this is an unanticipated event, and will work through refunds as best we can. We intend to hold this event and honor our commitments to our attendees, filmmakers, vendors, sponsors, and the greater Dead of Winter community.”

Festival’s Growth and Move to DCU Center

The Dead of Winter Horror Festival first launched in 2024 and was held at Mechanics Hall in Worcester the past two years. This year would have marked the first time it moved to the much larger DCU Center, which is also home to the annual Silver Scream Con horror convention in October.