Obscura Paracon is a celebration of the paranormal, the unexplained, and the beautifully strange - held inside the iconic Altgeld Hall “castle” at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. This immersive convention brings together investigators, psychics, scholars, vendors, and enthusiasts for a weekend of discovery and connection. Whether you’re drawn to ghost stories, metaphysical practices, or the thrill of exploring what lies beyond the veil, Obscura Paracon invites you to follow the lantern into the unknown.
Meet the legends of the paranormal world - ghost hunters, psychic mediums, authors, and investigators who walk between worlds. Get up close, ask questions, and maybe even catch a selfie from the other side.
Settle in as experts share chilling case studies, haunted histories, and spine-tingling insights from real investigations. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, these talks will leave you thinking twice when the lights go out.
Get hands-on with the tools of the trade! From spirit communication to energy protection, our interactive workshops are led by seasoned investigators and mystics ready to share their craft with curious souls.
Wander through a curated bazaar of dark art, ghost-hunting gear, metaphysical goods, and haunted oddities. Whether you collect crystals or EMF detectors, you’ll find something strange and wonderful here.
Dave Schrader is a renowned paranormal investigator, author, and television personality known for his deep dives into haunted history, unexplained phenomena, and the mysteries of the afterlife. As the host of The Paranormal 60 Podcast and a familiar face on The Holzer Files and Ghosts of Devil’s Perch, Dave brings decades of experience, compelling insight, and a bold curiosity for the unknown. Whether behind the mic or in the field, he continues to inspire and challenge audiences to explore the world beyond the veil.
Amelia Cotter is an accomplished author, folklorist, and paranormal researcher whose work bridges haunting history, ethereal storytelling, and lived experience. With books like Where the Party Never Ended: Ghosts of the Old Baraboo Inn and This House: The True Story of a Girl and a Ghost, she brings depth, empathy, and curiosity to every investigation. Amelia’s voice has also been heard on Coast to Coast AM, Hometown Horror, and in ghostly documentaries. Blending scholarship with spirit encounters, she inspires audiences to listen for the whispers between worlds.
Willy Adkins is a lifelong researcher of illusions, a paranormal investigator, filmmaker, and event producer known for uncovering stories hidden in the shadows. With over two decades of experience exploring haunted locations across the Midwest and beyond, Willy brings a unique mix of skeptical inquiry and spiritual reverence to the field. As the founder of Obscura Paranormal and creator of numerous supernatural events and indie horror films, his work blurs the line between documentation and the unexplained. When Willy’s lantern lights the way, the spirits tend to follow.
