Obscura Paracon
March 21 @ 11:00 am – March 22 @ 7:00 pm CDT
Obscura Paracon is a paranormal convention rooted in curiosity, community, and the belief that the unexplained deserves thoughtful exploration. Built on years of experience producing paranormal events, investigations, and gatherings, Obscura Paracon exists to bring together people who are drawn to the strange, the mysterious, and the stories that refuse to fade.
Before becoming Obscura Paracon, the event was known as the Afterlife Paranormal Conference—a name that represented its earliest incarnation as a gathering for investigators, researchers, filmmakers, and enthusiasts interested in life beyond the physical world. Over time, the event evolved organically, expanding to include paranormal-themed film festivals, specialty programming, and collaborations with other conventions and organizations within the paranormal community.
As the conference grew, so did its vision. The event traveled, changed venues, and adapted to different formats, but its core purpose remained the same: to create a welcoming space where curiosity is encouraged, experiences are respected, and questions matter more than easy answers.
After a brief pause, the event returns reimagined as Obscura Paracon—a refined and immersive evolution of its earlier form.
A Gathering for the Curious
Obscura Paracon is designed for a wide range of attendees. Whether you are a seasoned paranormal investigator, a historian fascinated by haunted locations, a filmmaker or artist inspired by the unknown, or someone who simply feels drawn to the mysteries of the world, this is a place where curiosity is welcome.
The event blends education, experience, and exploration. Lectures and presentations dive into topics such as hauntings, cryptids, spiritual practices, consciousness, and the nature of unexplained phenomena. Workshops offer hands-on learning, allowing participants to develop skills, experiment with tools, and explore techniques in a guided and respectful environment. The vendor marketplace showcases artists, creators, metaphysical makers, authors, and small businesses whose work reflects the spirit of the paranormal.
Obscura Paracon is not about sensationalism. It is about thoughtful exploration—acknowledging that the unknown can be strange, beautiful, unsettling, and deeply human all at once.
From Afterlife to Obscura
The transition from Afterlife Paranormal Conference to Obscura Paracon reflects both growth and clarity. While the original name focused on what comes after death, Obscura broadens the lens. It encompasses everything that exists in the shadows—haunted places, unexplained experiences, folklore, spiritual practices, cryptids, and the stories that connect them.
“Obscura” represents illumination without intrusion. It is the lantern carried into a dark hallway, not to conquer it, but to understand it. This philosophy guides the event’s programming, tone, and atmosphere.
Though the name has changed, the foundation remains intact. Obscura Paracon honors its roots while embracing a more cohesive identity, one that reflects years of lessons learned, relationships built, and stories shared.
The Founder
Obscura Paracon was founded by Willy Adkins, creator of Obscura Paranormal, formerly known as Illinois Ghost Hunters. With decades of experience investigating haunted locations, producing paranormal events, and creating independent genre films, Willy envisioned a convention that balanced skepticism with spiritual respect.
From the beginning, the goal was to create an event that felt inclusive rather than exclusive—one where people could ask questions without judgment, share experiences without ridicule, and explore the unknown without needing to prove anything to anyone else.
That philosophy continues to shape Obscura Paracon today.
What to Expect
Obscura Paracon is built as a full-spectrum paranormal experience. Attendees can expect:
Special Guests
Investigators, authors, researchers, filmmakers, and practitioners from across the paranormal field share their knowledge, experiences, and insights.
Lectures & Presentations
Topics range from haunted history and field investigations to cryptozoology, spiritual practices, folklore, and the science and psychology of belief.
Hands-On Workshops
Interactive sessions allow participants to learn practical skills, explore tools, and engage directly with experienced instructors in smaller group settings.
The Obscura Marketplace
A curated vendor space featuring paranormal equipment, metaphysical goods, art, oddities, books, and handcrafted items from creators who live at the intersection of art and the unexplained.
After-Hours Experiences
For those who want to take their curiosity further, Obscura Paracon offers optional after-hours activities, including guided investigations at historically haunted locations.
A Respectful Approach to the Unknown
Obscura Paracon emphasizes responsibility and respect. Haunted locations are treated as historic spaces, spiritual practices are approached with care, and personal experiences are honored without exploitation.
The event welcomes believers, skeptics, and everyone in between. You do not need to arrive with answers—only curiosity.
Community First
At its heart, Obscura Paracon is about community. Many attendees return year after year, reconnecting with friends, meeting new collaborators, and sharing stories that only make sense in rooms full of people who understand them.
It is a place where investigators compare notes, artists find inspiration, and newcomers realize they are not alone in their fascination with the unknown.
Looking Forward
Obscura Paracon continues to evolve, guided by its past and shaped by the people who attend it. While the programming may change and new voices may join the conversation, the event’s purpose remains constant: to illuminate the unseen and celebrate the unknown.
Whether you are revisiting an event you once knew under a different name or discovering Obscura Paracon for the first time, you are invited to step inside, look closer, and follow the lantern.