By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
More than 1,000 people packed the Whitehead Memorial Museum this weekend for Draculina Fest, a two-day horror-themed celebration with punk and heavy metal music at its core.
The festival, organized by Krystal and Aaron Torres, owners of Draculina’s Nerdvana in downtown Del Rio, featured a mix of underground bands, vendors, food and family-friendly frights. Krystal said the turnout far exceeded expectations, crediting her staff for helping put the event together and keeping it afloat.
Aaron Torres said about 600 people came through the gates Friday, with another 700 attending Saturday. “It was beyond what we hoped for,” Krystal said.
The lineup included Del Rio’s own Ground Zero. Bassist Alejandro Silva said the weekend was “filled with lots of interesting people” and a chance for local musicians to share a stage not typical for community events.
Adding a cultural flair, Ballet Folklorico Macuilxochitl performed traditional dances. Director Xochi Abrego said she was honored to bring Spanish art and dance to a punk and metal festival. “It was beautiful to be asked to represent our tradition at Draculina,” she said.
Bands from Uvalde, Eagle Pass and Ciudad Acuña also joined in. Christopher Cordova, lead singer of Uvalde-based While They Bled, called performing in Del Rio “amazing.”
Beyond music, vendors offered gothic art, anime and comic figures, and Halloween-themed merchandise. Local artist Max Perales sold custom horror masks he designed, saying Draculina gave creators a strong showcase. Food booths ranged from The Sip Society’s lemonade to Holy Dogs’ hot dogs and Cardenas Funnel Cakes’ fried Oreos. Jose “JP” Rodriguez and Lory Lozano brought their Misfits Wandering Emporium to sell Philly cheesesteaks, calling the rock-and-metal vibe a perfect fit.
The Tipsy Gecko organized a family-friendly haunted house with the help of 15 volunteers, while daily costume contests filled the grounds with ghouls, villains and pop-culture characters.
Whitehead Memorial Museum Executive Director Michael Diaz praised the event. “The museum serves the community,” he said. “It’s great and important to offer the venue for unique gatherings such as Draculina.”
