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KRAMPUS AMERICA

Save the Date

Krampus America Convention

February 5 · 6, 2027 · St. Petersburg, Florida

The first gathering of its kind — Krampus groups, mask carvers, folklorists, and performers from across the country, together for two days of scholarship, craft, and community under one horned roof.

Reserve Your Seat

Two Days. One Tradition. A Whole Country of Ways to Practice It.

Krampus has taken root all over America -- in city parades, backyard walks, German-American clubs, and brand-new troupes still figuring out their first costume. This convention brings that whole spectrum into one room: the historians who trace where the tradition came from, the performers building it night after night, and the newcomers ready to start. Two days of presentations, panels, and hallway conversations that don't happen anywhere else.

The Program

Presentations & Panels

Al Ridenour

Presentation 01

Krampus History and Folklore

Al Ridenour

Drawing on The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas, Al dispels common misconceptions, traces the tradition's parallel origins, and lays out how it's practiced today.

Al Ridenour

Presentation 02

Krampus Video Shorts

Al Ridenour

A quirky reel of footage from European Krampus troupes, Krampus music videos, and news segments -- plus a subtitled scene from the rare 1955 German film Der Struwwelpeter.

Al Ridenour

Presentation 03

Carnival, Perchten, and Krampus

Al Ridenour

A graduate-seminar-style look at how Carnival shaped Perchten and Krampus customs, based on Ridenour's A Season of Madness.

Jeff Belanger

Presentation 04

The Fright Before Christmas

Jeff Belanger

A one-man show, based on Jeff's best-selling book and his PBS special Creepy Christmas, exploring the Yuletide monsters history nearly forgot -- Krampus, Belsnickel, Tomtens, Gryla, and more.

Onca O'Leary

Presentation 05

Krampus & Friends: Yuletide Monsters & Expanding Your Folkloric Universe

Onca O'Leary — Richmond Virginia Krampus

An overview of dark and whimsical winter spirits from around the world, with guidance on incorporating their lore responsibly and respectfully.

Michael Esordi

Presentation 06

Krampus in the United States: Modern Folklore, Experience, and Design

Michael Esordi — Krampus New Orleans

From the co-founder of the Krewe of Krampus: how the tradition is adapted and reinterpreted in the U.S., and how Krampuslauf events can move beyond replication into intentional design.

Diana Esordi

Presentation 07

Accessible by Design: Building a Parade for Everyone

Diana Esordi — Krampus New Orleans

How the Krewe of Krampus and One Krewe reimagined accessibility as a starting point, not a requirement -- from Accessibility Row to community-driven participation.

Michael Packer

Presentation 08

Krampus: By Any Means Necessary

Michael Packer — Krampus Indianapolis

For solo performers and total beginners: teaching yourself leatherworking and sewing, building a group from nothing, and getting started with web and social promotion.

Nicole Pisaniello

Presentation 09

Kramped for Kash

Nicole Pisaniello — Richmond Virginia Krampus

Doing a lot with a little: community networking, costuming on a budget, guerrilla-style walks, and pushing past impostor syndrome.

Tania Yager

Presentation 10

Frau Perchta and Women in Krampus

Tania Yager

Folklore and gender through the figure of Frau Perchta, and a look at the women organizing, performing, and reshaping the modern Krampus America movement.

Heide Castañeda

Presentation 11

Monstrous Forms and Subversive Rituals: Krampus, Boujloud, and the Reimagining of Tradition

Heide Castañeda — University of South Florida

An anthropological look at Krampus's resurgence, compared with Morocco's Boujloud traditions, and what both reveal about belonging, resistance, and ritual reinvention.

Presentation 12

The Krampus Documentary

Ryan Rothmaier & Christoph Baaden

A screening and discussion with the filmmakers.

Panel

Mask Carvers Panel

Moderator: Eric Morley

  • Stefan Koidl
  • Gavin HughesGavin Hughes
  • Marco Jurak (tentative)
  • Niklas Koller (joining by phone)

Panel

Authors Panel

Todd BognerModerator: Todd Bogner

  • Al RidenourAl Ridenour
  • Jeff BelangerJeff Belanger
  • Gerald BromGerald Brom
  • Tania YagerTania Yager

Panel

German-American Clubs Panel

Moderator: Michael Tressler

  • Todd BognerTodd Bogner — Krampus Verein Pinellas County
  • Jim Hofmann — Krampus Verein Omaha
  • Jay Vollstedt — American-German Club of the Palm Beaches
  • Bob Crittenden — Krampus San Antonio
  • Murray Geissel — Vancouver

Panel

Costuming in Warm Weather Panel

Moderator: TBA

  • TBA — Krampus Verein Pinellas County
  • Les Bell — Krampus Phoenix
  • Bob Crittenden — Krampus San Antonio
  • Michael EsordiMichael Esordi — Krampus New Orleans

Panel

Krampus Wrangling 101 Panel

Moderator: TBA

  • Pam Horgen — Krampus Verein Pinellas County
  • Michael PackerMichael Packer — Krampus Indianapolis
  • Tania YagerTania Yager — Wild Hunt Vista
  • TBA — Krampus Richmond Virginia

Who You'll Meet

Notable Attendees & Krampus Celebrities

Mask carvers, folklorists, and performers from across the Krampus world -- some of the very people keeping these traditions alive, in person for two days in St. Petersburg. This list will keep growing as we confirm more names.

Stefan Koidl

Stefan Koidl

Salzburg, Austria

Krampus Mask Carver

Krampus Mask Carver — Salzburg, Austria.

Stefan is a full-time, self-taught Krampus mask carver and illustrator based in Salzburg, Austria. Having grown up surrounded by the Krampus tradition, he has been fascinated by its mysterious atmosphere and striking characters since childhood. Capturing the eerie and unsettling essence of each mask has become the driving force behind his work.

Alongside his sculptural work, Stefan creates paintings and illustrations that tell stories beyond the canvas. Drawn to the darker side of art, he enjoys exploring dark and haunting themes, believing there is something captivating about work that lingers in the viewer's mind and gently plays with their sense of fear.

Niklas Koller

Niklas Koller

Wolfau, Austria

Mask Carver & Folklore Researcher

Niklas Koller is a mask carver and folklore researcher from Wolfau, Austria. Under the motto “Stories Carved from Wood,” he brings ancient legends, traditions, and forgotten characters back to life.

Niklas was born in 1991 in Wolfau, the easternmost part of Austria, and has been carving wooden masks since 2013. His connection to these traditional customs began in childhood, following a family tradition already passed down through his parents and grandparents. In addition to carving masks, he is dedicated to researching ancient traditions and customs — it's especially important to him not only to create handcrafted masks, but also to preserve and share the stories, history, and cultural significance behind them with future generations.

In his homeland, many traditional customs and figures have survived, with roots reaching back to pre-Christian times. Niklas has made it his mission to keep these customs alive in his small village, honoring them the same way his parents and grandparents once did. He places great importance on preserving their authentic, community-oriented nature, keeping them free from commercial influence. His true passion is encouraging people to rediscover the traditional style and preserve the old rituals that form an essential part of their cultural heritage — transforming them, with deep respect for their history and a subtle touch of modern craftsmanship, into beautifully hand-carved wooden masks that keep their stories alive.

Where to Stay

Lodging in St. Petersburg

Both host hotels are right in the heart of downtown St. Pete's Edge District, an easy walk from the convention. Book early -- rooms are limited.

Moxy by Marriott

St. Petersburg Downtown — Edge District

  • King Room$229/night
  • 2 Queens$239/night

Rates plus tax. Valet parking $40/day.

Book at Moxy

Tru by Hilton

St. Petersburg Downtown — Central Ave

  • King or 2 Queens$179/night

Rates plus tax. Parking $20/day.

Book at Tru

See You in St. Pete

Whether you've been walking with Krampus for twenty years or you're still finishing your first mask, there's a seat for you at this table.

Get Your Tickets

Register for the new and improved

KRAMPUS AMERICA REGISTRY!

Now with the ability for you to manage and maintain your own information with simple submission and approval for publication!

List your Krampus event with

Krampus Events Across America

Log in, list, and manage your Krampus events and share with people all across the Unites States and Canada

Register for the new

Costumer & Artist Registry

Publish your work and connect with Krampus customers!

european connection

Learn more about what’s happening with our friends in Europe! Check out the listing of European passes, carvers, costumers and events at the link below!