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Krampus America Convention
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 SeatTwo 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Hughes
- Marco Jurak (tentative)
- Niklas Koller (joining by phone)
Panel
Authors Panel
Moderator: Todd Bogner
Al Ridenour
Jeff Belanger
Gerald Brom
Tania Yager
Panel
German-American Clubs Panel
Moderator: Michael Tressler
Todd 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 Esordi — Krampus New Orleans
Panel
Krampus Wrangling 101 Panel
Moderator: TBA
- Pam Horgen — Krampus Verein Pinellas County
Michael Packer — Krampus Indianapolis
Tania 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
Salzburg, Austria
Krampus Mask CarverKrampus 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
Wolfau, Austria
Mask Carver & Folklore ResearcherNiklas 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 MoxyTru by Hilton
St. Petersburg Downtown — Central Ave
- King or 2 Queens$179/night
Rates plus tax. Parking $20/day.
Book at TruSee 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.
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