The second annual spook-tacular celebration “The Day The Rez Stood Still 2” was held inside the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Building on July 28. The cosplay event and convention for Arizona horror fans was hosted by Woodenhead Collective, an Indigenous group that is well-known for their love of the horror genre. Raeann Brown, Seneca Silverhorn, Dominic Martinez, Dwayne Manuel and Dushane Manuel are part of the Woodenhead Collective team. 

“There are many horror fans in Salt River, and we felt [they] needed a place to have fun,” said Dushane Manuel. A fan of horror movies such as the “Return of the Living Dead” trilogy, “The Shining,” “It,” “The Thing,” “Friday the 13th” and more, Manuel and the Woodenhead Collective spent months putting together plans for this year’s event, which saw an increase in attendance over last year’s. 

During TDTRSS2, horror fanatics spent the afternoon celebrating all things horror. Some chose to dress up as their favorite horror movie icons with frightening makeup and bloody costumes. The family-friendly and all-ages event featured horror trivia contests, costume contests, T-shirt design contests and more. 

Arizona vendors Cult Creep, Zoodoo Dolls, Skully’s Swag, Idle Handz and more sold merchandise and gave out goodies celebrating the horror genre. Additionally, TDTRSS2 featured vendor booths from Community businesses and artists such as Tiffany Enos Designs, Everything Kool-Aid and the Labriola Center at Arizona State University. 

“The purpose of the Woodenhead Collective and our events is to support the arts, have fun, and unite the individuals that find joy in these kinds of activities. Halloween never ends when it comes to the Woodenhead Collective,” shared Manuel. “The Arizona horror community really took us in and are very kind to us. Terror Trader, vendors, artists, event planners, podcasts, store owners—all these people helped us be successful, and we can’t thank them enough.

“Woodenhead supports the small businesses, we support the arts, and we support the Arizona horror community. It just made sense to have an event here in Salt River,” added Manuel.

Following another successful event, Woodenhead Collective will be teaming up for future events and celebrations in the SRPMIC and Arizona at large. Manuel made it a point to share the spotlight with those who have helped Woodenhead Collective ascend from an idea to one of the premiere horror groups in the state. 

“I’d like to thank everyone who supports us in any way. Our families have been great. Tasha Silverhorn and her girls, Marcia and Lucas, Alice Manuel, Raeann Brown’s family, Yvette Carpio, Rez, Bugg, Calliope, Clinton Silverhorn and his boys, Richard Etheridge and his boys, Rachel Klose, Julie Lovato and family, O’odham Action News and the horror fans of Salt River.”

If you would like to keep up to date on all things Woodenhead Collective, including their upcoming events in the Community, go online to www.facebook.com/woodenhead.collective.