That gruesomely spooky crew, the Woodenhead Collective, was up to their usual tricks (and treats!) at their old haunt, the Salt River Community Building, on Sept. 26.

This time, the ghosts of horror markets past and present floated through a free extraterrestrial experience from out of this world at The Day the Rez Stood Still: The 4th Kind.

“This show has grown from one, two, three and to four. With four, we went the sci-fi route,” said Dominic Martinez, a.k.a. Bigg D. Evol, the master of ceremonies for the Woodenhead Collective.

“For years and years, aliens have been in Arizona, whether you know it or not. So, why not welcome them and bring them to Salt River?” he said.

3 Takeaways:

• The fourth year of The Day the Rez Stood Still was an alien-themed experience for cosplayers.
• The Woodenhead Collective put together the horror market for the public.
• Members of the Collective and fellow cosplayers share their love of horror and the community impact events like this have.

Hundreds of interplanetary beings came in peace to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and be with fellow cosplayers, take photos with an alien and a giant Krusty the Clown, buy frightening gifts at the market, and gorge on horror-themed food and beverages.  

“Blergh gnuurrk blrrp shnorff bleegh blarrk,” grunted event coordinator Dushane Manuel, a.k.a. The Salt River Buzzsaw.

Other members of the Woodenhead Collective include Event Coordinator Raeann Brown, a.k.a. Lady Ray; Media Team leader Seneca Silverhorn, a.k.a. Spike the Warlord; and Dwayne Manuel, a.k.a. Professor Possessor, who brings his artistic ideas to the group.

A cosplayer who goes by the name “Not Bob” was dressed in an eerie costume called “Art and His Pony,” holding what looked like a stuffed-animal unicorn with an exposed skull. He also sometimes dresses as the Swedish Chef.

“I’m a native-born Arizonan. I was born in eight and a half feet of snow, and I love doing these horror cosplays!” said Not Bob.

This was the final event for Valley cosplayer Cholo Myers, who became a fixture of the horror cosplay community over the past four to five years.

Head to www.oodhamnews.org to listen to the O’odham Action News Podcast episode that recently featured an interview with the Woodenhead Collective crew.