Haunted Savannah Paracon features ghost hunters, paranormal investigations and psychics

Savannah has the reputation for being one of the most haunted cities in the United States. We have haunted houses, ghost tours, and paranormal investigations that are enjoyed by plenty of locals and visitors each year. It makes sense that we would be seeing a growing number of paranormal conventions as well.

“You could not ask for a more beautiful haunted city to do a [paracon] event,” said Kenna Hunter, founder and organizer of Haunted Savannah Paracon.

Haunted Savannah Paracon returns for its second year on Sept. 15-16. It should be its fourth year, but Hunter explained the pandemic had other ideas.

“In 2019, I started trying to do the Haunted Savannah Paracon, and the pandemic made me have to cancel it twice.”

Undaunted, she pushed through delays and cancelations to host the first convention at Hotel Indigo in 2022. She said the first year was a learning experience with a few last-minute guest cancellations, family emergencies, and a locked car with a dead battery. She believes this year at the Savannah Bottle Works, 411 W. Charlton St., is promising to be bigger and better.

“I'm hoping that it continues to get bigger each year.”

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Experience paranormal investigations with hosts of television shows

This year’s guests include psychic medium Chip Coffey, who many may be familiar with from shows such as “Kindred Spirits” and “Paranormal State.”

“If someone has never seen a psychic medium if they're skeptical, Chip Coffee's gallery reading is the gallery reading to go to," Hunter said. "I've been to three of his gallery readings, and I have left crying every single time.”

Other guests this year include Katrina Weidman and Heather Taddy from “Portals to Hell” and “Paranormal State,” Russell Acord from “Expedition Bigfoot,” and Shari DeBenedetti from “Ghost Nation.”

Hunter said that, on top of plenty of panels this year, the planners are expanding with more vendors. Around 30 vendors will fill the Savannah Bottle Works on Sept. 16. There’s so much more to this paranormal convention though. Hunter has set it up to be customized to people’s unique interests.

There will be a mixer on Friday, followed by a ghost tour with DeBenedetti and an after-hours tour of the Graveface Museum with a paranormal investigation. The fun continues the next day with a special luncheon and an evening spent at the haunted house made famous in the film “A Savannah Haunting.” Each one of those events is available to purchase tickets for separately.

“I wanted to make sure I planned it where there was something for everyone and something extra for those who really want to dive deeper into the paranormal," said Hunter. "Some people have never gotten the chance to do a paranormal investigation and experience that for themselves, which can be a life changer.”

Hunter said she fell in love with Savannah and the paranormal after a trip to the 17Hundred90 Inn a few years ago. There, she said, she had her own encounter with its famous ghost Anna that literally left her shaken. That later led to her involvement with a paranormal investigation show called “The R.I.P. Files.” Now, she wants others to fall in love with the same city and the spirits.

“Most don’t get the chance to do a paranormal investigation with the people from shows we’ve been watching on TV for over a decade, so I thought it would be a fun, unique opportunity for the paranormal community.”

If You Go >>

What: Haunted Savannah Paracon

When: Sept. 15-Sept. 16

Where: Savannah Bottle Works, 411 W. Charlton St.

Tickets: Convention, $60, and individual events, $45, at Wanderingfurther.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Ghost hunt along with TV hosts at Haunted Savannah Paracon