Official Twilight Convention visits Minneapolis next week

​Attention fans of sparkly vampires, shirtless werewolves, and codependent relationships: Grab your wallets, click on the official website, and reschedule your trip to Ren Fest because next weekend the Official Twilight Convention is coming to town.

The three-day festival will feature a variety of happenings. In addition to the obligatory vendors' mart, guests will be able to sing their heart out at Friday night's karaoke concert (campy!), attend the Volturi Vampire Ball Saturday night (prom macabre!), and enter the vampire ball centerpiece contest. Past centerpiece entrants have ranged from genuinely artsy to cringingly juvenile to hilariously creepy, so if you enter don't let anything hold you back.   

In addition to movie memorabilia on display, actors from the series will make appearances at panel talks, meet-and-greets, and other events. Although the convention is adding to the list as we speak, most scheduled appear to be of the "who?" variety. Jodelle Ferland (Bree), Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater), Mike Welch (Mike Newton), and Christopher Heyerdahl (Marcus) are included on the calendar.  

The traveling vampire and werewolf party rolls into the Minneapolis Hilton (1001 Marquette Ave.) Friday, September 3 and continues on through Sunday, September 5. Tickets range from $20 to $25 for day passes, and up to  $289 for all-access tickets. For more information on the event, visit www.twilightconvention.com/cal/twilight_mn.htm.