Even if you’ve never been to New Orleans, there is one thing you know to be almost synonymous with the Crescent City: an Anne Rice novel. True, there are seemingly endless vampire and zombie flicks nowadays, even Buffy the Vampire Slayer is over the hill, but how many cities can claim stakes (pun intended) on perhaps the most popular classic vampire series? Fans of the undead converge on the city that care forgot this weekend, October 24-27, for four days of costumed celebration at the 25th Annual Anne Rice Fan Club Ball and Conference.

1994’s cinematic interpretation of Anne Rice’s famed novel, Interview with the Vampire.

Anne Rice’s 10-book series set in New Orleans, The Vampire Chronicles, has inspired avid readers to gather once a year in her hometown in the name of all things erotic and undead in the netherland of good versus evil; there’s no better time of year to do so than right before Halloween–one of the city’s favorite holidays. This year’s conference is at the Hilton Garden Inn – Convention Center (1001 S. Peters St) daily from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday, and offers author forums and seminars with a variety of writers in the paranormal genre for both print and film, including one with Rice’s son, Christopher Rice.

Friday night, the annual Lestat Reunion Ball is hosted at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Drive) beginning at 8 p.m. with musical entertainment by Paul Mercer and the Ghosts Project, Jill Tracy, Nathaniel Johnstone, DJ Infam0us and erotic dancers, Tempest and Evil Sarah. The evening’s guests of honor are Anne herself, and son Christopher. Saturday night, guests are free to roam the city –the setting of the famous novels.

Vampiric revelers can also enjoy tarot card readings, industry vendors and ghostly evening cocktail parties in and around the Hilton Garden Inn throughout the weekend too. The weekend’s festivities kick-off Thursday night with “An Evening with the Angels and Saints” at St. Alphonsus Church uptown (2015 Constance St). Tickets per event range from $45 – $135, or $300 for an all-weekend pass. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit the conference website at www.arvlfc.com.