A guide to Bizarre A.C.

Something abnormally freaky is set to go down in Atlantic City this weekend — and you don't need to step foot into a casino to see it. Bizarre A.C., the wonderfully wacky and horrific pop-culture extravaganza will take over the Chelsea Hotel (111 S. Chelsea Ave., Atlantic City) from Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18 for a convention. Boasting appearances from actor Eric Roberts ("The Dark Night," "The Pope of Greenwich Village") and special-effects makeup artist Ricky Vitus to horror movie screenings, the weekend is jam-packed with entertainment and oddities.

See a flick
Independent horror films will be screened on the 5th-floor Chelsea Steakhouse. Selections include "Cuddlez," who's tagline endearingly reads "Who's gonna cuddle you when you're dead?" and "Ninjas Vs. Monsters."

Party it up
Stick around for a little after-hours fun.

A cosplay, costume, concert and pool party takes place on Friday, Oct. 16 on the Chelsea Hotel's 5th floor pool deck. Wear your freakiest costumes and get there when it starts at 11 p.m.

Back at the pool on Saturday, Oct. 17, WWE star Snitsky will host a belly-flop contest starting at midnight. Should be self-explanatory, so be prepared to make some waves.

Any good weekend involves karaoke. Naturally, this one does too. It starts at 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Participate
A number of interactive programs are set for the weekend.

Step into a zombie apocalypse situation (in which the hotel's parking garage has been transformed into said apocalyptic world) in "Surviving 28 Days," where you'll have to escape a swarm of the undead in order to survive. The "interactive terror experiment" is open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Oct. 17 and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.

SyFy's "Face Off" contestant Ricky Vitus will lead small classes in special-effects makeup featuring materials you can easily find at home. At the end of the sessions, you'll be fully equipped with the skills necessary to terrify all your neighbors come Halloween. The demos begin at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18.

Real-deal witches will sit on a panel at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and answer your burning questions on what it's really like to be a member of the occult.

Test your pop culture knowledge and try to stump AMC's "Comic Book Men" star Rob Bruce at daily quiz sessions at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Retro is all the rage right now. A common area on the second floor of the hotel will be outfitted with ugly furniture, '80s and '90s video games and more from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Is the Chelsea Hotel haunted by ghosts? Find out with ghost-hunting expeditions with New England Paranormal Research founder John Brightman at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.

Shop around
Grab some goods from collectibles, steampunk, freaky doll and other horror-centric vendors at the Bizarre Bazaar.

When can I come?
Bizarre A.C. runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings.