A flood of police cars with their lights flashing and sirens blaring screeched to a halt on South Broadway and blocked off traffic on Saturday, May 31. From in front of the DeLorean bar, it looked like something major was going down. Then came a hearse, and another, and another. A convoy of hearses rolled up and swung around the corner to pull into the FashioNation parking lot. No, it wasn't a crime scene. It was HearseCon 2025.
The traffic-stopping, annual hearse cruise is just one of the events that allows hearse enthusiasts to show off their love of these ultra-long and utterly macabre cars. For days leading up to the main event, they gather, do final tweaks and repairs, and party with the living dead.
The event began in 2007 as a club gathering but quickly expanded. “It started as an idea to get a group photo, but I decided to make it a day event with bands and awards. Then, I added small events leading up to it. I didn’t realize it would take off so quickly or that the general public would be interested,” says founder Zachary Byron Helm.
Helm says the draw to own a hearse varies by individual, with some doing it for the attention and shock value and others for the love of the car itself. “The attention aspect becomes tiresome quickly, compared to the staggering investment it takes to keep these cars nice and on the road," Helm says. "Many develop a real appreciation for the craftsmanship of these cars.”
Every year, hearse owners come to the event from around the country, some from Canada and Mexico, to partake in club member parties and the car cruise.
At the main event on Saturday, vendors selling everything from pet water cremation services to dark collectibles, jewelry, and clothing created a maze of shopping options, leading to the lineup of customized hearses. The attention to detail, such as skeleton hand review mirrors and hilarious bumper stickers, made for a photo-worthy event. That, in addition to the people who ranged from those in their goth finest to gear-head car enthusiasts.
Here are some of the best hearses (and outfits) from the day:
