I hope you enjoy this article I wrote several years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of and reporting on the "Friday" celebration.

Friday, January 13, 2017—a special night not only for the town of Blairstown, New Jersey, but also for fans of the classic 80’s horror movie Friday the 13th, written by Victor Miller and directed by Sean S. Cunningham, and starring, among others, the late Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Harry Crosby, and screen veteran Kevin Bacon, whose character meets his demise early in the famous arrow-through-the-neck scene, designed by make-up-effects master Tom Savini. Back in its day, “Friday the 13th” had an estimated budget of $550,000—miniscule by today’s standards.

Blairstown, in Warren County, was a hive of activity. Especially Main Street, with enthusiastic fans going in and out of shops, mingling with locals and out-of-towners, and snapping photos of each other and of nearby filming locations. This working-class community takes enormous pride in having just a glimpse of their celebrated history portrayed on the big screen. Not only do most townspeople welcome their place in the annals of horror cinema, they embrace it with gratitude.

The Blairstown Museum, run by a competent staff, displayed a number of souvenirs and memorabilia. Large flat-screen TVs showed clips from the movie, accompanied by fun facts and production stills. Props, including the monopoly game board used in the cabin as well as a signed machete and a “Jason” mask, looked authentic from inside display cases. An imposing, life-like statue of Jason leered at passersby from behind the storefront window. In the spirit of “Friday the 13th”, the museum slashed prices, extending to customers a 13% discount. And the reduction moved merchandise: plenty of tantalizing items to choose from and not a wrong choice to make. A fantastic find: David Grove’s bestselling book On Location in Blairstown: The Making of Friday the 13th (Dark Ink, an imprint of AM Ink Publishing).

Everywhere one went, whether in the streets or in a restaurant or café or in one of the shops, people interacted with one another, sharing memories and stories of their first—or most recent—time seeing “Friday the 13th.” Adding to the entertainment, a man costumed as Jason Voorhees, wearing the famous hockey mask that Jason acquires in Part 3, stalked all over town, posing for pictures and having fun with the large number of people both outside in the streets and inside the lobby of Roy’s Hall, a charming, old-fashioned theater situated on Main Street, the same street featured in the movie’s opening scene.

Two shows—6:30 and 9:00—sold out well in advance, and Roy’s Hall added a third screening before I arrived in town, which probably sold out in short order. During the 6:30 screening, the one I attended, fans cheered during several sequences, loudest of all when Blairstown landmarks and locations (sections of Main Street—namely the arch—along with Camp Nobebosco and Blairstown Diner) appeared on screen. The room, suffused with energy, had a superb sound system. The floor, and my chair, rumbled as the music, composed by Harry Manfredini, swelled throughout the capacious room. The atmosphere—sublime—made much better the experience of seeing the film again with a packed house of both longtime admirers and first-time viewers, the majority of whom jumped and screeched as the suspense mounted and the scares accumulated one after another; some in the audience seemed pinioned to their seats, looking at the screen and then away, unsure if they could commit themselves to absorbing all at once the unbridled terror of Pamela Voorhees picking off the camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake (“Camp Blood”). Being overwhelmed by acute feelings of nostalgia, I couldn’t sit still. The easily excited little boy within me had resurfaced, and I visualized, for a moment, the first time I saw “Friday the 13th.” As the closing credits rolled, ninety-five minutes later, all clapped and roared in appreciation.

Horror audiences worship the “Friday the 13th”franchise, a franchise that has been gaining new followers. In fact, the horror community is awaiting the release of the Friday the 13th videogame. Recent reports say that fans should expect top-notch gaming. The biggest news of all, though, is that esteemed horror legend Kane Hodder, who portrayed Jason Voorhees in parts 7,8,9 & 10, has participated in the making of the Friday the 13th game. This tidbit alone warrants picking up a copy.

That night the weather could not deter anyone from drawing from the evening myriad thrills. The fans embraced this crisp, frigid night, this singular opportunity, to spread their infectious vibes, to demonstrate their allegiance to a genre standout, and to pass on to younger generations a cinematic treasure—a true horror jewel, one might say, whose brilliance has not diminished since its premiere back in 1980.

January 13, 2017, reminded me that there is no one quite like a horror fan. Hundreds and hundreds gathered peaceably in beautiful Blairstown and exchanged laughter, good cheer, and good conversation. The festivities lasted several hours. Everybody, in my view, got exactly what they came for: a fun-filled night around town and at the movies, alongside family, friends, and some new faces, receiving, in turn, fresh memories to value for a lifetime—and to pass down to younger generations who have no idea yet what constitutes a first-rate horror movie.

Sincere thanks to Roy’s Hall and to the town of Blairstown for putting on the "Friday the 13th" event and for giving me and countless others another chance to travel back in time and feel childlike again. As any horror fanatic would agree, fear, believe it or not, doles out rewards, and I, on this night, immersed myself in one of many. All hail “Friday the 13th”!