Jason Lives 40th anniversary bash planned for May at Waldorf Estate of Fear

Jason Lives, a fan favorite in the Friday the 13th series, turns 40 this year. To celebrate, the Waldorf Estate of Fear, located in Leighton, PA, is throwing a birthday bash on May 1-2. The event, dubbed Jason Lives in Hell, will feature celebrity guests from the movie, live entertainment, dinner with cast members, and other activities.

Confirmed guests so far include C.J. Graham (Jason), Thom Matthews (Tommy Jarvis), and director Tommy McLoughlin. More guests are expected to be announced soon. Additionally, because the event is taking place on the grounds where Hell House LLC was filmed, guests from that franchise will also be in attendance.

Photo ops and autographs with the guests will be available, though they are separate costs from general ticket prices. Other highlights include Haunted Hell House Party, vendors, and various other events to keep attendees busy.

The event is sponsored by Horror 365 and the Waldorf Estate of Fear. Tickets can be purchased here. General admission includes access to vendors, meet-and-greet areas, and main stage entertainment. All other events include additional ticket fees.

Jason Lives is the final Friday the 13th movie in the Tommy Jarvis saga, which began with Friday the 13th Pt. 4: The Final Chapter. The film marks the first appearance of zombie Jason, after Tommy accidently resurrects the infamous slasher by stabbing him with a metal rod, which then draws lightening, and thus, sparks life in Jason's rotting corpse. It's a very Frankenstein-like opening to the film.

Over the years, the movie became a fan favorite for its kills, its Gothic aesthetic, including several nods to the Universal Monsters, and its meta and comedic qualities, which predated Scream by nearly a decade. By the time Jason Lives released, its Final Boy, played by Matthews, was already known in horror circles for his role as Freddy in Return of the Living Dead, which released a year prior to Jason Lives. Matthews was the third actor to play Tommy Jarvis. Corey Feldman first played Tommy in The Final Chapter, before John Shepherd assumed the role in Friday the 13th Pt. 5: A New Beginning.

Jason Lives also features a heck of a soundtrack by Alice Cooper and a strong supporting cast, including Jennifer Cooke as Megan Garris, who saves Tommy in the film's waning minutes, ultimately helping him send Jason to the depths of Camp Crystal Lake.

Meanwhile, while the Friday the 13th series has remained dormant for years, due to various lawsuits, it'll finally see some action later this year. "Crystal Lake," a prequel series, is set to debut on Peacock. The TV show will largely follow Jason's mom, Pamela Voorhees, played by Linda Cardellini.