Past event
July 24–25, 2026 · Four Points by Sheraton Bentonville
For two days, guests entered Hemlock Harbour, chose a faction, followed clues, met its characters, and gathered for a Saturday night ball.
The weekend in Hemlock Harbour
Guests joined the Pirates, Mermaids & Sirens, or Fae; followed clues through the harbor; and bargained with cast characters as the mystery unfolded. Classes, creative activities, a marketplace, and the Saturday ball gave guests room to explore those factions across the weekend.
Phantoms of the Deep appeared in the Sunday, July 26, 2026 print edition in a three-photo spread. Five photographs from the weekend are linked below on NWAOnline.
People in the frame: Steven Walker Jay Velasquez Mak Roberds Tobias Redson and Les Wabaunsee of Gemini Mourning Studios
In “Phantoms of the Deep Turns Bentonville into a Living Fantasy World,” Be Local NWA previewed the factions, living story, character interactions, mysteries, and shifting alliances awaiting guests in Hemlock Harbour.
Event photography
Guest costumes, character encounters, the marketplace, and the Saturday night ball.
Photography by @capturedbyshelbyphoto. Please credit the photographer when sharing these images, and do not alter them.
How the experience worked
Guests could follow the main mystery closely or take in the weekend at their own pace. Their faction gave them a place in the harbor and a reason to decide whom to trust.
Clues hidden throughout Hemlock Harbour led guests deeper into the weekend's mystery.
Cast characters traded information, offered bargains, and pulled guests further into the mystery.
Pirates, Mermaids & Sirens, and Fae each entered the story with their own loyalties and secrets.
The factions
Treasure hunters, loyal crewmates, chaos-makers, and long-game strategists whose reputations traveled fast on the tide.
Guides, tempters, and keepers of dangerous half-truths. Not every song led sailors safely home.
They played by rules no one fully understood, offering favors and bargains that always had teeth.
Featured guests
Steven Walker joined the weekend as a featured guest. The Democrat-Gazette photographed him practicing sword fighting with Jay Velasquez.
Sarah Cline joined the weekend as a featured guest and took part in a Saturday meet-and-greet, audience conversation, and Q&A moderated by HighLadyJo.
Weekend highlights
The weekend moved from Friday's marketplace and cocktail party through Saturday's classes, guest appearances, and evening ball.
Friday included the vendor marketplace, a take-home fairy garden activity, and the cocktail party.
Saturday brought sword fighting, Sarah Cline's meet-and-greet and Q&A moderated by HighLadyJo, Beginning Burlesque with Lana Violette, and Big Bracelets with Sisi.
Guests browsed vendors, took photos, and watched Mak Roberds perform dragon flow. Tattoo artists Tobias Redson and Les Wabaunsee of Gemini Mourning Studios worked with attendees.
Guests closed the weekend with dinner, dancing, live entertainment, photo areas, and trinket trading at the Phantoms of the Deep Ball.
Current event
Join Astraea's 21+ Nightmare Court at Hilton Garden Inn Fayetteville on Friday, October 30, from 7–10 PM CDT.
Planning something of your own? Explore Astraea's services or start a conversation.
