Inside Aurora's HearseCon gathering

FAN Expo Denver drew thousands of convention-goers this weekend, but I spent Saturday morning at HearseCon Colorado in Aurora.

• Yes, this is a real thing.

The big picture: The Denver Hearse Association hosted the gathering, now in its 19th year.

• About 25 hearses lined the Stampede parking lot while dozens of vendors sold art, oddities — and an impressive number of animal skulls.

Reality check: Corsets weren't mandatory, but I would have blended in better had I worn one.

Hearse head honcho Zachary Helm co-founded the hearse association in 1996. Membership fluctuates from about eight people to nearly 50.

• "This is an event that brings people together," he says. "It's just a good time."

Zoom in: My wife thought we were going shopping Saturday morning.

• Joke's on her.

Fun fact: Cadillac makes hearses.

• Turns out, I could get a junker for as little as $3,000.
• Yes, but: Then I'd have to sleep on the couch.

What's next: Another hearse event, dubbed "Some Sort of Spookshow," rolls into Denver Sept. 26.

The bottom line: ⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️