For most of the year, Vampfangs celebrates the dark, theatrical, and fantastical side of vampire culture. Fangs. Fashion. Nightlife. Ritual. Red velvet. Black lace. A little drama. A little bite.
But once a year, we bring that vampire energy into the daylight for something very real.
This year marks the 5th Vampfangs Blood Drive, hosted in partnership with the American Red Cross and held at the Salem Waterfront Hotel on Friday, August 14th from 12 PM to 5 PM.
Yes, it is a blood drive.
Yes, we are vampires.
And yes, we are doing it for the humans.
From Vampire Theme to Real-World Impact
The idea behind the Vampfangs Blood Drive has always been simple: take something playful and theatrical from vampire culture and turn it into something that genuinely helps people.
Blood is part of vampire mythology. It is part of the aesthetic, the symbolism, and the stories we love. But outside of that fantasy world, donated blood is something hospitals, patients, and families depend on every single day.
According to the American Red Cross, one blood donation may help save up to three lives. The Red Cross also says it must collect up to 14,000 donations per day to meet patient needs.
That is what makes this event matter.
It is fun. It is weird. It is very Salem. But underneath the vampire jokes and black wardrobe, the purpose is serious.
Five Drives and Counting
What started as a memorable community event has become something we are proud to bring back year after year.
Our first Vampfangs Blood Drive was held inside the Library at the Hawthorne Hotel, a fittingly atmospheric Salem setting for a vampire-led act of public good.
The second drive took place in Sophia’s Room at the Hawthorne Hotel, continuing the tradition in one of Salem’s most iconic hotels.
For our third and fourth drives, the event moved to the Salem Waterfront Hotel Ballroom, where the drive continued to grow with the support of the hotel, the Red Cross team, and the Vampfangs community.
Now, for our fifth blood drive, we are returning to the Salem Waterfront Hotel once again.
We are especially grateful to the Salem Waterfront Hotel for donating the use of their space and helping make this event possible. Community events like this do not happen because of one person or one business. They happen because people show up, offer what they can, and help create something bigger than themselves.
More Than 150 Units of Blood Collected
Across our first four blood drives, Vampfangs donors have helped collect more than 150 units of blood.
That number is powerful on its own, but the possible impact is even bigger. If one blood donation may help save up to three lives, then more than 150 units represents the possibility of helping hundreds of patients, families, and care teams.
Those donations may support people going through surgery. They may help trauma patients, cancer patients, people with blood disorders, accident victims, or patients facing medical emergencies. The need is constant, and donated blood cannot be manufactured. It has to come from people willing to give it.
That is why every appointment matters.
Every donor matters.
Every unit matters.
Not Your Average Blood Drive
Of course, this is still a Vampfangs event.
Over the years, the blood drive has had its own personality. Vampire nurses. Black outfits. Red gloves. Fangs. Photos. A little dark humor. A lot of heart.
We have always wanted the event to feel approachable, memorable, and unmistakably ours. Some people come because they are regular donors. Some come because they love Vampfangs. Some come because the idea of vampires hosting a blood drive is too good to ignore.
However they find us, we are grateful they show up.
The photos from past drives tell the story better than we ever could. Volunteers, donors, Red Cross staff, Salem spaces, medical equipment, playful signs, and a community that knows how to have fun while doing something meaningful.
It is not a haunted attraction. It is not a performance. It is a real blood drive.
But that does not mean we can’t make it feel like Salem.
A Salem Story Worth Sharing
Over the years, the Vampfangs Blood Drive has also caught the attention of local media, including local news coverage and radio attention.
That part makes sense. A vampire shop hosting a blood drive in Salem is the kind of story people remember.
But the real story is not the gimmick.
The real story is that people keep showing up.
They book appointments. They tell their friends. They take time out of their day. They roll up their sleeves. They give something that can help someone they may never meet.
That is the part we are proudest of.
Thank You to Our Partners and Donors
This blood drive would not be possible without the support of the American Red Cross, the generosity of the Salem Waterfront Hotel, and the donors, volunteers, staff, and community members who have helped bring this event to life over the years.
We are also grateful to the Hawthorne Hotel, where the first two drives took place and where this tradition began.
From the Library to Sophia’s Room to the Salem Waterfront Hotel Ballroom, each location has become part of the story.
And to everyone who has donated at one of our past drives: thank you.
You helped make this strange little vampire idea into something with real impact.
Join Us for the 5th Vampfangs Blood Drive
The 5th Vampfangs Blood Drive takes place:
Friday, August 15th
12 PM to 5 PM
Salem Waterfront Hotel
Hosted by Vampfangs in partnership with the American Red Cross
Appointments are encouraged, and space may be limited.
Whether you are a longtime donor, a first-timer, a member of the Salem community, or one of our favorite creatures of the night, we would love to see you there.
Come in black. Bring a friend. Tell someone who donates. Share the event even if you cannot make it.
We spend a lot of time celebrating the creatures of the night.
On August 15th, we are asking them to come out during the day for something that matters.
Do it for the humans.
Click here to sign up and donate!
