As Nashville prepares to welcome a full slate of sci-fi and comic conventions in the fall, including the first-ever Wizard World Nashville Comic Con (October 18-20), the Florida-based Nashville Comic Expo (Sept. 14-15), Creation Entertainment’s Salute to Star Trek (Sept. 7-8), and our own GMX (Geek Media Expo, Vol. 5 – Nov. 1-3), there are plenty of other cool conventions going on around the continent this summer. This weekend, the biggest of all is happening in San Diego as Comic-Con International grips the fandom community in its annual thrall Wednesday, July 17 through Sunday, July 21. Toronto will be hosting Canada’s huge FanExpo August 25-28 (the 3rd biggest on the continent), and Labor Day weekend the place to be is Atlanta for Dragon*Con (2nd biggest). Next weekend the good folks in Louisville, Kentucky will bring us a fantastic weekend of fun called FandomFest, and next month the place to be in Chicago is the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con.
(l-r) Iron E Singleton and Vincent Ward of ‘The Walking Dead’ will be at Louisville’s FandomFest.
Lousiville FandomFest
The excitement is building in Derby Town as the city gears up for a massive weekend of fun and film. Stan Lee and William Shatner headline an amazing list of guest stars including Gillian Anderson, John Barrowman, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Alan Tudyk, Jason Momoa, Gene Simmons, Garry Chalk, Vincent Ward and Iron E. Singleton from The Walking Dead, and plenty of other TV and film stars, as well as major talents in the areas of anime, comics, and pop culture, including Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob). The Galt House Hotel and the Kentucky Convention Center will host the largest event of its type in mid-America with 500 vendors, authors, cosplayers, gaming, steam punk seminars, workshops, panels and Q&A sessions, You can meet and take photos and get autographs from/with stars from The Walking Dead, The X-Files, Firefly, Dr. Who, Star Trek, X-Men, Twilight, Ghost Hunters, Highlander, Power Rangers, Transformers, and more. This is definitely an all-ages show as kids 10 and under are welcome to come FREE. Go to www.fandomfest,com for more info. Choose from 120 movies as part of the Fright Night Horror Weekend Film Fest; see the lineup at: www.frightnightfilmfest.com.
(l-r) Pro wrestler/actor/producer/cosplayer Eric ‘The Smoke’ Moran and five-time NBA Champion and NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will be at Wizard World Chicago ComiCon. photo: wizardworld.com
Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con
As we look forward to their October show in Nashville, for full-on star power Wizard World always has a great show in Chicago. Thursday, August 8 through Sunday, August 12 the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont near the O’Hare Airport will find hundreds of them, along with thousands of fans. Dennis Rodman and eric “The Smoke” Moran will be there for photos and autographs, along with Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart, Zachary Quinto, Summer Glau, Morena Baccarin, Alan Tudyk, Michael Shannon, James Marsters, Eliza Dushku, John Barrowman, Wil Wheaton, Robert Rodriguez, Norman Reedus, Tara Strong, WWE’s CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, A.J. Lee & Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, all 3 of The Shield, among many, many more. Get full details on Wizard’s shows at: www.wizardworld.com.
