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SubscribeDon’t Miss the Last Day of the 2017 ComicCon in Louisville
The first two full days of vendors, panels, and celebrity guests at Fandomfest 2017 are over, but there is still one more day to head out to the ComicCon. The event has met with some challenges this year, but if they are preventing anyone – aside from several celebrity cancellations – from coming out to the event, it isn’t showing. The aisles and meeting rooms of the Jefferson Mall Event Center, formerly Macy’s, are packed with attendees, costumed and otherwise. Although the venue change was last minute, the new location offers many conveniences that were not previously available such as ample free parking and more affordable food options on site.
Attendees so far have been treated to a wide array of events, including a very interactive (and hilarious) Q&A session with Matthew Lillard, a trailer for an independent Star Wars film that will raise money for Norton’s Children’s hospital, Q&A panels with Paul Michael Glaser, Sean Gunn, and Brian Cummings, as well as more educational panels to help new authors, artists, and cosplayers, and much more.
There are plenty of vendors from all across the region sharing their art, books, toys, comics, memorabilia, costume pieces, and many other wares. If you walk around long enough, you may even see amazingly detailed, fully functional R2D2 or BB8 droids wandering the aisles, courtesy of the R2D2 and BB8 Builders Clubs.
Today marks the last day of the three day event and there is stilt plenty to see and do. There are more Q&A sessions including actors from the Kill Bill series, discussions about female superheroes, Supernatural, Star Wars, and Attack on Titan, a chance to see the aforementioned Star Wars trailer, and a children’s cosplay contest. Doors open at 11:00 AM. Continue reading
Fandomfest 2017 is ready to kick off tomorrow afternoon at the Jefferson Mall on Outer Loop. The event, which draws fans of many genres from sci-fi and horror to comic books and literary works to anime and other art. 2017 marks the 12th year for the event, which started out as Fright Night in 2005.
Fandomfest runs from July 28 through 30 at the Jefferson Mall Event Space which many may remember as the former Macy’s. Doors are open 4PM to 10PM Friday, 10AM to 7PM Saturday with after-hours events until 2AM, and 11AM to the 4PM close of the show on Sunday. This marks the third home for Fandomfest in as many years after the event moved from the downtown Kentucky International Convention Center due to construction and from the Kentucky Exposition Center due to contract issues.
The new venue brings two floors of vendors, celebrity appearances, fan group meetings, gaming activities and – in a welcome change from previous years – ample free parking for attendees and easy access to shopping and dining opportunities.
The 2017 Fandomfest features celebrities such as Matthew Lillard; Netflix hit Stranger Things’ Peyton Wich (Troy); Flash Gordon’s Sam Jones; Rogue One’s Princess Leia, Ingvild Deila; Original Starsky, Paul Michael Glaser, WWE stars Sting and Al Snow, along with many other voice, television, and movie actors, authors, artists, and more. A partial list of appearances is available on the Fandomfest website.
In addition to celebrity appearances, meet and greets, Q&A sessions, the event also plays host to a large marketplace where collectors can find both new and vintage toys, artwork, novels and more. On top of that, there are numerous panels that discuss topics like Science in Comics, games like Fandom Jeopardy, competitions like the Cosplay Contest, and helpful sessions like Writing Tips for Genre Writing. Attendees looking to relax can even participate in some free retro gaming sessions.
Find full schedules, hours, panels, and more in the official Fandomfest app for iOS and Android or on the event website, fandomfest.com.
Tickets are available at the event box office (cash only) and in advance online starting at $30.
Today Fandomfest, the largest Comic Con in this region, will open its doors for it’s 11th annual event. The show, which had been at the convention center downtown the previous ten years, has moved to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center this year.
Today is an abbreviated day, with photo ops of celebrities, the vendor/exhibitor hall, an art presentation with Angel Medina, and a Q&A session was with YouTube Stars Muyskerm and LordMinion777. The vendor hall features a variety of artists and authors, as well retailers offering nearly every imaginable type of memorabilia.
Today will also start the Pokemon Go Event that will last the entire weekend. All ages are able to participate and each day will provide a new contest and raffle. The contest today is for the Most Pokemon in Pokedex. Tomorrow, Highest Combat Power Pokemon and Sunday is Lowest Combat Power Rare Pokemon. There will be a gym available by South Wing B and a prize will be awarded to the person who maintains control the longest. Each contest winner will receive a prize.
The show continues throughout the weekend with more discussions, Q&As, and meet and greets, and cosplay contests. There will also be a special screening on a new Kevin Smith movie that will feature a Q&A afterwards, which is a ticketed event. You may even get a chance to see Stan Lee wandering around the Expo Center. There will be a chance to screen a variety of independent films, both short and full length throughout the day. Be sure to check a schedule at the event (or download the free app) to see locations.
Ticket prices vary and can be purchased at the door with cash only. Friday is $30, Saturday is $40, and Sunday is $30 for the day. A package for all three days can be purchased for $60. There is an option to purchase VIP packages, and price varies ($150-$350 for the weekend) depending on what you want. All photo ops and autographs can be purchased on site as well. The show runs the entire weekend during the following hours:
- Friday – 4:00 PM until 10:00 PM
- Saturday – 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, with some events for the 18 and older crowd running until 2:00 AM Sunday
- Sunday – 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM
Be sure to stay with the Louisville Dispatch and our Facebook page to more coverage and photos throughout the event.
Comic Expo Moving to New Venue for 2016
Fandom Fest is “Getting Nerdy Again in Louisville” July 29th through 31st.
The largest Comic Con in the region returns with another iteration of the popular event, which spans a total of seven days with the convention portion lasting the traditional three days.
Fandom Fest aims to draw the Anime, Comic Book, Pop Culture, Movie, TV, Scifi, Horror, Literary, Arts crowd by “bringing the best of popular culture to the region.” Fandom Fest, which has been operating in one form or another since it started as Fright Night more than a decade ago, is the flagship show of the event organizer’s multi-city tour.
Typically held downtown in past years, this year the event moves to the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center at 937 Phillips Lane. Doors are open 4-10PM on Friday, 10AM-7PM on Saturday, and 11AM-4PM on Sunday. Tickets will be available at the door and are currently available online at discounted prices.
Celebrities slated to attend the 2016 Fandom Fest include comic book creator Stan Lee, Kevin Smith, Anthony Michael Hall, members of the bands N*Sync and Backstreet Boys, original Ultraman Satoshi Furuya, actors from zombie shows such as The Walking Dead and Z Nation, professional Cosplayers, and a star-studded lineup of the artists and authors of fans’ favorite works.
In addition to the celebrity meet-and-greets, photo-ops, and autograph sessions, Fandom Fest also features a large hall of exhibitors with comic books, graphic novels, accessories, memorabilia, services, and more for sale, as well as a full schedule of talks and presentations that is sure to have something for everyone.
For more information about the 2016 Fandom Fest, visit fandomfest.com.
Thunder, Derby, Travelling Events All Included on List
Courtesy: Kentuckytourism.com
Several events hosted in Louisville have received the honor of inclusion on the Top 100 Events in the United States 2015 list. At least two are Louisville-specific events, while others are events that are “just passing through.” Still more events have connections to Louisville and the Commonwealth – which just goes to show why My Old Kentucky Home is a great place to live.
Among Sporting Events, the Kentucky Derby ranked at number seven. The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports was edged out by heavyweight events such as the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 race.
Also ahead of the Derby was another sporting event with Louisville and Kentucky connections: the NCAA Men’s Final Four. Last year, Kentucky made it to the Final Four in Indianapolis before being defeated, while Louisville was knocked out earlier in the tournament. The previous year, Louisville and Kentucky met in the Midwest Regional of the tournament and the year before that Louisville rose to the top to beat Michigan for the Championship title. Louisville, of course, also plays host to earlier rounds of the tournament.
In the Festivals, Parades & Holiday Events category, Louisville also got a nod for Thunder Over Louisville, which took 9th place in the category. The Derby Festival celebration ranked behind events including Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New Year’s Eve in Times Square, and Mardi Gras.
Under the heading of Political Events, ranked third (ahead of the State of the Union address) was the National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits. Although the 2015 NRAAM event was held just down I-65 in Nashville, next year’s event will be held right here in Louisville at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Top honors in the Entertainment Industry Events category went to Comic-Con International and, although “the big show” is held in San Diego, Louisville does play host to it’s own versions of the show through FandomFest and the Derby City Comic Con.
View the full list of Top Events in the US at BizBash.com.
The 2015 edition of Louisville’s Fandomfest has kicked off at the Kentucky International Convention Center downtown.
This celebration of all things pop, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and comic related draws large crowds each year as visitors meet their idols from the big screen to the small screen and from the pages of graphic novels and comics to the pages of favorite tomes.
Fans line up well in advance of celebrity appearances, eagerly anticipating the chance to meet them, shake their hands, exchange stories, and pose for photo opportunities. This year, Fandomfest provides the opportunity for attendees to meet celebrities from movies and TV such as Billie Piper, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Josh McDermitt, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes, and sports stars such as Ric Flair, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, and Pete Rose. Attendees in line buzz with excitement over the opportunity to get an autograph from their favorite celebs.
Visitors that forgot to bring something to get autographed (or need that special piece to complete their collection) don’t have to look far. The Fandomfest show hall is packed to the gills with exhibitors and vendors showcasing their wares including comics, cards, sports memorabilia, classic gaming systems, costume components, art supplies, collectibles, action figures, and their own original works from paintings to novels.
One such purveyor of original work is Kentuckiana’s own A.E. McCullough. McCullough – sporting a tee-shirt showing his fondness for another vigilante character – told us about his new novel, The Reaper: Grimm Vengeance, about a former Army Ranger who takes justice into his on hands when he takes on the thugs of a street gang. McCullough, who lives in Taylorsville and works in Louisville, said that this was his second Fandomfest.
Another sophomore exhibitor at Fandomfest 2015 is an author that had to travel slightly further to attend. Addie J King lives just north of Dayton, Ohio and was in town to showcase her latest release, Grimm Legacy. Addie has a lot of traveling to do, with her next stop being Wizard World in Chicago. On an even longer journey, Joann H. Buchanan, came from Kansas to spread the word about the latest work in her H.A.L.O. Saga, Shine, at her first Fandomfest.
Moving back closer to home, we also had a chance to talk with Louisville transplant (by way of Cleveland), Steve Messenger, who was creating buzz by passing out free samples of his original artwork – as well as letting out his inner Hulkamania. This was Steve’s first time exhibiting at Fandomfest, but not his first time attending. He recently moved to the area after falling in love with it following a previous visit which included – you guessed it – a visit to a previous Fandomfest.
Showing off a different kind of local original art, some of the crew from Tattoo Charlie’s were on hand to put ink to skin for attendees. Their booth display not only offered the chance for attendees to decorate themselves, but also a chance to win some free ink by dropping their names into the fishbowl. While we were there, we got to see artist Darin Ennis doing what he loves to do.
Despite everything going on across the exhibit floor, the action doesn’t stop there.
Fandomfest is packed with film screenings. We had a chance to sit in on a couple of these, including Samuel Platizky’s comedy-horror Devil You Know, which follows a young lady’s journey into hell as she hopes to free her father’s soul. We also sat in on Alfred Giancarli’s Don’t Despair, a disturbing tale about a couple embarking on a deadly quest to connect with one of their gruesome idols. The screenings of these shorts, and many others, run all weekend and offer attendees the opportunity to get some entertainment while resting their feet from roaming the exhibit hall.
Fandomfest’s offerings don’t stop there either. The show is packed with celebrity Q&A sessions (such as the one that we attended with a couple of AMC’s The Walking Dead‘s pet zombies); panel discussions on a wide range of films, shows, art genres, and more; cosplay judging sessions; gaming competitions; and a full host of after-hours events – many of them geared for the 18+ crowd.
Fandomfest 2015 lasts through the weekend, so there is plenty of opportunity for fans to visit. Check out our photo gallery and stay with Louisville Dispatch for more news from the show.
Selected photos from Fandomfest 2015: Continue reading
