Fan Expo Dallas (previously known as Dallas Comic Con) is a popular culture convention focusing on comic books, movies, TV, and gaming. The three-day event, which gathers about 50,000 attendees, takes place at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. The first Comic Con in Dallas was held in 2002 with about 5,000 participants, but over the years, it grew to a massive scale, beloved by people from all walks of life and various fandoms.
Convention Guests
Fan Expo Dallas features photo ops, autograph signings, panels, Q&A sessions, as well as a large dealers' room. Fans can meet comic book artists, writers, publishers, and favorite celebrity actors. Stars of some of the biggest movie franchises and TV-series will appear at this year's convention, including "Dr. Who" actors David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker, William Shatner from "Star Trek", Gaten Matarazzo and Finn Wolfhard from "Stranger Things," Gordon Cormier from "Avatar the Last Airbender", and "Seinfeld" star Patrick Warburton. The list goes on and features almost 200 notable figures from the entertainment industry.
Past Guests
Past guests of the convention included Christina Ricci, Sean Astin, Eric Basaldua, Elijah Wood, Alicia Silverstone, Dante Basco, Walter Koenig, Jae Lee, Zachary Levi, Justin Briner, Rodger Bumpass, Mori Calliope, Clifford Chapin, and Luci Christian. Colleen Clinkenbeard, Kevin Conroy, Christina Dark, Sam de la Rosa, and John Cleese have also been part of a convention's star selection. Among other famous guests are George Takei, Levar Burton, Stephen Amell, Katherine McNamara, Ben Lewis, Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, Catherine Tate, Annabeth Gish, and Oscar Nuñez.
Artist Alley
Artist Alley is a special area where illustrators and graphic artists showcase limited edition prints, original art, and sketches. Dozens of vendors also offer memorabilia, costumes, DVDs, videos, games, toys, and books. Comic book artists also set up their booths here, so feel free to come by and enjoy their artwork.
Cosplay Activities
Cosplay is always a big part of any entertainment convention. Fan Expo Dallas take it seriously and up their game each year by introducing new events and activities for cosplayers and attendees. The Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix is a highly competitive and prestigious contest with a prize of $1,000, while Cosplay Red Carpet is a casual costume showcase without pre-registration or stress.
Cosplay Replica Contest challenges cosplayers to recreate one prop or accessory to showcase their crafting and design skills. Younger attendees have an opportunity to demonstrate their attire in the Kids Costume Contest. Cosplay gatherings, panels, photo ops and more will be available at the Cosplay Corner.
Other Entertainment
Three days just doesn't seem like enough time with the program that Fan Expo Dallas has to offer. Competitive gamers and simple enjoyers can try their hand at arcade games, tabletop gaming, trivia sessions, and Dungeons and Dragons. Put on your headphones and groove to music like nobody's watching during silent disco, battle your friends in laser tag, and set off on a thrilling chase during the Pikachu hunt. After the convention ends, there's maid cafe, TV-show screenings and fun drinking games for you to attend.
Schedule & Tickets
The convention normally runs from 4 to 9 pm on Friday, from 10 am to 7 pm on Saturday, and from 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. The admission depends on how early you buy tickets and how long you are going to stay there. Early bird pricing is available till mid-December and starts from $30 for a single-day visit, $94 for a three-day pass, and $134 for the ultimate fun package. The full prices start from $35, $110, and $150, respectively. Tickets for teenagers aged 13 to 17 years old are priced $10 lower than adult tickets. Admission for children over 6 years old costs $12 on all days.
