Superheroes, anime characters, and movie stars are gearing up to take over the Toronto Metro Convention Centre for this year’s FAN EXPO, and organizers say it’s one you don’t want to miss.
The annual convention will bring together sci-fi, horror, gamers, cosplayers, comic book fans and more to celebrate their respective genres and fandoms for four entire days from Aug. 21-24.
FAN EXPO is one of the biggest comic cons in North America, drawing in more than 100,000 people across the weekend.
“We’re thrilled about the show that we’re presenting this year,” VP of FAN EXPO Andrew Moyes said in an interview with Now Toronto. “We have some amazing big brands, they’re going to be creating activations for the fans to walk through and experience so many things that we’ve been preparing.”
One of the highlights Moyes says fans can look forward to is a star-studded guest list that includes Back To The Future stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, “Smallville’s” Tom Welling, and “Star Trek’s” William Shatner, among many others.
Fox and Lloyd’s appearance comes as “Back To The Future” celebrates its 40th anniversary, one fans will be able to take part in at this year’s event.
“Michael J. Fox [is] a Canadian icon, global icon… to have him taking the stage with Christopher Lloyd as part of that special event is really exciting,” Moyes says.
Moyes adds that Fox is only doing four appearances this year, and is excited that he chose to make Toronto one of his stops.
“I love the fact that we have the best of the best from all the different genres, because that’s really what FAN EXPO is about. It’s not just comics, it’s not just horror, it’s not just anime,” he said.
On top of meet and greets and autograph signings, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy panels, workshops, photo ops, fan meetups, and even video game tournaments.
But of course it wouldn’t be FAN EXPO without the creative costumes and cosplay that fans dress up in for the weekend as they channel their favourite characters and stars.
“We’ve seen this explosion of cosplay. It’s a genre within itself. So, that’s one way people celebrate…I think it’s very important to us to create that inclusive welcoming platform,” he said.
Moyes says the expo takes up all five levels of the convention centre, so fans attending should map out what they want to do and who they want to see, which can all be done by heading to the website.
“And then make sure you leave some moments for the surprise and delight, because you’re going to find so many new things that you want to explore,” he added.