Get ready for a star-studded Huntsville weekend
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Christopher Lloyd is in town for the Expo all three days. Photo: Courtesy Paras Griffin/Getty Images
The Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo is drawing in the stars this weekend.
Why it matters: "Alabama's largest celebration of all things geek," is bringing some big names to the Von Braun Center for its 11th year.
- Think: Wil Wheaton, Ming-Na Wen, Ron Perlman, Christopher Lloyd, Dave Coulier, Zachary Levi, Jaleel White and Phil Lamarr, just to get started.
What they're saying: "We're able to provide a fun geekery event for the people of Huntsville, and we've become a destination," founder Jeremy Long told Axios, adding that when people ask for the event's demographic, the answer is "all of them."
- The first year saw about 1,500 attendees, Long said. The past few years have seen more than 20,000. Last year, folks from 41 different states bought tickets.
Catch up quick: The Expo starts Friday afternoon at 3, then runs Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. Tickets start at about $35, and a portion of the proceeds go to local nonprofit Kids to Love, supporting children in foster care.
- Kids under 12 get in free, and the entire event is family-friendly and accessible, Long said.
- "There's literally something for everyone."
- The show includes more than 200 vendors, artists, authors, cosplay contests, gaming room, panel discussions and more.
Pro tips: If you're going, make a plan, Long said. Check the schedules and plan when you need to be where, and keep up with the latest on the Expo's website and the fan Facebook page.
- Long highlighted Christopher Lloyd's visit — a relatively late addition — as well as Ron Perlman.
- A joint panel with the original Pink Power Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson and her successor, Catherine Sutherland, marks the first time the pair have ever had a joint appearance, according to Long.
Zoom in: Other highlights include: a "Full House" panel with Dave Coulier and Andrea Barber; a panel with "Goofy Movie" voice actors Bill Farmer and Jason Marsden; and a Star Wars "Clone Wars" panel with six voice actors from the show.
- It wouldn't be a Huntsville event without some space. At noon on Saturday is a NASA Lunar Science panel with mission managers from NASA's Planetary Missions Program Office.
- Also, catch a panel with "Sons of Anarchy" actors Ron Perlman, Theo Rossi and Emilio Rivera.