How to FanX in Salt Lake City
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Cosplayers wait for the costume contest at FanX 2023 in the Salt Palace Convention Center. Photo: Erin Alberty/Axios
FanX brings its annual parade of costumes, celebrities and general geekery to downtown Salt Lake City this weekend.
Why it matters: Utah's fan-and-nerd culture is singular.
- Think comic books, fantasy, anime, cosplay, Disney, Trekkies, Whovians, Potterheads and people who know what Aganazzar's Scorcher is.
State of play: FanX is Salt Lake's comic convention, with vendors, panels and exhibits today through Saturday.
- Here are some of the can't-miss events attractions.
Celebrity sightings
Star panels: Watch these idols — and many more — in audience Q&As at no extra cost.
- "Lord of the Rings" actors Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, John Rhys-Davies and Elijah Wood
- LeVar Burton, Jonathan Frakes and Wil Wheaton of "Star Trek"
- "Napoleon Dynamite" stars Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez
- Thelma and Louise themselves — Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon
- "Ghostbusters'" Ernie Hudson and McKenna Grace
- Actor Mel Gibson, who is coming to Salt Lake for his first fan convention
Meet-and-greet: A coterie of legends is coming to town for individual and group photos and autographs for $25 to $360.
- Say cheese with Danny Glover, Linda Hamilton, Lee Majors, Sean Astin and others.
- Most of the star panelists also are offering photo-ops, individually and in groups.
Geek out
Scores of activities give fans a chance to join their fellow nerds to celebrate the objects of their fandoms, including:
- Cosplay meetups for fandoms ranging from Marvel to "Little House on the Prairie." And don't miss the big cosplay parade Saturday night — typically the biggest of event of the weekend.
- Performances by bards, dueling storytellers and an "anime and video game cellist."
- Workshops to draw yourself as a superhero or design a game in an hour.
- Trivia contests from "Name that Tune" Disney edition to Star Wars jeopardy.
- A panel with the hit Utah fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.
- Role play gaming sessions all day, every day.
Tickets: A variety of passes are available, ranging from $10 for Thursday evening only to $329 for an all-weekend VIP pass that comes with swag, exclusive access to some events and early entry.