![]() Photo: ECCC staff |
It's lucky #13 for Emerald City Comicon at the Washington State Convention Center March 27-29, and if the lengthy list of attending celebrities and guests is any indication, it's going to be bigger and better than ever.
C-3PO, aka Anthony Daniels, will be there; Patrick Warburton, the voice of Buzz Lightyear and Kronk, will too. The Emerald City Caped Crusaders will be there, along with over 70,000 expected attendees.
It’s big and family-friendly: Approximately 15 percent of the total attendees last year were families. ECCC is expanding their kids area this year to include live-action lightsaber demos, hands-on Lego building opportunities, lessons for building a stop-motion film, comic-strip design and How to Draw a Superhero training. Maximize your family’s Comicon experience by thinking of it as a theme park. It's all in the planning and preparation.
Get tickets. They aren’t sold at the door; certain days sell out quickly. If tickets are sold out online, try a local comic-book store. Don't forget your Child Pass for kids 3 to 10.
Research. Check online lists of special and celebrity guests your family would like to see or meet. Know that your child might request photographic proof of that meeting. Many celebrities charge for autographs and pictures; be sure to have cash on hand.
Pack snacks and water. While food’s available for purchase, it's easier and cheaper to avoid crowds and lines.
Take breaks. ECCC is overstimulation central; it’s set aside space for Family Break Rooms and a New Parents' Room. Retire there to change, eat, relax and chill out.
Pack light. Strollers are handy receptacles for jackets, bags and swag, but they’re not allowed on the show floor or in the panel rooms. Only bring what you can carry.
Dress up. Part of the Comicon fun is the Halloween-in-March atmosphere. Pull on a cape, add a crown, become a character and join in the craze.
Explore. ECCC is for fans of pop culture; artists, gamers, writers, actors, programmers, etc. There’s something to interest everyone in your family. Utilize the show map online, take turns and mark your destinations.
Anticipate lines. Even with your strategic itinerary in triplicate, you’ll find yourselves waiting in line. It's the American way. So pack some distractions: a pack of cards, a book, a game. You’re now prepared to be Master of the Con. Wait: that could be the perfect costume!