There’s an event in which celebrities and comic creators, as well as cosplayers and fans from Northeast Ohio come together to celebrate all things pop culture.
That, of course, is FAN EXPO Cleveland, which returns March 13 through 15 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
“There are so many things that we talk about when it comes to these events — celebrities, exhibitors, cosplayers, etc., but, ultimately, these events are about community,” said FAN EXPO HQ Vice President Andrew Moyes, calling from Toronto. “They’re about coming together, celebrating together, finding that sense of inclusion, finding that sense of shared passion. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to cultivate that community and continue it in the Cleveland area.”
The affair boasts appearances by actors Brendon Fraser (“The Mummy”), Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones,” “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith”), William Shatner (“Star Trek,” “Boston Legal”), James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel”), Helen Hunt (“Mad About You,” “Twister”) and many more.
In terms of booking such an event, Moyes described it as tantamount to putting together a 50,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. It helps, he said, that many of the celebrities have a common motivation.
“They love meeting their fans, so they’re a huge driver to create the theme and that element of celebration,” he said. “Someone like a Hayden Christensen is a very rare guest. There are not that many opportunities you get to meet someone from such an iconic series of films.
“Then you have someone like William Shatner, too — an iconic actor from so many different things and, of course, a great performer. Included with the price of your ticket: You get to see Shatner speak for 40 minutes or so about his journey.”
FANEXPO Cleveland-bound William Shatner has spent a life entertaining folks
An appealing aspect of FAN EXPO Cleveland is that attendees can make it their own. While there will be a large segment of fans excited to see the aforementioned actors, there’s another demographic equally thrilled to meet their heroes of animation, anime and comics, with dozens of high-profile names appearing all weekend long.
“This is where we’re seeing such a surge on those sorts of fandoms,” Moyes said. “Eric Vale, Luci Christian and Sonny Strait are all amazing anime voice actors who will be in Cleveland.
“Also, cosplay is a huge part of these events. People like to dress up as characters or celebrities. That’s a different way that they celebrate the fandom,” he added. “We’ve seen an increase in ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ It was one of the biggest shows around again. These are really huge fandoms that are finding their place within our events.”
You never know who you’ll run into, via cosplay, at a FAN EXPO event. (Courtesy of FAN EXPO)
When it comes to the pop-culture industry, there’s always something new and unexpected to celebrate.
While the FAN EXPO operation doesn’t waste its time attempting to predict the fickle tastes of audiences, fans or consumers, Moyes said they are conceptually focused on maintaining the quality of their product.
“It’s all about creating that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a way to experience the fandoms in a different way,” he said. “We’re looking at much more interactive sort of activations from larger studios and sponsors that really will continue to change the fabric of how people interact.
A “Twilight”-related event takes place at a FAN EXPO gathering. FAN EXPO Cleveland is set for March 13 through 15. Yvonne Hanson
“So the structure might change a little bit, the opportunity might change a little bit, but it’s still going to be all about coming together with like-minded people who are passionate about celebrating pop culture.”
FAN EXPO Cleveland
When: 3 to 8 p.m. March 13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 14 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15.
Where: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, 300 West Lakeside Ave., Cleveland.
Tickets: $40 to $61 single-day tickets (multi-day packages and autograph sessions available).
Info: fanexpocleveland.com.