by Carlee Wright
Get your geek on at Cherry City Comic Con April 30 and May 1. The annual convention of all things pop culture returns to the Oregon State Fairgrounds with celebrities, comics, movies, gaming, costumes, art, design and more.
Event organizer John Roach has dubbed the third-annual convention “Salem’s First Nerd Fest” as he aims to fill the Jackman-Long’s 48,000 square feet with special guests, vendors, artists, panels, gaming, cosplay, activities, contests and photo opportunities.
“I really want to make sure there is plenty for people to show up at 10 in the morning and not leave until we kick them out,” he said.
Featured celebrity and fan-favorite guests include Doug Jones (“Hellboy,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Fred “The Hammer” Williamson (NFL Oakland Raider and Kansas City Chiefs, “MASH,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “From Dusk Till Dawn”), Gigi Edgley (“Farscape,” “Star Trek Continues”), Margot Kidder (“Superman,” “Amityville Horror,” “Captain Planet”), Robert Mukes (“House of 1000 Corpses,” “Weeds”), Jeffrey Weissman (“Back to the Future II & III”), Jake “The Snake” Roberts (WWE Hall of Fame) and Camden Toy (“Goodnight Burbank,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).
And what’s a celebration of comics without the artists who create them? Some notable artists attending include Marat Mychaels ("Deadpool Corps"), Clinton Hobart (licensed Disney artist), Jacob Bear (“Dead Pooh”, Marvel, DC), Mike Grell (“Green Arrow,” “Green Lantern”) and award-winning fantasy illustrator and instructor Echo Chernik. Local artists include pin-up oil painter Nicole Brune and Emmy award winner Keith Tucker.
Charity cosplay groups Portland Superheroes Coalition and Star Wars Oregon, plus cosplayers Joanie Brosas, Megan Golden and Ryan Wells, will be on site and ready for photos.
New this year, there will be a fashion show with Fräulein Couture, a Eugene-based designer specializing in evening wear, playful lingerie, artistic costumes and business couture. Plus, cosplay karaoke also has been added to the agenda.
“All the entrants have to be in costume and have to do it in character,” Roach said. “That should be a lot of fun.”
On Saturday after the show ends, there will be a costume contest for ages 13 and older. A children's costume contest, for ages 12 and younger, will take place 2 p.m. Sunday.
“I really want to just focus on making Cherry City as big as possible,” Roach said. “Next year we will add a third day and expand into Columbia Hall. The fairgrounds gives me a ton of space I can work with. I am pretty excited to move forward on that.”
Keep an eye on the con website as details are released about after parties and bonus activities. It’s also where you will find the most up-to-date schedule.
Source: Statesman Journal
Get your geek on at Cherry City Comic Con April 30 and May 1. The annual convention of all things pop culture returns to the Oregon State Fairgrounds with celebrities, comics, movies, gaming, costumes, art, design and more.
Event organizer John Roach has dubbed the third-annual convention “Salem’s First Nerd Fest” as he aims to fill the Jackman-Long’s 48,000 square feet with special guests, vendors, artists, panels, gaming, cosplay, activities, contests and photo opportunities.
“I really want to make sure there is plenty for people to show up at 10 in the morning and not leave until we kick them out,” he said.
Featured celebrity and fan-favorite guests include Doug Jones (“Hellboy,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Fred “The Hammer” Williamson (NFL Oakland Raider and Kansas City Chiefs, “MASH,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “From Dusk Till Dawn”), Gigi Edgley (“Farscape,” “Star Trek Continues”), Margot Kidder (“Superman,” “Amityville Horror,” “Captain Planet”), Robert Mukes (“House of 1000 Corpses,” “Weeds”), Jeffrey Weissman (“Back to the Future II & III”), Jake “The Snake” Roberts (WWE Hall of Fame) and Camden Toy (“Goodnight Burbank,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).
And what’s a celebration of comics without the artists who create them? Some notable artists attending include Marat Mychaels ("Deadpool Corps"), Clinton Hobart (licensed Disney artist), Jacob Bear (“Dead Pooh”, Marvel, DC), Mike Grell (“Green Arrow,” “Green Lantern”) and award-winning fantasy illustrator and instructor Echo Chernik. Local artists include pin-up oil painter Nicole Brune and Emmy award winner Keith Tucker.
Charity cosplay groups Portland Superheroes Coalition and Star Wars Oregon, plus cosplayers Joanie Brosas, Megan Golden and Ryan Wells, will be on site and ready for photos.
New this year, there will be a fashion show with Fräulein Couture, a Eugene-based designer specializing in evening wear, playful lingerie, artistic costumes and business couture. Plus, cosplay karaoke also has been added to the agenda.
“All the entrants have to be in costume and have to do it in character,” Roach said. “That should be a lot of fun.”
On Saturday after the show ends, there will be a costume contest for ages 13 and older. A children's costume contest, for ages 12 and younger, will take place 2 p.m. Sunday.
“I really want to just focus on making Cherry City as big as possible,” Roach said. “Next year we will add a third day and expand into Columbia Hall. The fairgrounds gives me a ton of space I can work with. I am pretty excited to move forward on that.”
Keep an eye on the con website as details are released about after parties and bonus activities. It’s also where you will find the most up-to-date schedule.
Source: Statesman Journal
