The Sacramento Convention Center hosted the third annual Sacramento Wizard World Comic Con this past Father’s Day weekend. More than twenty thousand pop culture fans attended the three-day event featuring something for all ages to enjoy.
Comic books, video games, novels, toys and collectibles drew the many fans to the large vendor hall where some 160 exhibitors and artists sold a range of services and goods.
However, one of the strongest draws throughout the weekend was certainly the celebrity panels, autograph and Q&A sessions.
Some of the celebrities participating in this year’s event included Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Evan Peters (American Horror Story), Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger), William Shatner (Star Trek), Caroll Spinney (Voice Actor/Puppeteer, Sesame Street), Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) and Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
On Friday, Wizard World, in collaboration with Travis Air Force Base, hosted a “Hometown Heroes” event.
Wizard World CEO John Maatta, COO Randy Malinoff, Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Carroll Spinney, Dean Cain, Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Big Show (WWE Legend) and Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead) helped introduce and recognize the Hometown Heroes.
Service members honored included Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone, Maj. Virgil Steele, Master Sgt. Matthew Warren, Tech. Sgt. John Ayre, Staff Sgt. Johnathan Gales, Senior Airman Ian McGuigan, Airman 1st Class Tahj Beaudoin and Airman Sharnette Reyes.
Stone, as you might recall, is the one of the American service men whose heroic efforts helped thwart a terrorist attack aboard a French passenger train last August.
“It’s always nice to share a stage with my brothers and sisters in arms who will give their life for me and I’ll do the same for them,” said Stone. “It’s always great to be honored with a group like this.”
Margaret Young, a gaming fan, thoroughly enjoyed this year’s set up.
“I really, really like the gaming set up,” said Young. “I can go and enjoy the panels and come back and enjoy some of my favorite games. And you know what the best part is? Meeting a lot of new people and then beating them in tournament play.”
The gaming tournaments were held on a stage surrounded by seating for game fans. An announcer also provided commentary and a couple of big screen TVs transmitted the actual gaming on stage which highlighted Street Fighter and Tekken 7, which has not yet been released to the public.
Cosplayers braved the heat and had the opportunity to enter the costume contest, which included cash prizes for the Saturday show, while a kids contest on Sunday closed out the weekend.
Wizard World successfully reached out to the community providing a well organized and safe venue. Sacramentans eagerly await to see what Wizard World will bring in 2017.
Additional photos from the event can be found at a Youtube slideshow.
