Vernon is ready to “geek out” for Comic Con 2024.
After a successful Comic Con last year at the Prestige Vernon Lodge, the event is moving to a bigger venue to accommodate three times as many vendors.
This year’s event will take place May 4 at the Vernon Recreation Centre, making use of the main auditorium, the Dogwood Gym and the Halina Centre. The three buildings are all connected under one roof, and people can use the east entrance by taking a right after crossing the bridge towards the main Rec Centre entrance.
The event will be on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving people lots of time to browse through the many different vendors and take part in Comic Con activities.
“It just grows every year,” said Vernon Comic Con creator Peter Kaz, who first organized the event in 2018.
Kaz said the event is about much more than comic books — it’s a “pop culture convention,” a space where “you’re going to find people that love what you love,” whether that’s old Westerns, Marvel or DC movies, hockey and baseball cards, Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, board games, video games, TV shows and more.
“It’s basically a community that gets together once a year, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a closet geek, you let your geek flag out on that day,” said Kaz. “If you feel like you’re alone in the world you’re not alone that day. It doesn’t matter who you are.”
Speaking of “geek flags,” a Comic Con flag is being flown on the Vernon community flag pole until May 6.
The event will utilize the stage in the Halina Centre for some showcases and guest speakers.
The family friendly event is for all ages, and people are encouraged to dress up, whether they’re a professional cosplayer or just an enthusiastic fan of, well, anything.
“We just love seeing the community get together, and everyone becomes a kid,” Kaz said. “It’s kind of like Disneyland for a day.”
Kaz said seeing the smiles on people’s faces is his favourite part of Comic Con.
“It almost brings me to tears just seeing people come in and really get into it.”
Admission to the event is $5 cash.
For more information, visit vernoncomiccon.com.
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