Every March, people from all over Washington, as well as surrounding states like Oregon and California, travel to Emerald City Comic Con to celebrate the things they love. From movies to shows to comics to books, the convention gives people an opportunity to express their interests and interact with other people who share the same interests. Artistic expression is another major part of the convention. Some people show off costumes they spent months creating, others share their art pieces or works of writing. Over four days, people get to have fun and express themselves in a supportive, creative community.

   But what is Emerald City Comic Con? Emerald City Comic Con is a fan convention owned by the ReedPop Event company that takes place in Seattle from Thursday to Sunday annually in March. The company puts on conventions year-round in other cities, including New York, London, and Chicago. Despite the name, Comic Con isn’t just about comics. You can find almost anything at the convention, which now spans over two multistory buildings. The main building is called the Summit, which includes a showfloor where you can shop for a variety of different items like collectibles or posters, as well as an Artist Alley for artists to showcase or sell their work. The second building is the Arch, which holds more vendors and the opportunity to meet some of your favorite celebrities.

   All four days are packed with scheduled panels, fan meetups, and other events. The largest panels take place at the Main Stage in the Arch building. Celebrities like Jamie Campbell Bower, who is known for his roles in Stranger Things and the Twilight franchise, and William Shatner, who starred in the original Star Trek series, gave live interviews for hundreds of fans on the Main Stage. The largest panel of the weekend was a Gravity Falls panel with the creator of the show and the lead actress. The large Main Stage area was packed with fans who were excited to hear about a show that ended over a decade ago. 

Smaller panels and screenings take place in the Summit building. Sophie Nélisse and Courtney Eaton, the stars of a TV series called Yellowjackets, answered fan questions about the upcoming season and shared behind-the-scenes stories from the first three seasons of their show. The convention also hosted a screening of The Princess Bride to honor director Robert Reiner, who passed away earlier this year.

   Getting autographs from and taking photos with celebrities is a major part of the convention. This year, one of those celebrities was Kyle Maclachlan, born in Yakima and best known for starring in the show Twin Peaks, which was filmed across the Snoqualmie Valley area in Washington. Maclachlan even attended the University of Washington. This is just one of the convention’s many local connections. From the name of the convention, which is based on Seattle’s nickname, to the local artists, who include features of the state in their work. Even though Emerald City Comic Con appeals to people from all over the Western U.S., it’s still uniquely Washingtonian, which separates it from other fan conventions and adds to the community aspect. No matter what you’re a fan of, you’ll be able to connect to Emerald City Comic Con and find your place there.