Carlisle Comic-Con is coming back with a bang this year featuring an out of this world guest line-up.
Taking place on Saturday March 25 at Richard Rose Academy – Film, TV and comic book stars are set to appear with over 40 traders also on site selling products including merchandise, action figures, clothing, cosplay items and jewellery.
Some of the confirmed stars attending include Jimmy Vee who played R2D2 in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Jeff Rawle who played Cedric Diggory’s father in Harry Potter and serial killer Silas Blissett in Hollyoaks, and Simon Williamson who is well known for playing Max Rebo in Return of the Jedi.
A surprise addition to the guest-line up will also be announced tonight and showrunners have teased fans to expect another Doctor Who icon.
The stars will be appearing for meet and greets, fan photos and discussions and event-goers will also have the chance to meet Ewoks from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, stormtroopers and an animatronic Baby Kong.
Three discussion panels featuring the stars will also take place and there will be a chance for fans to pose for photos with the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1 car.
Now in its sixth year of running, organiser Neil Livesy said ticket sales for the convention so far have been incredible.
He added: “We are very much looking forward to this year’s event. Last year was the first event post-pandemic and there was a pent up demand for people wanting to visit Comic-Cons and we were extremely busy and we are hoping this Saturday will be even better than last year.
“We’ve got six really good stars lined-up and two comic artists and probably our most diverse line-up of traders we’ve ever had at the event.
“If we have the same amount of people buying tickets on the door as we did last year, it will be another record year for us.”
At four o’clock in the afternoon of the convention, showrunners will also host a cosplay competition, with £100 up for grabs for the best dressed attendee.
Neil added: “I’ve spent 40 years in sales and marketing but I’m retired from that now and this is something we do for the fun of doing it, we absolutely love it.
“I’m a fanboy – or more realistically for at my age a fanman – I’ve been interested in comics for a long time. Originally Comic-Con was all about trading and selling comic books but now with the big events like in San Diego it has come to mean a pop culture event.
“It’s great for people to meet up with other like minded people who are into geeky stuff, comic, movies, TV or cosplay and I find it fun personally.”
Neil said that he felt events like Comic-Con were important to bring to Cumbria – where there are only a few similar events available for people to attend.
He added: “There’s a lot of fun and excitement in bringing people from the TV and movies to Cumbria for the fans to meet them. I think these events also become a safe space where people who are into this stuff feel welcome.
“Nobody is ridiculed for dressing up, in fact it’s encouraged and it’s an inclusive space where people can just enjoy the day and have fun together.”
Online ticket sales have now ended – but tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at the door.
Tickets available at the online sale price are also still available to buy from the Toys and Tech shop in Carlisle.