The Mid-Atlantic’s premier culture convention, Awesome Con is expected to attract more than 80,000 fans of comics, technology and science, television and film, custom art, over-the-top cosplay, and more to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this weekend, Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1, 2018.
The 6th annual gathering will buzz with hundreds of hours’ worth of programs including: celebrities and experts hosting panels and exclusive reveals; cosplay fashion shows; gaming tournaments; iconic film memorabilia exhibits; and a diverse array of activities for families on Easter weekend.
The gamily-friendly pavilion, Awesome Con Jr. returns with even more playful events planned to educate and entertain kids of all ages and parents alike, with special promotions in place to engage Awesome Con’s youngest fans throughout the show.
In addition, Future Con, Awesome Con’s science pavilion produced in partnership with Smithsonian magazine, will dive into the latest developments in science and science fiction sure to delight even the most curious minds.
“Going to Future Con is like stepping into a time travel machine,” says Michael Caruso, Future Con founder and Smithsonian magazine Editor in Chief and Vice President of Live Events. “Future Con is a great mashup of science and science fiction, a way for people to experience the very real science that is making technology writers and filmmakers have only dreamed of actually come to life around us. This year, we’re partnering with some remarkably forward-thinking organizations – including NASA, Netflix, and X, The Moonshot Factory – to bring that great experience to our Future Con fans.”
And back for the second year is Pride Alley presented in partnership with Geeks OUT, shining a spotlight on LGBTQ creators and fans in an even more robust section of Artist Alley.
With Awesome Con 2018 hosting more energetic programs, more globally recognized special guests, and presenting more exclusive previews and announcements to attendees than ever before, it continues growing into a standout annual destination as an unbridled celebration of pop culture and pure fun.
The weekend’s lineup of special guests include:
Screen stars:
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Cast: Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Sean Gunn (Kraglin)
- Stephen Amell (Arrow, New Girl, Private Practice)
- John Barrowman (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, Torchwood, Doctor Who)
- Cress Williams (Black Lightning, Prison Break, Hart of Dixie)
- Tom Welling (Smallville, Lucifer)
- Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Guardians of the Guardians Vol. 2, IMPASTOR)
- Joonas Suotamo (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story)
- Joe Keery (Stranger Things, Molly’s Game, Slice)
- Ben Savage (Boy Meets World, Girls Meet World, Chuck, Dear John, Little Monsters, Without a Trace)
- Will Friedle (Boy Meets World, Girls Meets World, Batman Beyond, Kim Possible, Guardians of the Galaxy animated series)
- Rider Strong (Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World, Cabin Fever)
- Charisma Carpenter (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel)
- Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Samurai Jack, Pulp Fiction, Justice League Unlimited, Mad TV, Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
Comic stars:
- J. Scott Campbell (Gen¹³, Danger Girl, Spider-Man)
- Fabian Nicieza (Deadpool co-creator, X-Men, Thunderbolts, Action Comics)
- Jim Starlin (Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Infinity Gauntlet, Batman; co-creator of Drax, Gamora, and Thanos)
- Greg Capullo (Batman, Reborn, X-Force, Quasar, The Creech)
- Scott Snyder (American Vampire, Batman, Swamp Thing, Voodoo Heart)
- Tom King (Batman, The Sheriff of Babylon, The Vision)
- Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil, Wonder Woman, Amazing Spider-Man)
- Sean Gordon Murphy (Batman: White Knight, Hellblazer: City of Demons, Punk Rock Jesus, Shaun of the Dead, Teen Titans, The Wake, Tokyo Ghost)
- James Tynion IV (Detective Comics, Batman)
- Sorah Sungh (Iron Man, Princeless)
Tickets for Awesome Con 2018 start at $35.
